Phang Nga - Thap Put Map 2015

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James Bond Island or Koh Tapu is the most famous tourist attraction at Phang Nga Bay National Park. In 1974 several scenes of the James Bond movie The Man with the Golden Gun, starring Roger Moore, were shot here.

James Bond Island can only be viewed from Koh Khao Phing Kan. As James Bond Island is a part of Phang Nga Bay National Park every visitor needs to pay the entrance fee.

James Bond Island is located in Phang Nga Bay National Park.

James Bond Island is located in Phang Nga Bay National Park.

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Koh Panyi is a small island in the Bay of Phang Nga. Koh Panyi consists of a tall limestone hill and a small plain land area. This is a Muslim community. It is well known in Thailand for being built on stilts by Indonesian fishermen.

The population consists of roughly 200 families or between 1500 and 2000 people who descended from two seafaring Muslim families from Java. The settlement at Koh Panyi was established at the end of the 18th century by Indonesian fisher families. Around the village are floating baskets to keep fish in the water. There are also many restaurants, a school, souvenir shops and a few tourist residences on the island. The Muslim people here are still today fishermen and sellers of souvenirs and preserved seafood. Their main income nowadays derives from being a "must" stopover for the many tour boats passing to the famous James Bond Island.

Koh Panyi is in Phang Nga Bay, which is situated between Krabi and the island of Phuket in the south of Thailand.

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Khao Ma Chu is a limestone hill with a shape similar to a little puppy.

Khao Ma Chu resembles a dog's body with a bushy tail.

Khao Ma Chu is a striking rock formation located on the way to Koh Panyi.

Khao Ma Chu is a striking rock formation located on the way to Koh Panyi.

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Khao Chang (elephant mountain), a limestone mountain about 500 meters in height, is considered a symbol of Phang Nga. Its shape resembles a large crouching elephant with its head turned to the southwest. Inside the mountain is a dark, long cave, named Tham Peung Chang, which is full of stalactites and stalagmites.
Khao Chang is located behind the old City Hall in the south of Phang Nga Town.

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Khao Phing Kan is a steep limestone mountain which is split into two halves at the base.

There are some souvenir and beverage shops available on Khao Phing Kan (James Bond Island); there is also a bridge linking the beach and pier where you can view the scenery. Looking out to the sea you see Khao Tapu, a nail-shaped island, a solitary pillar in the sea.
The Phang Nga Bay Tour usually takes about half a day and you can enjoy the famous attractions nearby such as Koh Hong and Koh Panak on the way back.

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The new view point at the top of the road of 100 bends is a welcome rest stop. There is a parking area and a shrine of a hermit.

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At the southern end of Phang Nga city a set of attractive limestone mountains catches the eye. There are several caves and small streams as well as a large flock of monkeys.
In the 162 rai of Srinakarin Park visitors can enjoy a relaxing place which is very suitable for children, too. In the sheer cliff mountains one can walk through from one side of the cave to the other, viewing the stalagmite and stalactite formations on the way. Near to this cave is a smaller cave named Tham Luk Sua (tiger's cub cave) which also has stalagmites and stalactites. Streams which include fresh water, brackish water, and salty water, run through the caves; the salt water comes from higher sea tides and is why a variety of sea animals live here.
A bridge has been constructed crossing the streams to connect the caves. There are also many monkeys that frequent the front of this cave. The park has spacious grounds with beautiful trees providing shade and many varieties of flowering plants. Golden Hopea trees and Theptaro trees, which are symbolic of the Phang Nga countryside can be seen here also.
For recreation there are also two climbing routes, a jogging path and a small food-stall market around lunch time.
Srinakarin Park is next to the junction of H415 leading to Thap Put and Krabi.

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The White Nun Simon Shrine sits on top of a road crossing a mountain. The amazing shrine contains the statue of a white woman who was a Buddhist nun. She is flanked by the statues of two young men who are obviously foreigners. We could not find out anything about the history of this woman.

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The Chedi above Wat Thamtapan affords a panoramic view of Phang Nga Town and the limestone rocks in the environs. This extraordinary panorama shows that Phang Nga Town is located in one of the most beautiful locations of all provincial capitals of Thailand.
The 144 steps up to the chedi were for years the favourite toilet of the local monkeys. Therefore tourists rarely visited this exceptional viewpoint. It seems that most of the monkeys live somewhere else now so that the climb up to the chedi is really rewarding.

The chedi with its slender spire towers above Wat Thampapan in the west of Phang Nga Town.

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On the t-Tour "3 in 1 Kayaking" you enjoy the spectacular landscape of Phang Nga by kayak. You experience kayaking in 3 different habitats: in the jungle, on the mangrove river and inside a stalactite cave. This is an amazing tour for everybody to have fun and enjoy the nature. If you feel strong you may paddle yourself on the rivers, otherwise the paddle boys will paddle the kayak.

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t-Globe Triathlon to the Lagoon Cave
With the t-Globe Triathlon Tour "Lagoon Cave" you can ride for 2 hours in the morning, then go kayaking for 1 hour and finish the day with 1/2 hour swim in the jungle pool. All three activities take you through a stunning landscape of towering Limestone Mountains in Phang Nga Province.

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t-Globe Mini Triathlon
On the t-Globe Bike Tour "Tao Thong River Cave" you can ride for 20 Km on mainly flat land mostly on paved roads. A highly rewarding trip is kayaking at noon time inside the Tao Thong Cave with its beautiful stalaktites and eerie animals. This is an easy tour suitable for couples and families to get used to biking in Phang Nga.

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Koh Hong (Room Island) is a limestone island completely surrounded by a cliff so that it looks like a huge hall with one entrance. There are many islands like this in the Bay of Phang Nga.

Access to these islands is only by a narrow cave. Due to the low cave roof, only kayaks can get through the channel at a suitable water level. Entering the sunlit hall from the dark cave gives an immense feeling of the creative power of nature. The unique experience of entering this natural wonder in solitude will remain with you for the rest of your life.
The area is also good for swimming.
The first person to detect the hongs inside the towering limestone cliffs was John Gray, an adventurous American. He had seen similar rock formations on Fiji and investigated the Bay of Phang Nga with the first inflatable sea kayak. He then started his sea canoe company in order to show other nature lovers this marvel. In 1991 Richard and Ursula Doring were among his first highly impressed customers and subsequently described their experience in the Loose Guide Book.

Most hongs are in the Bay of Phang Nga and can be accessed with one of the numerous sea kayak tour companies from Phuket or on a Phang Nga Bay Tour from Phuket, Khao Lak or Krabi.
So far only the private 5 Highlight Tour, organized by Yui and Gaeng from Sita Garden in Khao Lak, visits the hongs without any other tourists in the area.
Several islands along the Andaman Coast are called Koh Hong due to their natural features. All of them are certainly worth a visit.

Most hongs are in the Bay of Phang Nga and can be accessed with one of the numerous sea kayak tour companies from Phuket or on a Phang Nga Bay Tour from Phuket, Khao Lak or Krabi.
So far only the private 5 Highlight Tour, organized by Yui and Gaeng from Sita Garden in Khao Lak, visits the hongs without any other tourists in the area.
Several islands along the Andaman Coast are called Koh Hong due to their natural features. All of them are certainly worth a visit.

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The main attraction of Wat Khaojaroentham is a huge banyan tree that is supposed to be over 100 years old. It spreads in a mangrove forest with hundreds of stems. A walkway leads through the mangrove forest and the banyan tree. This fairytale scenery gives a fantastic impression of tropical jungle.
The temple compound houses also a giant statue of a monk. Offerings are presented to the smaller copy in front.
Wat Khaojaroentham is situated near Takua Thung only 500 m from the highway.

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Songpreak Elephant Camp is one of the many nature adventure activities that can be enjoyed in the Song Phraek Valley.

Mainly tour companies from Phuket come to this very lonely valley to the north of Phang Nga City. Their customers can indulge in nature experience activities like river rafting, trekking, elephant riding, and ATV driving in various categories. Tourists interested in botany can hike to see the Rafflesia, the largest flower in the world, that can grow up to 80 cm in diameter.

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Koh Hong (Room Island) is a limestone island completely surrounded by a cliff so that it looks like a huge hall with one entrance. There are many islands like this in the Bay of Phang Nga.

Access to these islands is only by a narrow cave. Due to the low cave roof, only kayaks can get through the channel at a suitable water level. Entering the sunlit hall from the dark cave gives an immense feeling of the creative power of nature. The unique experience of entering this natural wonder in solitude will remain with you for the rest of your life.
The area is also good for swimming.
The first person to detect the hongs inside the towering limestone cliffs was John Gray, an adventurous American. He had seen similar rock formations on Fiji and investigated the Bay of Phang Nga with the first inflatable sea kayak. He then started his sea canoe company in order to show other nature lovers this marvel. In 1991 Richard and Ursula Doring were among his first highly impressed customers and subsequently described their experience in the Loose Guide Book.

Most hongs are in the Bay of Phang Nga and can be accessed with one of the numerous sea kayak tour companies from Phuket or on a Phang Nga Bay Tour from Phuket, Khao Lak or Krabi.
So far only the private 5 Highlight Tour, organized by Yui and Gaeng from Sita Garden in Khao Lak, visits the hongs without any other tourists in the area.
Several islands along the Andaman Coast are called Koh Hong due to their natural features. All of them are certainly worth a visit.

Most hongs are in the Bay of Phang Nga and can be accessed with one of the numerous sea kayak tour companies from Phuket or on a Phang Nga Bay Tour from Phuket, Khao Lak or Krabi.
So far only the private 5 Highlight Tour, organized by Yui and Gaeng from Sita Garden in Khao Lak, visits the hongs without any other tourists in the area.
Several islands along the Andaman Coast are called Koh Hong due to their natural features. All of them are certainly worth a visit.

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Tham Pung Chang is a large cave passing all the way through Khao Chang in the south of Phang Nga town.
There is a stream flowing in the middle of the cave with both shallow and deep areas. If desired, sightseers can wade through the stream, ride on a raft or paddle one of the available canoes. It takes about 1 hour to travel to the other end of the cave and visitors are advised to wear shorts and rubber sandals.
This area of Tham Peung Chang is one of two sanctuaries for Kitti bats which are the smallest bats in the world and were first found in 1973 in Thailand's Kanchanaburi Jungle.

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Tham Russi or Tham Russi Sawan cave is cool inside, with stalagmites and stalactites and a clear stream running through.
You can walk through from the front to the back before continuing on to Tham Luk Suea, a small cave where there are some stalagmites and stalactites and a lot of monkeys living in the front.
Tham Russi is in front of Tham Luk Suea, are located inside the Srinakarin Park.

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Tham Pha Peung is a cave temple by the side of a nice stream not far from the second byepass road of Phang Nga. You can see the large cave and several monks dwellings in the cliff side.

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Tham Suwan Kuha is one of the oldest and important temples with the symbol of Mueang Phang Nga. It includes the largest cave which is
20 m. wide, 40 m. long and used as a temple The floor is level and the ceiling is dome shaped, decorated with willow ware cup tiles and houses a big sculpture of Buddha Saiyasana which is gold in colour.

There are other Buddhist images including a heart shaped slate stone pendant inscribed with the Thai alphabets during King Rama V's reign. Next up the hill is Tham Chaeng which has inscriptions with the royal monogram of the kings, members of the royal family and the former prime minsters on the cave walls. Next to this cave is Tham Mued (Dark Cave) of limestone. On the right hand side in Tham Kaeo with 3 Buddha images installed on a high throne. Admission is 20 Baht.

Wat Suwan Kuha is located at Mu 2 Tambon Krasom, about 9 km from Phang Nga town.

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Phraya Nakarat Cave Temple, also called Wat Tham Khao Ngu, is a very attractive cave temple with a breathtaking scenery. Four religions are represented in this temple: Thai Buddhism, Chinese Buddhism, Hinduism and the ancient belief in spirits. You can admire highly venerated statues such as Phra Pikaneth, the elephant-headed deity, Shiva Nataraja, the dancing deity, and various forms of the historic Buddha. The main attraction is the tip of the tail of a huge snake (ngu) sticking out from the ground in a cave.

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Wat Khiri Wong is the retreat of hermit monks. At the parking beside the road a group of quite active monkeys are begging for food. After passing the tunnel through the mountain a tropical garden comes into view. Several kutis (huts) for monks are built here, in an absolutely quiet tropical garden location.

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Tham Sam has old mural paintings, which are thought to have been painted at the beginning of the Rattanakosin era. The Fine Arts Department has registered the paintings to be genuine ancient remains.

The outer hall way is a long covered area with a smooth floor with light appearing to shine through it. The cave walls are irregular with paintings continuing along the wall for a distance of approximately 70 m.
The discovered paintings are historically typical of local handiwork and mostly depict beliefs in Buddhism, nature, and the way of living in those times.
In front of the cave is a stone carved Buddha Image. This is in a natural swamp area called Nongharn Samsam.

Tham Sam is located beside H3027 in Moo 2, Ban Fai Tha, Tham Nam Phut Sub-district to the northwest of Khao Thoi. On Rong Ruea Road it is 1.1 km to the east of the city center beside the beautiful lake.

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Wat Khao Thao is an unobtrusive temple mostly overlooked by the wayside. Maybe some travelers take a look at the golden Buddha statue on a pedestal. In a modern hall the nine postures of the Buddha can be seen, too. Not really spectacular. But... the uniqueness of this temple opens only up to the intrepid traveler who moves along the rock cliff to the right. The statues here are of an originality only rarely seen in Thailand. Take your time and admire the local folk who have created these local style pieces of art.

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Tone Pariwat Wildlife Sanctuary covers a total area of 100,000 rai of shady flora. It also contains Nam Tok Tone Pariwat or known among the locals as “Nam Tok Song Phraek” which is 100 m from the Sanctuary’s headquarters.

The waterfall is not very high with a pond down below. In the rainy season, the water gushes down. The Sanctuary provides a 2 km nature trail with Bua Phut Rafflesia kerrii, a plant species with the world’s largest flower of approximately 80 centimeters in diameter, along the route. The plant grows as a parasite on the root of a vine known as Yan Kai Tom. It's flower has 5 reddish brown petals. It is rare and to be found only in a fertile forest.
It blooms towards the end of the rainy season around October. Along the route, there are traces of old mines, bird-watching spots that indicate the fertility of the forest, Nam Tok Hin Phoeng which is a watershed, etc. A guide is needed for trekking along the trail, which takes about 1 hour.

Tone Pariwat Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Tambon Song Phraek.

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Nam Tok Raman Forest Park covers an area of approximately 125 rai. The Forest Park features a medium-sized waterfall with water running all year.

The waterfall was named “Nam Tok Raman” after a number of Mon or Raman people fled Burmese troops to settle on its topmost level during the so-called ‘Nine-army Battle’. Its headwaters rise from mountain ranges covered with evergreen forest. The touristic area of the Forest Park features a medium-sized stream running from the watershed down to the valley. Various tiers of the waterfall result from the different elevations of the area that the stream flows by. There are also various species of fauna such as Sumatran serow, Malayan tapir, soft-shelled turtle, rasbora, soro brook carp, and tiger fish. The Forest Park also provides a nature trail.

Nam Tok Raman Forest Park is located in Tambon Krasom within the area of the Khao Ton Din National Forest Reserve.

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Sa Nang Manora Forest Park covers a total area of 180 rai. It has a topography of limestone mountains running northeast to southwest and covered with rain forest.

There is an Oyster Shell Cave about 1,300 meters from the forestry park office. Inside the cave is an oyster grave yard. The Bat Dung Cave is about 2,300 meters from the park office. This cave is bigger than the Oyster Shell Cave and many bats live here. The paths to these caves are not too steep so it is easy to walk to them. Kaeo is a large cave which is 3 km from the park office and 1,500 meters from the Bat Dung Cave. Inside are beautiful glittering stalagmite and stalactite formations.

Sa Nang Manora Forest Park is situated inside the Khao Thoi Nang Hong National Forest Reserve area in Tambon Nop Pring.

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Tao Thong Waterfall is a shady waterfall originating from a stream flowing from a dark cave.

Tao Thong Waterfall is located in Tambon Bo Sen, 19 kilometers from Phang Nga town.

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The Chedi Khao Lang Bart is a National Monument above Phang Nga Town.

The observation point is small, merely a narrow walkway around the chedi itself. Ascending requires climbing 122 steep steps. From here you can see most of the city; the view is partially obscured by tree branches.
The signboard by the Fine Arts Department reads:
"The stupa was built of brick and mortar. It is small in size on a square base with redented corners, decorated with a lotus petal design at the base. The stupa itself is on top of a large limestone rock. The bell-shaped portion rises over a vertically diminishing base, with a spire on top. This national monument was originally built from late Ayutthaya to Bangkok period, 18th - 19th centuries."

The Chedi Khao Lang Bart is located on the western edge of the city, on a high point in Phang Nga Town.

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The fishing village Bang Pat is built on stilts at the edge of a mangrove forest with great views of the Phang Nga Bay. The access road from the highway H415 ends after 10 km on a large parking area. From there a long walkway and motorcycle bridge leads to the village on the other side of the tidal river. The main walkway leads to the left passing various shops and terraces where the fisher folk tend to their business. All inhabitants of the fishing village are very friendly muslims whose traditional occupation are various forms of farming fish and sea shells. At the end of the walkway are several restaurants on the seaside. The most famous and busiest restaurant is the Bang Pat Homestay Restaurant. Especially at weekends hundreds of Thais come here in groups to enjoy the absolutely fresh and delicious seafood dishes. The variety of dishes placed on the large tables is just stupendous. From here you can also make your Phang Nga Bay trip as far as James Bond Island, with a much more individual note. Just ask the owner of the restaurant. He will arrange everything while you are feasting.

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Wat Rat Upatam, commonly called Wat Bang Riang is is a hill top temple in the mountains at the eastern border of Phang Nga Province.

The hilltop pagoda overlooks surrounding undulating mountains and hills as well as a huge Buddha image and a Guan-yin Chinese Goddess statue.
It is surrounded by hills where a big Buddha with Naka (the 7 heads snake) and a statue of Kwan Him are facing it. Inside the temple are various important Buddhist artifacts including the Phra Maha that Chedi Buddha Dhram Banleu.


Wat Bang Riang or Wat Rat Uppatham is situated on Khao Lan hill in Tambon Bang Riang, 11 kilometers from the Amphoe Thap Put office on Petchkasem Road.

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The main attraction of Wat Khaojaroentham is a huge banyan tree that is supposed to be over 100 years old. It spreads in a mangrove forest with hundreds of stems. A walkway leads through the mangrove forest and the banyan tree. This fairytale scenery gives a fantastic impression of tropical jungle.
The temple compound houses also a giant statue of a monk. Offerings are presented to the smaller copy in front.
Wat Khaojaroentham is situated near Takua Thung only 500 m from the highway.

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The huge black statue of a revered monk sits beside the highway H4 east of Takua Thung.

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Wat Thamtapan, inside of the temple's cave has a small waterfall. You will see Dhamma Petchra ground, a three topped pagoda, a stalactite castle, a thousand year old stone stove and Buddha images that line the wall. The trail in this cave is approximately 400 m long.
At the entrance is a sculpture of a dragon and outside the monks residence is a sculptured impression of hell. Walking through the tunnel you will cross a bridge called "Dragon Bridge to Hell" continue for 100 m and go through the mouth of Tham Tapan. A monks residence is inside of the cave.
At a steep cliff covered in greenery there are many statues of the Hindu Pantheon, such as God Vishnu, Krishna and Sarasvati.
Impressive is also a set of statues depicting the birth of the historical Buddha Siddhartha Sakyamuni.
Wat Thamtapan is located in the west of Phang Nga Town along the Panorama Road Montri Road.

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