Mu Ko Lanta National Park

Establised in 1990, according to the order of Mr. Chaun Leekpai, Prime Minister and Wild Animal and Plant Foundation of Thailand. It includes Ko Rok, Ko Mai Ngam Tai, Ko Ta La Beng, Ko Lanta Yai, Ko Ngai, Ko Tu Kon Lima, Ko Rok Nok, Ko Rok Nai, Ko Hin Dang and nearby islands of Ko Klang district, Ko Lanta Noi district and Ko Lanta Yai sub district, Amphoe Ko Lanta, Krabi province. It is the 62th national park of Thailand which covers area of 134 square kilometers or 83,750 rais.

Over all geographical feature is the complexity of mountains and rather deep slope. The plain area would be found only in a beach area in the southern part. Most of area here is more than 35 percent slope, except only the middle part of island where a slope is more than 50 percent. The height of this are is range from 100 meters above sea level to a heigth of 488 meters at the peak of mountain.

Climate

Most rainfall is in September which is about 391.4 milimeters and the lowest in January which is about 6.5 milimeters. Number of days of the highest raining is in September which is about 21.6 days and the lowest is in February, about 1.6 days.

In rainy season, the national park will be closed (Rok Nok Island, Rok Nai Island, and Hin Moung - Hin Deang Rock) during 16 May - 15 November every year for visitors safety.

1. Rainforest covers 19.42 square meters of Lanta Yai island, along the Lanta mountain which covers most of area of the national park. Upper level trees and middle level trees at average height about 15-25 meters are found in this forest. The important plants are L. siamica, Hopea ferrea Heim.,etc. And also the palm tree and cane wood species are the low level trees here, the important species are Fan palm, Calamus erectus Roxb., Calamus caesius Bl., Calamus peregrinus Furt.,etc.
2. Mangrove Forest could be found in Mai Ngam island, South Mai Ngam island and Ngu island. These islands are not big and most of area is covered with the mangrove forest. Mangrove trees are tall at the same height with averange about 5 meters. Plants could be found here are Avicennia alba, Rhizophora apiculata, Rhizophora mucronata
3. Beach Forest covers the small area between connecting area of beach and rainforest of Ngai island. The important plants are Bengal Almond, Derris indica, beach moring glory, etc.

Wild Animals
Able to classified into 6 groups as shown below.

1. Mammal Animals consists of 20 families 30 genuses and 38 species which 2 species had gone from Lanta island. They are wild deers and tigers, and the other species is the sea cow which is the conserved animal. The other two species that being gone are the common barking deer and fishing cat. The rarely finding animal on this island is the the marshall big ear crow bat .
2. Birds on these islands are totally 58 families, 130 genuses and 185 species. Most easy find in this national park are Brahminy Kite, Birdled Tern, Emerald Dove , etc while the most difficult find are Orange-Breasted Trogon, Siberian Thrush, and Little Spiderhunter, etc.
3. Reptiles, mostly are Water Monitor, Reticulated Python and Cobra , etc.
4. Amphibians could be found two species, the first one living in canal is Giant Mountain Frog, Ornate Froglet and the second one living in building and ponds. Others amphibians in forest are Polypedates leucomystax (Gravenhorst)-1829 and Small Toads and the difficult find species is the Dorria frog.
5. Sea and Fresh Water Fishes which could be found in fresh water ponds of the islands, fresh water fishes that you can find here such as Blue danio. While the sea fishes would be found along the coral reef, rock beach and fresh water canals such as Lizard fish and Porcupine fish, etc.
6. Animals in the Coral Reef are Staghorn coral, Fungia fungites, Anemone coral, Starflower coral, etc.
   

• Laem Tanod Koh Lanta Yai
  It has a beautiful beach at the back side of main island and a group of small islands. The headquaters of national park of Ko Lanta is located here. The end of Ko Lanta Yai is looked like the triangular shape which one tip protudes into the sea and has prominent sugar palms on it while the other side is a height cliff covered with the monsoon forest.
  Activities : Activities on Beach, Camping and Nature trail study.
• Koh Ta La Beng
  This limestone island consists of a small beach which would be flood with sea water whenever it has a high tide. It has a cave near a sea side which is a habitat of swallow birds.
  Activities : ScenicView, Cave/Geological Touring and Canoeing-Kayaking
• Koh Ngai
  There is a long and quiet beach which suitable for seeing a shallow coral. It's far away from the national park office about 18 kilometers.
  Activities : Activities on Beach and Snorkelling Diving.
• Koh Rok Nok & Koh Rok Nai
  Including Ko Rok Nok and Ko Rok Nai. The colorful beachs are located on the eastern part of Ko Rok Nai and the south-eastern of Ko Rok Nok. Coral is the most tourist attraction here.
  Activities : Activities on Beach,Camping, Scenic View, Snorkelling Diving, Scuba Diving, Nature trail study .
• Koh Rok Nok View Point
  Located ih the back side of Ko Rok Nok. Here, it has white sand beach which you can walk to the other side of the island which shaped like a horse shoe. Two side of this gulf is the height black cliff.
  Activities : Scenic View and Flowers admiring.
• Hin Muang - Hin Daeng
  Both are famed scenic scuba diving sites. The pinnacle of Hin Daeng Rorcks can only be seen at low tide. The sites are well known among divers throughout the world, as the Whale Shark and Manta Ray can often be seen here.
  Activities : Scuba Diving.