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Amphoe Muang (Krabi Town)
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Khao Khanap Nam
These two hills, roughly 100 meters high, flank the Krabi
River running between them to form a distinctive vista and the
town's most prominent landmark. To visit them, take a long-tail
boat from Chao Fa Pier; travel time is just 15 minutes. From
there take stairs leading up to caves with stalactites and stalagmites.
A large number of human skeletons have been found here. It is
theorized that they and the remains of people who came and established
a home at Kanab Nam, but were cut off by an inundation and quickly
perished.
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Tham Sua Kao Kaeo Ao Luk Tanu Monastery
lies in Ban Tam Sua of Tambon Krabi Noy, 9 kilometers from
Krabi Town. Tam Sua means Tiger Cave, and the reason for this
name is that an especially large tiger once live there. It roamed
the foothills of the Ao Luk Tanu Mountains, also called Kao
Kaeo. Inside the cave are natural rock impressions of tiger
paws. Outside, the forest has great trees hundreds of years
old growing in a fold of Kao Kiriwohng Mountains that surround
the monastery. Among the best known are Ko Tan (Heavenly Musicians),
Lod (Passing Through), Chang Kaeo (Crystal Elephant), Luk Tanu
(Arrow), and Pra (Monk's). Aside from the monastery itself,
this area has another aspect of interest, especially to archaeologists
: Many stone tools, pottery shards, and unfired clay holy images
have been found, dating from prehistoric into historic times.
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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 :
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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).
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Ao Nang/Railay Beach
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 be
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.
Remark: Railay
Beach has NO PIER so, at low tide, you have to walk through
the water to reach your accommodation.
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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).
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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.
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Amphoe Ao Leuk
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Than Bokkhorani
National Park
covers 37.5 rai (1 rai
= 160 square meters) in Tambon Ao Leuk Tai, one kilometer from
the Tambon Ao Leuk Neua Market intersection on the Ao Luk Sak
road. The park is shady and forested by many different species
of trees growing around the attractive pool after which the
park is named, the Sa Bokkhorani .Species include the wild gardenia,
asoka, and Apocynaceae. The Sah Bohk Korani flows through a
winding passage in the mountain. At the north end of the pool
is a footprint of the Buddha carved in wood near the little
temple sacred to Jao Pho To Yuan - To Chong.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Daeng Island
Here is a fine sandy beach 25 meters long, and a passage through
the cliff 70 meters wide and 20 meters high.
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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.
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