I plan to go around there too, sorry I’m local but I don’t know much about it, cuz I live on the other side of the country. I do have a few spot I mark on my road map I plan to do a motorbike road trip. But here’s the place near Khao lak that I plan to go.
Kho phra thong island
Not too far from it, it’s an island like a savanna, very close to nature. You can do kayak, trekking, camping or stay at the resort. Some say the phone signal is very low in case you have to do something online
Wang khiang khu waterfall
You can ride the bamboo raft with the tour. Not sure if there’s water all year round cuz rain season in the south and here is a bit difference, but it’s one place I want to go
if you love diving, I heard there’s underwater museum, you may have to ask the tour about more detail tho.
but if you guys come around the east part of Thailand, feel free to ask, cuz I have more detail on it as I live here
I just saw this tread, have you been here already? Yeah not far for BKK you should try Ayuthaya for ancient city, rent a motorbike (or bikecycle) and ride around the town. I don’t know much about the south cuz I live on the east side. We still have beach and island here tho may not be that pretty like in the south. But at least here is a lot less crowd and less expensive