Amphoe Khura Buri
Ko Phra Thong
This is a large island northwest of Phang-nga. Located
in Tambon Phra Thong, the island is an ideal holiday paradise
containing unspoilt natural beauty as well as wonderful beaches.
There is a large fresh water reservoir on the island. You can
charter a boat ride from Khura Buri pier to the island. The trip
takes just over an hour. Private accommodation is available.
Mu Ko Similan National Park
“Similan”
is a Yawi or Malay word, which means nine or a group of nine islands.
This is located in Tambon Ko Phra Thong, Amphoe Khura Buri, occupying
an area of 32,000 acres. It was declared a national park on 1st
September 1982. Similan is a small group of islands comprising
nine islands stretching from north to south, respectively, namely:
Ko Bon, Ko Bayu, Ko Similan, Ko Payu, Ko Miang (two adjoining
islands), Ko Payan, Ko Payang, and Ko Huyong. The National Park’s
office is located on Ko Miang. Similan is highly praised for its
beautiful scenery, both onshore and underwater. It is situated
70 kilometres from Phang-nga town. Best time to visit is between
November and April.
Interesting attractions in the National Park include:
Ko Similan or Ko Paet is the largest island in this group of
islands. It has a distinctive horseshoe-shaped bay. The average
depth of the water is 60 feet. Underwater is full of rock formations
and coral reefs in several shapes and forms such as deer, leaf,
brain, and mushroom. The latter one is the most unspoiled coral
found in the country. Its soft sandy beach is very beautiful and
diving around here will let you see a lot of fishes and coral.
To the north, lies a striking large rock formation with astonishing
shapes such as boot and Donald Duck’s head. The upper part
of the beach is an ideal lookout point with a rock of a sailing
boat shape.
Ko Ba-ngu is the ninth island of the Similan group of
islands. It has a strange feature. Looking from one point, the
shape of a skull can be seen. Underwater is as beautiful as a
valley full of coral reefs, deep gorge, and various sizes of fish.
Ko Huyong, the island offers the whitest and longest beach
of all the nine islands. During turtles’ egg laying season,
from November to February, there would be tracks on the beach
from turtles that come onshore to lay eggs, resembling centipede
tracks.
Ko Miang is the second largest island among 9 islands
after Similan Island. It is where the office of the National Park
is located. The island offers a scenic beach which is suitable
for camping.
Diving Spots
There are several diving spots that suit both snorkelling and
scuba diving. The famous scuba diving spots including rock formations
that lie to the west of Ko Tachai where whale sharks can be seen,
Ko Bon, Christmas Point rock formation, Fantasy rock formation,
and Ao Kwang En (to the east of Ko Paet), etc.
Snorkelling spots are scattered around these nine islands. The
interesting points are by the sailing boat rock, Ao Kwang En,
and behind Miang Island.
How to Get There
Thap Lamu Pier, located 70 kilometres north of Phang-nga at Amphoe
Thai Mueang, is the nearest point to Similan. A boat trip takes
around 3 hours. There is no regular boat service for travellers
to the island. Boats leaving from Thap Lamu are suitable for group
tours and the boat rentals range from 8,000-10,000 baht, depending
on various factors. It is sometimes possible for individuals to
hitch a ride or pay a reasonable fraction of the rental cost on
a boat chartered by a group. This method is by no means certain
and should be an obtion only for the adventurous who have time
to spare. Visitors may contact the park office at Thap Lamu (Tel:
0 7659 5045) for further information.
A boat trip from Patong Beach, Phuket takes around four hours.
Visitors can contact Seatran Travel Tel: 0 76219391-2. Diving
companies in Phuket also organise a three-day trip. Prices range
from 9,000 to 25,000 baht, depending on the level of luxury, and
include food, and accommodations.
Accommodation
There are bungalows and tents as well as restaurants available
on the island. For more information contact Mu Ko Similan National
Park, Mu 1, Thap Lamu, Tambon Lam Kaen, Amphoe Thai Mueang, Phang-nga
82120, tel. 0 7642 1365 or 0 7659 5045.
Mu Ko Surin National Park
Situated
in Tambon Ko Phra Thong and covering an area of 84,375 rais (33,750
acres), Mu Ko Surin is an archipelago of 5 islands: Ko Surin Nuea,
Ko Surin Tai, Ko Ri, Ko Khai, and Ko Klang. It was declared a
national park on July 9, 1981. The archipelago is located in the
Andaman Sea, near the Thai-Burmese sea border, to the west coast
of Thailand. There are beautiful and unspoilt coral reefs; the
area is suitable for snorkelling. The best time to visit is from
November to April.
Ko Surin Nuea has several bays. The most well-known bay is Ao
Mae Yai, the largest bay that offers calm waters. To the southeast
of Ko Surin Nuea lies Ao Luek, which is so deep that the sea appears
dark green, offering splendid shallow corals as well as sea weeds,
sea flowers, coral lines, and various species of fish. Sea Gypsy
Village, a Singha, or Morgan, Sea Gypsy tribe resides on the shore
of Hat Sai En, Ko Surin Nuea. There are 130-150 sea gypsies who
still hold on to their traditional ways of life and still live
in their boats. On shore, there is a wooden sculpture resembling
the Indian Totem Pole and is considered a sacred area. Every year,
on the 15th day of the waxing moon in April, the sea gypsies in
this village would worship their respected spirits. The event
lasts for 3 days. Ao Mai Ngam, situated to the west of Ko Surin
Nuea with the National Park’s office nearby. There is a 2-kilometre
walking path that you can take to enjoy the natural features of
Hat Mai Ngam or you can take a longboat ride. The lovely bay provides
fresh water and a long beach that is best for snorkelling and
swimming. Ao Chak, situated to the north of Ko Surin Nuea. The
bay possesses unspoilt coral reefs.
Interesting attractions on Ko Surin Tai include Ao Tao, situated
to the east of the island. The bay is home to numerous sea turtles
and magnificent coral reefs. Ao Phakkat, situated to the south
of Ko Surin Tai. It is where unspoilt coral reefs can be seen.
Ko Klang or Ko Pachumba has a scenic bay called Ao Mangkon. The
bay is teeming with splendid coral reefs and many schools of various
kinds of fish.
Ko Khai or Ko Torilla, situated to the south of Ko Surin Tai.
On the eastern side of the island there is a long stretch of unspoilt
and picturesque coral reef. Snorkelling is the most recommended
activity here.
How to Get There
Travelling to Mu Ko Surin can be initiated from several different
points:
- Khura Buri Pier is the nearest point to Mu Ko Surin. Khura Buri
is some 125 kilometres north of Phang-nga. A boat trip takes around
4 hours. There is no regular boat service for travellers to Ko
Surin. Boats leaving from Khura Buri are suitable for group tours.
- Amphoe Kapoe Pier is in Ranong Province. The trip takes 7 hours.
Visitors may contact Chansom Tara Hotel (tel: 0 7783 5317-9) which
has boats leaving Chan Damri Beach for trips to Mu Ko Surin.
Note: The best way for individual travellers is to join a trip
out of Phuket that includes Mu Ko Surin on the itinerary. This
typically lasts at least 3 days and includes visits to Mu Ko Similan.
Accommodation
There are lodges, bungalows, tents, and restaurants available.
Admission fee is 200 baht. Scuba diving equipments are available
for rent. For more information, contact Mu Ko Surin National Park,
Amphoe Khura Buri, Phang-nga, 82150, tel: 0 7649 1378, 0 7641
9028.
Si Phang-nga National Park
Covering the areas of Amphoe Khura Buri and Amphoe Takua
Pa and situated 100 kilometres from Phang-nga town, this park
was established in honour of His Majesty the King on his 60th
birthday anniversary. This forested piece of land is home to a
large variety of flora and fauna. Getting to the park, visitors
can take Highway No.4 (Takua Pa – Ranong) and then take a
right turn at Km. 756 for another 5 kilometres. Interesting attractions
in the park include:
Namtok Tam Nang, located 4.5 kilometres from the National
Park’s office, and another walk of 500 metres will take you
to the 60 metres-high waterfall. The surrounding area is full
of lush vegetation and big shady trees making it nice and cool.
Namtok Ton Toei is a 45 metre-high waterfall. A journey
on foot, and back, that begins from the National Park takes about
3 hours. On the way, there is a small 10 metre-high waterfall,
Namtok Noi, to be seen. The path passes through groves of big
dense evergreen trees and vine forests.
Namtok Ton Sai - Before you reach the check point into
the Park, you will come upon a small path on your right and a
15-minute walk down this path will lead you to a lovely waterfall.
The 20 metre-high falls is in a dense grove of banyan tree and
is worth a visit.
Admission is 200 baht. Visitors wishing to stay overnight in
the park should bring their own tents. Contact the Si Phang-nga
Nation Park at tel: 0 7641 2611.
