Nak Cave

Ko Thalu Nok

Ko Boi Yai

Ko Panyi

Ko Phanak

Ko Lawa Yai

Ko Hong

Khao Khian

Khao Ta Pu

Khao Phing Kan

Khao Ma Chu

Kaeo Cave

Kong Kang Cave (Mangrove Cave)

Khang Khao Cave (Bat Cave)

Pin Cave

Lot Cave

   The north is adjacent to a mangrove swamp forest in Mueang Phang Nga District. The south meets the sea of Ko Yao in Phang Nga and Phuket Province. The east is next to the sea of Krabi Province. The west is adjacent to a mangrove swamp forest in Takua Thung and mueang district, Phang Nga Province. is dominated by sedimentary rock mountains alternating with long lines of metamorphic rock. Limestone mountains are widely distributed and are home to natural features such as cavities, caves, and land collapses, as in the west, causing it a rough coastal area, appearing bays and islands, with beautiful scenery. Ao Phang-nga National Park Influenced by the southwest monsoon, temperatures average 26–28 degrees Celsius, with an average annual rainfall of about 3,500 mm.

   The climate characteristics of Ao Phang-Nga National Park depend on the southwest monsoon and the northeast monsoon. The southwest monsoon season causes heavy rain from May until October, and then from November until March or April there is a constant northeast wind. Typically, Ao Phang-nga has excellent visibility, except during the rainy season.

While moderate to rough seas occur during the southwest monsoon, calm waves happen during the northeast monsoon, except in November, the wave is mild-moderate, sometimes heavy-very heavy.

     Plant species in Ao Phang-Nga National Park have different topography, soil features, sea currents, and human activities that interfere with natural conditions, and as a result are classified into five types:

    1.Mangrove Swamp Forest

   1.1 Mangrove Swamp Forest in Limestone Mountain contains up to 12 species in the forest, including Loop-Root Mangroves, Small-Leaved Mangroves, Xylocarpus granatum J.Koenig, Xylocarpus moluccensis (Lam.) M.Roem., Bruguiera gymnorrhiza (L.) Savigny, Navy Bean, Bruguiera parviflora (Roxb.) Wight & Arn. ex Griff., Ceriops, Bruguiera sexangula Poir., Sonneratia caseolaris (L.) Engl., Sonneratia alba Sm., Kandelia candel (L.) Druce, and Avicennia alba Blume. On the muddy soil or along the waterfront, visitors will find palm trees and sea holly shrubs. Sea cycads are rarely seen as they reside in areas where forests have been destroyed.

     1.2 Mangrove swamp forests in the Shell and Quartzite mountains have seven important plant species that include Large-Leaved Mangroves, Small-Leaved Mangroves, Xylocarpus granatum J.Koenig, Bruguiera gymnorrhiza (L.) Savigny, Navy Bean, Bruguiera parviflora (Roxb.) Wight & Arn. ex Griff., and Ceriops. The ground plants include Sea Holly Shrubs, Summana, and Wai Tamoi, which grow densely along the waterfront.

    1.3 Mangrove swamp forests on the sandstone mountains are home to  few plant species due to the sandy soil, wind, tides, and salt. Five essential plant species are found which include Large-Leaved Mangroves, Small-Leaved Mangroves, Sonneratia alba Sm., Avicennia alba Bl, Xylocarpus granatum J.Koenig, and Syzygium lineatum. Samet trees (Melaleuca leucadendra (L.) L.) are often in the area adjacent to the terrestrial forest where the water has a relatively low salinity.

     2.The terrestrial forest is a  tropical rain forest, which is classified as follows:

    2.1 The forest on limestone mountains has 2 types in Ao Phang-Nga, which are
    - It's a land forest, mostly flat. The Karst area has valleys with important species, such as Zollingeria dongnaiensis Pierre, Parkia timoriana (DC.) Merr., Hopea ferrea Laness.,  Artocarpus thailandicus C.C.Berg, Acacia catechu (L.f.) Willd., Tung Khao, Ficus Cnnulata Bl., Orange Champak, Cassia siamea Britt., Baccaurea ramiflora Lour., Mangifera quadrifida Jack var., Mai Non, Vitex pinnata L., Drypetes hoaensis Gagnep., Phyllanthus emblica L., Garcinia cowa Roxb, Homalium grandiflorum Benth., Morinda coreia Buch.-Ham., Figs, Caesar weed, Croton oblongifolius Roxb, and Ringworm Bush. The ground floor plants include Caryota urenss,  Pandom Wangi, Stenochlaena palustris, ginger, galangal, and wild bamboo. There are also grasses, palms, and various types of Aloe Vera.

     - The forest grows in a relatively humid area of limestone mountain, which has short and small trees, apart from those that have found nutrient-rich rock niche. Plants found include Malabar Iron Wood, Phalaenopsis cornu-cervi (Breda) Blume & Rchb. f., Cashew Nut Olive, and Lagerstroemia floribunda Jack.

   2.2 The forest in Shell and Quartzsite mountains is dense with plant species. Approximately 70-90% of the canopy is Dipterocarpus alatus, with lower levels home to other important plants such as Needle Wood, Bruguiera gymnorrhiza (L.), andAcacia mangium Willd. The ground plants found include wild bamboo and Trema orientalis.

   3. The most common aquatic plants in Ao Phang-Nga National Park is algae, which appears in mangrove swamp forest or along the beach. Algae is  divided into three types; Brown Algae, Green Algae, and Red Algae. Other marine organisms are seagrasses and plankton, which are the vital food sources for various aquatic animals.

The rarest plant species in Ao Phang-Nga National Park is the Yellow Phang-Nga Venus Slipper Orchid, which grows on cliffs, in crevices, or on high limestone rocks at 100 meters above sea level. It has a single flower with an upright stalk and a short hair covering. The flower is 5 – 8 centimetre in diameter at full bloom, with a soft white bulb. It blooms between April and August and from November until December.

Animals in Ao Phang-Nga National Park can be divided into the following categories:

     1. Mammals: 27 species, which include the  Crab-Eating Macaque, Dusky Leaf Monkey, Grey-Bellied Squirrel,  Chamois, Berdmore's Ground Squirrel, Smooth-Coated Otter, Moonrat, Common Treeshrew, Long-Tailed Pangolins, Black Rat, Mus, and Otters.

     2. Birds: There are 120 species including the Striated Heron, Brahminy Kite, White-Bellied Sea eagle, Malaysian Plover, Pink-Necked Green Pigeon, Green-Billed Malkoha, Edible-Nest Swiftlet, Common Kingfisher, Mangrove Whistler, and Dark-throated Oriole.

    3. Reptiles: There are 26 species including the Amboina Box Turtle, Asian Leaf Turtle, Black Marsh Turtle, Gecko, Orange-Winged Flying Lizard, Forest-Crested Lizard, Butterfly Lizard, Monitor Lizard, Many-Striped Skink, Olive Tree Skink, Radiated Rat Snake, Banded Krait, Oriental Wolf Snake, Dog-Faced Water Snake, Speckle-Bellied Keelback, and Red-Necked Keelback

   4. Amphibians: There are 4 species which include the Mangrove Frog, Grass Frog, Hoplobatrachus rugulosus, and Polypedates leucomystax.

    5. Fish found includeSharks, Stingrays, Eels, Pomfret, Longtooth Grouper, Mullet, Sea Bass, Mudskippers, Catfish, Butterflyfish, and Rastrelliger Fish.
    6. Other aquatic animals that are economically important consist of shrimps, shellfish, mollusks, and invertebrate animals such as corals. The corals found in the Ao Phang-Nga area include thorn coral, bush coral, and staghorn coral. In addition, there are 14 species of shrimps, including Banana Shrimp, Crawfish, Yellow-Tailed Blue Shrimp, Torpedo Shrimp, Jinga Shrimp, and Krill.