From
Ban Phe, boats-leave regularly for Ko Samet from 6.00-17.00
hrs.
and more frequently on Saturday and Sunday. It costs you around
30 baht each. A chartered boat costs 800-3,000 baht per day depending
on the size of the boat.
Suan
Son Pine Park
five kilometers
from Ban Phe on the beach road, is a popular picnic place, with
shady areas, white clean sand and a number of sea-food catteries.
Reasonable accommodation is also available. Reservation can be
made in Bangkok by calling 3988770 (N.S. Land), 4650054 (Jirawan
Resort), 4240668 (Marina Hut), 2463196 (Ko Kaeo Bungalow)
Suan Wang Kaeo a
garden on Sukhumvit
Road with a 5-km. right turn at kilometer 248 or some 11 kilometers from Suan
Son Pine Park along the beach hugging road. Suan Wang Kaeo is remarkable for
its scenic natural- beauty, beaches and bays, hills, and beautifully decorated
garden. It is open daily between 8.00 a.m.-6.00 p.m. Admission is 10 baht each.
Accommodations are also available at the garden, call 2594150-1 for detailed
information.
Hat Mae Phim
with entries at km. 259, 263 and 268, is suitable for swimming as waves are not
too strong and the sea is clean and clear. Accommodation may be booked by
calling 437.3648 (Sin Siam Resort),2341314 (Thap Samet Village), 3144382 (Phat
Lodge), 2781859 (Phimnipha Villa) 3902146 (Ban Sai Kaeo). To the north of the
cape is a small off-shore isle, Ko khi Pla which for some unexplained reasons,
can be reached someday by walking as the tide goes down to the extent that a
"road" appears.
Wat Saranat Thammaram located at the entrance to Amphoe
Klaeng at km. 265 on Sukhumvit Highway and built in 1944, has as
its principal image a replica of the highly venerated Phra Buddha
Chinarat of Phitsanulok. At the four corners of the temple are
also replicas of four major Buddhist monuments, namely, Phra
Pathom Chedi, Phra That Phanom, Buddha, Gaya and Phra That Chaiya.
Khao Chamao-Khao Wong National Park
about 17 kilometers off the main highway at km. 274, abounds with
various types of trees and plants, as well as those species highly
valued as decorative plants. Namtok Khao Cha-mao has 8 levels and
is not too difficult to reach the top. Bungalows are provided by
National Park Tel. 5790529, 5794842 for reservation.
Tham Khao Wong (Cave) is about 77 kilometers from town and
another 12 kilometers from a left turn at km. 286 Sukhumvit
Highway. Accessibility during rainy season is rather
difficult along the laterite road. There are about 80 big and
small connecting chambers, all of which are richly and beautifully
decorated with natural stalactites and stalagmites.
Koh Man or Man Island Group consists of three islands namely
Ko Man Nai, Ko Man Klang and Ko Man Nok, located 5 kms. from Laem
Mae Phim. It takes about 30 minutes by boat. The islands are good
for coral reefs. Ko Man Nai is going to be developed into Sea
Turtle Preservation Sanctuary and can be visited during the day.
Accommodation are available at Ko Man Klang and Ko Man Nok.
Contact in advance at Raya Island Resort (Ko Man Klang) Tel.
3166717 and Ko Nok Resort (Ko Man Nok) Tel. 2550836-7
Hat Mae Ramphung accessible by a right turn from kilometer
229 on Sukhumvit Road, the clean beach slopes gently to
the sea and makes a swimming appeal. Hat Mae Ramphung
is; hugged by a road running for 10 kilometers with a
small fisherman village called Ban Kon Ao situated at
one end and several bungalows and houses for rent
scattered along the way.
Khao Laem Ya a small shore hill located a bit beyond Ban
Won Ao along
the beach-hugging road. Some parts of Khao
Laem Ya are headlands stretching out into the sea. The
park's office is located on a long beach at the foot of
the hill.
