Thai Muang Beach and its turtles , Phang Nga Province
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Today we're focusing on Thai Maung Beach Phang Nga. Thai Muang Beach is over 13 Kms long and offers a beautiful stretch of sand which is thankfully, for the majority, National Park.. The Thai Muang National Park including Khao Lampi further inland covers an area of around 72 sq km/s and was established in 1986 as the 52nd national park of Thailand.
Thai Muang town and surrounding area is a peek back in time to an era where Chinese tin miners and local traders came to work and sell their wares. The stunning beach is also the ideal location for breeding marine turtles and offers a haven for the small remaining population of leatherback and green turtles which come here annually to lay their eggs.
Of the 4 marine turtle species found in Thailand’s waters all are endangered and previously would have been found in the hundreds and possibly thousands nesting yearly in the sands of Thai Muang beach. Now only tens of turtles turn up each year, however it is one of the last havens for nesting marine turtles and one of the only places in Thailand you can see female turtles who will all come back to exactly the same beach they hatched on to lay eggs and continue their life cycle.
Around the dates of the Songkran Water Festival and Thai New Year there is also a turtle release festival. This is done at the same time as the Thai new year which coincides with the hatching of natural born turtles and as it falls on new year also provides the Buddhist Thais with a chance to make merit by releasing life into the world on the first day of their new year.
The months of December and February are the best time to see turtles (which have been around for the past 90 million years!) and at this time it is an ideal opportunity to see wild turtles. You will however have to arrive quite late in the evening (generally after 10 pm is when you have the highest chance of spotting turtles). Make sure you check in with the National Park Headquarters and secure the services of one of the local wardens who will be able to guide you safely to the most likely turtle nesting site – they are also there to protect recently discovered nests and laying adults from us humans!
Before you make your trek along the beach it is also worthwhile to check out the Phang Nga Coastal Fisheries Research and Development Center, situated less than a kilometer from the parks headquarters. Here you will be able to see recently hatched (awaiting release) baby turtles along with breeding age adults and injured and rehabilitated turtles, many of which are there due to collisions with boats, having been caught in fishing nets and other accidents. Entrance is free and many of the staff are volunteers so please make a donation should you decide to visit.
So how do you get there? Well if you are heading from Phuket or Khao Lak it is really easy!
From Phuket: Head north off Phuket on Road 402 crossing the Sarasin bridge and heading into Phang Nga province. From here, again just head north until the road turns into Phet kasem route 4 past Khok Kloi (be careful not to head east towards Krabi and Phang Nga town as this will take you off course towards the east – just follow signs for Khao Lak and Thai Muang). Half an hour after Khok Kloi you will reach the town on Thai Muang. Enter the town and drive straight on towards the beach, from here there are signs for the national park and turtle conservation center.
From Khao Lak: Just head south on route Phet Kasem 4 passing Lame Kaen and Thung Maphrao until you reach Thai Muang. In the center of the town (opposite the Chinese temple) turn right (again there will be signs for the beach, national park and turtle conservation center), head straight on and you will reach the national park. Enjoy!
