Sirinat National Park, Phuket Province
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Of the 76 provinces in Thailand, Phuket is one of the most famous. Tourism has been the mainstay of the local economy for the past 20 years and things do not seem to be slowing down. We at thailandecoportal.com are advocates of responsible travel and would love for everyone to be able to explore the untouched areas that Thailand still has to be found. However we are also realists and realize that not everyone (who for example are looking for a family holiday) will be able to reach these areas. Therefore this month we are focusing again on Phuket and its other national park, Sirinat National Park situated on the northern end of the island. If you are planning a holiday to Phuket this year and want to explore some of the natural habitat that Phuket became famous for then you will not be disappointed if you take a day out from all that shopping to head to this national park. Mangroves, Casurina pines and the beautiful Mai Khao beach ( around 13kms long) are all there to be found.
The area that is now Sirinat National Park was surveyed and decided worthy of protection in 1980. A Royal Decreed in 1981 announced the area Thailand’s 31st National Park. The boundaries of the park cover a total area of 90 sq/kms. Of this total area 68 km/sq or around 76% is marine habitat and 22 sq/km or around 24% of the park is terrestrial.
The marine habitat of the national park is vital to the survival of many turtle species in Thailand. Thailand has 4 species of Turtle including the Hawksbill, Green, Leatherback and Loggerhead turtle and in the past these turtles would have nested on the beaches at Kata, Karon and maybe even Patong. Now with the development and transformation of Phuket’s beaches from idyllic tropical island to bustling concrete tourist town, the ability for these turtles to nest has been severely diminished. This makes Sirinat National Park all the more important, so please visit if you get the chance in order to show our support and to spend a little of our tourist dollars to keep the park running. A word of warning, during the monsoon season (April – October the currents can be strong and swimming is not recommended. Check with the national park before entering the water).
At its deepest part the park stretches 5 kms out to sea and also covers an area of coral reef which is essential for all marine wildlife. The reef is found in water between 4 - 7 meters deep and is home to species such as Fan Corals, Plate Corals, Tree Corals and Sea Anemones. This coral reef was damaged during the tsunami, however it is still there in parts and is slowly but surely recovering. Moving on-land we have Casurina forest which is actually (due to low freshwater levels) relatively low in plant diversity, however it does include Ironwood, Tropical almond Trees, Screw Pines and Asok Trees. The area hold’s a relatively high diversity of bird species and birds such as Bulbuls, the Pied Fantail, Common Lora, The Asian fairy bird, Greater Racket Tailed Drongo and many Sea Eagles can all be found here. 
The area is also important for one other habitat type, the Mangrove (see previous destinations of the month – Southern Mangroves for more information). If you are interested in mangroves then here at Sirinat National Park you can get also up-close to this amazing ecological niche. A mangrove walk is situated right behind the national park headquarters and stretches deep into the forest. Please however, make sure to bring lots of water as it is hot in the mangroves and you don’t want to dehydrate. The walkway is a few meters off the ground, cuts through the mangrove forest and has information boards dotted along the way. If you take your time and especially if you like photography you can spend probably around 30 – 40 minutes on this walkway which brings you in a circle right back to where you started. Among some of the wildlife you might be lucky enough to see are various species of bird, monitor lizards (see Thailand’s Natural Wonders), crabs, mudskippers and maybe even the Cat Eyed Snake or Mangrove Snake (don’t worry this is not dangerous for humans and it sleeps most of the day!). 
A day trip to the park is great fun for the whole family and some of the restaurants situated along Mai Khao beach offer some of the freshest sea food you will find on the island for a fraction of the price found in towns such as Kata, Karon and Patong….well worth a visit even if it is just for lunch!!
So, how do you get there? Sirinat National Park and Mai Khao beach is situated on the northern tip of Phuket Island just before you reach Sarasin bridge and Phang Nga province. Buses leave from Phuket Town’s main bus terminal for Khao Lak and Phang Nga regularly and are a great, cheap way to reach the park. Ask at the information counters which bus to take and it should take you around 45 minutes to reach the park. Be sure to tell the driver where you wish to disembark and ask what time the next bus returns, remember you will have to walk to the other side of the park to catch the returning bus from the Phuket Checkpoint as the 402 Thep Kasatri road heading north and south is one way on both sides, however this is not far. You can also ask at the Park headquarters where to get the bust from, and you may even be able to arrange a return taxi from there.
If traveling by car then head north on the 402 Thep Kasatri road from Phuket Town (Phuket’s main artery) until you reach Mai Khao Beach which is on the north west coast of the island. If coming from Patong, Kata or Karon then you can very easily arrange taxi services from your hotel or guest house. Otherwise you will have to take the 4029 east from Patong toward Katu. This turns into the 4020 before reaching the 402 Thep Kasatri road. From here head north until you reach Mai Khao beach (passing Phuket Checkpoint) or Sirinat National Park on the North East coast of Phuket…….good luck and happy travels!!
