Two new Marriott properties are headed for Khao Lak, and they're not just another pair of resorts on the Andaman coast. Marriott International has signed with KS Hotels and Resorts to open both Moxy Khao Lak Memories Beach and Matalay Khao Lak, Apartments by Marriott Bonvoy — the latter being the first time that apartment brand has appeared anywhere in Thailand. Both will sit at the northern end of Memories Beach, inside Matalay, a 200-hectare new destination being built out on Phang Nga province's coast.
Matalay is pitched as more than a resort strip: beaches, lakes, rainforest and the area's well-known surf break all sit within the site, and a 3 km dedicated jogging and cycling track will eventually link the development south to the existing JW Marriott Khao Lak Resort & Spa, which fronts 1.4 km of beach.
The Moxy will be the brand's first for Southern Thailand, with 160 rooms arranged around a freeform pool, plus a Moxy Bar & Restaurant, beach and pool bars, a large gym, and an events lawn right on the sand. The design leans retro, nodding to surfing's early days, and the property sits next to the Memories surf village — fitting for an area that draws Thailand's most famous surf break.
The apartments are the more interesting news for slow travellers. Sixty two-bedroom units of 110 sqm each come with full kitchens and washer-dryers, with pool access or ocean views — clearly aimed at families and digital nomads who want to base themselves somewhere for weeks rather than nights.
Matalay is stacking up plenty to do beyond the pool: surf lessons with the local Khao Lak surf community, kayaking on the site's lakes and lagoons, forest bathing and wellness facilities, elephant care and conservation experiences, a 36-hole mini-golf course, and live music at the beach bars.
Getting there is straightforward: both properties sit about 75 minutes by road from Phuket International Airport, which is expanding and expected to handle 18 million passengers a year by 2029 — a good sign of growing flight options into the region.
Why it matters: Khao Lak has long been the quieter alternative to Phuket, popular with divers heading to the Similans and families who want calm beaches. The arrival of a social, budget-leaning Moxy and long-stay branded apartments suggests the area is targeting a younger crowd and remote workers, not just resort holidaymakers. If your style is working mornings by the beach and surfing or kayaking after, this is a development worth watching before prices climb with the hype.
