Krabi in Southern Thailand just 8 degrees above the equator is not only home to tropical evergreen rainforests, lowland swamps and mangrove forests but is famed as an area of outstanding natural beauty. Large areas of the province have been demarcated as national parks to preserve the forests, coastlines, beaches and outlying limestone islands.
Hat Nopparat Thara National Park is among the largest in the area counting a large section of the Krabi coastline within its boundaries including the popular beaches Ao Nang, Hat Nopparat and Railey. Eighty islands off shore including Koh Phi Phi, primary rainforests, mangroves and phru forests home to a range of mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, fish and other aquatic creatures also come within the park’s purview. The national park also has a large area of rare fossilized shells that have been around for thousands of years. Khao Phanom Bencha is a densely forested park famous for its limestone cave with stalactites and stalagmites and several picturesque waterfalls among which are Nam Tok and Huay Toh with its five cascades. The mountains in the centre of the park can be scaled on a multi day trek. Khao Nor Chu Chi Wildlife Sanctuary at the southern end of the Krabi province is where the last patch of lowland rainforest in Thailand is found. It is home to several endemic, rare and threatened species of mammals, reptiles and insects and is famous for its bird life. Several trekking trails lead to the so called emerald pool and hot springs in the park’s interior. Than Bok Kohrani National Park bordering the Andaman Sea is where several forested limestone outcrops springing vertically from the water are found along the coastline. Many have hollowed out caverns that can be accessed via tunnels when the tide is down. Pre historic drawings have been found in some of the caves. Kayaking is a popular way to get to the caverns. They also offer beautiful beaches, shallow blue lagoons and pools and waterfalls in the interior. The national park is also home to mangrove forests and the bigger limestone islands have trekking tracks making their interiors accessible. The rugged Mu Koh Lanta Marine National Park encompasses the entire Lanta Island group and is known for its colourful corals, reef fish and dugongs. Several communities of Sea Gypsies live here.
Make Anantara Si Kao Thailand the base from which to explore the beauty of Krabi while enjoying the many excellent facilities and services of this popular Trang resort which is an ideal destination for families. Stay in spacious, well appointed rooms, suites and pool suites and enjoy the privacy of this Krabi resorts very own beach with views of the famed limestone islands.
Thanuja Silva is a travel writer who writes under the pen name Auburn Silver. She has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
