Khao Phra Theo National Park how to get there. Khao Phra Thaew National Park on Phuket Island
The film “The Jungle Book” made few people want to walk through the trees of a tropical rainforest with hanging vines, listening to the singing of birds, the rustling of leaves and the sound of waterfalls, looking at the intricate animals. Phuket will give you this opportunity thanks to the Khao Phra Theo National Park. Yes, the jungle is not the same, but there is no less delight and at the same time peace from contemplating a natural forest.
History of the park
Khao Phra Thaeo National Park is located in the northern part of the island a couple of tens of kilometers north of the city. The park was created in the second half of the 70s of the last century with the aim of preserving a natural area of tropical forest in conditions of intensive deforestation of the jungle. The park is located on the slopes of Phra Theo Mountain. Its area is slightly more than 20 hectares.
Walk through the park and interesting places
Walking along the narrow paths of the park, you can see for yourself the beauty and power of the jungle and see beautiful representatives of tropical flora and fauna. The total length of trails for pedestrians reaches 8 km.
The most important part of Khao Phra Thaeo Park is the White-handed Rehabilitation Center, located near the entrance to the park and is the only place on earth where these animals can still be found in natural conditions. After all, because of their trust in humans, these primates have already become pets or a way for poachers to make money. The goal of the Center is to return gibbons to natural conditions with preliminary adaptation.
But the park was created not only to preserve these primates; they are also trying to increase the number of other rare representatives of flora and fauna that visitors to the park can see.
This protected area also has a Marine Research Centre, which displays many unusual sea creatures.
The park is decorated with two wonderful ones: Bang Pae and Ton Sai. The first largest waterfall occupies a leading position among all waterfalls in Phuket. This waterfall makes such noise that it can be heard tens of kilometers away. After all, water falls at tremendous speed from a 15-meter height and spreads over the stones. If you walk from Bang Pe in a south-west direction along a three-kilometer path, you will find yourself at the second largest Phuket waterfall, Ton Sai. Both water sources are at their best during the rainy season. The rest of the time, Tone Sai turns into a bubbling stream. While visiting the waterfall, you can step into its clear, cool water.
While walking through the forest, you can also come across a place where they will show you how pearls are made naturally. There is also a place in the park where you can ride on this slow and calm large animal.
Helpful information
You can get to the national park from Phuket Town by taxi or motorbike. The path lies to the side. First you need to get to the intersection located near the monument to the Heroines. At the intersection you will need to turn left and drive straight for a few more kilometers until you enter the park.
For the entire period of your walk through the park, it is better to use the services of a guide: firstly, this way you will not miss anything interesting; secondly, if you arrived unaccompanied, then you are unlikely to want to spend time in the jungle in splendid isolation. You can also get advice and purchase brochures about the national park at the information center near the waterfall.
For a walk, it is better to wear comfortable shoes; sneakers are perfect. Moreover, the paths to the waterfalls are lined with stones covered with moisture. Don't forget to bring drinking water with you.
There are restaurants in the mangroves near the waterfalls for those who want to grab a bite to eat.
Entrance fee to the park for an adult is 200 baht, for children there is a fifty percent discount. Please note that you may be asked to present entrance tickets when visiting the falls.
The park receives visitors from 8:30 to 16:30, the gibbon rehabilitation center - from 9 in the morning until half past four in the evening.
View on map
The national park's virgin rainforest extends over 23 square kilometers. kilometer The park is located in the northeast of Phuket. This unique place is one of the last natural habitats of many exotic and endangered species.
Here you can see a real ancient forest and walk through the jungle. Khao Phra Thaeo Park surprises with picturesque waterfalls, rare plants, flowers and trees. The park houses a rehabilitation center for gibbons, where the animals receive care and treatment.
You can get in touch with nature by visiting the Ton Sai waterfall. The waterfall is located away from the beaches, in the northeastern part of Phuket, on the western side of Khao Phra Thaew. On the way to the waterfall there are beautiful views of farmland.
Primate Rescue Center
In many tourist areas of Thailand you can see a photographer with a rare monkey who will take your photo for money. If you meet such people, remember that their possession of exotic animals is illegal. Many primates die when poached for the tourist trade. In Asian countries, this business is widespread and brings considerable profits.
In 2013, 50 Loris lemurs were confiscated from Bangla Street in Phuket alone. The Khao Phra Thaew Primate Rehabilitation Center is helping to protect these endangered animals.
Bang Pae Waterfall is located in Khao Phra Thaew Park and is a popular holiday destination for islanders and tourists. The water in the pool of this beautiful waterfall is cool and therefore you can cool off here. Bang Pae Waterfall is the largest in Phuket. Near the waterfall there are restaurants where you can taste local cuisine while enjoying the local beauty.
There is an information center near the falls where you can learn about the history of the park and get a brochure.
The park's flora is rich in rare tropical plants and palm trees. Some species are unique and can only be found in Thailand. Since 1950, many palm trees have graced resorts and gardens.
Hiking trips. Hiking (Trekking)
The two stunning waterfalls of Ton Sai and Bang Rae are connected by a picturesque 8-kilometer trail through the jungle. A guided hike along this trail will give you the opportunity to see many of the park's exotic animal and plant species.
In the park, near the Bang Rae waterfall, there is an elephant village. Here you will get a great opportunity to trek through the jungle on elephant back. It should be noted that these majestic animals are on the verge of extinction, and this will make the walk even more unique and exciting.
Thais treat elephants with respect and consider them a sacred animal. Don’t forget to feed your elephant after a walk, because the Thais have a belief that feeding an elephant means clearing your karma.
Khao Phra Thaew Nature Reserve is home to a range of exotic animal species, including wild boars, macaques and gibbons.
In the forests of the park you can enjoy evergreen trees, bamboo thickets, exotic orchids and rubber plantations - Hevea.
The number of exotic birds in Phuket will shock you. In Khao Phra Thaeo Park you will see more than a hundred species of beautiful birds, from the smallest to the majestic eagles. Book guided tours and the beautiful creatures will not leave you indifferent.
Khao Phra Thaeo National Park is an excellent opportunity to get acquainted with the wild life of Phuket in all its manifestations. Khao Phra Teo is more than 22 square kilometers of untouched tropical forests, two large waterfalls, three mountain peaks, an elephant village and even a rehabilitation center for gibbons.
The reserve is located in the part of the island least affected by tourism. Far from beaches, hotels and noisy streets lie virgin tropical forests. Some species of animals and plants living here are unique and are under state protection. You can see them while walking along the narrow paths of the park. For those especially interested, there is an 8 km long track leading to. For this hike, it is better to use the services of a guide, since the road is sometimes unclear or dangerous, and not all the animals that you may encounter along the way are cute and harmless.
The main natural attraction of the park is Bang Pae waterfall. This is a favorite vacation spot for Thais who come here on hot days to cool off in the cool water. For this reason, a small “island of civilization” arose around the waterfall: shops, cafes and restaurants, souvenir shops.
An equally interesting and unique object is the gibbon rehabilitation center located here. Gibbons and loris lemurs are often the prey of poachers, who catch them and sell them to illegal zoos or for private keeping. Often on crowded streets near the beaches you can see a person offering to take a photo with a monkey. He is doing this illegally. Thai authorities confiscate these animals and send them to the Khao Phra Thaew Rehabilitation Centre. Monkeys who are accustomed to receiving food for performing tricks, rather than finding it on their own in nature, should not be immediately released into the jungle. This is why primates first live for a long time with their wild counterparts and learn how to behave in the wild, when there are no trainers or tourists with bananas nearby.
There is also an elephant farm where you can interact with the elephant, ride, feed it and take pictures. Elephant riding through the jungle is one of the favorite pastimes of tourists coming to Thailand.
In addition to elephants and monkeys, you can find a lot of amazing insects and tropical birds in the national park. But they all live in natural conditions and do not strive for people, so if you suddenly see a bright bird, consider yourself lucky! Less timid inhabitants of the forest are wild boars. They are easier to meet than wary birds.
And on the way to the reserve you will meet plantations of Brazilian Hevea, which is grown in many countries of Southeast Asia for rubber production. These are trees growing in even rows with a small number of leaves, on the trunks of which oblique cuts in the bark are visible. From these cuts, thick white juice flows into special containers, from which rubber is then obtained for the production of latex and rubber. And in some places, Hevea is grown together with pineapples, so here you have the opportunity to see how these sweet fruits grow.
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