set homepage |

Krabi & Phi Phi

Hat Noppharat Thara - Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park
This lies in Tambon Nong Talay, Tambon Sai Thai, Tambon Ao Nang, ang Tambon Pak Nam, with many interesting places to see. Among which are :

Nopparat Thara Beach
In times past villagers in teh area called this three kilometer long beach Hat Klong Haeng, meaning Dry Stream Beach, because when the tide ebbs the stream flowing from the northern mountains almost disappears, so that the beach has no shore and stretches all the way to Koh Kao Pak Klong Island. In the vicinity of the beach are many places to stay serving tourists. Details and further information may be obtained by writing to Nopparat Thara Beach National Park.
Reservation should be made in advance at the Forestry Department in Bangkok, Tel. (02) 5790529 or at the Hat Noppharat Thara National Park, P.O.Box 23, Amphoe Muang, Krabi 81000, Tel. (075) 6347436.

Tham Sadet
This cave, situated 7 kilometers from Krabi Town in Tambon Sai Thai, has lovely stalactites and stalagmites. The cave was visited in 1909 by King Rama VI before succeeding to the throne, and has been called by local people Tam Sadet a Thai word meaning royal journey ever since.

Susan Hoi (Fossil Shell Beach)
The shell graveyard at Ban Laem Pho was once a large freshwater swamp, home to a kind of snail. Over eons dating from the Tertiary Age, about 40 million years ago, these snails lived and died by the million, to the extent that the dead snails formed a layer upon which existed the living. Eventually, weather changes precipitated the swamp's disappearance, but by then the layer of fossilized snail shells was forty centimeters thick, resting on ten centimeters of lignite below which is the subsoil. Because of geographic upheaval, this Shelly limestone is now distributed in great broken sheets of impressive magnitude on the seashore at Laem Pho.

Sa Kaeo
8 natural springs large and small, the crystal clarity of which gives this place its name, Crystal Springs. They are in Tambon Kao Tong on the Krabi-Nai Sa road, and each has a name : Nam Lod (Water Passing Through), Cherng Kao (Vallery), Jorakeh Kao (White Crocodile), Nam Tip (Heavenly Waters), Nam Krahm (Indigo Water), Morakot (Emerald), Hun Kaeo (Barking Deer) and Noy (Small).

Ao Nang
This bay is beautiful and at the same time very strange to the eye because of its limestone mountains. Its famous beaches include Rai Ley, Tam Pra Nang (where the tam or cave, is sacred to local villagers) and Nam Mao; none of these can e reached by road. However, boats leave regularly from the accessible part of Ao Nang to take visitors to them. There are also other islands to visit as well : Kai Island. Tap Island, Mor Island, and Padah Island, where there are clean sandy beaches, clear water and schools of colorful fishes in abundance perfect for diving, snorkeling, or swimming. Boats to the islands are boarded at Ao Nang.

Huay To Waterfall
This waterfall has eleven levels and springs from the Kao Panom Mountains in Tambon Tap Prik, Kao Panom Mountains in Tambon Tap Prik, on the Sri Trang - Pracha - utit road. Each level contains behind its falls a pool of naturally clear, clean water 4 - 5 meters in diameter. The pools are named, and the best known are : Wang Tewada (Angel's), Wang Sok (Year's) and Wang Jan (Platter).

Mu Ko Phi Phi (click for more details)
The name is derived from Malay and the original was Pulao Pi ah Pi, where in pulao is the Malay word for island, and pi, pronounced with only a half p sound, was very close in pronunciation to the English word be; the ah was eventually dropped, so the name was said something like Bi Bi. Later the P was pronounced with a stronger aspiration and the name became the Pi Pi we know today (the h with which it is usually spelled is confusing and superfluous). The name refers to the mangrove wood found there. Six islands are in the group; Phi Phi Don, Phi Phi Ley, Biddah Nok, Biddah Nai, Yung, and Pai; total area is about 35 square kilometers. They were incorporated into the national park in 1983. Some of the interesting places to visit include.

Tham Phi Hua To or Tham Hua Kalok
This is a big cave with many grottos in a mountain surrounded by water and mangrove forests. Formerly a ghost with an impressively large skull resided in the cave, from which comes its name; pihua toh means big-headed ghost. Also of interest are the many prehistoric colored pictures of men, animals, and various limbs and organs that decorate the walls. Shells in great numbers, on top of the other, are another feature of this cave. To visit Pi Hua Toh, board a ferry at Bor Tor Pier.

Tham Phra
is the site of the Kao Phra Suhn Yah Tah Rham Meditation Center. It is about 2 kilometers distant from the district offices of Ao Luk. Inside the cave is a Buddhist effigy of great antiquity. This has two other statues of equal size flanking it placed at a later date, and the base is surrounded with smaller wooden figures.

Tham Phet
is 3 kilometers from the intersection at Ao Luk Nua market. The cave's front has Buddhist statues and the cave walls are of a stone that reflects light with the same dazzling beauty as diamond, hence the name; Pet is Thai for diamond. To visit the cave, procure a guide from the Tarnbohk Korani National Park and be sure to bring a flashlight or torch.

Tham Lod Nua - Tham Lod Tai
lie 2 kilometers distant from the district offices on the Ao Luk-Laem Sak road near the watercourse of Klong Ta Prahng. There are two caves :
* Tham Lod Nua : This beautiful cave winds back on itself like an elbow.
* Tham Lod Tai : is a limestone tunnel longer and narrower than one of the same name in Phang-nga Bay. The cave mouth has stalactites and stalagmites and a boulder shaped like the quarter moon lying on its side. Visit this cave when the water is low by boarding a long tail boat at Bor Tor Pier ; the journey takes only 10 minutes.

Tham Chao Le
is west of Laem Sak Cape in a beautiful bay surrounding with limestone mountains. Inside are stalactites and stalagmites, as well as prehistoric paintings of people, animals, and geometric. These paintings are thought to be somewhat more recent than those found in Pi Hua Toh Cave. To visit the cave, take a regularly scheduled boat from the Sapan Pla of Fishing Pier at Laem Sak Cape; travel time is about 15 minutes.

Song Pi Nong Cave or Poon Nua Tai
lies west of Pi Hua Cave Toh. Inside were found human skeleton remains, pottery, earrings, and bronze bracelets.

Hua Galok Nai Cave or Bun Mak Cave
is only one hundred meters from Pi Hua To cave. It was discover by a local villager maned Bun Mak. It is a large, dark cave filled with stalactites and stalagmites. A large number of prehistoric pottery shards were found in layers on the cave wall outcropping near the entrance. These have distinctive line designs, are thicker, and coarser than those found elsewhere.

Toh Luang Cave
in Ban Nop, Tambon Klong Hin. This cave has three levels, each of which abounds in stalactites and stalagmites. Some resemble Buddhist monks, others look like legendary multi headed serpents. Here stayed Jao Por Toh Luang, after whom the cave took its name.

Sua Noi Cave
This cave is 2 kilometers distant from Hua Galok cave in Ban Bor Tor and is the site of a monastery and meditation center. The front is formed by a broad outcropping in the hill. The area outside is peaceful and quiet; inside, the cave is beautiful. Many old pottery remains have been found here.

SuaNok Cave or Thep Nimit Cave
houses the Nimit Monastery, a tunnel below the cave lets sea water enter so the walls are thick with shells. Above is another large, dark cave, and off to the side of that another fifty meters is Orahan Cave, which has more strangely shaped stalactites and stalagmites than anywhere else. They shine like lights and are very beautiful.

Klong Chai Kao
is like Maya Bay in Koh Phi Phi. A long tail boat can be taken through the cave to the other side in about five minutes.

Garos Island
is off the eastern tip of Laem Sak. Ancient paintings of men and animals are on the cliff walls facing Hin Bai Bay.

Talu Island
The center of this island has a 45 meter high hill, perforated by a 30 meter hole, thus its name; Talu means to pass through. The island is noted for the presence of swifts in large numbers that make the precious swallow bird's nests used in the Chinese delicacy, Bird's Nest Soup.

Daeng Island
Here is a fine sandy beach 25 meters long, and a passage through the cliff 70 meters wide and 20 meters high.

Mu Ko Hong
comprises a number of large and small limestone islands. Ko Hong also called Lao Billeh Island is the largest. These rugged islands are shaped like half circles, forming bays in which there is both shallow and deep water coral. Perfect for diving and fishing. The best known islands besides Hong Island are : Lakkah or Sakkah; Lao Riem; Pakka; and Lao Lahding Island. Boats leave for the Hong Islands from Ao Nang Beach; the trip takes about one hour.