Khao Lak is surrounded by National Parks. These National Parks are from the south to north:

• Ao Phangnga National Park (UNESCO World Heritage Site): The famous James Bond Island is not the reason why it became a world heritage; it's because of the unique nature and fantastic landscape.
• Tarnboke Koranee National Park: Limestone caves, -cliffs and Mangroves in the Phangnga Bay.
• Hat Thai Muang National park: 35 km south of Khao Lak, on the way to Phuket are 25 km of beach under special protection because of the last turtle nesting grounds on the mainland.
• Khao Lak Lamru National park: The local, jungle covered mountains, stretching straight from the beach to the east in the Khao Lak region.
• Similan and Surin islands: Coral fringed islands, 65 km offshore from Khao Lak, still under the top 10 in the world for diving and snorkeling
• Kao Sok and Sri Phangnga National Park: Probably the oldest rainforest on earth, the biggest National Park in Thailand with wild elephant, tiger, bear, etc.
• Laem Son National Park: The biggest Mangrove forest reserve left in Thailand, about 90km north of Khao Lak

Lamru National Park

Similan Island National Park

Because of this very special location there is a certain set of rules that the local, as well as the provincial government is enforcing. These rules aim for the protection of nature, the infrastructural development towards a sustainable, family oriented tourism. (The beach in Khao Lak is officially part of the Lamru National park). Here are some examples:

Sunset on the lagoon

Dog Galaa (a local flower)