Where to stay in
Nang Thong & Bang Niang (Khao Lak)

Both are in the same zone and walkable to each other. Nang Thong is busier, with denser restaurants and shops, so it's handy if you want to walk to food easily. Bang Niang is a touch quieter but has the night market and several nice beachfront resorts. Pick Nang Thong for convenience, or Bang Niang for a more relaxed feel with the market close by.

Khao Lak has no real public transport and no regular songthaew routes like bigger towns. Getting around mostly means renting a scooter or car, or calling a taxi or hotel transfer. Within the Nang Thong-Bang Niang strip you can walk comfortably, but for the Similan Islands pier, waterfalls, or Phuket airport (about an hour away), having your own wheels is far more convenient and better value.

The best window is November to April, when the sea is calm, the water is clear, and boats to the Similan Islands run (the Similan park usually opens roughly mid-October to mid-May). The rainy season from May to October brings stronger surf, some resort closures, and paused island tours, but the upside is much cheaper rooms and fewer people. If you come in the rainy months, check first that the hotel and tours you want are open.