Ko Kret
Ko Kret This is a tiny island in the Chao Phraya River, accessible by boat from Wat Sanam Nua, not far from the Pak Kret District Office. Ko Kret has prospered since the Ayutthaya period as is evident from the man temples on the island that are from that period. When Ayutthaya was reclaimed, King Taksin the Great relocated the Mon people here. The Mon people on the island came during the Thon Bun period and during reign of King Rama II. On it live a community of craftsmen famous for their distinctive style of pottery which dates back many centuries. The islanders are the descendants of the Mon people, and they have managed to retain’1 the skills of their forefathers.
Mu Ko Angthong National Marine Park
Of all the islands in the Samui area, it is those in Muko Ang Thong Marine National Park that score highest for sheer beauty and excursion potential. Located 3 1 km. west of Samui, the park covers more than a hundred sq. km. and comprises a group of some 40 lovely steep—sided limestone islands fringed with forest. Their shores are dotted with sandy coves and limestone caves, while the lush interiors are home to a wealth of flora and fauna.
The name translates as “golden basin”, and this is indeed a rich ground for exploration. Mainly because it was a preserve of the Royal Thai Navy and so closed to the public until 1980, when it was declared a marine national park, Ang Thong has managed to preserve its unspoilt character to an exceptional degree.
Tarutao Marine National Park
Thailand’s first marine national park, established as such in 1974, Tarutao lies off the coast of Satun Province and comprises 51 mountainous and forested islands, with caves, mangrove swamps and beaches strung along their shorelines. The dramatic beauty of the scenery is all the more striking when compared with the islands’ history.
Mu ko Surin Marine National Park
The five islands that comprise Muko Surin Marine National Park offer, like the Similans, excellent conditions for scuba diving and snorkelling. Lying north of the Similans, about 70 km. off the coast of Khuraburi district in Phang-nga province, the islands are well suited to both on-land and underwater exploration.
Mu Ko Similan Marine National Park
A group of nine islands set in the Andaman Sea northwest of Phuket, the Similans are renowned for their beauty, both on land and in the surrounding underwater world. Distinctive in their smooth granite rock formations, the islands are studded with inviting sandy beaches; otherwise, there is little to explore on land and the destination is most popular with scuba enthusiasts, the waters here boasting some of the world’s best dive sites.
Page 1 of 4