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DAY 3: CHANTABURI - TRAT, LEAM NGOP AND KO
CHANG 83 kms
The drive goes to Laem Ngop, the mainland port for passenger or car
ferries to the lovely island of Ko Chang. Laem Singh beach may be
visited on the way and Namtok Phliu Falls are a short distance from
the highway. A long side-trip may be made to Hat Lek and Cambodia.
Park in front of the TAT office in Laem Ngop town for passenger ferries
or drive to the car-ferries to cross to the is-land. The National
Park HQ and a me-morial commemorating when the French sank two Thai
ships in January 1941 are on the sea front road just west of town.
DAY 3: SIDE TRIPS
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LAEM SINGH - ST 8
p>(25 kms return. H3 KM.345 turn onto H3348 and then left (south)
at sharp bend after almost 3 kms. Follow fish signs to Oasis Sea World
dolphinarium and butterfly farm. One hour shows 09:00, 11:00,13:00,15:00,17:00.
Adults 90 Bt. From Oasis Sea World, the first sealed road right (south)
leads to inland roads parallel to the beach and H3149, an alternative
route to H3 at KM.347)
Oasis Sea World offers family en-tertainment, after which you may
drive to Laem Singh where there is a sandy beach with local restaurants.
Nearby is a fishing port located at the end of the spit. Sights include
Tuk Daeng, a former French officer's quar-ters and Khuk Khi Kai (chicken
excre-ment prison)/ where the French jailed Thai prisoners beneath
a chicken coop with a grill floor (on parallel inland road approx
400 m. from fishing port). Both were built in 1893.
NAMTOK PHLIU FALLS - ST9
(KM 346 left turn to Phliu Water-fall 1.7 kms)
From the entrance the falls are a 300 m walk. In 1876 King Rama V
(Chulalongkorn) built the moss cov-ered chedi and the pyramid housing
the remains of his beloved Queen Sunantha, who drowned in an accident
on the Chao Phraya two years after their visit to the falls. A 1 km.
nature trail goes round and above the falls. Note the Chinese temple
(Wat Mangkol Buppharam) by H3 between KM.345 and 346.
KO KUT SPECIAL You can pre-book an inclusive package to the less visited
island of Ko Kut south of Ko Chang with Koh Kood Cabana. Bangkok Office
(Nonthaburi) Tel: (02) 9232645-6 Fax: (02) 9232974. Local office (Tel:
039 522955-6) and restaurant is at Tha Dan Kao, approx. 7 kms west
of Trat Provincial Capital.
MU KO CHANG NATIONAL PARK
Ko Chang is the largest of 40 islands in the national park. A jungle
clad ridge peaking at 743m runs the length of the island. Against
this backdrop the western side of the island has three very fine sandy
beaches providing ample opportunity for idyllic mo-ments.
From Ao Sapparot west the road is sealed for 10 kms (4WD beyond).
Be careful on the very steep, tight turns south of Khiong Son village.
Hat Sai Khao (White Sand Beach. 6 kms) has resorts throughout its
length and the liveliest nightlife. The long sandy beach of Khiong
Phrao (12 kms.) offers the greatest isolation, but deep inlets must
be forded/swum if walk-ing. Khiong Phlu falls at the back has a natural
pool 400 metres walk from the parking area. Kai Bae Beach (19 kms.)
has lower density development than White Sands Beach.
On the east side of the island a dirt road (4WD. 28 kms. from Ao Sapparot)
goes to fishing villages on scenic Ao Salak Petch bay. Good sea-food
restaurants are found at Ban Rong Than. On the way Than Mayom falls
offers isolated pools at the upper lev-els for those willing to scramble
up.
SPECIAL SIDE TRIP TO HAT LEK. 89
kms.
To
gamble at the Grand Hotel Ca-sino (Tel: 039 544383-5) just across
the border from Hat Lek, you will need a visa from the Cambodian
Embassy in Bangkok (185 Ratchadamri Rd. Tel: 254 6630, Fax:
253 9859) together with a re-entry permit/visa for Thailand.
You must leave your Budget car on the Thai side.
The drive on H318 from Key Point 17 ends at the small, but interesting
border market at Hat Lek. It passes a small museum exhibit at
a former refu-gee camp at Khao Lan Ratchakarun (KM. 48) and
the long undeveloped beach at Hat Chuen (KM. 58). The old style
fishing town of Amphoe Khiong Yai (74 kms.) and Muslim communi-ties
established by Thai-Malays who came by boat across the Gulf
are not without interest, but accommodation is only basic beyond
KM.41. |
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