Tourist Destinations in Khura Buri District

•  Similan Islands National Park.
Similan is a Yawi or Malay word, which means nine or a group of nine islands. This is located in Tambon Ko Phra Thong, Amphoe Khura Buri, occupying an area of 32,000 acres. It was declared a national park on 1st September 1982 . Similan is a small group of islands comprising nine islands stretching from north to south, respectively, namely: Ko Bon, Ko Bayu, Ko Similan, Ko Payu, Ko Miang (two adjoining islands), Ko Payan, Ko Payang, and Ko Huyong. The National Parks office is located on Ko Miang. Similan is highly praised for its beautiful scenery, both onshore and underwater. It is situated 70 kilometers from Phang-nga town. Best time to visit is between November and April. Similan is named as one of the most beautiful diving sites of the world by Skin Diving Magazine in USA .

Interesting attractions in the National Park include:

Ko Similan or Ko Paet is the largest island in this group of islands. It has a distinctive horseshoe-shaped bay. The average depth of the water is 60 feet. Underwater is full of rock formations and coral reefs in several shapes and forms such as deer, leaf, brain, and mushroom. The latter one is the most unspoiled coral found in the country. Its soft sandy beach is very beautiful and diving around here will let you see a lot of fishes and coral. To the north, lies a striking large rock formation with astonishing shapes such as boot and Donald Ducks head. The upper part of the beach is an ideal lookout point with a rock of a sailing boat shape.

Ko Ba-Ngu is the ninth island of the Similan group of islands. It has a strange feature. Looking from one point, the shape of a skull can be seen. Underwater is as beautiful as a valley full of coral reefs, deep gorge, and various sizes of fish.

Ko Huyong, the island offers the whitest and longest beach of all the nine islands. During turtles' egg laying season, from November to February, there would be tracks on the beach from turtles that come onshore to lay eggs, resembling centipede tracks.

Ko Miang is the second largest island among 9 islands after Similan Island . It is where the office of the National Park is located. The island offers a scenic beach which is suitable for camping.

How to Get There

Thap Lamu Pier, located 70 kilometers north of Phang-nga at Amphoe Thai Mueang, is the nearest point to Similan. A boat trip takes around 3 hours. There is no regular boat service for travelers to the island. Boats leaving from Thap Lamu are suitable for group tours. It is sometimes possible for individuals to hitch a ride or pay a reasonable fraction of the rental cost on a boat chartered by a group. This method is by no means certain and should be an option only for the adventurous that have time to spare. Visitors may contact the park office at Thap Lamu (Tel: 0 7659 5045) for further information. Or contact Med Sai Tour (Tel: 0 7621 6811, 0 7644 3276)

A boat trip from Patong Beach , Phuket takes around four hours. Visitors can contact Seatran Travel Tel: 0 76219391-2. Diving companies in Phuket also organize a three-day trip. Prices range from 9,000 to 25,000 baht, depending on the level of luxury, and include food, and accommodations.

Accommodation

There are bungalows and tents as well as restaurants available on the island. For more information contact Mu Ko Similan National Park, Mu 1, Thap Lamu, Tambon Lam Kaen, Amphoe Thai Mueang, Phang-nga, 82120, tel. 0 7642 1365, 0 7641 1913-4 or 0 7659 5045.

•  Mu Ko Surin National Park
Situated in Tambon Ko Phra Thong and covering an area of 84,375 rais (33,750 acres), Mu Ko Surin is an archipelago of 5 islands: Ko Surin Nuea, Ko Surin Tai, Ko Ri , Ko Khai, and Ko Klang. It was declared a national park on July 9, 1981 . The archipelago is located in the Andaman Sea , near the Thai-Burmese sea border, to the west coast of Thailand . There are beautiful and unspoilt coral reefs; the area is suitable for snorkeling. The best time to visit is from November to April.

Ko Surin Nuea has several bays. The most well-known bay is Ao Mae Yai, the largest bay that offers calm waters. To the southeast of Ko Surin Nuea lies Ao Luek, which is so deep that the sea appears dark green, offering splendid shallow corals as well as sea weeds, sea flowers, coral lines, and various species of fish. Sea Gypsy Village , a Singha, or Morgan, Sea Gypsy tribe resides on the shore of Hat Sai En , Ko Surin Nuea. There are 130-150 sea gypsies who still hold on to their traditional ways of life and still live in their boats. On shore, there is a wooden sculpture resembling the Indian Totem Pole and is considered a sacred area. Every year, on the 15th day of the waxing moon in April, the sea gypsies in this village would worship their respected spirits. The event lasts for 3 days. Ao Mai Ngam, situated to the west of Ko Surin Nuea with the National Parks office nearby. There is a 2-kilometre walking path that you can take to enjoy the natural features of Hat Mai Ngam or you can take a longboat ride. The lovely bay provides fresh water and a long beach that is best for snorkeling and swimming. Ao Chak, situated to the north of Ko Surin Nuea. The bay possesses unspoilt coral reefs.
Interesting attractions on Ko Surin Tai include Ao Tao, situated to the east of the island. The bay is home to numerous sea turtles and magnificent coral reefs. Ao Phakkat, situated to the south of Ko Surin Tai. It is where unspoilt coral reefs can be seen.

Ko Klang or Ko Pachumba has a scenic bay called Ao Mangkon. The bay is teeming with splendid coral reefs and many schools of various kinds of fish.

Ko Khai or Ko Torilla, situated to the south of Ko Surin Tai. On the eastern side of the island there is a long stretch of unspoilt and picturesque coral reef. Snorkeling is the most recommended activity here.

How to Get There

Traveling to Mu Ko Surin can be initiated from several different points:

- Khura Buri Pier is the nearest point to Mu Ko Surin. Khura Buri is some 125 kilometers north of Phang-nga. A boat trip takes around 4 hours. There is no regular boat service for travelers to Ko Surin. Boats leaving from Khura Buri are suitable for group tours.

- Amphoe Kapoe Pier is in Ranong Province . The trip takes 7 hours. Visitors may contact Chansom Tara Hotel (tel: 0 7783 5317-9) which has boats leaving Chan Damri Beach for trips to Mu Ko Surin.

Note: The best way for individual travelers is to join a trip out of Phuket that includes Mu Ko Surin on the itinerary. This typically lasts at least 3 days and includes visits to Mu Ko Similan.

Accommodation

There are lodges, bungalows, tents, and restaurants available. Admission fee is 200 baht. Scuba diving equipments are available for rent. For more information, contact Mu Ko Surin National Park, Amphoe Khura Buri, Phang-nga, 82150, tel: 0 7649 1378, 0 7641 9028.

The allowance weather is between November and April. Before traveling, contact Forecast Office for the weather, tel: 0 2399 4566 and 0 2260 1502.

•  Sri Phang-nga National Park
Covering the areas of Amphoe Khura Buri and Amphoe Takua Pa and situated 100 kilometers from Phang-nga town, this park was established in honor of His Majesty the King on his 60th birthday anniversary. This forested piece of land is home to a large variety of flora and fauna. Getting to the park, visitors can take Highway No.4 (Takua Pa Ranong) and then take a right turn at Km. 756 for another 5 kilometers. Interesting attractions in the park include:

Namtok Tam Nang, located 4.5 kilometers from the National Parks office and another walk of 500 meters will take you to the 60 meters-high waterfall. The surrounding area is full of lush vegetation and big shady trees making it nice and cool.

Namtok Ton Toei is a 45 meter-high waterfall. A journey on foot and back that begins from the National Park takes about 3 hours. On the way, there is a small 10 meter-high waterfall, Namtok Noi, to be seen. The path passes through groves of big dense evergreen trees and vine forests.

Namtok Ton Sai - Before you reach the check point into the Park, you will come upon a small path on your right and a 15-minute walk down this path will lead you to a lovely waterfall. The 20 metre-high falls is in a dense grove of banyan tree and is worth a visit.

Admission is 200 baht. Visitors wishing to stay overnight in the park should bring their own tents. Contact the Si Phang-nga Nation Park at tel: 0 7641 2611.

•  Koh Phra Thong ( Phra Thong Island )