It may be the middle of winter, but in the Similan Islands, it sure doesn't feel like it in December, with warm temperatures and low rainfall amounts. This month is one of the most popular with visitors who are looking to escape the cold and snow of other areas of the world. Even though it's the coldest month out of the year, with an average daily temperature of 27°C (about 81°F), it's still much warmer than the UK during this time.
The lows drop down to 23°C (around 74°F), so even at night, it's still warm enough to sit outside with a cold drink and enjoy the evening. During the heat of the day, you can expect highs to get up to a balmy 31°C (around 88°F). With the breezes blowing in from the south, it won't feel as stifling or humid. You'll want to pack your summer clothing, including short-sleeved shirts and shorts.
You'll also want to bring along your sunglasses, hat and a high-SPF sunscreen. The UV index is high throughout this part of the world, so you'll want to wear sunscreen each day to avoid a nasty sunburn. You'll get eight hours of sunshine each day, plenty of time to explore the islands and still spend time on the beach or sitting out by the pool. With a 20% chance of clouds, as well as a 20% chance of a rainy day, you'll have fantastic weather whatever you decide to do.
This area of Thailand gets 48mm of rainfall, coming over seven days in the month. Don't worry about bringing the umbrella or a poncho; more than likely, you won't need either during your stay. Compared to the previous months, the water temperature has dropped, down to 27°C (around 81°F), but it's still nicely warm for swimming and scuba diving.
Where to Stay
Like nothing else you'll see in the area, Casa de La Flora has contemporary and modern facilities that incorporate the gorgeous natural surroundings. It's one of the newest hotels in the Khao Lak area and boasts one-bedroom suites and one and two-bedroom villas that overlook the beautiful beach and Andaman Sea. Amenities include eco-friendly touches, on-site restaurant, infinity pool, swim-up pool bar, spa, business centre and library, and tour services.
Consistently ranking as Khao Lak's top hotel and resort, the Chongfah Beach Resort offers an intimate and private setting with only 30 guest rooms. All of the rooms come with a stocked minibar, air-conditioning, beach umbrellas to use down by the sea, and televisions. You can choose from a spacious room or upgrade to the bungalows with even more space and amenities. Guests enjoy a swimming pool, restaurant, mountain bike rentals, laundry service and concierge desk.
Offering four-star, adult-only accommodations, the Khaolak Oriental Resort is a quaint and quiet boutique hotel in Khao Lak. Each of the 46 rooms has a private balcony and half of the rooms have direct access to the huge swimming pool in the centre of the resort to use in the December heat. All of the rooms have air-conditioning, satellite television, separate living room area and private bathroom. Hotel amenities include a business centre, workout facilities and restaurant.
Hit the Beach
While it's only two kilometres long, Khao Lak South Beach is the shortest of all the area beaches. It's surrounded by lush trees and lots of green flora and fauna, providing shade from the hot sunshine. Because of its location near the National Park, it is a quieter beach but still has several helpful amenities like restaurants, bars, massage huts, ATMs, and supermarkets.
Be sure to do some swimming too, with a warm sea temperature of 27°C (around 81°F) in December.
Eating and Drinking Out
You know a restaurant is good when it's always busy and that's the case with 9 Restaurant in Khao Lak. All of the food is cooked fresh when you order and includes influences from Thai and Asian cuisines. Menu favourites include noodle salad, fried fish and curry; you can even get a good old fashioned steak. The menu prices are affordable and the portions are huge, so you'll get great value too.
The Gold Elephant in Khao Lak invites guests to indulge in an authentic Thai experience with incredible cuisine and live performers. The restaurant not only feeds guests, it entertains them with its famous hot pan cooking demonstrations, where chefs prepare hot pan dishes right in front of the guests. The show also includes lots of fire and other extras and is a hit with kids and adults.
Reasonably-priced and easy to find, the Orchid Café is a great place for a quiet coffee in the afternoon. It's also open for lunch and dinner, serving up traditional Thai foods like pad Thai, mango salad, papaya salad and red curry. Everything is cooked fresh and to your liking, with the chefs personalising dishes to your tastes whenever possible. The intimate dining room is cosy and inviting.
Things to Do
Catch your own dinner on a deep-sea fishing trip with Beautiful Khaolak Joy and Fun. On the Andaman Sea adventure, you'll have the opportunity to catch tuna, barracuda, dorado, king mackerel, trevally and sailfish. The tour package includes pick up from your hotel, all the fishing equipment and gear you'll need, lunch on the boat, and soft drinks and snacks during the trip. The tour requires a minimum of two people and is open to people of all ages, including kids.
Part of the Thai Royal Navy Base outside Khao Lak, the Tublamu Navy Golf Course is a relaxed and casual place to shoot a round of golf in the beautiful December weather. Many area hotels offer specials for the golf course that include green fees, golf club rental and transportation to and from the hotel. If you visit on your own, the green fees are half-price on Mondays and Thursdays. The course also offers a basic clubhouse, pro shop, and caddie and cart rentals.
When visiting the Similan Islands, you can use one of the speedboat or sailboat companies that operate between Khao Lak and the islands, or you can charter a whole boat to yourself through Rak Talay Travel. Your personal boat charter includes a tour guide to get you to and from the islands, as well as provide information about the area. The charter package includes diving and snorkelling equipment if you want to stop on your way, as well as water, soft drinks and snacks on-board.
