Ao Phang Nga National Park

Ao Phang Nga National Park (pronounced OW-Pung-ngah) spans over 400 square kilometers, making it the largest marine national park in Thailand. The park consists of intertidal mudflats, mangroves, coral reefs and tropical islets. It was declared a national park in 1981 and ranks among the top five most frequented parks in the south.

Tourists usually come to this park to see Koh Tapoo, otherwise known as “James Bond Island”, a towering pillar of limestone jutting out of the sea made famous by the James Bond film “The Man with the Golden Gun”. Other attractions nearby include the “Chao Lay” Sea Gypsy village (known locally as “Koh Panyee”) and Khai Island, popular among snorkelers for its dazzling coral and abundance of colorful tropical fish. There are also a number of eco tours which take tourists around the limestone islands to see the unique “hongs” and appreciate the variety of wildlife which can be found in the area.

Apart from its value as a tourist attraction, Ao Phang Nga is also home to the largest block of mangrove forest Thailand and acts as a nursery for many valuable commercial fish species and crustaceans. A large number of shrimp and fish farms can be found along the network of estuaries which drain into the bay and its importance to the local seafood industry cannot be underestimated.

Rate: