Staying at Bang Sak

What it is like

The beach here is the widest on this coast at low tide, and you can walk a long way without meeting anyone. That emptiness cuts both ways. There is no strip of restaurants, no dive shops and no walking to dinner, so you are eating at your hotel or driving.

Who it suits

• Couples and families who want a quiet beach and a resort that does the work.
• Anyone who wants space on the sand more than a village on the doorstep.
• Travellers who are happy to hire a car or use a transfer for anything outside the resort.

What you give up

Nothing is within walking distance. Bang Niang and Nang Thong have the restaurants, markets and tour desks, and they are a drive away. If you want to wander out for dinner each night, this is the wrong beach. Plan how you will get around before you book.

Which hotel

We cover two resorts here. Le Méridien Khao Lak is family-friendly with a quiet beach. Outrigger Khao Lak Beach Resort is a beachfront resort on the quiet sand of Bang Sak. Each is listed below with a link to its own page.

When to come

The sea is generally calm from November through April. In the southwest monsoon, roughly May to October, red flags go up along this coast because of rip currents, and a good share of the businesses close. Check when to come before you pick dates.

Getting here

Bang Sak is at the northern end of the coast, so it is the furthest of the Khao Lak beaches from Phuket airport. Allow at least the 1 to 1.5 hours quoted for the coast as a whole. There is no public bus going north, so plan the transfer before you fly.

We cover hotels along this coast — the Khao Lak beaches, Phuket and Krabi — plus a handful on Koh Samui, across in the Gulf. Start with hotels in Khao Lak, or browse every hotel we cover; prices and availability show on the partner's own site.

Planning the rest of the trip? Compare places to stay, or see what is open month by month.