Phang Nga Bay virgin forests provide the excellent home to wild animal as well as various species of vegetations. As a result, many national parks were  established in the province proving obviously the fertility of its natural resources. In each Park, there are many natural attractions waiting for your discovery.

Khao Lak-Laem Ru National Park is one of many national parks in Phang Nga. The Park sprawls over the total area of 125 square meters along the west shore line. It includes parts of Thai Kapong, Takua Pa, and Phang Nga town districts, located about 33 kilometers south of Takua Pa on Route 4. The Park offers a heap of sightseeing opportunities for nature lovers. Khao Lak’s outstanding beauty is its natural surrounding which consists of a variety of landscapes; one side, it is fringed by the aquamarine Andaman Sea which offers the dazzling beach and sea as well as abundant coral beds; on the other side is shrouded by the tapestry of lavishly verdant jungle, an excellent habitat to the rare species of animals and plants. Here, you can absorb the stunning nature in ecstasy amidst the peaceful and tranquil ambiance away from the frazzle and dazzle of more populated spots nearby. Alternatively, you can take an adventure in the dense jungle; elephant riding, trekking on the nature trail or canoeing along the ridge of mangrove forest are all available according to your favors.

surrounding areas in the Park :

Khao Lak Beach It is situated 32 kilometers away from Takua-Pa District or about 2 hours from Phuket International Airport, lying on the west side of the National Park. Khao Lak beach is well-known for its large sandy beach with a picturesque composition of boulders and rocks, fringed by the shady casuarinas and palm trees. At the crepuscular time, the beach offers the pristine and tranquil atmosphere, offering the

 spell-binding sun set. Offshore, some beautiful coral gardens which are perfect for diving and snorkeling are also provided. The coral beds can be reached by a hired long-tail boat, taking about 45 minutes form the beach.

Laemru waterfall is medium in size with five tiers, abundant with water all year round. The surrounding is teemed with shady trees, providing a relaxing atmosphere.

Tone Chong Fah waterfall lies about 5 kilometers north from Khao Lak along the main coast highway from Phuket up to Takua Pa. The fall itself originates in Klong Bangniang, formed by the 5-tier-cliff with waters flowing through all year round. Backed up by the verdant forest, the fall provides the pleasant atmosphere for relaxation. The dense forest is also a home to some endangered animals such as tapirs and hornbills. It can be easily accessed by rental jeep or motorcycle.

Khao Lamphi-Hat Thai Muang National Park was declared a national park on 14 April 1986, composed of the range of granite hills covered with densely rain tropical forests and the beach bordering the Andaman Sea. On the east side of the beach offers the dazzling sand while on the west side is fringed with the fertile mangrove forest, and there located the national Park Office.

Interesting In the Park area :

Hat Thai Muang Beach

Lamphi waterfall is a medium-sized fall, originating in the mountain range of Lamphi. There is a big bowl which is abundant of water all year round. The fall is often visited during the rain season when the fall is at its most beautiful.

Tone Prai Waterfall is a huge fall, originating in Ton Yan Sai Mountain. The areas are surrounded by the lavishly green forest.

Princess Chulabhorn Undersea Park  is a good place to study about the undersea environment and its resources. There are rooms displaying the work of the Chulabhorn Research Institute’s royal chairman and the exhibition hall featuring Chulabhorn Projects origins, the importance of undersea resources and environments, new ideas in undersea eco-tourism, and artworks focusing on undersea world themes. The Center is located at Tap Lamu Naval Base.

Surin Island National Park is a group of five islands, standing about 70 kilometers offshore in the Andaman Sea near the marine boundary between Thai and Myanmar. It is located within the area of Kuraburi district, declared to be a national park on 9 July 1981. The Island is visited for its beautiful coral beds in both shallow and deep waters. For the best shallow-water-corals is on Khai Island or Torinla Island and Klang Isand or Pajumba Island, and the excellent deep-water-one is on the undersea boulder heap submerging around 10 kilometers southeast of Surin Island. This point is one of the most abundant and unspoiled coral reefs with multicolored marine lives; you would also have a chance to see the whale shark roaming around. Due to its remoteness from the mainland, the Park is beautifully virgin; you are then offered the real pristine atmosphere.

The five islands which make up the National Park is Surin Neua, Surin Tai, Ri, Khai, and Klang Islands. The two large islands are Surin Neua and Surin Tai (which mean, respectively north and south); they are connected to one another with a water groove demarcating their border. Surin Neua Island is the siege of the Park’s Headquarter and several chartered boats for traveling to other islands. These two large islands possess ten bays, each of which offers beach and water in their characteristic beauty.

Surin Neua Island

- Ao Chong Khad lies on the southern part, offering the white dazzling beach and clear water good for swimming. Underwater, various kinds of multicolored fish often come to greet snorkellers lively.

- Ao Luk lies on the southeast shore. Luk, its name means deep, it is so deep that the waters turn into dark green. The bay is graced, however, by the excellent shallow-water coral beds rich in various marine lives.

- Ao Sai En stretches on the east side. On the bay, there is a community of sea gypsy people called Morgan who still practice their own primitive lifestyle and original culture; they live on the boats served as their houses and still believe in spirits.

- Mae Yai is the largest bay, located north of the Island. It is visited for its excellent coral garden and its calm sea as well as gentle breezes.

- Ao Jak stands in the north, offering finest white sand and magnificent coral beds, making it the excellent site for swimming and snorkeling.

- Ao Mai Ngam lies in the west of the Island, next to the Headquarter of the Park. This is a big bay fringed with the long bed of beautiful coral. Around the area, there is a nature trail which passes through a dense jungle paralleling the beach. On the trail, you can see the scarce flora and fauna indigenous to the area; it requires about 1 hour finishing the trail.

Surin Tai Island

- Ao Tao is on the east side, offering the abundant coral reefs which are a good habitat of many sea turtles. This is another good site for snorkeling.

- Ao Bon lies east of Surin Tai Island. There is another group of sea gypsy people living here.

- Ao Pak Gad lies in the south, offering the site of both shallow-water and deep-water coral reefs.

- Ao Suthep is visited for its flourishing coral reefs which are good for snorkeling.

Other islands

- Koh Torinla or Khai Island lies in the south of Surin Tai Island. On the east side of the island, there is a long stretch of coral reefs which is still in excellent condition, rich in colorful corals and fish, making it a good site for diving.

- Koh Pajumba or Klang Island is located north of Surin Tai Island, providing a long white stretch of sand. The beach is fringed by the magnificent coral beds with various kinds of marine lives. The ecology around here is very abundant that you can see many rare species of marine creatures such as lobsters and sea turtles.

Similan Island National Marine Park is composed of nine islands and covers an area of about 130 square kilometers. Situated 50 kilometers off the coast of Phang Nga amidst the Andaman Sea, Similan Islands were declared a national park on 1 September 1982. Similan, its name is corrupted from the Malay word sembilan meaning a group of nine islands. The largest island among them is Similan Island also called Koh Pad or Eight Island. The nine petite islands line in the north to south direction, namely, HuYong, Payang Payan, Miang, Payu, Bon, Similan, BaNgu  Islands- each with the number as a nickname. Each island offers its idyllically characteristic beauty, and most of them are uninhabited. The Park’s headquarter is located on Miang Island which has a plenty of fresh water provision.

The Park is praised for its incomparable and breathtaking underwater scenery, allowing it one of the ten most popular diving destinations in the world. With its magnificent extensive coral gardens in excellent condition together with the wondrous underwater landscape which offers a remarkable dive, Similan Island deserves all notability of both skin-diving and deep-water diving. Additionally, Similan is regarded as one of the most fertile marine resources in Thailand due to its considerable variety of species of fish, crustaceans, and other marine lives. Apart from the great beauty of underwater world, Similan Archipelago also offers the unspoiled nature of verdant greenery which is home to thirty-two species of birds including resident birds like Brahminy kite and white-breasted waterhen as well as migratory species of the pintail snipe, gray wagtail, cattle egret, watercock, and roseate tern. The spectacular beauty of both in land and in water can be found on the nine islands, some of the famous ones.

Miang Island (Koh See) is the second largest island of the archipelago; it is actually two islands connecting with each other. Headquarter of the Similan National Marine Park and guesthouses are located on this island. Miang Island is prominent for its dazzling beaches and wonderful coral gardens which are perfect for snorkeling. The best location is at the channel between Miang Island and Payu Island. In addition, the rare species of crab and bird can also be found here. The so-called Poo Kai (Cock crab) is one among the other; it is a curious animal for its crying sounds like a cockcrow; also the beautiful wild pigeon with its colorful feathers which is one of the endangered species can be often seen on the beach.

Ba Ngu Island (Koh Jed) is a rocky island with a strange feature of a skull-shape; it is thus also known as Hua Kalok Island. The island is distinguished for its incredibly sparkling scenery underwater with colorful fish, seaweed and coral reefs. The whale sharks and rays are often seen at this excellent diving point.

Hu Yong Island (Koh Neung) possesses the longest stretch of white sand among the others of the archipelago. During the months of November and February, there are several sea turtles coming to lay their eggs on the beach and leaving their trace as if there were a hundred of centipedes creeping around.

Basic accommodations are available at the National Park Office on Miang Island and can be reserved by contacting the Similan National Marine Park Office in Thai Muang district. The best period to visit the Park is from December through April. March is the best month, when the winds are lowest and the water is clearest. From May through November, it is the monsoonal seasons which cause difficulties for transportation to the islands, the Islands are then closed to all visitors in May.

Phra Thong Island is located in Kuraburi district. It is a large island standing amidst the Andaman Sea, renowned for its beautiful beach and fertile rain forest which is a home to various kinds of wild animals as well as secluded atmosphere. The Island is also inhabited by the fishery villagers. To get to the Island, take a boat at Kuraburi Pier; the boat trip takes about 1 hour. Private accommodations are available on the Island.