Page 95 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - Phuket

The North ❮❮ 93

A DAY IN NORTHERN PHUKET

4027
402
Khao Phra Thaeo
Royal Forest and
Wildlife Reserve
Gibbon
Rehabilitation
Project
402 Bang Pae
Waterfall
4027 Bang
Wat Ton Sai Pae
Prathong Waterfall
MORNING
Hire a private car for this itinerary
if you don’t have a rented one,
since the journey covers quite a
bit of ground. Also carry sturdy
Mai Khao Beach
9 shoes, swimwear, and a towel.
Start the day aus piciously by
Part of Sirinat National Park,
this 6-mile- (10-km-) long beach (see making merit at Wat Prathong
(see p91), where local Buddhists
p23) has undulating golden sand revere the half-buried golden
lined by palm trees and pines. Buddha image. The temple is
Development in the area has been located quite far inland, so it
limited, result ing in resorts that truly isn’t as crowded as Wat Chalong.
respect the surroundings. The sea Continue east ward to the nearby
Khao Phra Thaeo Royal Forest
can be rough in summer, but the and Wildlife Reserve (see p91),
beach makes for an excellent scenic one of the last remaining habitats
trek, and walkers often find them- for exotic animals on Phuket.
selves alone with the birds. Here, park your car near Bang
Pae Waterfall (see p94) and eat at
Gibbon Rehabilitation
0 one of the restau rants near the
Project
car park. Better still, buy a take-
Established in 1992, this center away meal and enjoy a picnic in
the shade near the waterfall.
seeks to rehabilitate captive white-
handed gibbons and reintroduce AFTERNOON
them into their natural habitat, while
striving to end their illegal use as A short walk from the Bang Pae
tourist attractions and pets. You can Waterfall stands the small Gibbon
pay a small donation to adopt a Rehabilitation Project, where
gibbons who have been ill-treated
gibbon that has been mistreated in captivity are gently reintro-
in captivity (see pp20–21). duced into a wild habitat. After
watching these fascinating
creatures from the viewing
platform, you can adopt a baby
gibbon for a small amount of
money and ensure that the
animal continues to receive vital
care. If you’re feeling ener getic,
hike the 5-mile- (8-km-) long
jungle path to Ton Sai Waterfall.
When it’s time for a bite to eat,
visit the floating restaurant
located in the coastal mangrove
swamps, which are also a
protected area. Return to your
hotel by the early evening.
Gibbons at the Rehabilitation Project
See map on p90
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