| Tourist
Attractions in Amphoe Muang Phang Nga
Rusisawan Cave and Luk Sua Cave
These two caves are located on Khao Chang Road in the vicinity of Muang
Phangnga municipal area near Phetchakasem Highway, slightly opposite
to the Provincial Court. One can walk inside from one cave through another.
The Rusi Sawan Cave is in front of Luk Sua Cave facing the edge of Phetchakasem
Highway.The municipality utilizes this area as a public park for the
people.
Phung Chang Cave
This cave is located, in Muang Phangnga municipal area, behind the
Provincial Hall before entering Phangnga Market area make a turn via
a 500 meter asphalt road to Wat Praphat Prajimkhet where one can walk
to the cave.
Sa Nang Manora Forest Park
This, also known as Sa Nang Manora Waterfall, is located in the area
of Tambon Nop Pring Amphoe Muang. To access the park one has to use
Phangnga-Krabi route (Highway No.4) for a distance of five kilometers
where a turn is made at the Electricity Generating Station via a three
kilometer late rite road to the fall area. The park occupies an area
of 180 rai and, in general, it is a pleasant forest having various kinds
of plant and wood species. The outstanding characteristic of this park
is the fall originating from a stream flowing along the hillside and
cascading down to the big reservoir all year round.
Ao Phangnga National Park
This marine park is situated in the vicinities of Amphoe Muang, Takua
Thung, and KO Yao occupying an area of 250,000 rai and it was announced
as the national park area on April 29, 1981. To access AO Phangnga from
the township area, one has to use Highway No.4 heading southward to
Tambon Khok Kloi passing the Provincial Hall and when arriving at KM.8
make a left turn for another four kilometer distance via Highway No.4144
to Ao Phangnga National Park. At the Customs Check Point Pier one can
find boating services operated by private enterprises (besides this
pier, one can use the Surakul Pier or Kasom Pier in Amphoe Takua Thung).
Those who travel as a big group tour should use the boating service
at the Customs Pier because suitable vessels are available ihere. Sightseeing
route will commence from the pier passing Khao Machu, Khao Khian, Ko
Panyi and stops will be made at Tham Lot, Khao Tapu, Khao Phing Kan.
Attractions in The Area of Ao Phang Nga Natural
Park are :
Ko Panyi
Ko Panyi is a small flat island of about one rai. There are about
120 households and the majority of the
population earn their living from fishery, selling souvenirs and food
to tourists. There is one public school named Ban Ko Panyi School, and
the villagers are mostly Moslem.
Khao Phing Kan
This small hill is located in the area of Amphoe Takua Thung. The origin
of this name is that a rocky hill is broken apart and the smaller piece
slid down with the base sunk in the earth while the upper part still
abuts on another posing the present leaning hills. Behind Khao Phing
Kan the scenery is very picturesque and when looking afar to the sea
"Khao Tapu" is seen amidst the sea. It looks like a nail,
e.g., having a big top while the bottom part touching the sea is slim.
Tham Lot
This cave is located in Ao Phangnga area. Stalactites and stalagmites
found in the cave are very beautiful.
Khao Machu
This rocky hill has a shape similar to a dog. It is located on the
way to Ko Panyi.
Khao Hong
Khao Hong comprises small and big hills situated in a mixed-up manner
like the stage partitions of a theatre. Looking around on a boat when
sailing in, one will feel like staying in a big hall having two doors.
Tourists mostly do not visit Khao Hong because it is located outside
the usual sightseeing route. To visit it properly, careful timing must
be taken into consideration to match with the proper tide level because
its beauty will be decreased by too high a tide while too Iowa tide
requires smaller vessel for boating inside the area.
Ko Phanak
Ko Phanak is a beautiful island having various stalactites and stalagmites
caves with small levelled waterfalls inside.
Tham Kaeo
This cave is a home of swallows and there are beautiful reflecting
rocks inside.
Khao Khian
It is located or1 the way to Ko Panyi and there are various paintings
of animal of different types. The Fine Arts Department has studied and
found that the ag~ of those paintings is not less than 3,000 years and
it is believed that those paintings were made by seamen, in the ancient
days, who stopped over to hide from awheavy storm.
Tham Nak
The name of this cave is given in compliance with the shape of stalagmites
which look like a big curled up snake.
Ko Khai
There are two small islands named Ko Khai Nok and Ko Khai Nai having
beautiful beaches and rocks. There are also coral reefs around the islands.
Tourist Attractions in Amphoe Ko Yao
Ko Yao
Ko yao covers an area of 137.6 square kilometers consisting of 2 main
islands, Ko Yao noi and Ko Yao Yai, and several surrounding islets.
Beautiful beaches include:
Hat Pa Sai
This clean white sandy beach is located seven kilometers from the
office of Amphoe Ko Yao. It is surrounded with pleasant shady-trees
and swimming can be done safely. Looking out from the beach several
islands of Krabi Province are seen.
Hat Tha Khao
This rocky beach is located
five kilometers from the office of Amphoe Ko Yao. There are colourful
rocks and gravels with various designs on the beach. Not so far from
the shore, there is a small island called Ko Nok where one can access
by walking during the low tide time. On the island there are wild plants
and orchids which are lovely to see.
Ao Tikut
This bay has white clean sand and . there is a picturesque rocky
cape at the northern area of the bay. Pine trees line the shore making
a pleasant shady area.
Ao Khiong Son
This clean white sandy beach is pleasant with shady pine trees.
There are small rocky cliffs and colourful rocks on the left. Swimming
can be done safely here and beautiful coral reefs can be observed. During
low tide one can pick up beautiful shells for collection.
Loparaet
This is a shady beach surrounded with coconut groves. The long beach
is covered with white powdery sand. There is a rocky cape located at
the north of the bay. Swimming can be done at any time here.
Laem Hat
This is a very long white powdery beach and looks pleasant with shady
coconut groves, chashew nuts, and pine trees. It is conveniently accessible
by road and by boat.
Ao Hin Kong
This beach is pleasant with shady Khiarn forest but it is not good for
swimming because of a huge number of ray fingerlings.
Laem Nok Ok
This cape has a beautiful beach with rocky cliffs and colourful rocks
and it is the place where one can swim at all times.
Ao Sai
This is a white powdery beach with beautiful rocky cliffs and swimming
can be done at all times.
Ao Lan
This is a beautiful sandy beach where swimming is possible but the northern
part of the cape is a steep cliff with deep water under the cliff. Water
transportation is more convenient than land transportation to reach
there.
To get to Ko Yao, you are recommended to travel by
passenger boat, chartered boat, or speed boat from Ao Po Pier, Phuket
Province. The travel takes about one hour and 15 minutes. Chartered
boat is also available at Ao Phangnga Pier and Learn Sak Pier Amphoe
Ao Luk, Krabi Province.
Tourist Attractions in Amphoe Thap Put
Tao Thong Waterfall
This waterfall is in the vicinity of Tambon Bo Saen. To access the waterfall,
the same route to Sa Nang Manora Park has to be used but one has to
go further to Mu 3, Tambon Bo Saen where a laterite road of 11 kilometer
distance branches off to the fall.
Tourist Attractions in
Amphoe Takua Thung
Wat Suwan Khuha
This monastery is located at Mu2, Tambon Krasom. To get there one
must use the Phangnga-Khok Kloi route (Highway No.4) for a distance
of seven kilometers to arrive at Mu 2 (KM. 31), Amphoe Takua Thung,
a one kilometer asphalt road branches off on the right.
This Wat Suwan Khuha is generally called, by the villagers, "Wat
Tharn" which is an interesting monastery having the most importance
in Phangnga due to its being an important historical archaeological
site. In the vicinity of the monastery area, there is a mountain having
several big and small caves situated in both low and high locations.
The important caves are: Tham Yai, Tham Chaeng, Tham Mued, and Tham
Kaeo.
Tham Yai is located at the lowest level where one must pass through
prior to entering other caves. The size of this cave is larger than
any other caves having a width of more than 20 meters, and a length
of more than 40 meters. The cave floor is flat while the ceiling has
a semi-circle shape like a boat roof. There are decorations with earthenware
of various colours, sizes, and designs along the entire cave length.
Tham Yai is used as a Vihara enshrining various sizes of stucco Buddha
images; the most important one is a very beautiful 15 meter Reclining
Buddha.
Raman Waterfall
This fall is situated near Wat Tham Suwan Khuha, i.e., from KM.
31, there is a seven kilometer branch road on the right leading to the
fall. Raman Waterfall, medium sized falls, is surrounded by thick jungle
providing water all year. There is a large sized rest pavilion but other
facilities are not available there.
Tha Nun Seashore
Branching Highway No. 4 through Highway No.402 to Phuket one can see
sandy beaches
on both sides of Pak Phra Channel before arriving at Phuket Island.
There are sea turtles laying eggs on these beaches every year during
the season.
Khao Pilai Seashore
This locality is situated in the vicinity of Tambon Khok Kloi and it
is adjacent to Tha Nun Beach. Even there are some rocky cliffs on the
white sandy beach, swimming can be done.
Tourist Attractions in Amphoe Thai Muang
Khao Lampi-Hat Thai Muang National Park
This park covers an area of 45,000 rai and was proclaimed as a national
park area on April 14, 1986. Places of interest in the vicinity of this
national park are:
Lampi Waterfall
This fall is situated in Mu 6, Tambon Thai Muang, along the Phetchakasem
Highway (Highway No.4). Between KM. 32-33, a laterite road of 1.5 kilometers
branches off on the left to the fall. Lampi Waterfall, medium sized
falls, has three levels each of which is about 100 meters in height.
The falls exist all year round and more people like to visit during
rainy season.
Ton Phrai Waterfall
At KM. 28-29, a seven kilometer late rite road branches off on the
left but a foot trip is still needed for another kilometer to view the
fall. This is a large sized waterfall with cascading water all year
round and a trip to see this waterfall should be made during the dry
season for travelling convenience.
Thai Muang Seashore
This is located in the vicinity of Thai Muang Sanitary area where
a 1.5 kilometer asphalt road branches off on the right to join the beach
road. for another five kilometer to reach the office of the national
par Thai Muang Beach is a 13 kilometer clean sandy beach paral to the
Highway. The water is clear, good for swimming; fro November to February
sea turtles will come up to the beach f laying eggs. This started a
tradition of walking to observe eg laying turtles in the bright moon
night. After the hatching peril there is also a turtle releasing festival
called "Turtle Walkil Tradition"
Tourist Attractions in Amphoe Takua Pa
Bang Sak Beach
This beach is situated in the vicinity of Tambon Bang Muang along the
Phetchakasem Highway at KM. 75-76 where a one kilometer road branches
off on the right. Bang Sak Beach has clean white sand and good weather.
The grilled fish here is very famous the same as at Rawai Beach of Phuket
Island.
Khao Lak-Lam Au National Park
Declared national park in 1989, Khao Lak-Lam Ru covers a "
total area of some 93,750 rai of Amphoe Thai Muang, Amphoe Ka Pong,
Amphoe Ta Kua Pa, and Amphoe Muang and consists of the following attractions
:
Khao Lak
Taking the route No.4 (Thai Muang-Ta Kua Pa) for 25 kilometers from
Amphoe Ta Kua Pa then turning left between kilometer markers 56-57,
Khao lak Mountain with a shrine of Chao Pho Khao Lak is situated opposite
to khao Lak Seashore renowned for its stony beach.
Lam Ru Waterfall
A 5-tiered yearlong waterfall on Kradai Range, Lam Ru Waterfall is accessible
by a branch road from the Highway No.4090 via Amphoe Ka Pong with a
1-kilometer turn to the falls.
Tourist Attractions
in Amphoe Ka Pong
Wat Narainikaram
Situated at Tambon Le, some 14 kilometers from Amphoe Ka Pong, the
monastery is where the sculptures of Narayana, Laksaman, and Sita, all
related to the historical backgrouhd of "Takola" (former name
of Ta Kua Pa), are enshrined. They also attest to the spread of Indian
culture to this region.
Ka Pong Hot Spring
The mineral spring of 65 degree c. is located at Tambon Tha Na, 8 kilometers
from Amphoe Ka Pong.
Tourist Attractions
in Amphoe Khura Buri
Ban Thung Tuk Ancient Town
This remains are located on the back part of Tambon Ko Kho Khao, Mu
3 area, Amphoe Khura Buri between the ends of Muang Thong Canal and
Thung Tuk Canal which is the mouth of Takua Pa River area. Characteristics
of the area are sand, plain, covered with trees and some spots are brushes.
The reason why it is generally called, by the villagers, "Thung
Tuk" is that there are at least three archaeological remains. They
look similar to a building or sanctuary , on this sand plain in the
brush area. Parts and components of a Bhraman religious place and religious
symbols, such as stone carved into a pedestrian shape with a pit at
the bottom, it looks like a base whereupon a Siva Unga or an idol is
places. In addition, pieces of Chinaware, earthenware, coloured glass
containers as well as various types and colours of beads, Indian coins
are scatteredly found on the ground of this Thung Tuk archaeological
remains. The majority of archaeological expert has resolved that Thung
Tuk was a location of an ancient port town where Indians, Arabians,
and Malayans were so well acquainted due to its being an important spice
market situated on the west bank of the Malayan Penninsula. It is located
in a suitable locality having appropriate natural circumstances to anchor
in safety from big storms. Besides its perfect natural resources, it
is situated nearby the deep open sea where big vessels can access conveniently,
and yet located on the mouth of Takua Pa River which is also the center
of water communication.
Mu Ko Similan National Park
This park occupies an area of 80,000 rai and was announced as the national
park area on September l' 1982. There are two ways to access the Similan,
i.e., taking a boat trip from the pier in Ban Thap Lamu, Amphoe Thai
Muang, through a distance of 40 kilometers which takes about three hours
or taking a boat trip from a pier in Amphoe Khura Buri through an approximate
distance of 40 kilometers and it also takes about three hours. Similan,
a small archipelago in the Andaman Sea comprises nine islands. It is
appraised by the Skin-Diving Magazine of USA as one of the top ten islands
having both surface and under water beautiful scenery.
A tourist can enjoy scuba diving or angling and it is convenient to
start the trip from Phuket where boat-hire service is available for
tourists. The best time to make a trip for diving and angling is from
late December to mid April. March is regarded as the month with best
weather, free from storm, and clear water.
Some attractive islands of the national park include :
Similan Island
With wonderful underwater scenery and rather shallow sea level,
the horseshoe-shaped island, partly encircling a small bay in the west,
is suitable for skin diving to look at coral reefs and colourful fishes.
In the north, large stones of different shapes and sizes are noticeable
from a distance. Ko Similan is the largest island among the Similan
Islands.
Ba Ngu or Hua Ka Lok Island
Ko Hua Ka Lok or Skull Island is the seventh island in the Similan group.
A rocky island of peculiar shape, it looks like a skull when viewed
from one certain point. Ko Hua Ka Lok is renowned for its breathtaking
underwater beauty on a many-tiered seabed.
Hu Yong Island
Ko Hu Yong is well-known for its longest stretch of white sandy beach
where sea turtles lay their eggs.
Miang Island
With sufficient supply of fresh water. Ko Miang is the second largest
island where the office and guesthouses of the Similan Marine National
Park is located. The island is famous for its beautiful beaches and
colourful coral reefs.
Mu Ko Surin National Park
This park is situated at Mu 5, Tambon Ko Phra Thong, occupying an
area of 84, 375 rai. It was announced as a national park area on July
9, 1981. To access Surin National Park, the shortest distance between
the park and Phangnga is to use the fish marketing pier of Ban Hin Lat
around the mouth of Nang Yon Canal area (the folks there call it Thun
Nang Dam Canal). The access road to the fish marketing pier is a one
kilometer earth road which branches off from Ranong-Takua Pa Highway
at KM. 110 (from Ranong), 5 kms. from Amphoe Khura Buri. To travel from
this pier take only 4-5 hours Travelling by boat from Phangnga (township
area), it will take about 13 hours. If boating from Kapur of Ranong
the time will be seven hours approximately.
The best time to visit Mu Ko Surin National Park is only from December
to March.
Attractions within the national park are :
Surin Islands
The area consists of Ko Surin Nua and Ko Surin Tai with more than
10 bays among which Mae Khai or Mae Yai Bay is renowned for its serenity
while Ao Luk or Deep Bay is famous for its deep dark green waters with
a most beautiful coral reef in the shallows.
Seamen
Sing tribe, the last seamen living a primitive life in their houseboats
in Thailand, inhabit Ko Surin Tai beach. Opposite to the national park
office, there is a carved wood sculpture similar to an American Indian
totem. It is most revered by the seamen tribe. The tribe convene here
annually for a 3-day gathering on the full moon night of the 3rd lunar
month to pay respect to their totem spirits.
REMARKS :
The most appropriate time to go sightseeing in the Andaman
Sea is from the beginning of November to mid summer around the end of
April. However, prior to starting each trip information on weather status
should be obtained from the Weather Forecasting Division, Department
of Meteorology (Tel: 2580437-9) in advance for safety. |
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