Ao Phang Nga Travel Package Tours, Thailand Tour Information Hotel Guide

AO PHANG NGA OVERVIEW

The Phang-nga National Park covers a vast area both onshore and offshore of about 250,000 rais (100,000 acres), covering the areas of Amphoe Muang, Amphoe Takua Thung, and Amphoe Ko Yao. It was declared a national park on 29th April B.E. 2524 (1981). Ao Phang-nga National Park is the second seacoast national park after Tarutao National Park. It has striking scenic views because of a mass of limestone formations scattered around in the sea near the shore. Also, as a result of natural changes; caves and rock formations have been formed. The park is also fertile with mangroves. The evidence of prehistoric man has been traced back in the park to over 10,000 years ago as evidenced by some of their cave painting, tools and other knick knacks that archeologists have found scattered throughout the area. One assumes it cannot have been too bad place to live back then. Now the increasingly common human life seen in these parts is the boatloads of tourists and the occasional Thai fisherman. Millions of years ago the whole region was one of the world's largest barrier reefs extending thousands of kilometres. However natural forces came into play and the earth's movements created the irregular formations, with erosion smoothing the edges, leaving the geography reminiscent of Yunnan in China but with the water.

The major attractions in this area
Koh 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.

Panak Island
A cave with stalagmites and stalactites, where a small stepped waterfall of regular descent adds to the beauty, is the island's salient feature.

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 shore less 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.

Tapan Cave Monastery
Inside is a bridge called the Dragon Bridge that Spans Hell. At one end of the bridge is a cave, inside of which the attractions include a waterfall, a stream, the Diamond Dharma Meditation Area, and icicle like deposits of calcium carbonate stalactites and stalagmites shaped by nature to resemble a castle, a three - peaked chedi, a thousand year old stone turtle, etc. The monastery is located in Muang District of Phang-nga. If traveling from Phuket, go about 600 meters past the Provincial Hall in Phang-nga Town, turn left and go on another 400 meters to the monastery.

Hong Island
Hong means room, and entering this hollowed out island by boat is much like floating through a giant reception hall with two doors.

Tone Patiwat Wildlife Sanctuary
Shady, forested, featuring many different tree species, with waterfall and stream, this area can be visited on elephant back or toured by canoe a wonderful experience. Contact one of the eco-tour companies for information. To get there : take the road from Phang-nga Town about 5 kilometers toward Kapong District, turn right at Ban Song Praek and travel on another 10 kilometers.

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 tide line of this shore less island, they were presumably drawn by voyagers long ago who took refuge there during storms. The island lies on the way to Koh 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.

Phang Nga Wildlife Breeding Center
Many nearly extinct breeds are found, most notably birds, including mynahs, parrots, hawks, peacocks and pheasants. Among other animals found are mountain goats, gibbons, monkeys, langurs (long-tailed monkeys), bears, and ducks. The Breeding Farm is located on Petch Kasem Rd. in Tambon Tahk Daed the road to Phang-nga Bay from Phuket.