Gay Friendly Hotels Khao Lak

Guide to Gay Friendly Hotels in Khao Lak Thailand (2023 Updated)

Generally speaking, well known hotels &  resorts in the Khao Lak are welcoming towards all LGBTQ couples and most of the 4 & 5* hotels are gay friendly Khao Lak.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in Thailand may face legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents.Both male and female same-sex sexual activity are legal in Thailand, but same-sex couples and households headed by same-sex couples are not eligible for the same legal protections available to opposite-sex couples. About eight percent of the Thai population, five million people, are thought to be in the LGBT demographic.

Khao Lak is a series of villages, now tourist-oriented, mainly in the Takua Pa District and partly in the Thai Mueang District of Phang Nga Province, Thailand. The name “Khao Lak” literally means ‘Lak mountain’. Lak mountain is one of the main peaks in the hilly small mountainous region.

Top attractions to visit in Khao Lak

 Best for tours in Khao Lak:

 

1. The Haven Khao Lak 5* – Gay Friendly Hotels Khao Lak

The Haven Khao Lak
The Haven Khao Lak

Boasting 5 outdoor pools and a restaurant, The Haven Khao Lak offers accommodation with free WiFi access in each unit. Guests can make use of the fitness centre and enjoying pampering treatments at the spa. Free private parking can be found at the property.

Located in Khao Lak, The Haven Khao Lak is 7 km from Bangnieng Afternoon Market. The property is 90 km from Phuket Airport.

Featuring pool view, each unit at The Haven Khao Lak is equipped with a private bathroom with slippers and towels.The accommodation offers an array of entertainment including a 42-inch flat-screen TV and iPod docking station. There is a fridge and a coffee/tea maker available in the unit.

The Haven Khao Lak is the redefining Luxury resort in Khao Lak which is combined of the contemporary design of the hotel set amongst the exotic background is enchanting, and as close to nature as you can get whilst still experiencing luxury travel at its best. You are surrounded by water wherever you look as we have the ocean on our doorstep, a tropical lagoon, and an impressive 5,000sqm salt water swimming pool that extends the length of the resort. The beach fronting The Haven stretches for 380 meters and is ideal for swimming and taking long romantic walks at sunset.

Checking in was lovely with welcome drink and relaxed atmosphere. Room was amazing, had a pool entry room and room was large and clean with great facilities, our room pool was large and that was not half the size of the main pool! There were plenty of pool loungers available, we never had an issue getting nice seats by the pool. Just a short skip across the wee bridge and you were on the beautiful beach, fab, clean sand. There were signs up warning about jellyfish but we went in and the water was warm and very clear.

Breakfast buffet at the hotel was fantastic, plenty each day with good variety from day to day. At least 4 different juices each day with 3 smoothies as well, I liked the smoothie of the day with it’s list of it’s healthy properties.

It is a distance from the shops etc but a short walk takes you to a wee shop where you can get the basics and a cluster of restaurants which will also do washing. There are free shuttles from the hotel to the shops and the night market and we used these a couple of times. There are also bikes you can use and it’s an easy ride to the main road and a couple of 7 eleven type shops.

Breakfast is good with a nice variety. Only used the restaurant a couple of times – the food is good, just more expensive than local restaurants which is to be expected.

Pool access rooms are absolutely worth the extra £ if you can – huge pools shared with I think a max of 12 other rooms but we very rarely had anyone in the pool the same time as us so basically private! Kept really clean throughout our stay. Didn’t use the main pool once as ours was so nice!

Rooms large, bathroom lovely and everything cleaned to a high standard every day. Lots of complimentary water provided. Glass water bottles and paper straws in cocktails was great to see.

Beach is beautiful. but I get the impression not often swimmable – lots of rip tide and jellyfish warnings. The pools are the star here though so not a major issue for us. Definitely head to the beach for sunset – stunning.

The hotel is a little secluded but they run free shuttle buses to get you around if needed. 4 or 5 fantastic restaurants 5 mins walk from the hotel, really cheap and great food.

The Haven has the biggest and most beautiful pools I’ve ever seen in any Hotel and is adults only! The flowers around the pool are simply stunning and the garden perfectly manicured. The pool is cleaned every day and believe me there are endless pools and they tirelessly clean them all day. The beach is the best in khao Lak in my opinion, we stayed at the Le Meridian in Bangsak Beach and The Khuk Khak long beach where The Haven and the newly built Devasom is located is nicer and the water clearer than Bangsak or Ko Kho Khao Island. The temperature at this time of the year was perfect, averaged 30 degrees and there was no rain during our stay. Mosquitos absolutely gorge on me but I applied the local repellent every evening and survived the ordeal.

The breakfast was excellent. There was a huge selection of Thai food, salads, eggs, stir fries, fruits, vegetables, steam vegetables, pastries, cheese, yogurt and even benedict eggs! If you a vegetarian or on Keto you will find an amazing selection of the most delicious food and fruits unlike in the Maldives. The coffee and the cappuccinos were absolutely the best we had in any Hotel. Not even Starbucks or Costa make such a great cappuccino. I should have checked which brand of coffee machine they use!

The bar, the pools and the whole Hotel felt very cosy and intimate despite being busy. The hotel held yoga and other activities but we did not take part in any as we were busy sleeping and dreaming about the huge schools of fish and Barracudas we saw at Richelieu Rock. The gym had more than adequate equipment.

Gay Friendly Hotels Khao Lak
Gay Friendly Hotels Khao Lak

How much does a room costs at The Haven Khao Lak?

Prices start 90 $/night for Deluxe Double Room – Adults Only. The Oceanfront Jacuzzi Villa – Adults Only is  224$/room per night with breakfast included – if coming on a honeymoon this is the perfect choice for gay couples.

Villa features a private spa bath and separate living corner. It also comes with a Nespresso machine. You can enjoy a sea view from all the rooms.

Where to book online – The Haven Khao Lak – Gay Friendly Hotels Khao Lak you can find the best hotels deals in Khao Lak during Phang-Nga Festival which is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Khao Lak on Booking.com or  Trip.com and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.

 

2. The Sarojin 5* – Gay Friendly Hotels Khao Lak

The Sarojin
The Sarojin

Located in Khaolak, The Sarojin offers a lush tropical garden setting with direct access to a secluded beach area. Surrounded by national parks and rainforests, it offers a tropical retreat 1-hour by car from Phuket.

Rooms at The Sarojin are set within landscaped gardens of local flowers and exotic fruits. Each room is equipped with a bluetooth speaker and free WiFi access. Afternoons can be spent lazing at the Thai-style outdoor pavilion while enjoying coffee from the minibar.

This luxurious resort is less than 1-hour by boat from the famous diving spots at Similan and Surin Islands, available between November and April. Magnificent natural limestone caves and lagoons at Phang Nga Bay are just 40-minutes by boat away.

Multi award winning luxurious boutique beach resort, just 55 minutes from Phuket on a stunning, secluded white sand beach in Khao Lak. Exceptional personal services, top class facilities. Ideal for couples, romantic breaks, honeymoons, weddings and adult family groups. Designed in a contemporary Asian style with just 56 luxurious guest residences.

Wide range of activities and facilities – cruise on a luxury boat, jungle adventures complete with champagne, glimpse authentic Thai local life in association with responsible and sustainable tourism commitment, rejuvenating spa massages lulled by the sounds of the Andaman sea, Thai cooking classes, lazy gourmet lunches, romantic diners on a secluded beach or by a candlelit jungle waterfall …The limits are only your imagination.

The Sarojin is wonderful and we were so glad we chose it for our holiday. Set in beautiful gardens with access to a great beach and a beautiful pool area. The food at the 2 restaurants was excellent. We mostly ate at the hotel but tried some of the local restaurants on the beach too which were great value. We loved watching the sunset with a cocktail at the ‘Edge’ bar at the end of each day. The all day breakfast is exceptional & a great idea.

Great design with residences around the outside that are screened by landscaping. As you move around the inside – where one of the restaurants and the pool are- they are barely visible which creates the peaceful environment. The rooms are great – high quality and fantastic open bathroom that feels like it’s outside (but it’s not). The food was excellent and an a la carte breakfast adds to the feeling of quality. The pool area is magnificent adding to the style of the whole property. On top of this there are a series of activities and dining experiences that have been carefully crafted for couples. This was the highlight for us.

We did the waterfall dinner which was amazing and truly unique – I can’t imagine it can be topped anywhere in the world!! We also did a tour to Phang Nga Bay and the Thai cooking class. Everything had extra touches designed for couples and exceeded our expectations. The beach the property is on is beautiful and had a number of cheaper and fun restaurant and bar options. We loved our stay and recommend it unreservedly.

The surrounding gardens, pool area and beach are all gorgeous and very well kept. There was never an issue getting a sunbed and the pool/beach attendants were brilliant, organising sunbeds, towels and keeping you constantly supplied with ice cold water. The all day breakfast was amazing, such a good idea and very nice to be able to sit and order off a menu. Another nice idea was the weekly managers drinks reception, it certainly feels as if the excellent staff are very valued by management. We also made use of the complimentary bikes that the hotel have available and cycled to the local waterfall.
We did the Similan islands trip on the Lady Sarojin speedboat, it was a fabulous day out. The boat was amazing and the Sarojin staff were brilliant, the lunch was beautiful. The islands get very busy but the guys did a great job of avoiding the crowds. We also used the hotel transfer service from the airport which was very good, it’s at least a 90 minute drive each way.

The accommodation was as spacious as it was impressive, set out across a lounge area, huge bedroom with two loos and two showers (one outdoors). All furnishings and interior design contemporary and cool. Outside, a terrace with soft furnishings and jacuzzi spa pool, the only gripes here being the temperature of the water (a little on the cool side) and the lack of a view (you stare into a hedge). The hotel oozes understated, unobtrusive service at every level, from the pool (ice cold water topped up all day long without even a murmur) – special mention here to the excellent Tu. Small treats and surprises are brought to you without warning through the day.

Gay Friendly Hotels Khao Lak
Gay Friendly Hotels Khao Lak

How much does a room costs at The Sarojin?

Prices start 567 $/night for Garden Residence. The Spa Pool Suite is  909$/room per night with breakfast included – if coming on a honeymoon this is the perfect choice for gay couples.

This suite has a wine fridge, a minibar and a balcony.

Where to book online –The Sarojin – Gay Friendly Hotels Khao Lak you can find the best hotels deals in Khao Lak during Phang-Nga Festival which is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Khao Lak on Booking.com or  Trip.com and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.

 

3. The Retreat Khaolak Resort 3*Gay Friendly Hotels Khao Lak

The Retreat Khaolak Resort
The Retreat Khaolak Resort

Set within a 15-minute walk from Khukkhak Beach, The Retreat Khaolak Resort offers modern rooms with balcony and free WiFi. Guests can enjoy at an outdoor pool or arrange trips using motorbike or bicycle rental services at the front desk.

Rooms at The Retreat Khaolak Resort are fitted with tiled flooring. It comes with air-conditioning, a TV and a refrigerator. Shower facilities are included in a private bathroom.

For guests’ convenience, the resort provides free private parking. Drinks are served at the on-site bar.

The Retreat Khaolak Resort; the boutique resort located 1 km. from Khukkhak beach. With the tropical garden surrounded, the property is steps closer from Khukkhak canal. An hour from Phuket international airport, The Retreat is a tranquil paradise by its located, framed by the canal and the tropical garden. The conceptual is the place to escape and recharge each own from the messy of the city.

No reason to look for other accommodation, unless you want to overpay your seaside holiday in and around Khao Lak.The Retreat is your choice, a brand new small family hotel in a quiet garden 1km from the beach and 400m from the best restaurant in the area.

For a small fee you can take a motorcycle, or a free bicycle. A taxi service by minivan can drive customers to and from the Phuket Airport, or elsewhere, at quite reasonable prices.

All rooms both at ground floor and first floor overlook the superclean swimming pool with hydromassage corner. Rooms are airy, large and provided with everything you may need: silent aircon, minibar,tv set, mosquito net, wardrobe, comfortable queen size bed, bright lights, large rain shower separate from the toilet, balcony with chairs and table. Indoor and beach towels are changed daily. Huge breakfast is served around the swimming pool until 10 in the morning.

Set inland, 4 km from our previous hotel in the centre of Khao Lak town, it’s a small hotel run by a family with Mr Aob the main contact. Rooms are simple, clean and lovely, with breakfast served in an area next to the small pool. Breakfast was limited choice, but good and even given a passion fruit straight from his garden to eat!

Service with a smile and nothing was too much trouble. Organised a trip to Surin, airport transfers, beach bar recommendations (family and friends!)
Free bikes to use and we made the most of cycling the short 1.8km to the beach and 600m to #1 TA restaurant Pam’s (also recommended and separate review!) – cycling back at night down the lanes was magical!

Overall a great stay with a different slant on being in Khao Lak, but for those who enjoy a bit more of an experience than laying by a pool all day!

This is a hidden gem. It’s not til you step inside the property, surrounded by vegetation and abutting a little stream, that you can appreciate just how good it is for the price.

You save because it is 1.7km from the beach BUT it is an easy and pretty bike ride to Khuk Khak beach and bikes are provided free of charge. There is 1 bike per guest too.

The rooms are super clean, spacious and well laid out -all look onto the small but refreshing pool.
Breakfast is delicious (just missing ‘real’ coffee) and the small bar offers beer.

What stands out most is the beautiful family who run this and the exceptional service they offer. Truly nothing is too much trouble and they jump in and do things like check the bike tyres before you ride off etc etc.

The lovely Pam’s restaurant is just 500m away and the bars/massages etc on Khuk Khak beach means you can just hang out in this little spot and chill out for a few days, which we happily did. Highly recommended.

How much does a room costs at The Retreat Khaolak Resort?

Prices start 89 $/night for Deluxe Double Room with Balcony

This double room has a balcony, executive lounge access and minibar.

Where to book online –The Retreat Khaolak Resort – Gay Friendly Hotels Khao Lak you can find the best hotels deals in Khao Lak during Phang-Nga Festival which is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Khao Lak on Booking.com or  Trip.com and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.

 

 

 

by Sorin

Sorin is a freelance travel writer. He is an experienced travel writer and traveller. Since 2012 he explored more than 60 countries on 4 continents: Asia, Europe, Africa and North America. Currently is based in Romania after spending the last 7 years in Myanmar.