Guides and Resource Collections for Ao Phang Nga National Park in Southern Thailand

Limestone karst islands and Thailand's largest remaining mangrove forest in Phang Nga Bay

Ao Phang Nga National Park

Ao Phang Nga National Park represents a unique fusion of terrestrial and marine ecosystems along Thailand's southwestern coast. The park's defining characteristic is its collection of dozens of limestone islands scattered across Phang Nga Bay, their steep vertical cliffs rising hundreds of meters from the water and creating a landscape of exceptional visual drama. These tower karst formations originated during the Cretaceous to early Tertiary period, approximately 136 to 36 million years ago, shaped by structural geological forces including the Khlong Marui and Phang Nga faults. The park's marine areas encompass both open water and extensive mangrove systems, with the mangrove forest representing the largest remaining example of this habitat type in Thailand. This coastal ecosystem plays an indispensable role in protecting shorelines from storms and serving as a nursery area for commercially important fish and crustacean species. The park's designation as a Ramsar Wetland in 2002 further underscores its international ecological significance, recognizing it as a wetland of importance beyond national boundaries.