Surin Islands National Park
This park is situated at Mu 5. Tambon Ko Phra Thong, occupylng an area of 84,375 rai. It was announced as a national park area on July 9, 1981. TO access Surin Islands National Park, the shortest distance between the park and Phangnga is to use the fish marketing pier of Ban Hin Lat around the mount of Nang Yon Canal area (the folks there call it Thung Nang Dam Canal). The access road to the fish marketing pier is a one kilometre earth road which branches off from Ranong-Takua Pa Highway at Km. 110 (from Ranong), 5 kms. from Amphoe Khura Buri. To travel from this pier take only 4-5 hours travelling by boat from Phangnga (township area), it will take about 13 hours. If boating from Kapur of Ranong the time will be seven hours approximately. The best time to visit Surin Islands National Park is only from December to March.
Tha Nun Seashore
Branching Highway No.4 through Highway No.402 to Phuket one can see sandy beaches on both sides of Pak Phra Channel before arriving at Phuket Island. There are sea turtles laying eggs on these beaches every year during the season.
Khao Pilai Seashore
This locality is sutiated in the vicinity of Tambon Khok Kloi and it is adjacent to Tha Nun Beach. Even there are some rocky cliffs on the white sandy beach, swimming can be done.
Khao Lampi-Hat Thai Muang National Park.
This park covers an area of 45,000 rai and was proclaimed as a national park area on April 14, 1986. Places of interest in the vicinity of this national park are:
Lampi Waterfall
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This fall is situated in Mu 6, Tambon Thai Muang, along the Phetchakasem Highway (Highway No.4). Between KM. 32-33, a laterite road of 1.5 kilometres branches off on the left to the fall. Lampi Waterfall, medium sized falls, has three levels each of which is about 100 metres in height. The falls exist all year round and more people like to visit during rainy season.
Ton Phrai Waterfall
At KM. 28-29, a seven kilometer laterite road branches off on the left but a foot trip is still needed for another kilometre to view the fall. This is a large sized waterfall with cascading water all year round and a trip to see this waterfall should be made during the dry season for traveling convenience.
Wat Suwan Khuha
This monastery is located at Mu 2, Tambon Krasom. To get there one must use the Phangnga-Khok Kloi route (Highway No.4) for a distance of seven kilometres to arrive at Mu 2 (Km.31), Amphoe Takua Thung, one kilometre asphalt road branches off on the right. Wat Suwan Khuha is generally called, by the villagers, “Wat Tham” which is an interesting monastery having the most importance in Phangnga due to its being an important historical archaeological site. In the vicinity of the monastery area, there is a mountain having several big and smal1 caves situated in both low and high locations.
Tham Yai
Tham Yai is located at the lowest level where one must pass through prior to entering other caves. The size of this cave is larger than any other caves having a width of more than 20 metres, and a lenght of more than 40 metres. The cave floor is flat while the ceiling has a semi-circle shape like a boat roof. There are decorations with earthenware of various colours, sizes, and designs along the entire cave lenght. Tham Yai is used as a Vihara enshrining various sizes of stucco Buddha images; the most important one is a very beautiful 15 metre Reclining Buddha.
Khao Lak
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Taking the route No.4 (Thai Muang-Ta Kua Pa) for 25 kilometres from Amphoe Ta Kau Pa then turning left between kilometre makers 56-57, Khao Lak Mountain with a shrine of Chao Pho Khao Lak is situated opposite to Khao Lak Seashore renowned for its stony beach.
Lam Ru Waterfall
A 5-tiered yearlong waterfall on Kradai Range, Lam Ru Waterfall is accessible by a branch road from the Highway No. 4090 via Amphoe Ka Pong with a 1-kilometre turn to the falls.
Ban Thung Tuek Ancient Town
These remains are located on the back part of Tambon Ko Kho Khao, Mu 3 area, Amphoe Khura Buri between the ends of Muang Thong Canal and Thung Tuek Canal which is the mouth of Takua Pa River area. Characteristics of the area are sand, plain, covered with trees and some spots are brushes. The reason why it is generally called, by the villagers, “Thung Tuek” is that there are at least three archaeological remains. They look similar to a building or sanctuary, on this sand plain in the brush area. Parts and components of a Bhraman religious place and religious symbols, such as stone carved into a pedestrian shape with a pit at the bottom, it looks like a base whereupon a Siva Linga or an idol is places. In addition, pleces of Chinaware, earthenware, coloured glass contalners as well as various types and colours of beads, Indian coins are scatteredly found on the ground of this Thung Tuek archaeological remains. The majority of archaeological expert has resolved that Thung Tuek was a location of an ancient port town where Indians, Arabians, and Malayans were so well acquainted due to its being an important spice market situated on the west bank of the Malayan Penninsula. It is located in a suitable locality having appropriate natural circumstances to anchor in safety from big storms. Besides its perfect natural resources, it is situated nearby the deep open sea where big vessels can access conveniently and yet located on the mouth of Takua Pa River which is also the center of water communication.
Similian Islands National Part
This park occupies an area of 80,000 rai and was announced as the national park area on September 1,1982. There are two ways to access the Similan, i.e., taking a boat trip from the pier in Ban Thap Lamu, Amphoe Thai Muang, through a distance of 40 kilometres which takes about three hours or taking a boat trip from a pier in Amphoe Khura Buri through an approximate distance of 40 kilometres and it also takes about three hours. Similan, a small archipelago in the Andaman Sea comprises nine islands. It is appraised by the Skin-Diving Magazine of USA as one of the top ten islands having both surface and under water beautiful scenery. A tourist can enjoy scuba diving or angling and it is convenient to start the trip from Phuket where boat-hire service is available for tourists. The best time to make a trip for diving and angling is from late December to mid April. March is regarded as the month with best weather, free from storm, and clear water.
Ruesisawan Cave and Luk Sua Cave
These two caves are located on Khao Chang Road in the Vicinity of Muang Phangnga municipal area near Phetchakasem Highway, slightly opposite to the Provincial Court. One can walk inside from one carve through another. The Ruesisawan Cave is in front of Luk Sua Cave facing the edge of Phetchakasem Highway.
Ko Panyi
Ko Panyi is a small flat island of about one rai. There are about 120 households and the majority of the population earn their living from fishery, selling souvenirs and food to tourists. There is one public school named Ban Ko Panyi School, and the villagers are mostly Moslem.
Khao Phing Kan
This small hill is located in the area of Amphoe Takua Thung. The origin of this name is that a rocky hill is broken apart and the smaller piece slid down with the base sunk in the earth while the upper part still abuts on another posing the present leaning hills. Behind Khao Phing Kan the scenery is very picturesque and when looking afar to the sea “Khao Tapu” is seen amidst the sea. It looks like a nail, e.g., having a big top while the bottom part touching the sea is slim.
Tham Lot
This cave is located in Ao Phangnga area. Stalactites and stalagmites found in the cave are very beautiful.
Khao Machu
This rocky hill has a shape similar to a dog. It is located on the way to the Ko Panyi.
Phung Chang Cave
This cave is located, in Muang Phangnga municipal area, beside the Provincial Hall before entering Phangnga Market area make a turn vla a 500 metre asphalt road to Wat Praphat Prachimkhet where one can walk to the cave.
Sa Nang Manora Forest Park
This is also known as Sa Nang Manora Waterfall, is located in the area of Tambon Nop Pring, Amphoe Muang. To access the park one has to use Phangnga – Krabi route (Highway No. 4) for a distance of five kilometres where a turn is made at the Electricity Generating Station via a three kilometre laterite road to the fall area. The park occupies an area of l80 rai and, in general, it is a pleasant forest having various kinds of plant and wood species. The outstanding characteristic of this park is the fall originating from a stream flowing along the hillside and cascading down to the big reservoir all year round.
Ao Phangnga National Park
This marine park is situated in the vicinities of Amphoe Muang, Takua Thung, and Ko Yao occupying an area of 250,000 rai and it was announced as the national park area on April 29, l98l. To access Ao Phangnga from the township area, one has to use Highway No. 4 heading southward to Tam-hon Khok Kloi passing the Provincial Hall and when arriving at KM.8 make a left turn for another four kilometre distance via Highway No. 4l44 to Ao Phangnga National Park. At the Customs Checkpoint Pier one can find boating services operated by private enterprises (besides this pier, one can use the Surakun Pier or Kasom Pier in Amphoe Takua Thung). Those who travel as a big group tour should use the boating service at the Customs Pier because suitable vessels are available there. Sightseeing route will commence from the pier passing Khao Machu, Khao Khian, Ko Panyi and stops will be made at Tham Lot, Khao Tapu, Khao Phing Kan.
Khao Khian
It is located on the way to Ko Panyi and there are various paintings of animal of different types. The Fine Arts Department has studied and found that the age of those paintings is not less than 3,000 years and it is believed that those paintings were made by seamen, in the ancient days, who stopped over to hide from a heavy storm.
Ko Yao
Ko Yao covers an area of 137.6 square kilometres consisting of 2 main islands, Ko Yao Noi and Ko Y3o Yai, and several surrounding islets.