The
province of Phang Nga is a land rich with idyllic islands and
a hinterland comprising beautiful scenery. The majority of the
area is mountainous with very little basin area. Phang Nga covers
an area of over 4,000 square kilometers, over half of which
is made up of mangrove and evergreen forest. Phang Nga is roughly
800 km from Bangkok, bordering on Ranong to the north, Phuket
to the south, Krabi and Surat Thani to the east, and the Indian
Ocean to the west. The province is administratively divided
into eight Amphoes: Muang, Kapong, Khura Buri, Takua Pa, Takua
Thung, Thai Muang, Thap Put and Ko Yao.
The provincial
capital of Phang Nga is a small town, set amidst spectacular
limestone crags. The limestone geology of the area has forged
many natural attractions; sheer cliffs, fascinating rock formations
and plenty of caves for the visitor to explore. Around the mangrove-fringed
bay is a scattering of striking limestone karsts protruding
from the sea, surrounded with an abundance of coral reefs below
the clear waters. A classic example of the limestone karsts
can be found at the famous Koh Phing Kan or 'James Bond Island',
with its famous over-hanging rock, from the movie "The
Man With the Golden Gun".
