Thailand 2024 - Khao Lak Part 2

We are both active people, and six days of non-stop relaxing was never going to suit us. So, we decided to visit one of the local tour kiosks on the beach to plan some activities. 

Our original plan was to visit an elephant sanctuary, but as we looked into the online reviews, we realised many of these “sanctuaries” aren’t what they claim to be. Instead of true sanctuaries, they exploit the elephants and keep them in poor conditions. Instead we opted for a private tour with three stops: a waterfall, a turtle sanctuary, and bamboo rafting.

The first stop was the waterfall. Unfortunately, it wasn’t quite the majestic scene we’d envisioned—it was more like a puddle of stagnant, smelly water. So much for the “refreshing swim in the pool at the base of the falls” that had been advertised! We had asked the tour operator if the waterfall was flowing, and they assured us it was. Either they were ensuring our business, or something got lost in translation. 

Next up was the turtle sanctuary, which thankfully did not disappoint. A 30-minute drive brought us to a navy base, where we found ourselves feeling a little out of place among uniformed soldiers casually carrying guns. Our guide and driver handled all the logistics, which was a relief because navigating the base on our own would’ve been intimidating. Once inside, we drove another 10 minutes through the base, passing an immaculate golf course (must be a big Navy sport!), before arriving at the sanctuary entrance.

The sanctuary was much bigger than we’d expected. There were around 20 ponds, each teeming with sea turtles, alongside educational signs, a gift shop, and a small café. The navy operates the sanctuary, rescuing injured and sick turtles, nursing them back to health in their on-site hospital, and raising baby turtles until they’re strong enough to return to the sea.

We wandered from pond to pond, watching large turtles in various stages of rehabilitation and tiny baby turtles paddling around, awaiting their chance to be released. They were very cute and Sam did try on more than one occasion to take one home with her.

After saying goodbye to the turtles, we headed to the highlight of the day: bamboo rafting. Tucked away in a quiet corner of the jungle, this small local business offered an experience unlike anything we’d done before. We climbed aboard a bamboo raft, and our guide gently pushed us down a serene river winding through the jungle. 

Our guide pointed out snakes and spiders high in the trees as we floated past. Thankfully, they were all fast asleep—or so he claimed—because if one had moved, Sam would have been in the river and swimming back to the car! The ride was much longer than we’d expected, lasting nearly an hour.

At the end of the river, a car picked us up and brought us back to the starting point, where we were greeted with water, watermelon, and a chance to purchase a picture of us on the raft in a handmade photo frame for a small price.

Although the tour was officially over, we weren’t ready to head back to the hotel just yet. We asked our driver to drop us off at Coconut Beach instead. As soon as we arrived, we knew we’d made the right choice. The soft white sand, crystal-clear bath-warm water, and laid-back vibe made it a little slice of paradise.

The beach had free sun loungers, but we arrived too late to snag one. Luckily, renting a lounger and umbrella cost just a few pounds. We spent the next couple of hours soaking up the sun, sipping drinks, and dipping into the sea, before eventually catching a local taxi from the beach car park back to the hotel.

For the second half of our six days in Khao Lak, we tried some of the local nightlife. Naturally, we made a return trip to Bang Niang Market for more smoked meats, craft beers, and cocktails. Beyond the market, we explored as many bars and restaurants as we could, challenging ourselves to try one drink and one dish at each spot. Every place had its own unique vibe, from chilled-out beach bars to lively local joints.

On final night in Khao Lak we watched one of the fire shows on the beach. The performers lit up the beach with tricks and flames. It was the perfect way to wrap up our time here.

Before we knew it, our Thailand adventure had come to an end. With our hearts full of memories and our bags packed, we made the long journey back to the UK, already dreaming of our next adventure.