Ko Phra Thong in Phang-nga: A Popular Tourist Site among Eco-Tourists
Phang-nga, in the South, is recognized as one of the provinces with many natural wonders for eco-tourists in Thailand.
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Ko Phra Thong has become a magnet for both local and international visitors, after it was selected by the Tourism Authority of Thailand as an Unseen Thailand attraction in 2003. This pristine island covers a vast area of 24,000 acres. It is the largest island in Phang-nga and the fifth largest in Thailand.
Other places of interest near this island include Mu Ko Surin National Park and Mu Ko Similan National Park. Visitors to Ko Phra Thong will have a chance to appreciate the long stretch of savannah, often referred to as "safari field,” or "golden field.”It is said that this savannah is similar to that in South Africa. Visitors to this place are encouraged not to miss the safari savannah. A number of rare bird species and wild animals are found in this savannah, reflecting its healthy ecological system. There are dozens of water sources in this area, which used to be a mining site.
Ko Phra Thong is also rich in rare indigenous plant species, some of which cannot be seen elsewhere. Local people on Ko Phra Thong are engaged mainly in fishing. The island is described as a paradise in the Andaman Sea, with mangroves in the East and golden sand in the West. It boasts fine beaches and coral reefs, as well. Most visitors to this island are nature lovers. They are also enchanted with natural beauty there, and many of them revisit it.
Ko Phra Thong is suitable for swimming and diving to appreciate the undersea world. To get to this island is easy, as tourists may hire a boat from the Khura Buri pier in Khura Buri district to travel to this place.
About 700 kilometers south of Bangkok, Phang-nga is adjacent to the internationally-renowned Phuket Island. It is attractive to adventurous holiday-makers, because the province offers many interesting activities, such as canoeing, scuba diving, island cruising, hiking, and trekking.
Phang-nga was once the place where filming for the James Bond movie The Man with the Golden Gun took place. Phang-nga Bay is one of the popular tourist destinations. Mu KoSurin and Mu Ko Similan are two exciting national parks to visit to enjoy nature and observe the way of life of the local people.
Phang-nga has good potential for developing new eco-tourist sites, because adventure activities can be carried out all year round. Today the province has grown significantly and it also hosts more and more visitors each year.