PHANG NGA ATTRACTIONS
Phang-Nga town is the provincial capital; it is a quiet little town with none of Phuket's hubbub but a great deal of its own charm.
Khao Chang or Elephant Mountain: This is Phang-Nga's landmark. From Phang-Nga Town go towards Koke Kloy, passing the Provincial Hall. On your right you will see Kao Chang, a large hill in the form of a kneeling elephant.
Reusi Sawan and Luk Seua Cave
are in Somdej Pra Sri Nakarin Park on Petch Kasem Rd. diagonally opposite the Provincial Courthouse. You can walk from one cave through to the other as they are connecting caves; Reusi Sawan (Ascetic's Heaven) is the cave in front. Outside sits a figure of the monk Phra Reusi. Inside are stalagmites and stalactites, and meandering streams that trickle through the caves.
Kao Ngum Cave
is across from the entrance to Phung Chang cave. Stalagmites and stalactites; in one area are seashells in great number adhering to the mountain.
Sa Nang Manora Park
The waterfall and stream of Sa Nang Manora lie in Tambon Nop Pring, outside of Phang-Nga Town. Follow the Phang-Nga Krabi road (Route 4) about 3 kms. Turn right at the intersection next to the Electric Station. The falls are 3 kms. down this road.
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.
Travel : Take Route 4 from Phang-nga Town towards Koke Kloy and go about 8 kms. Turn left on Route 4144. The National Park Offices are about 4 kms. further on.
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 wave less 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 :
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. Open daily, 08:00 - 06:00 p.m. Tel: (076) 413261.
HOW TO GET TO PHANG NGA
There are many ways to reach Phang-nga as follows:
Car
1) First route: From Bangkok, take Highway No. 4, passing the provinces of Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, and Ranong, then drive straight to Phang-nga town. It is 788 kilometres from Bangkok. The trip takes around 12 hours.
2) Second route: From Bangkok, take Highway No.4 to Chumphon, from there, take Higway No. 41 to Amphoe Tha Chang, then go straight to an intersection where a right turn is made to Highway No. 401, keep driving to Amphoe Ban Ta Khun for about 50 kilometres, and then take Highway No. 415 for 30 kilometres, take a right turn to Phang-nga town. Visitors travelling from Phuket should use Highway No. 402, passing Sarasin Bridge to Ban Khok Kloi, take a right turn to Amphoe Takua Thung. It is 87 kilometres from Phuket. The journey takes around 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Bus
There are daily bus services from Bangkok to Phang-nga. Travelling time is 12 hours. For more information call the Southern Bus Terminal at tel. 0 2435 1199-200 or the Phang-nga Bus Terminal at tel: 0 7641 2300, 0 7641 2014 or visit www.transport.co.th
Rail
There is no direct train to Phang-nga. The State Railways of Thailand operates daily train services between Bangkok and Surat Thani. A trip to Phang-nga can be made by getting off at the Surat Thani Railway Station and then ride a bus for another two hours. For more information call Bangkoks Hualamphong Railway Station at tel. 1690, 0 2223 7010, 0 2223 7020 or visit www.railway.co.th
Air
Thai Airways International operates Bangkok-Phuket flights daily. From Phuket, take a bus or rent a car to Phang-nga for about 58 kilometres. For more information, call Thai Airways at tel: 1566 or 0 2280 0060, 0 2628 2000 or visit www.thaiairways.com
