Ao Phang Nga National Park
Phang Nga Bay of the Andaman Sea is located in the heartland of Thailand, 87 km from Phuket Island, which is popular among travelers. Its area is 400 km2. It consists of 40 different islands surrounded by limestone mountains and sandy shores. It was declared a national park in 1981 by decree of the king.
The sea in Ao Phang Nga Park is not deep, and the waves do not even reach a meter level, which is why it can be visited all year round, but still, the best time for an excursion is from November to April, when the sky is sunny and the water in the sea is calm and clear.
This area attracts tourists with its rich seascapes, as well as unique hidden lagoons that can be visited at low tide. The most famous among tourists are the islands of Khao Ping Kang and Koh Tapu Park. The first consists of two rocks that are interconnected by an isthmus of sand, one of which has a large crack. There are caves on its territory, as well as two beautiful beaches, not a small space of which, at high tide, is under water. The name of the other most visited place, Ko Tapu, literally means a wedge or a nail, as indicated by its unusual shape. But these places of the Phang Nga Reserve were famous not only for their picturesque terrain, but also for the very popular James Bond film "The Man with the Golden Gun". After the release of the premiere in 1974 on the blue screen, many tourists wanted to taste the unusual beauty of the island with its caves, hidden lagoons, golden sand and clear water, as well as walk around the land where one of the most successful films in the history of cinema was shot. It is the island of Koh Tapu that is popularly known as "James Bond".
The natural and historical attraction of Ao Phang Nga Park is also the Khao Khien cave with its elementary drawings on the rocks in the form of marine animals, which are 3,000 years old. Koh Panay Island is famous for its village, where close to 500 families live. Residents' houses are often flooded, so they built them on large piles and laid bridges between them. This village is a great place for a wonderful lunch with seafood, as some of the houses have been bought out for unusual restaurants and cafes. Koh Thalu Island and Tham Lot Island are a land with large limestone mountains. In the middle of them there is a cave, inside which a boat easily floats.
Aquatic plants, evergreens, and mangrove forests represent the flora of Ao Phang Nga Park. The animal world in this zone is very rich in various feeding species, both terrestrial and marine. It is home to the rarest types of dolphins in the park. There are about 120 birds, among which there are rare species. 26 species of reptiles live on the territory of the reserve. The rich and diverse underwater world actively attracts divers from all over the planet. In Thailand, which is considered the most interesting among travelers, only on some islands one can find harmony of the soul with nature. The fact is that Ao Phang Nga National Park receives more and more tourists every year. Local authorities are concerned about such an influx of travelers and are doing everything possible to preserve the pristine beauty of nature.
