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Ao Phang-Nga (Phang-Nga Bay) National Park
was declared a national park on April 29, 1981. It lies in the districts of Phang-Nga Town and Takua Thung and the total area is 250,000 rai (1 rai = 1,600 sq. meters). Most visitors are intent on viewing Phang-Nga Bay's bizarre landscape, which includes more than 120 singularly strange looking islands. There are many places where boats can be rented to travel Phang-Nga Bay:
Tha Dan Sullakakorn Pier (Customs Pier):
near Phang-Nga Bay Resort. Boats from small to large including ones suitable for group tours can be rented.
Surakoon (or Ka Sohm) Pier :
lies in Takua Thung. Here you will find long-tail boats seating about 6 persons each.
The pier in the area of National Park :
has long-tails holding up to eight persons each. It takes about three hours to view Phang-Nga Bay. The best season is from December to April, but because of the calm seas that prevail year round in this waveless body of water, trips to Phang-Nga are an on-going activity. Many companies in Phuket offer sight-seeing tours, and various modes of travel are possible: from long-tail boats, to sea canoes, to Chinese junks. Virtually all of them include lunch in the price of the tour. Check with your travel agent for details. Those wishing to explore on their own can charter a boat Check the rental fee listed on the signboard at the pier.
Places of interest within the Ao Phang-Nga National Park include :
Ko Panyee
This small island has a picturesque village, which rests precariously on small pilings and extends out across the water. It is inhabited chiefly by Muslim fisher folk, whose unique culture has existed, cut off from the mainland and most modern amenities, for more than a hundred years. Souvenir shops and seafood restaurants cater to visitors.
Khao Ping-Gan
The name means literally leaning mount. It is really a huge rock split in two; the smaller half has slid down and the remaining one appears now to be leaning. Though Kao Ping-gan is a very small island, Khao Tapoo or James Bond Island, is in a little bay of Khao Ping-Gan where visiting boats pull up. Tapoo means nail, and this shoreless rock projects up from the sea as its name implies flat and wide at the top, and very narrow at waterline. It is a striking sight. And the island became more famous after the James Bond adventure, The Man with the Golden Gun, was partly filmed here.
Tham Lod Grotto
This cave in Takua Thung has beautiful stalagmites and stalactites. The long tail boat can go through another side of the cave.
Hong
Hong means room, and entering this hollowed out island by boat is much like floating through a giant reception hall with two doors.
Panak Island
A cave with stagmites and stalactites, where a small stepped waterfall fo regular descent adds to the beauty, is the island's salient feature.
Khao Khien
The islet of writings is what the name means. Indeed, there are ancient depictions of animals and boats which the Fine Arts Dept. has dated back no less than 3,000 years. Low on the mountain walls just above the tideline of this shoreless island, they were presumably drawn by voyagers long ago who took refuge there during storms. The island lies on the way to Ko Panyee. Also of interest in Phang-Nga Bay National Park are the mangrove forests and swamps, cut by twisting channels, that line the mainland shores.
Places of interest in Kapong
Lamroo Waterfall
is a National Park in forested mountains. Lamroo Falls is of middle height and has 5 levels. To get there: Take the fork from Route 4090 and pass the Kapong District Office (the Amphoe) going toward Ban Lamroo about 9 kms. The falls are onward another 1 km.
Hin Lahd Waterfall
East of the District Office about 8 kms. The falls are formed by 3 streams: the Bang Yai, Khao Mai Kaew, and the Malakor, that run together at the falls. Rocks there are spread out like paving stones. Water is crystal clear.
Kapong Hot Springs
lie 8 kms. distant from the Kapong District Office. The springs temperature is 65 degreesc celcius, A regular pool has been formed of the mineral water by damming up the streams.
Places of interest in Ko Yao
Ko Yao
consists of two large islands, Ko Yao Noi and Ko Yao Yai, surrounded by many smaller islands. The total area is 137.6 sq. kms. Largely unaffected by booming developmet in nearby Phuket, Ko Yao retains its traditional Muslim culture. There are a few bungalow operations providing basic but very charming accommodations. Rental vehicles are not an option, although sometimes you can strike a deal with people at the bungalow to use their motorcycle.
Traveling to Ko Yao Yai is like traveling back in time. On Ko Yao Yai there are many interesting beaches
Tikood Bay
is a bay with a white sandy beach. On the north is a rocky point from which a very beautiful panorama can be seen. The shore is shaded by a line of casuarina trees. :
Ao khlong Son
has a white sandy beach shaded by evergreens, with variously coloured sea rocks and small boulders. In this bay you can swim, look at lovely corals during low tide, or search for shellfish.
Ao Sai
A beach with fine white sands and beautiful sea rocks. Good for swimming.
Ao Larn
is a lovely beach. Swimming is good. On the north is a headland of steep cliffs. Watch out for deep water. Travel to Ao larn is easier by boat than over land.
Ao Hin Gong
The beach is shaded by a forest of Mai Kiem (Cotylelobium Lanceolatum), which are long, straight trees. Rays and skates abound in the waters. Not suitable for swimming.
Lo Pa Raed
is a beach with fine white sands shaded along its length by a coconut plantation. A rocky cape is at the north end. Swimming is safe at Lo Pa Raed anytime.
Laem Nok-ok
A beach of many coloured rocks; good swimming anytime. On Ko Yao Noi, there are same picturesque beaches;
Hat Pasai
lies about 7 kms. from Ko Yao Noi's District Office (referred to as the amphoe). It is a white sandy beach shaded by a line of trees where swimming is safe. The islands in the distance off Krabi form a panorama in the distance.
Hat Tha Khao
is approximately 5 kms. from Ko Yao Noi's District Office. Intricately lined, colourful rocks both large and small are the attraction of this beach. Just offshore is Ko Nok, a tiny island that can be conveniently reached by foot at low tide. It is covered by very interesting wild plants and orchids.
Travel to KoYao
Boat leave for Ko Yao from Phuket, Phang-Nga and Krabi, but leaving from Phuket is the most convenient. Leave from Bang Rong Pier in Tambon Pa Khlok on Phuket's northeast shore to go to Ko Yao Noi. Passenger boats leave in the morning and charge 40 baht per person (one way). Long-tail boats can be chartered for 600-1,200 baht each way. The trip takes about 1 hour. Speed boats to Ko Yao Noi are 4,000-6,000 baht
For Ko Yao Yai, boat leaves from Tien Sin Pier at 10.00 a.m. and 2.00 p.m. It takes about 1 hour and the fare is 50 baht per person (one way). .
Travel between Ko Yao Noi and Ko Yao Yai is 20 baht. Boats leave from Ko Yao Noi's Manoh Pier and take 15 minutes to cross the channel.
Places of interest in Khuraburi
Mu Ko Similan National Park
A group of 9 small islands, 50 kms. off the west coast of Phang-nga in the Andaman Sea. The National Park covers an area of 80,000 rai. Skin Diving Magazine rated them among the ten loveliest places on Earth, because of the great natural beauty found on the islands themselves the extensive surrounding coral gardens beneath the waves. The islands are undeveloped and unspoiled; numerous species of fish, crustaceans, and other forms of sea-life abound; water clarity and diving are excellent. Similan is corrupted from the Malay Sembilan and means nine. From north to south in order the islands are : Ko Bon, Ko Ba Ngu, Ko Similan, Ko Pahyoo, Ko Miang (two islands), Ko Pahyan, Ko Payahng and Ko Hu Yong. Interesting sites include :
Ko Ba Ngu
is also called Hua Kalok or Skull Island. Beneath the waters, a field of grass and coral appears to be growing in a deep valley. Schools of fish are everywhere.
Ko Similan
is the largest island. It has a long curving bay, and beneath the waters coral reefs remain pristine. The beach is composed of fine grain sand. Diving to is strongly recommended. At the island's northern are bizarrely shaped big boulders; one looks like a soldier's boot, the other is shaped like a sailboat.
Ko Miang
is actually two islands connected and forms the second largest land mass in the group after Ko Similan. The National Park Office is here, and there is a fine beach where visitors can stay.
Ko Hu Yong
has the Similans' longest white sandy beach. From November to February sea turtles come up to lay eggs and their tracks may be seen in the sand.
Travel to the Similans
is easy from either Phang-Nga or Phuket. Chartered boats leave from Thap Lamu Pier in Thai Muang District of Phang-Nga and take about 3 hours to reach the islands. Here is also the office of National Park located. Alternatively, trips to the Similans can be arranged in Phuket. A boat trip from Patong Beach takes 3 hours by Seatran Travel Tel (076)219391-2, 213510. Divers can contact diving companies in Phuket for scuba diving excursions. Boats usually leave from Patong Beach and Chalong Bay.
A typical dive trip lasts 4 nights and 3 days, and includes 10 dives. Prices range from 9,000 to 25,000 baht, depending on the level of luxury, and include food, and accommodations. The Similans are regarded as mainly "deep water" diving.
For those wishing to stay on the Similans :
Basic accommodations are available at the National Park Office on Ko Miang and can be reserved at the Similan Islands National Park Office, Moo 1, Tambon Lam Kaen, Thai Muang District, Phang-Nga. Tel. (076) 411913-4. The best period to visit the Similans is from December through April, March being the best month, when the winds are lowest and the water is clearest.
Places of interest in Thai Muang
Thai Muang is a fair sized town and varying levels of accommodation are available.
Khao Lamphi - Hat Thai Muang National Park
was declared a national park on April 14, 1986 and covers a total area of 45,000 rai. Thai Muang is a phrase indicating the end of the mining district, and indeed this area was formerly, one of the great repositories of tin in the world. Mining has ceased, and little trace remains to the untrained eyes except in the name.
Sites of interest within the National Park.
Nam Tok Lampi
is in Mu 6 of Tambon Thai Muang off Petch Kasem Rd. (Route 4) near km 32-33. Turn left at a gravel road junction and go about 1.5 kms. The waterfall is medium sized and divided into three levels, each about 100 meters high. It flows year round.
Nam Tok Tone Prai
is a large waterfall with water flowing year round. At km. 28-29 of Petch Kasem Rd. is a gravel side road. Turn left and go for 7 kms. Then continue on foot for another kilometer. The hike to the falls is most enjoyable during dry season.
Hat Thai Muang
is a spectacular stretch of sand, 13 kms. long with clear water and an adjacent golf course, . At the Sukhabhiban Thai Muang , turn right and about 1.5 kms on the asphalt road which leads to the beach. Follow the beach road for another 5 kilometers to reach the National Park Office.The beach is clean and swimming is excellent. From November to February, sea turtles come to lay their eggs on the beach. As a result, local inhabitants customarily go view the turtles on moonlit nights.
Places of interest in Takua Thung
Takua Thung
is an old tin mining district with a history stretching back perhaps a thousand years. In former times it was a landing point for visitors from across the Indian Ocean, and the end of the line for travelers coming across the Kra Peninsula.
Hat Tanoon
From Route 4 take the road leading to Phuket, Route 402, till you reach Pak Pra, the channel separating Phuket from Phang-nga. The beach on the Phang-nga side is called Haht Tanoon. Turtles come yearly to lay their eggs. Dangerous currents in the channel.
Nam Tok Raman
is 7 kms. down the same road as Wat Suwan Khuha. It is a medium sized year round waterfall surrounded by tangled forest.
Places of interest in Takua Pa
Takua Pa Town
has a very long history based on tin mining, and was in former times the most important town on the west coast of Thailand. Accommodations of varying levels are available.
Hat Bang Sak
is in Tambon Bang Muang. The beach is a long strip of fine white sand shaded by casuarina trees and there are accommodations available for a stay. To get there,: take the Petch Kasem Road (Route 4) north toward Takua Pa Town. At kilometre 76-77 a road leads down to the beach about 1 km. onward.
Khao Lak-Lamroo National Park
covers parts of Thai Muang, Kapong, Takua Pa, and Phang-nga Town (Muang in Thai) districts, and lies about 33 kms. south of Takua Pa Town on Route 4. The main attraction
Khao Lak
is a mountain beside the sea with a shrine dedicated to the wizard of the mountain. Khao Lak Beach is rocky. To get there, turn left (if you are proceeding north from Phuket) at km. 56-57 of Route 4. You will spot the temple just before entering Tai Meuang district.
Places of interest in Thap Put
Nam Tok Tao Thong
Lies in Tambon Bo Saen fo Thap Put, about 9 kms. from the District Office in Thap Put Town. To get there use the same road that leads to Sa Nang Manora Park, the Phang-nga Krabi Rd. (Route 4), but continue towards Krabi until you reach Mu 3 of Tambon Bo Saen. You will find a general road junction where you turn and proceed down the gravel road about 11 kms.
Festivals & events what's happening on the local scene
MAJOR EVENTS
The Turtle Releasing Festival
Phang-nga Province has an annual 7-day Turtle Releasing Festival in March. Turtles raised by the Fisheries Dept. are released by festival participants into the sea at Thai Muang Beach.
Local flavor from food to handicrafts
Shopping
Artificial Flowers
are made by village women from rubber tree leaves. These are ingeniously conceived and handmade. They can be purchased from the Agricultural Dept. Office in Phang-Nga Town, and also from the Farm Women's Group in various districts. Call the Agricultural Dept. Office at (076) 412019 between 9.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. for further information.
Agricultural Products and Seafood
Phang-nga is famous for its shrimp paste, called kapi, which comes in several styles, e.g. Kapi Koh Yao and Kapi Ko Panyee. Also popular is gung siab, which is dried shrimp eaten with a kapi based spicy condiment called nam prik. These items can be found in local stores and markets everywhere. |
