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A Geological Wonder Filled with Islets

By: Douglas Scott Click author's name for more of his/her articles

Phang-nga Bay is just a few miles north east of Phuket. Here are more than 100 islands with geology varying from low, gently sloping hills to the sheer-sided limestone sea mountains that rise vertically out of the water to stunning heights.

The capital of Phang Nga is a small town of the same name, set amidst spectacular limestone crags near the coast of Phang Nga Bay

Phang Nga Bay is a large, lovely area that seems different in every change in weather and light. There are many fine secluded islands that can be explored at our leisure in comfortable touring kayaks. In these areas, where only the occasional fisherman is seen and wildlife is plentiful.

The Ao Phang-nga National Park, a geological wonder filled with islets, sunken caverns and startling rock formations rising sheer out of the sea. The bay is extremely sheltered ideal for expeditions of sea canoes to explore the many fascinating caverns.

Located north east of Phuket, Phang-Nga is famous for its island-studded bay of haunting natural beauty. Some of the islands have notable features, such as Koh Panyi Sea Gypsy Island is also popular home to a Muslim village, the whole of it built out over the water on stilts, it is well worth a visit for lunch and souvenir shopping.

Khao Khain, where prehistoric rock paintings can be seen on the cliffs and Phanak Island with beautiful caves and James Bond Island, which is famed as the location for the movie The Man with the Golden Gun.

The province's main land offers amazing beaches as well, the best being Khao Lak, a stretch of powdery sand interrupted with gorgeous granite boulders. A popular departure point for live aboard scuba diving trips. A road runs roughly parallel with the beach and the town has development of shops and dwellings, with tourist hotels between the road and the beach. The coast line here has a west-facing, sandy beach with rubber plantations on the hill slopes beyond the sand and tropical forest.

There are many places of interest just minutes away from the Phang Nga province, making it centrally positioned for attractions. From Takua Pa you can head east to Khao Sok National Park and Surat Thani. At Thai Muang is Thai Muang Beach National Park, where sea turtles come to lay eggs between November and February, Thap Lamu, is about 23 km north of Thai Muang and has a pier with boats to the Similian Islands.