CLARIFICATION – Thailand’s Mu Koh Chang partially closed

[sandyf]

1 hour ago, bradiston said:

There's a map in this link that says you're wrong, but text that says you're right.

 

http://park.dnp.go.th/visitor/nationparkshow.php?PTA_CODE=1045

 

I lived on Koh Mak for 6 years and the marine park was always considered to be only operational around Koh Rang, where there was a 200 THB entrance fee for foreigners. I ran several boat trips as far as Koh Klum, Koh Laoya, Salak Phet, Had Wai Chek, Koh Ngarm and elsewhere, and to Koh Kood. We never had to pay any park entrance fees, though sometimes the resorts charged a landing fee - a private matter. Koh Ngarm seems to have been recently coopted and started charging. I never once saw a park ranger, though they maintain an active presence elsewhere.

 

 

There is a sign as you board the ferry saying you are now entering the Mu Ko Chang National Park, I was there over New Year.

I would have thought the national parks website was a definitive reference.

https://www.thainationalparks.com/mu-ko-chang-national-park

It is a marine national park covering an area of 650 km² over 52 islands in Ko Chang Archipelago. 

https://www.thainationalparks.com/mu-ko-chang-national-park

[kwilco]

8 hours ago, brianthainess said:

You can trek anywhere in the national park, there are no restrictions or fees, fees are just for the water falls.

Yes OK now you CAN. but I believe it is technically not permitted. The result is damage to the  environment. To walk through firest is an activity that requires planning and research so as not to disturb or interfer with flora and fauna...or fragment habitat.

[bradiston]

1 hour ago, sandyf said:

There is a sign as you board the ferry saying you are now entering the Mu Ko Chang National Park, I was there over New Year.

I would have thought the national parks website was a definitive reference.

https://www.thainationalparks.com/mu-ko-chang-national-park

It is a marine national park covering an area of 650 km² over 52 islands in Ko Chang Archipelago. 

https://www.thainationalparks.com/mu-ko-chang-national-park

Nothing definitive about a Thai website. The DNP (Department of National Parks) mentions 43 islands.

 

http://park.dnp.go.th/visitor/nationparkshow.php?PTA_CODE=1045

 

Private islands aren't included, I'm told. Other sites mention 50/52 islands, but don't list them. Much of Koh Kood is owned by the Thai navy. Koh Kradat, Koh Kham, Koh Rayang Nok and Nai are all privately owned around Koh Mak. Most of Koh Mak is privately owned. But, it's a fairly pointless argument. You can ask a 100 people and you'll get 100 different answers. The only salient point is, the number of places where you're going to be charged an entrance fee, at present, can be counted on one hand. I asked the information centre on Koh Mak and they said no, not in the park, or perhaps that should read, not part of the park. Who knows? Who cares? Shake on it?