Finding your way
to Koh Kho Khao
An enjoyable daytrip from
Khao Lak and even Phuket, plan to take at little extra time as you
may want to stop at the
Baan Nam Khem Tsunami Memorial along the way. You can
easily spend six or more hours if you stop and enjoy a local
restaurant or two and really give the island a look over.
Kho Khao Island is a
relatively undiscovered paradise and very worth a visit.
Head north from Khao Lak
towards Takuapa and turn left after the #82 kilometer stone. If you
get to #83 - you went too far. Follow a somewhat winding main road
to the ferry area.
The ferry runs from about
7am to 6pm - if you are in a car leave enough time to make sure you
get back or you will be stranded on the island overnight. If you
are on a motorbike there are long tail boats at the dock that will
take you across the bay.
The ferry costs B150 for
cars and B20 plus B20 per person for motorbikes - but the prices
seem to vary from time to time so be prepared to pay a bit more
(probably in high season) and be happy if you get to pay a bit less.
The ferry journey is short,
usually only about ten minutes, but the ferry often waits until it
is fully loaded before departing and that can take 20-30 minutes or
more sometimes.
Once on the island there is
a long road that runs north to south - quite devoid of traffic and
you can journey the full length of the island from this road rather
easily.
Head down the roads that go
west from that road and you will generally head to beaches and one
of the resorts in the area. Those roads are usually paved. The
roads to the right head into the countryside and small villages and
are usually dirt and can be rough. More and more of they roads
are getting pavement lately so it is even easier to get around these
days.
Keep your eyes open for
interesting bird life on the power lines - lots of kingfishers
especially - and iguanas sunning themselves on the road. Or vice
versa!
Drive to the far north of
the island to find an old Japanese airstrip used during WWII and
more beautiful beaches. The area is scheduled to become a regional
airport for Phang Nga Province.
Take your time and enjoy the
solitude of this area! Consider staying on the island some time if
you don't mind a very relaxed and quiet time. You'll find resort
prices here to usually be less than in the Khao Lak area.
These beautiful beaches can
be yours alone! |
