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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.
Phung Chang Cave
Behind the Provincial Hall, within the grounds of Wat Pra Paht Pra Jim
Temple, lies Phung Chang, or Elephant Belly Cave. Inside are stalagmites
and stalactites, and water that runs year round.
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.
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 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 :
Koh
Panyee
 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.
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is a National Park in forested mountains. Lamroo Falls is of middle
height and has 5 levels. To get there: Take the fork from Route 4090
and pass the Kapong District Office (the Amphoe) going toward Ban Lamroo
about 9 kms. The falls are onward another 1 km.
