Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Ban Kao. Groups of two or more will pay 100B each. Rides from Sairee to Chalok Ban
Kao cost 150B per person, or 300B for solo tourists. These prices are rarely negotiable,
and passengers will be expected to wait until their taxi is full unless they want to pay an
additional 200B to 300B. Prices double for trips to the east coast, and the drivers will raise
the prices when rain makes the roads harder to negotiate. If you know where you intend to
stay, we highly recommend calling ahead to arrange a pick up. Many dive schools offer
free pick-ups and transfers as well.
WATER TAXI
Boat taxis depart from Mae Hat, Chalok Ban Kao and the northern part of Sairee Beach
(near Vibe Bar). Boat rides to Ko Nang Yuan will set you back at least 100B. Long-tail
boats can be chartered for around 1500B per day, depending on the number of passengers
carried.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Ang Thong Marine National Park
The 40-some jagged jungle islands of Ang Thong Marine National Park stretch across the
cerulean sea like a shattered emerald necklace - each piece a virgin realm featuring sheer
limestone cliffs, hidden lagoons and perfect peach-coloured sands. These dream-inducing
islets inspired Alex Garland's cult classic
The Beach,
about dope-dabbling backpackers.
February, March and April are the best months to visit this ethereal preserve of greens
and blues; crashing monsoon waves mean that the park is almost always closed during
November and December.
Sights
Every tour stops at the park's head office on
Ko Wua Talap
, the largest island in the ar-
chipelago.
The naturally occurring stone arches on
Ko Samsao
and
Ko Tai Plao
are visible during sea-
sonal tides and weather conditions. Because the sea is quite shallow around the island
chain, reaching a maximum depth of 10m, extensive coral reefs have not developed, ex-
cept in a few protected pockets on the southwest and northeast sides. There's a shallow
coral reef near Ko Tai Plao and Ko Samsao that has decent but not excellent snorkelling.
There are also several novice dives for exploring shallow caves and colourful coral gar-
