Frequently Asked Questions

In Thailand, traffic drives on the left and the steering wheel is on the right side of the vehicle. Overtaking is done on the right.

No. Foreign drivers are legally required to carry both their original national driving licence and a valid International Driving Permit (IDP) at all times.

Night driving carries higher risk because of unlit motorbikes, stray animals, and limited street lighting outside town centres. Where you can, drive during daylight hours.

The general legal limit is 0.05% blood alcohol concentration, and a stricter 0.02% applies to new or provisional drivers. The safest approach is simply not to drink and drive.

Parking is generally free at the main beaches, supermarkets and attractions in the area, which makes driving very convenient compared with nearby Phuket.

You cannot obtain an IDP inside Thailand as a tourist. You must apply for and receive your IDP in your home country before you travel.

Yes. You must carry both your valid original home-country driver's licence and an International Driving Permit (IDP) in either the 1949 or 1968 convention. Thai law requires the IDP, so driving without one risks police fines and can void your rental insurance.

Khao Lak has no airport of its own. Visitors typically fly into Phuket International Airport (HKT) and drive approximately 80 kilometres north along Highway 4. The journey takes about 1 to 1.5 hours, and there are no tolls or ferries along the route.

International chains at Phuket Airport require a credit card hold ranging from 5,000 to 20,000 THB. Local operators in Khao Lak often allow cash deposits instead. You should never hand over your physical passport as a deposit.

Economy cars generally cost between 800 and 1,200 THB per day during the low season (May to October) and rise to 1,500 to 2,500 THB per day in the high season (November to April). Booking online in advance is usually 20% to 40% cheaper than walking in.

No. Standard Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) policies typically exclude water and flood damage, along with tyres, glass, and the undercarriage. This is an important consideration during the wet monsoon season from May to October.

Yes. Many international airport chains support one-way rentals, though they typically charge a provincial border drop-off fee ranging from 1,000 to 3,000 THB depending on the supplier and rental duration.

Bang Sak and Pak Weep in the north offer gently sloping, relatively safe swimming. In the central area, the southern end of Bang Niang and the calmer water north of Pakarang Cape (Coconut and White Sand Beach) are also good choices.

Yes. Beach parking is generally free at the access points along the coast, which makes exploring the area by car very convenient.

Memories Beach, at the northern end of Khuk Khak, is the main local surf spot. The access road is a rough dirt track, so an SUV or higher-clearance vehicle helps.

Swimming at Thai Mueang is dangerous because of a steep underwater drop-off. The beach is best known as a quiet turtle-nesting site rather than a safe swimming spot.

The monsoon runs from May to October, bringing rough seas, strong rip currents and sudden surf. Always follow the beach flag system, where a red flag means no swimming.

No, Khao Lak does not have its own airport. The closest is Phuket International Airport (HKT), about 80 kilometres south of central Khao Lak.

No. There are no road tolls or ferry crossings on this route. The drive is entirely on public highways, crossing the bridge from Phuket to the mainland.

Major rental brands at Phuket Airport usually require a security deposit of around 5,000 THB, held on your credit card at the time of pickup.

Yes, but arrange it in advance. Many desks at HKT close between 20:00 and midnight, and late-night pickups often carry an out-of-hours fee, roughly 535 THB for providers like Hertz.

For a multi-day liveaboard trip, it is best to leave your car at your hotel and use the dive operator's transfer. Tap Lamu Pier is an active, unsecured working port.

No. The islands are reached only by boat. You drive your rental car to the departure pier — Tap Lamu for the Similans (about 15 minutes south) or Khuraburi for the Surins (about 1 to 1.5 hours north) — and join a speedboat or liveaboard from there.

The foreigner entry fee is 500 THB for adults and 250 THB for children. Certified divers pay an additional 200 THB for each day of diving.

No. Both parks close each year for the monsoon to protect the marine ecosystem and keep passengers safe. They typically reopen on 15 October and close around mid-May, though the exact closing date is approximate.

Overnight stays on the Similan Islands have been banned since 2018 to limit environmental damage. The only way to sleep in the area is aboard an approved liveaboard diving vessel.

The main headquarters at Khlong Sok is about 70 kilometres from Khao Lak, a drive of roughly 1 to 1.5 hours via Highway 4 and Route 401.

Yes. Both the Police Boat 813 site in Bang Niang and the Ban Nam Khem Tsunami Memorial Park have dedicated visitor parking, free of charge.