Khanom Pink Dolphins
Boat Trips, Khao Phlai Dam & Koh Nui Nok

🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026

Most people know Nakhon Si Thammarat for Wat Phra Mahathat and the Ai Khai shrine, but the coastal side of the province has things that are hard to find elsewhere — especially in Khanom district, home to a pod of pink dolphins, or Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins, that actually live in this bay as residents. These aren't captive dolphins kept for a show; they're wild animals in their natural habitat. Watching one surface to breathe out in the open sea feels nothing like a regular beach day. This article covers everything from how to catch a boat to the spots around Khanom worth fitting into a single trip.

What are the Khanom pink dolphins, and why come see them?

The pink dolphins at Khanom are Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins. As calves they're greyish, and as they grow the colour slowly shifts to a pinkish-white — the older they get, the pinker they look. It's the natural colour of their skin, not dyed or staged. This pod feeds in Khanom Bay and the islands around it all year because the water is shallow and full of fish. You'll most often see them around Ao Thong Nian, Ao Talet, and the waters off Koh Nui. The nice part is you don't have to sit on a boat for an hour like with whale-watching elsewhere — some days you're not even ten minutes out of the pier before a fin breaks the surface.

Which season makes the dolphins easiest to spot?

The dolphins are in Khanom Bay year-round, but your odds aren't the same every month. The window locals point to as easiest — and when the sea cooperates — is roughly March to September. The water is fairly calm, fish come in, and the dolphins feed close to shore, so some stretches give you very high chances. During the monsoon late in the year the swell picks up, boats struggle to head out, and the dolphins retreat to deeper water, so spotting them gets harder. Whatever the season, it's best to set out early, around 7–8 a.m., when the water is calm and the dolphins are feeding.

• March–September — the best window: calm sea, high chances, ideal if you're planning a trip specifically for the dolphins.
• October–February — the rainy and monsoon season, with strong swell; some days boats don't go out. Check the forecast and phone the pier first.
• Every season — an early-morning departure beats a late one, because the water is calmer and the sun isn't yet harsh.

Where do you catch the boat, and how much does it cost?

Dolphin-watching at Khanom means catching a boat with local villagers, not joining a big tour. There are several piers to choose from, each run by a group of fishermen or a community-tourism group that has turned to taking visitors out. Prices are per boat, not per person — one boat seats several people, so the more of you there are, the cheaper it works out. A normal trip runs about 2 hours, covering both the dolphins and a stop or two elsewhere in the bay.

Koh Nui Nok: a freshwater pool in the sea and Luang Pu Thuat

Koh Nui is a cluster of small rocky islands in Thong Nian sub-district, split into Koh Nui Nai, Koh Nui Nok, and Koh Nui. The one people come for is Koh Nui Nok, because of a pool in a crack between the rocks that holds fresh water even though it sits in the middle of the salt sea. At high tide the sea floods over it; when the tide drops, you see a clear freshwater pool. The legend goes that Luang Pu Thuat was travelling through these waters and ran out of fresh water, so he dipped his foot into the sea and turned it fresh — which is why people come to pay respects to Luang Pu Thuat at the shrine on the island. There are steps up and a pretty viewpoint. A round trip by boat from Laem Prathap pier takes about 2 hours and can be combined with the dolphins in one run.

• The freshwater pool in the rock — a freshwater pool out in the sea that appears at low tide; check the tide table with your boat driver first so you arrive when the pool is clearly visible.
• Luang Pu Thuat shrine — there are steps up to pay your respects, a spot southern Thais hold in great faith. Dress modestly.
• Viewpoint on the island — looking out over the Khanom sea and the islands around it; a photo angle a lot of people love.
• Clear water around the island — in places the water is clear enough for a shallow dip, though it's not a deep-diving spot — better for an easy soak than serious snorkelling.

Khao Phlai Dam: the coastal road locals call the south's prettiest

Khao Phlai Dam is a seaside mountain right on the boundary between Khanom and Sichon districts, about 86 km from the city of Nakhon Si Thammarat. The Khanom–Khao Phlai Dam road runs along the coast, winding around the mountainside, with clear blue sea on one side and green forest and coconut groves on the other. Many people rate it as one of the prettiest coastal roads in the south. Along the way there are viewpoints to pull over and photograph the curving road hugging the hill, looking down on the wide sweep of Ao Thong Yang. Best driven in the early morning or evening when the sun is soft.

Quiet beaches around Khanom that haven't been overrun

Khanom isn't only about the dolphins. Its long coastline has small beaches that aren't as crowded as Hua Hin or Pattaya — many with white sand, clear water and few people, ideal if you want a calm stretch of sea to sit by for a long while.

• Nai Phlao Beach — Khanom's main beach, long and white-sanded, with places to stay and seafood restaurants right on the sand. A good base for an overnight.
• Thong Ching–Thong Nod Beach — quiet beaches south of Khanom, few people and clear water, good for a stroll in the breeze.
• Kho Khao Beach — a small, calm beach, good for photos and an undisturbed chill.
• Khao Phlai Dam Beach — a wide, still very natural beach at the Khanom–Sichon boundary, a favourite of people who love quiet.

Planning a Khanom trip that fits together

Khanom is about an hour and a half by car from the city of Nakhon Si Thammarat, so most people stay overnight in Khanom or stop on the way up to Surat Thani. We've laid out two plans — a morning-out-and-back version and an overnight version that covers everything.

How to get to Khanom

• Private car / rental — the easiest option. About 90–100 km from the city of Nakhon, roughly an hour and a half, giving you the freedom to stop at Khao Phlai Dam and the quiet beaches.
• From Nakhon airport — rent or charter a car at the airport and head north straight to Khanom without going into the city.
• From Koh Samui — Khanom sits across the bay from Samui; take a ferry to the Don Sak–Khanom side and continue by road.
• Public transport — there are vans and buses into Khanom town, but the sights are spread out, so without your own car you'll want to charter one locally.