Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Tharnbok Korannee National Park
Close to the small town of Ao Luk, a stunning 46km drive northwest of Krabi,
Tharnbok
Korannee National Park
(Than Bok; adult/child under 14yr 200/100B)
protects a large area of islands,
mangroves and limestone caves. The most important cave here is
Tham Pee Hua Toe
(Big-
Headed Ghost Cave), reached by long-tail boat or sea kayak from the pier at Ban Bho
Tho, 7km south of Ao Luk. Legend has it that a huge human skull was found in the cave,
but the ghost story probably has more to do with the 2000- to 3000-year-old cave paint-
ings that adorn the cave walls. Nearby
Tham Lot
(Tube Cave) can also be navigated by
boat. Both caves are popular destinations for kayaking tours from Krabi or Ao Nang, but
you can also hire sea kayaks from local guides who grew up in the shadow of the Bho
Tho pier. Long-tails are available for 500B to 600B.
There are at least seven other caves in the park, including
Tham Sa Yuan Thong
- a few
kilometres southeast of Ao Luk - which has a natural spring bubbling into a pool. The
national park also includes the uninhabited island of
Ko Hong
, which has fine beaches,
jungle-cloaked cliffs and a scenic hidden lagoon.
Just to the south of Ao Luk, the park headquarters is a popular picnic spot. You'll find
an 1800m nature trail that links a series of babbling brooks and shady emerald pools con-
nected by little waterfalls. The usual vendors sell noodles, fried chicken and
sôm·đam
.
There's also a brand-new
visitors centre
(
8am-4pm)
that has photo mural displays in Thai
and English.
Nearby
Ao Them Lem
is another stunning panorama of limestone and mangroves laced
with concrete streets and sandy lanes. Day-trippers buzz in for long-tail trips to nearby
hôrng
(semisubmerged island caves) and lagoons, but otherwise this is a mellow, very
local village with a few modest resorts.
Discovery Resort
( 08 1298 9533; 500 Moo 1 Kao Tong; bungalows from 1100B; )
is the tightest
operation. The owner-operator speaks English and her attractive peaked-roof bungalows
have cable TV and there's a pool.
Getting There & Away
The park headquarters is about 1.5km south of Ao Luk town along Rte 4039. Buses and
sŏrng·tăa·ou
from Krabi stop on Hwy 4. Catch a government bus to Pha-Ngan or Phuket
and ask to be let off at Ao Luk (80B, one hour), from where you can walk down to the
