Tag: Chatrium Golf Resort Soi Dao Chanthaburi

Chanthaburi’s National Parks and Nature Reserves – A Nature Lover’s Guide

Not far from the Cambodian border, Thailand’s Chanthaburi district is a verdant landscape, rich in forests and natural beauty. Explore the region’s numerous nature reserves and hiking trails, with a guide to the national parks and sanctuaries of Chanthaburi.

img via flickr

Namtok Phlio National Park 

The park is home to a breathtaking collection of waterfalls, dotted with pools and streams that are perfect for a refreshing break on your hike. Best explored during the rainy season, the jungle trail is best suited for avid hikers, while the rock pools and campsites are ideal for families with children.

Khao Soi Dao Wildlife Reserve

This reserve is both a stunning and educational experience, located half an hour away from almost any Chanthaburi resort in Soi Dao, such as Chatrium Golf Resort Soi Dao Chanthaburi. Home to a 16-tier cascading waterfall, the park offers nature study trails across mountainous terrain, surrounded by Dipterocarp flora and exotic butterflies.

Khao Khitchakut National Park

Covered in a blanket of forestland and herbal flora, this park is home to a tranquil mountaintop temple, which is the site of frequent pilgrimages. Believed to enshrine one of Buddha’s footprints, the site artfully blends spirituality and natural beauty, sitting above the clouds and overlooking the region’s rich greenery.

Khung Kraben Bay Royal Development Study Center

Overlooking the coastline of Chanthaburi, this reserve offers a different experience from the mountainous parks of the region. A long, wooden boardwalk winds through a fascinating mangrove ecosystem, lined with informative signage and even an observation centre. Further along the water, kayaks are also available to rent, ideal for those who want to explore the mangroves up close.

Kung Krabaen Bay Nature Centre

Kung Krabaen, Chantaburi province, Thailand| Img. By Sean.hoyland (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Kung Krabaen, Chantaburi province, Thailand| Img. By Sean.hoyland (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Nature lovers will find themselves richly rewarded with Bangkok tourist places when they venture out of the city and into the province of Chanthaburi. The Kung Krabaen Bay Royal Development Study Centre, also known as the Kung Krabaen Bay Nature Centre, offers a stimulating experience for nature enthusiasts and conservationists. Due to its distance from central Bangkok, it is recommended to find accommodation in Chanthaburi when planning your visit. Options include resorts such as the Chatrium Golf Resort Soi Dao Chanthaburi.

Open from 6.30 am to 6 pm every day, the Kung Krabaen Nature Centre was founded in order to conduct research into Chanthaburi’s mangrove ecosystem. The most remarkable feature of this centre is the 1600 metre long trail built through the coastal area’s mangrove forest. The wooden walkway is dotted with small pavilions allowing visitors to rest or simply absorb the ambience of the towering mangroves. The curious will be happy to know that there are many information sites along the way providing details about the flora and fauna in the area. There is much to see at Kung Krabaen bay as the mangroves provide haven to a variety of aquatic organisms, such as horseshoe crabs and mudskippers. The mangrove forest is also home to many water birds, macaque monkeys and civet cats which often emerge at low tide to search for food. At the end of the walkway, a pavilion projecting out into the bay offers visitors a scenic view of the mangrove forest and the river; a marvellous parting gift!

More adventurous visitors have the option to get even closer and hire a guided kayak to travel through the mangroves. Travellers are taken through the mangrove shaded waterways, almost at eye level with the animals in the area. Lucky visitors may also get the opportunity to see traditional fish and crab capturing methods used by the locals. It must be noted, however, that kayak tours are subject to the tide and prevailing weather conditions.

 

Fritzjames Stephen is a travel writer, who writes content based on the myriad of experiences and indulgences that the world has to offer travellers across all walks of life. Google+