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Hat Wanakon National Park

Hat Wanakon National Park

It is the location of the 76th national park and the 18th marine National Park. Its prominent point is sparse forests with various kinds of deciduous forests such as Indian thorny bamboo, Burmese rosewood, Makhamong, crape myrtle, Queen’s flower and teak together with the seaside and sandy and rock beach inserted sparsely with shells. The beach is quiet, naturally beautiful and undisturbed. There are special and interesting activities-1. watching a wide variety of birds such as black-naped oriole, Pacific reef egret, black Drongo, Indian roller, colorful blue-tailed bee-eater and others, 2. studying marine organisms. Aquatic lives found are freshwater fish such as walking catfish, common snakehead, climbing perch, Nile Tilapia and other sea fish and 3. studying the ecosystem at 28 stations.Major tourist sites include:-Wanakon Beach (Hat Wanakon): White and clean beach lies alternated with Hua Krang that stretches out into the sea. Upstream on the shore, there is sea oak along the sea from Nam Chuet Canal to Hua Ban Yang for 7 km. The beach when water level is the lowest, intrudes into the sea about 150 m and is suitable for swimming and relaxing because the sea wind is cool. A tent near the beach can be set up waiting for the sun rise that slowly emerges above the sea. -Makha Bay is a river bed along the shore from Ban Wang Duan to Pak Khlong Nam Chuet. It is a cliff close to the sea and is made up of reefs and banks. National Park Security Guard Unit is located here. From this, a view of sea, and Chan and Thai Si Islands can be seen. -Hua Krang and Hin Chuang nature trail is an open-air classroom that provides knowledge about the relation of living things that rely on each other in this forest, either plants or animals such as bamboo, mango, ant hill and termite hill for a total of 28 stations. It can raise awareness in maintaining nature. There are three routes of choices. The first route of 2 km takes about two hours; the second one of 3.5 km takes three hours; and the third one of 6 km takes about four hours. -Lan Khoi, Chan Island and Thai Si Island: These islands are a swallow bird’s nest concession area. Around the islands there are gorgeous coral reefs, which are open to diving and watching corals. Interested persons can contact the Office of the National Park. Admission fee is 100 bath for adults and 50 bath for chrildrent.Those who wish to dive or camp here can call at Tel 0 3261 9030, 08 1327 5210, Hat Wanakon National Park, Huai Yang sub-district, Thap Sakae district, Prachuap Khiri Khan province 77130 or the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, Bangkok Tel 0 256 0760 or www.dnp.go.th.