Page 25 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - Phuket

Sirinat National Park ❮❮ 23

Nai Thon
9
Beach
This quiet beach (left)
north of Bang Tao retains
its sleepy and natural
feel despite the coming
of better road access.
Small coral reefs located
off either tip of the beach
provide great oppor tu­
nities for snorkeling.
Mangroves
5 TURTLE
A mangrove forest
(left) can be found at the CONSERVATION
northern end of Mai The Mai Khao Marine
Khao Beach. These Turtle Foundation, along
unique trees, with their with several Mai Khao
tangled roots visi ble Beach resorts, releases
above the shore line, are dozens of green turtles
crucial in main taining the into the Andaman Sea
ecological balance. each year to raise funds
for the endangered sea
Scuba Diving
6 turtles. The conser vation
effort also includes
Off the coast of
northern Phuket lies an beach- and reef-cleaning
projects. The number
interesting scuba diving of turtles returning to
site – an old tin dredger Mai Khao Beach has
that sank off the coast dwindled, but it is hoped
of Ko Waew. Reachable that the annual nesting
by boat from Nai Thon site will be preserved.
Beach, the 164­ft­ (50­m­)
long wreck rests at a
Nature Trail
depth of 53 ft (16 m). 0
At the northern
Snorkeling
7 end of Mai Khao Beach,
an elevated walkway
There are many
opportunities for snor­ loops through the man­
keling near the rocky grove forest, with signs
headlands of Nai Yang pointing out exotic plant
Beach. Masks, fins, and species, including black
snorkels can be hired. myrsina, Lady’s Nails
Look out for colorful quisqualis, red cycas,
schools of fish. and mountain ebony.
Mai Khao Beach
8
Phuket’s longest beach is a thin, undulating
402
Ban Yit Suan Maphrao strip that slopes steeply down into the sea. Lined
with magnificent screw pines, and with very little
Sea Turtles
4 intrusive develop ment, it remains one of the island’s
3016
Mai Kho Giant sea turtles natural wonders (below).
(above) return to Mai
Phuket
4031 402 Khao Beach every year
between November and
Sakoo March to lay their eggs.
Cape Sai
If you spot a turtle on the
Nai Thon beach, do not disturb it
or touch its eggs.
4018
Following pages Floating bamboo-raft houses on Cheow Laan Lake, Khao Sok National Park
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