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Kho-Lanta
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Established
in 1990, Mu Koh Lanta
Marine National Park is con
tained within Krabi Province and covers an area of 134
sq. kms. It comprises of over fifteen islands divided
into four main groups: Koh Lanta Yai and Noi, Koh Ngai,
Koh Rok Nok and Nai, and the Koh Ha group.
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The
National Park Office is located at the southern tip of
the largest island, Koh Lanta Yai and is only accessible
by boat, as the headlands on either side are bound by
rocks. This southern section of the island is well worth
visiting as is the central elavated terrain with its variety
of wildlife including squirrels, reptiles, amphibians
and many species of birds; a series of marked routes lead
the way.
Koh
Lanta Yai should really be considered as the operations
centre of the park with its infrastructure of roads and
electricity already being established; two things absent
elsewhere in the park!
The island has many bungalow resorts and a couple of Five
Star accommodations, all of which are found along the
islands western shoreline.
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Dive
Center
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| Atlantis |
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| Blue
Planet Divers |
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| Easy
Divers |
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| Koh
Lanta Diving Center |
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Laguna
Fun Divers
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| Lanta
Diver |
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| White
& Blue Dive Club |
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The
eastern coastline features mangrove forests, but many have
been destroyed by temporary shrimp farms.
The majority of dive centres are found in the northern fishing
port of Saladan, although there are a few more ‘resort based’
concerns dotted around the island. One thing to bear in
mind is that not all of them stay open all year round!
The diving here is exceptional and is amongst the best found
anywhere in the country. The quality and health and diversity
of associated marine life is high. The waters around the
island of Koh Lipong remain one of the few places that claims
dugongs. This is the only sirenian that inhabits these coastal
waters.
There is a somewhat limited variety of
different excursions on the island, one of the main attractions
is a large cave with numerous giant bats clinging to its
upper walls!
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How
to get there
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Direct
flights from Bangkok to Krabi. |
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Bangkok.
Hua Lamphong Station via Chumphon and Surat Thani. |
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Bangkok.
Air-conditioned bus from Southern Bus Terminal via Chumphon.
Also from Koh Samui, Khao Lak, Phuket and Surat Thani. |
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Daily
boats from Krabi, Phi Phi and Phuket. |
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Bangkok
Airways
Tel: (02) 229 3434 Thai International
Tel: (02) 280 0060, (075) 620070, PB Air
Tel: (02) 261 0220, (075) 691942
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| Hotel |
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Khlong
Dao Beach
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| Andaman
Lanta Resort |
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| Holiday
Villa |
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| Royal
Lanta |
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| Southern
Lanta |
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Southern
Beaches
Pimalai |
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| Sri
Lanta |
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Other
more organised excursions really centre around snorkelling,
most of which are day trips to either the Emerald cave at
the nearby island of Koh Muk or to the sea grass rich waters
around the island of Koh Libong, to hopefully do a bit of
ducong spotting. The main reason why people come to Koh
Lanta is to relax.
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