National park · Thailand
Khao Lampi-Hat Thai Mueang National Parkอุทยานแห่งชาติเขาลำปี-หาดท้ายเหมือง
Give it one full day from Khao Lak or Phuket: Lampi waterfall and the 1 km (0.6 mi) nature trail in the morning, Thai Mueang Beach and the reef in the afternoon; skip it if you only want a beach, because the sand is unprotected and the surf is rough in the monsoon.Give it one full day from Khao Lak or Phuket: Lampi waterfall and the 0.6 mi (1 km) nature trail in the morning, Thai Mueang Beach and the reef in the afternoon; skip it if you only want a beach, because the sand is unprotected and the surf is rough in the monsoon.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
72 km² (28 sq mi)28 sq mi (72 km²)
approximate
Established
1986
Best months
Dec–Mar
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 6Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore…
- Southeast Asia ↗Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Brunei and Myanmar; never carry a bag or parcel for anyone.
- Southeast Asia ↗Carry a passport valid for at least six months from entry with two blank pages; airlines refuse boarding on less.
- Thailand ↗Check entry rules and any arrival card on the official Thai government sites for your passport; visa-exempt stays and pre-arrival forms change.
- Thailand ↗Do not criticise or mock the monarchy: insulting the royal family is a criminal offence.
- Thailand ↗Temples and palaces: shoulders and knees covered, shoes off before entering halls.
- Thailand ↗E-cigarettes and vapes are illegal to import or use; do not pack them.
At a glance
- Country
- Thailand
- Area
- 72 km² (28 sq mi)28 sq mi (72 km²)
- About 72 km² (45,000 rai) across the Lampi range and the beach strip (check).
- Established
- 1986
- Best months
- Dec–Mar
- Permits
- For some areas
Khao Lampi-Hat Thai Mueang is two parks in one: a small mountain range with two waterfalls and rainforest trails, and a 10 km Andaman beach that is still a leatherback and olive ridley nesting site. It sits right on Route 4 between Phuket airport and Khao Lak, so it works as a half-day break in a transfer or a full day from either base. There is little resort development, no island ferries and no dive-boat circus — the draw is the reef 400–700 m offshore, the mangrove and swamp forest behind the sand, and the turtles if you come in the nesting months.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1986.
Size and age
72 km² (28 sq mi)28 sq mi (72 km²) · national park since 1986
About 72 km² (45,000 rai) across the Lampi range and the beach strip (check).
Why go
- A 10 km (6.2 mi) beach with almost no buildings behind it, 30 min from the Khao Lak resorts.A 6.2 mi (10 km) beach with almost no buildings behind it, 30 min from the Khao Lak resorts.
- Two waterfalls and paved forest trails that stay walkable in the wet season.
- A reef 400–700 m off the sand with over 100 coral types, reachable without a liveaboard.
- Real conservation: rangers patrol for nesting leatherbacks and olive ridleys and move eggs to a beach nursery.
When to go
- JanBest
- FebBest
- MarBest
- AprGo
- MayCaution
- JunCaution
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepCaution
- OctCaution
- NovGo
- DecBest
- JanDry, clear; turtle nesting underway
- FebDry and hot; calm sea for snorkelling
- MarHottest, driest; sea turtle festival on 1 Mar
- AprLate nesting; heat builds before the rains
- MaySouthwest monsoon starts; surf and rain
- JunWet; waterfalls full, beach swimming unsafe
- JulWettest stretch; trails muddy
- AugHeavy rain and rough sea
- SepRain eases late; still rough water
- OctMonsoon tail; occasional heavy rain
- NovDrying out; northeast winds can bring rain
- DecDry season starts; nesting season begins
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leatherback and olive ridley turtles nestingNov–Apr · Nests are moved to a beach nursery; hatchlings released after about 60 days. | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes |
| Migratory shorebirds on the sand flatsDec–Apr | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes |
| Reef fish: parrotfish, moray eel, nurse sharkDec–Apr · Visibility depends on the monsoon; the reef is silty in the wet season. | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes |
| Long-tailed macaques and civets in the forestAll year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Phuket airport
Drive north on Route 4 past Thai Mueang town; the park turnoff is near km 820 (mile 510), then 6 km (3.7 mi) to headquarters.Drive north on Route 4 past Thai Mueang town; the park turnoff is near mile 510 (km 820), then 3.7 mi (6 km) to headquarters.
1–1.5 h
Open the page →
From Khao Lak
South on Route 4 to the same turnoff; a car or taxi is easiest, or any Phuket-bound bus drops you at the junction.
30–45 min
From Phuket Town
Bus or minivan toward Khao Lak, ask to be let off at the park turnoff, then walk or hitch to headquarters.
1.5–2 h
Open the page →
From Northern Andaman Coast plan
Where this park fits between Phuket, Khao Lak and the Similan boats.
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Thai Mueang Beach and headquarters | The 10 km (6.2 mi) sand strip, the reef offshore, the turtle nursery and the park office.The 6.2 mi (10 km) sand strip, the reef offshore, the turtle nursery and the park office. | Open with a ticket; swimming only in the dry season. |
| Pang nature trails | Two loop trails through beach forest, swamp forest and mangrove, plus the old tin dredge. | Open; short and flat, canoes at the mangrove bridge. |
| Lampi waterfall sector | Rainforest, the 40 m Lampi falls and the 1 km (0.6 mi) trail to the top.Rainforest, the 40 m Lampi falls and the 0.6 mi (1 km) trail to the top. | Open with a ticket; reached by a side road off Route 4. |
| Naa Yak Mountain and savannah | Viewpoint over the beach and the grassy hills, 6 km (3.7 mi) from headquarters.Viewpoint over the beach and the grassy hills, 3.7 mi (6 km) from headquarters. | By truck or ATV; snorkelling below in calm conditions. |
Sketch map
- 1Park headquarters · Headquarters≈8.423, 98.241Approximate; off Route 4 near km 820 (mile 510).Approximate; off Route 4 near mile 510 (km 820).Map ↗
- 2Thai Mueang Beach · Beach≈8.440, 98.240Approximate.Map ↗
- 3Lampi waterfall · Trail≈8.470, 98.290Approximate; about 14 km (8.7 mi) from headquarters.Approximate; about 8.7 mi (14 km) from headquarters.Map ↗
- 4Pang nature trails · Trail≈8.450, 98.250Approximate; about 5 km (3.1 mi) north of headquarters.Approximate; about 3.1 mi (5 km) north of headquarters.Map ↗
- 5Naa Yak Mountain · Viewpoint≈8.410, 98.230Approximate; 6 km (3.7 mi) from headquarters.Approximate; 3.7 mi (6 km) from headquarters.Map ↗
- 6Thai Mueang town · Town≈8.400, 98.260Approximate.Map ↗
Take the points offline
6 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Approximate positions for orientation only; the park stretches along the coast either side of Route 4.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry, Thai adult | THB 20–40 (≈ US$1–2) | person | Standard Thai national park rate; confirm at the gate (check). |
| Park entry, foreign adult | THB 100–200 (≈ US$4–7) | person | 2026 estimate; Thai parks commonly charge foreigners more (check). |
| Park entry, child | THB 50–100 (≈ US$2–4) | person | Foreign child rate; Thai children usually free (check). |
| Park bungalow | THB 1,000 (≈ US$35) | night | Air-conditioned, hot water, fridge; book through the park office (check). |
| Camping tent rental | THB 200 (≈ US$7) | night | Bring your own sleeping bag (check). |
| Canoe or ATV rental | THB 200–500 (≈ US$7–16) | hour | Park-run; rates vary by vehicle (check). |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry ticket permit or guide
Bungalow or tent booking no permit
Reef trip no permit
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- ฿20–40≈ US$1–2
- ฿100–200≈ US$4–7
- ฿50–100≈ US$2–4
- ฿1,000≈ US$35
- ฿200≈ US$7
- ฿200–500≈ US$7–16
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Confirm on Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation — Khao Lampi-Hat Thai Mueang before you go.
Park rules
- Turtle nests
- Do not touch nests, eggs or hatchlings; stay behind the ranger line and keep lights off the sand at night.
- Swimming
- Swim only in the dry season; the southwest monsoon brings rip currents and red-flag conditions from about May to October.
- Reef
- No anchoring on coral and no standing on the reef; use the park's boats and moorings.
- Litter and wildlife feeding
- Carry out all rubbish and do not feed the macaques.
- Drones
- Not allowed without permission from the park (check).check
Where to stay
In the park
Park bungalows and tents
Air-conditioned bungalows with hot water and a fridge, plus tent rental, at headquarters (check).
Near the park
Thai Mueang town
Guesthouses and small hotels 6 km (3.7 mi) from headquarters, with the seafood restaurants and market.Guesthouses and small hotels 3.7 mi (6 km) from headquarters, with the seafood restaurants and market.
Near the park
Khao Lak
The widest choice of resorts, 30–45 min south on Route 4.
Safety
Rip currents and rough surf high
Heat and humidity on the trails medium
Slippery paved trails after rain medium
Jellyfish and reef cuts low
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- The Lampi waterfall path from the car park is paved and short, but the upper 1 km (0.6 mi) trail is steep.The Lampi waterfall path from the car park is paved and short, but the upper 0.6 mi (1 km) trail is steep.
- The Pang nature trails are flat loops on firm ground; the mangrove bridge is narrow.
- The beach itself has no boardwalk; sand access is difficult for wheelchairs.
Visiting lightly
- Join a mangrove planting session if the park is running one; the canal forest is the park's storm barrier.
- Book reef trips through the park rather than private boats that anchor on coral.
- Never buy turtle eggs or shell products in Thai Mueang town; poaching is the main threat to the nests.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Khao Lampi-Hat Thai Mueang National Park?
Thai parks charge residents and foreign visitors different rates. Expect roughly 20–40 THB for Thai adults and 100–200 THB for foreign adults, with children at about half, as a 2026 estimate. Confirm at the gate, and keep the ticket for the day.
What are the best hikes in Khao Lampi-Hat Thai Mueang National Park?
The Lampi waterfall path is the easiest: paved from the car park to a 40 m fall with a pool, then a 1 km trail to the top. The Pang nature trails, 5 km north of headquarters, are two flat loops of 1 km and 500 m through beach, swamp and mangrove forest. Both are short; there is no long mountain trek here.
When is the best time to visit Khao Lampi-Hat Thai Mueang National Park?
December to April. That is the dry season, the sea is calm enough to snorkel the reef, and it overlaps the turtle nesting season from November to April. May to October is the southwest monsoon: heavy rain, rough surf and no safe swimming.
Can I see sea turtles?
Only in the nesting season, November to April, and never guaranteed. Rangers patrol at night and move eggs to a nursery on the beach; hatchlings are released after about 60 days. Ask at headquarters whether a patrol is running.
Do I need a car to get there?
It helps. The park turnoff is on Route 4 near km 820, about 6 km from Thai Mueang town and 30–45 min from Khao Lak. Buses between Phuket and Khao Lak will drop you at the junction, but you then have a walk or a lift to headquarters.
Can I stay inside the park?
Yes. The park rents air-conditioned bungalows and tents at headquarters, and there are guesthouses and seafood restaurants in Thai Mueang town 6 km away. Book bungalows ahead in the December–April high season.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go
Show the detailsHide
Sources
- officialDepartment of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation — Khao Lampi-Hat Thai Mueang
- officialTourism Authority of Thailand — Phang Nga
- secondaryWikipedia — Khao Lampi–Hat Thai Mueang National Park
- secondaryWikivoyage: Khao Lampi-Hat Thai Mueang National Park, revision 4328002 (CC BY-SA 4.0)