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Region: Southern Thailand> Province: Prachuap Khiri Khan>Location: Bang Saphan Yai

Bang Saphan Yai sights and attractions

Ko Thalu National Marine Park - Decent snorkelling

Description
To the south stretches Haad Bang Saphan, a quiet, if unspectacular beach with several rocky islands close offshore towards its southern end. These form the protected Ko Thalu National Marine Park. Ko Thalu is something of a environmentalist success story. It was the object of a reclamation effort after years of blast fishing (which, like it sounds, is the practice of killing large schools of fish with explosives) had destroyed much of the coral reef and threatened the delicate ecology of the area. The coral has been cleaned up and is on the mend, and the island can be reached on boat trips from Suan Luang Resort and the Coral Hotel. Or you can go straight to the source by contacting Tanapoom Chareonpak of Tours of Ko Thalu - Mobile: (01) 857 7314.

Caves and Jungles - Indiana Jones favourite

Description
If you want to Indiana Jones it on your own, to the south of Bang Saphan and near the resorts is a limestone, hilly area featuring numerous caves, some nice jungle and a very pretty lake.

Tham Manrong
One of the most accessible caves is Tham Manrong containing several spectacular chambers, lined with dozens of Buddha images in varying poses and sizes and lit by green and blue neon strips. Sounds weird and it is. There is also a sacred spring inside, the water of which is sold at the entrance by the monks from Wat Khao Tham Manrong. The water is believed to have healing qualities. The wat is at the foot of the hill and the monks will turn on the lighting system as you arrive. The donations box is alongside the flasks of holy water outside the cave.

To the west of Route 4, wooded hills stretch up to the Burmese border (Thailand is a mere 25 km wide at this point) and these contain numerous other cave systems and waterfalls as well as a gold field where anyone can try their luck.