Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
BIRDS OF A FEATHER
At the intersection of the East Asian and Australian migration routes, Thung Sam Roi Yot National Park is home
to as many as 300 migratory and resident bird species, including yellow bitterns, cinnamon bitterns, purple
swamp hens, water rails, ruddy-breasted crakes, bronze-winged jacanas, grey herons, painted storks, whistling
ducks, spotted eagles and black-headed ibises. The park is one of only two places in the country where the
purple heron breeds.
Waterfowl are most commonly seen in the cool season from November to March. The birds come from as far
as Siberia, China and northern Europe to winter here. Common places for bird-watchers are the Mangrove
Centre, Khlong Khao Daeng and even some of the beaches.
Thai Birding ( www.thaibirding.com ) provides more in-depth information about the park's bird species and
where to spot them.
Sights & Activities
M aps provided at the park checkpoints are often in Thai. The following sites are listed in
geographical order from north to south.
Tham Kaew
Tham Kaew is a series of underground chambers and narrow passageways accessed by a
steep scramble 128m up the mountain. It's not a popular stop, even though the stalactites
and limestone formations here glitter with calcite crystals (hence the cave's name, 'Jewel
Cave'). You can hire lamps from the booth at the footpath's entrance. The path can be
slippery and dangerous.
CAVE
Tham Phraya Nakhon &
Hat Laem Sala
The park's most-visited attraction is this revered cave sheltering a royal săh·lah (meeting
hall; often spelled sala ) built for Rama V in 1890 that is often bathed in streams of light.
It's accessed via a walking trail from the picturesque sandy beach of Hat Laem Sala , flanked
on three sides by limestone hills and casuarinas.
The beach hosts a small visitors centre, restaurant, bungalows and campsites. The cave
trail is 450m long and is steep, rocky and at times slick so don't wear your ballet flats.
Once there you'll find two large caverns with sinkholes - the meeting hall is the second
of the two.
Reaching Laem Sala requires alternative travel since there is no road connection. It is
reached by boat from Bang Pu (300B return), which sits beachfront from the turn-off
CAVE
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