Khao Lak: Explore The Charm & Cultural Heritage of Takua Pa
Exploring Takua Pa Old Town and beyond for a taste of authentic local life. Best things to see and do.
THAILAND: KHAO LAK
North of Khao Lak is the charming little old town of Takua Pa which remains undisturbed and not commercialized in the way places like Phuket's Old Town are, allowing you to experience the true Thai way of living.
Takupa Pa is full of history and is a small well-preserved local community with several beautiful and colorful Sino-Portuguese-style houses. Most of these houses are owned by families that have been living here since Takua Pa was still a thriving economic powerhouse.
Takua Pa used to be a thriving tin mining town and an important dredging area during the first half of the 20th Century. As the resources dwindled, the town became a small tourist town with a beautiful, well-preserved history, a peaceful vibe and a culture of Kopitiam.
The town is quite small and there are no shops like you would find in Phuket's Old Town, this is what makes it a must-visit. What you see here is the way an Old Town in Thailand should be.
Look out for the street-art dotting the rustic walls of these houses depicting the simple lifestyle of the people living here.
Things to do in and around Takua Pa District
There's plenty to see simply walking round the small streets of Takua Pa. With a vibrant Chinese-Thai history, Takua Pa Old Town has a fantastic range of Chinese-Thai tea houses that are perfect for sitting back and relaxing with a refreshing drink as you watch the locals go about their daily life. Our favourites were “Jin Keng” and “Kopi Kuapa” located centrally.
If you have your own transport you can easily find our recommendations below using Google Maps.
Alternatively, you can book an organised Cultural Tour from Khao Lak which includes some of the recommendations below here.
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Sunday Street Market
Every Sunday afternoon the town’s main road, Thanon Sri Takua Pa, becomes a walking street with local food, sweets and snacks on sale. The town comes alive with the wonderful smells, sights and experiences of a local walking market. As you stroll down the main street you’ll find stalls selling local Thai dishes, fresh produce, delicious Thai desserts, refreshing beverages and souvenirs. There’s also often music and dance performances, so we recommend taking the time to sit at a local café and take it all in. The Sunday market is open weekly between November and April.
For an afternoon tour including the Sunday Street Market click here
Chinese Shrines
The Sino-Portuguese architecture isn’t the only sign of the Chinese influence in this area. Chinese shrines are also dotted throughout the town and certainly worth a visit to admire their stunning architecture and décor. You can easily find Guan Yu Shrine and Sin Chai Tueng Shrine with Google Maps located on Thanon Sri Takua Pa.
Wat Khongkha Phimuk
A Buddhist temple with its main architectural features being a stunning golden chedi tower. The interior of the temple is also adorned with colorful Lan Na murals. Inside, you will also find a small reclining Buddha. This is a peaceful, tranquil place to visit and a great way to immerse yourself in a beautiful and exotic culture. The temple also offers terrific views of the surrounding countryside.
Visiting a Buddhist temple is a wonderful way to experience Thailand’s spiritual culture and is often a highlight for those visiting Takua Pa Old Town. We recommend stopping at the local market or store to purchase a small gift of food, which can be given as an alms offering to the Buddhist monks. In return you’ll receive a spiritual blessing to bring you good fortune and health. Visitors can get a good sense of the local culture and experience a feeling of serenity here.
When visiting a Buddhist temple, it's essential to dress modestly and respectfully. This means covering your shoulders, knees and midriff.
Takua Pa Old Town Walls
Take a stroll to the East and you will find the Old Walls on the outskirts of town which were built to surround a governor's residence in the 1800s, the walls make for a rugged yet peaceful scene of urban decay.
A stop at the Walls is usually included on organised Cultural Tours
The Little Amazon
Located approximately 6km North of Takua Pa Town is an amazing mangrove forest that you can explore by canoe.
The Little Amazon is a wildlife tour along the Klong Sang Nga canal where you will see Banyan trees, snakes, reptiles, birds, fish and monkeys. Your guide paddles the canoe through the beautiful forests leaving you hands free to take amazing photographs. You will feel like you are in the real Amazon!
You can find The Little Amazon on Google Maps and you can contact them directly through Facebook here
Boong Soong (Bun Sung) Iron Bridge
Located approximately 3km North of Takua Pa Town is a interesting bridge which is worth a look if you are in the area. Built in 1965 from unused Penang Iron for mining workers to use as a 'short cut' to get from home to work.
Most of the bridge is above fields with water buffalos grazing and a short section goes over the river where you can see Kingfishers. Perfect for a short stroll and taking scenic photographs.
Be careful as motobikes still use the bridge!
You can park on the roadside in a small layby. Close to The Dredger Cafe and Bang Mara Hill - See below.
The Dredger Cafe And Bang Mara Hill
Sitting on top of a small hill with breathtaking views, this is the place to visit for Instagram photographs! Unfortunately it is not advertised a much as it should be and is often overlooked.
There are two ways to get to the top. There are stairs opposite the Boon Soong Iron Bridge or you can park in Wat Bang Mara and either walk up the steep hill or take the songtheaw ride up. There is a small entrance fee which is partially refunded when purchasing food or drinks in the Dredger Cafe. We paid THB60 each for the ride up and entrance and used our coupon for delicious refreshments in the Dredger Cafe.
There are several cool places for photographs and you can see the Boon Soong Iron Bridge from above. Part of the complex is a waterpark suitable for small children. There are rooms and glamping tents available, you can even sleep inside the dinosaurs!
Tuangrat Tao Sor Cake Factory
This traditional bakery has been producing Tao Sor cakes (similar to Chinese Mooncakes but smaller) for more than 100 years. Traditional Thai Southern sweet snack is an extremely tasty and popular souvenir.
Open daily 07.00 - 18.00 The bakery is usually included on organised Cultural Tours
Ban Nam Khem Tsunami Memorial Park and Museum - Located on the Ban Nam Khem Coast, 7km West from Takua Pa District. The memorial area consists of a curved concrete wall designed to represent the Tsunami and a wall bearing tiles with the names of 1,400 people who lost their lives. There is also an old fishing boat which was stranded during the Tsunami, a statue of the Prince of Chumphon and a Buddha image. The beach here is beautiful with white sand and clear blue ocean.
The museum opens 08:00-17:00 and is free to enter. Inside you will watch a short video, read stories from survivors and view authentic items from the 2004 Tsunami. There is a souvenir shop with snacks and cold drinks.
The Memorial Park and Museum are often included on organised Cultural Tours.
Where To Stay In
Khao Lak
With a series of small villages stretched over 20 km of beautiful coastline it can seem daunting to choose where to stay.
Broadly speaking the three main areas of Khao Lak are Bang La On, Bang Niang, and Khuk Khak.
Bang La On is the most developed area with many resorts and tourist facilities.
Bang Niang is a bit more laid-back and North of Bang La On.
Khuk Khak is the most rural of the three villages, North of Ban Bang Niang.
On Khao Lak South Beach you will find the Lam Kaen area which is the original Khao Lak village, south of the Khao Lak mountain.
For a quiet getaway choose Ban Bang Niang, Khuk Khak or Lam Kaen.
Further North there are 3 more areas considered to be within the Khao Lak region.
Right after Khuk Khak you will enter Pakarang, mainly a fishing village with some resorts and the popular Pakarang Cape and Pakarang Beach.
The villages of Pak Weep and Bang Sak are just beyond Pakarang and have the most secluded beaches. THey are are much smaller than Ban La On, Bang Niang or Khuk Khak, but they offer a more authentic Thai experience. Stay in Pak Weep or Bang Sak if you like it quiet and don’t mind spending most of your time at a luxurious resort.
We stayed at The Khao Lak Merlin Resort which was absolutely amazing. The Khao Lak Merlin Resort is an award wining natural eco resort where the rainforest meets the sea.
The resort is set in an enchanting rainforest and no trees were removed during building.
There is an abundance of wildlife here including birds, water monitors and slow loris. Guided nature walks place place within the hotel grounds early morning and at night for a chance to glimpse stunning birds and the nocturnal Slow Loris.
Our kids loved the Khao Lak Merlin Resort as it is set right on the beach so there's the option of pool or beach. There's a small games room for kids with a pool table, dart board and board games.
The Stamp Ralley was fun family activity and we learned more about the plants and wildlife in the gardens.
Find out more about this leading eco-resort and check availability here.
We were extremely lucky to see four Slow Loris on a night walk and we had a tree frog visit our room!
There's lots of space here and no stampede for sunbeds.
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