The far south — Kantiang Bay to Bamboo Bay and Mu Ko Lanta National Park

The last stretch of the island: narrower road, degraded surface, and steep unsealed tracks down to the beaches. Bamboo Bay (Ao Mai Pai) is the southernmost beach you can reach without paying the park fee. Beyond it is Mu Ko Lanta National Park at Laem Tanod, with the Patchotiwachirapha lighthouse, two beaches and a nature trail.

Along the way

1. Bamboo Bay (Ao Mai Pai)

   rocks offshore along about half its length, a clear sandy patch roughly halfway along; monkeys steal unattended belongings

2. Khlong Chak beach, reached by an unpaved track at about 7.48

   Khlong Chak beach, reached by an unpaved track at about 7.486316, 99.085441; sources disagree on whether it is swimmable at low tide, so it depends on the tide when you arrive

3. Laem Tanod lighthouse on the clifftop, with views out toward

   Laem Tanod lighthouse on the clifftop, with views out toward the Koh Haa islands

4. The park nature trail

   about 2 km, including a 400 m section that is very steep with ropes and tree roots. This is a hike, not a stroll

5. Dusky leaf monkeys near the beach and macaques around the ca

   Dusky leaf monkeys near the beach and macaques around the car park

Road notes

The surface south of Pimalai is a mix of concrete slab, broken asphalt and short gravel sections, and the descents to Bamboo Bay and the southern beaches are steep unsealed dirt rather than road. Riders do come off here, usually going too fast downhill. Gravel is the specific problem — braking on it makes the bike slide rather than stop. Wrong route for a nervous beginner and wrong route two-up on a 125. Take a 155cc or larger, go in the morning, and turn round at any track that looks loose or sandy. Practical points: the last reliable fuel is well to the north, entry to the park for foreign visitors is 200 THB per adult and 100 THB per child aged 3–14 plus 20 THB per motorcycle (set by the Department of National Parks and subject to change — figures current August 2026), and published closing times conflict between 16:30 and 17:30, so confirm on the day rather than gamble on riding those hills in the dark. The park can also close sites at short notice for safety reasons — in June 2026 it temporarily closed three sites after Portuguese man o' war washed ashore. Macaques here will take anything left on the bike, and do not feed them.