 Phang
Nga hotel and Khaolak hotels Thailand accommodation
Phang-Nga is a primarily agricultural province in the south
of Thailand. The chief cash crop is rubber, and rubber plantations
cover a considerable area, especially noticeable along the
roads. Aside from that, however, large areas are also given
to food crops. Considerable amounts of rice, vegetables and
fruits are produced in Phang-Nga. Phang-Nga province has an
area of 4,170 sq. kms., a large part of which is forest.
The provincial capital of Phang Nga is a small town of the
same name, set amidst spectacular limestone crags near the
coast of Phang Nga Bay itself. The limestone geology of the
area has forged many natural attractions; sheer cliffs, fascinating
rock formations and many caves for the visitor to explore.
Around the mangrove-fringed bay are hundreds of striking
limestone karsts protruding from the sea, surrounded by an
abundance of coral reefs below the clear waters. A classic
example of these limestone karsts can be found at the famous
Koh Phing Kan or 'James Bond Island', with its renowned over-hanging
rock used as part of the set in the movie "The Man With
the Golden Gun".
There are many places of interest within minutes of Phang
Nga province, making it centrally positioned for attractions
in southern Thailand. From Khuraburi you can reach the remote
Surin and Similian Islands, or from Takua Pa you can head
east to Khao Sok National Park and Surat Thani. In the district
of Thai Muang is Thai Muang Beach National Park, where sea
turtles come to lay eggs between November and February, Thap
Lamu, about 23 km north of Thai Muang has a pier with boats
to the Similian Islands.
About 25 km south of Takua Pa, the beach at Khao Lak is a
pretty stretch of sand studded with granite boulders. An off
shore coral reef, suitable for snorkeling is 45 min away by
long-tail boat. Khao Lak-Lamru National Park immediately south
of Khao Lak is a stretch of 125 sq km where there is a vast
collection of cliffs, mountains, beaches, estuaries, forest
valleys and mangroves. Wildlife in the area includes hornbills,
tigers, tapirs, gibbons, monkeys and the Asiatic black bear
among others.
Two islands that are becoming increasingly popular with travellers
to the area are those of Koh Yao Noi and Koh Yao Yai. Here
the islands are very un-developed and the lifestyle hardly
touched by modernisation (electricity having only been linked
to the islands since the 1990's, before that everything was
run off generators).
Accessible from Phuket Island , Krabi and Ao Luk, Koh Yao
Noi is the more commercial of the two islands, having a hospital
and post office as well as a high school and a reasonably
stocked village for basic shopping needs. There are no banks
or ATM machines on either islands therefore visitors are advised
to ensure they have enough money for their stay. Although
the beaches are only swim-able at high tide, the popularity
of these two islands is their accessibility to the other islands
of the Phang Nga area and the excellent mountain bike and
trekking areas available.
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