One of Thailand's notable marine tourism hotspots is Mu Ko Chumphon National Park, an excellent choice for sea lovers and snorkeling enthusiasts. The park boasts more than 40 exquisite islands, each offering its unique natural beauty. Some islands are lined with delicate white sandy beaches while others are limestone mountains with fascinating shapes. Coral reefs flourishing around these islands add to their charm. Popular islands for tourists include Ko Ngam Yai, Ko Ngam Noi, Ko Thalu, and so on.
The Mu Ko Chumphon National Park, initially known as Sairee Beach National Park, was re-designated as Mu Ko Chumphon National Park on February 24, 1999, covering an area of 198,125 acres. The park extends from Ko Chorakhe in the Pathio district to Ko Ngam Yai, Ko Ngam Noi, Ko Samet, Ko Maprao, Ko Matra, Ko Thong Lang, Ko Langka Jew in the Thung Kha bay area, including islands in the Sawi and Thung Tako districts.
Previously known as Sairee Beach National Park, it covers both land and sea, totalling 317 square kilometers, and spans across five districts: Mueang Chumphon, Pathio, Sawi, Thung Tako, and Lang Suan. The landscape is predominantly mangrove forests and extensive beaches stretching more than a hundred kilometers from north to south.
Several tourist attractions pique interest such as Thung Makham Noi Bay, Thung Makham Yai Bay, Thong Tom Yai Bay, Sairee Beach Sawi, Mango Bay, Thong Tom Noi Bay, Arunothai Beach, and Thong Krok Bay. As for the marine area, it includes around 40 big and small islands like Ko Ngam Yai, Ko Ngam Noi, Ko Maprao, Ko Matra, Ko Lawa, Ko Langka Jew, and Ko Kula. Many of these islands boast beautiful coral reefs and schools of fish, perfect for snorkeling.
The park's office is located at the mouth of the Chorakhe Canal, Pong Pang Village, Sairee Beach Sub-district. It houses a tourist service center, a wooden bridge, and a suspension bridge serving as nature study paths along the canal leading to the mangrove forest. You can either walk or paddle a kayak to explore the mangrove ecosystem.
An interesting activity in the park is paddleboarding at the Mu Ko Chumphon National Park office. You can navigate through the arches of the mangrove forest while appreciating the abundant nature, both flora and fauna.
Admission fee of the Mu Ko Chumphon National Park:
For Thai tourists, it's 40 baht for adults and 20 baht for children. For foreign visitors, it's 200 baht for adults and 100 baht for children. The park provides accommodations and camping areas for visitors. For more information, you can reach out to the park at 0 7755 8155 or visit their website at www.dnp.go.th.
Getting to the Mu Ko Chumphon National Park:
From downtown Chumphon, you can take Highway No. 4001 (Chumphon-Paknam), then continue onto Highway No. 4119 until you reach the intersection at Paknam Subdistrict. From there, take a right turn onto Highway No. 4098. After about 100 meters, take another right onto Highway No. 4017 and continue for another 9 kilometers until you reach the Mu Ko Chumphon National Park office. The total distance from downtown Chumphon is approximately 23 kilometers.
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