Krabi: General Information
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.
Than Bokkhorani National Park
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 Koranii flows through a winding passage in the mountain. At the north end of the pool is a footprint of the Buddha carved in wood and a shrine of Chao PhoTo Yuan - To Chong.
Tham Phet
Tham Phet is 3 kilometers from the intersection at Ao Luk Nua market. In front is enshrined an image of Buddha. The name of this cave "Phet" means diamond, and indeed sparking stone casts beautiful reflections on the cave wall. The best way to get there is to first contact the National Park Office at Than Bokkhorani for guide.
Tham Phi Hua To or Tham Hua Kalok
Tham Phi Hua To is located in Amphoe Ao Luk on Phi Hua To Mountains, which are surrounded by mangrove swamps. The cave is accessible by the same route as Tham Lod Tai with its entrance not far beyond the canel to Tham Lod Tai. From the entrance, the cave divides into 2 routes, the left one leading to a vast chamber pierced by a shaft of light, while the right routeleads to a hall believed by archaeologists to have been once a shelter for prehistoric people. Rock paintings can be seen within the cave. The paintings, 70 of them, are painted in red and black and portray people as well as animals. The cave was named Phi Hua To or Big-headed Ghost owing to the unusually large skulls discovered there. A large pile of shells were also found in the cave.
Kao Phanom Bencha National Park
Kao Phanom Bencha National Park is 20 kilometers from Krabi along Talat Kao-Ban Huai To Road. It covers a total area of 50 square kilometers including some parts of Amphoe Ao Luk, Amphoe Khao Phanom , and Amphoe Muang. Khao Phanom Bencha National Park had thick forest on its highest peaks. Its marvellous scenery is enhanced by strems, waterfalls, and wild animals. The park's major attractions are follows :
Namtok Huai To is located some 500 meters from the park's office, has as its source Phanhom Bencha Mountains. The waterfall itself runs down over rocks onto 11 huge pools, each with its own name such as Wang Thewada, Wang Sok, Wang Chan etc.
Namtok Huai Sa-de runs down over a high cliff. The waterfall is about 1.2 kilometers from the park's office.
Tham Khao Phung (Khao Phung Cave) is located some 3 kilometers from the park's office. Another 5 caves are in the area nearby. The cave's beauty is enhanced by countless stalagmites and stalactites of various shapes. Some are like mushrooms, other pagodas and curtains. The walls are white and glitter brightly.
Namtok Khlong Haeng is about 500 meters high and springs from Khao Thep Bencha which is the tallest mountain in Krabi and is 10 kilometers from Amphoe Khao Phanom. For accommodation within the park please contact the Khao Phanom Bencha National Park, Tambon Thap Prik, Amphoe Muang, Krabi 81000.
