Located in the mountainous border area between Satun province and Malaysia, Thale Bane was declared Thailand's 20th national park on 27 October 1980.

The park has a number of waterfalls and caves, and the picturesque lake opposite park headquarters is a popular spot for picnics. Local folk-stories say the lake appeared following an earthquake, and the remains of large trees found at the bottom of the lake suggest there might be some truth to these tales. Of the many forested limestone mountains in the park, Khao Gin is the highest at 756m.

Forest, meadow, and mangrove habitats are all found within the park's borders and support a variety of animal life. Macaques and squirrels are commonly seen, and Malayan tapirs, wild boars, gibbons, mouse deer, and civet cats have been sighted. Thale Ban is very popular with bird-watchers, especially during the March and October migrations. Nearly 300 bird species, including 8 types of hornbill, have been recorded in the park.

Nature trails are well-marked, and the Park Information booth hands out brochures and maps. If it's not deep in the dry season, Yaroi waterfall is a beautiful place to swim. You can drive most of the way there or, if you're feeling adventurous, hire a guide and tackle the 20km overnight hike to the falls.

The National Park Authority maintains some good bungalows set in a shaded area near the lake. They range from 300 -- 600B and sleep up to 4 people. Tents can be rented for 30B/person. Accomodations can be booked online at www.dnp.go.th or by calling (074) 72 2736-7. The park restaurant is open daily from 08:30 - 16:30.

To reach the park, it's a pleasant 40km drive past rubber plantations and idyllic villages to reach Thale Ban National Park. Public transit is irregular, and mini-vans occasionally depart from opposite the Rain Tong Hotel. The hotel staff may know if they're running, or show up before 08:00 for the best chances of catching one. If you're not planning to spend the night, songtheaws will make a return trip to the park for 500B and taxis for 600B.