Phuket & the Andaman Coast - Thailand - page 1376

Camping is permitted on Ko Rok Nok and nearby Ko Haa , with permission from the
national-park headquarters. On the eastern side of Ko Lanta Yai, Ko Talabeng has some dra-
matic limestone caves that you can visit on sea-kayaking tours. The national park fee ap-
plies if you visit any of these islands.
The national park headquarters is at Laem Tanod, on the southern tip of Ko Lanta Yai,
reached by a steep and corrugated 7km dirt track from Hat Nui; túk-túk can take you
there. There are some basic hiking trails and a scenic lighthouse, and you can hire long-
tails here for island tours during the low season.

CAVE

Tham Khao Maikaeo
OFFLINE MAP
Monsoon rains pounding away at limestone cracks and crevices for millions of years have
created this complex of forest caverns and tunnels. There are chambers as large as cathed-
rals that are dripping with stalactites, and tiny passages you have to squeeze through on
hands and knees. There's even a subterranean pool you can take a chilly swim in. Sensible
shoes are essential and getting totally covered in mud is almost guaranteed.
Tham Khao Maikaeo is reached via a guided trek through the jungle. A local family
runs treks to the caves (with torches) for around 200B. The best way to get here is by ren-
ted motorcycle, or most resorts can arrange transport.
Close by, but reached by a separate track from the dirt road leading to the marine na-
tional park headquarters, Tham Seua OFFLINE MAP (Tiger Cave) also has interesting tunnels to
explore; elephant treks run up here from Hat Nui.

Activities

Diving & Snorkelling
Some of Thailand's top diving spots are within arm's reach of Ko Lanta. The best diving
can be found at the undersea pinnacles called Hin Muang and Hin Daeng , about 45 minutes
away by speedboat. These world-class dive sites have lone coral outcrops in the middle of
the sea and act as important feeding stations for large pelagic fish such as sharks, tuna and
occasionally whale sharks and manta rays. Hin Daeng is considered by many to be Thail-
and's second-best dive site after Richelieu Rock, near the Burmese border. The sites
around Ko Haa have consistently good visibility, with depths of 18m to 34m, plenty of mar-
ine life and a cave known as the Cathedral. There are also trips to the King Cruiser Wreck,
Anemone Reef and Ko Phi-Phi.