Trails Through The Jungle

[coldclimb]

Hey all, my wife and I are in Kamala beach for a while. The water is great, but we're also interested in the jungle and were wondering if there are any trails wandering up the hills in the area where we could spend a few hours out of the bustle of the town. Haven't been able to find anything obvious, but I wondered if anyone else knows of any trails in the area?

Thanks in advance!

[LivinLOS]

Go back to the nam tok trail.. You can get from there to Kalim or Kathu..

Google earth has some routes visible.

[Peterocket]

The walk from Bang Pae Waterfall to Ton Sai Waterfall is a good jungle walk. Bear in mind you will have to pay the national park fee though. Takes about 2 hours each way. (can visit the gibbon sanctuary as well)

[deazoff]

Peterrocket: have you done the Bang Pae - Tonsai hike? I've been wanting to do it and was wondering if a guide is needed? Is it just the trail that continues on from the Bang Pae waterfall?

[Peterocket]

Yeah it is the same trail, but it gets a bit more dense, I've done it loads of times. No need for a guide, there is a relatively well marked path with red ribbons (i think) pointing the right direction. At some points there is a choice of paths but taking the wrong one usualy just makes the walk a bit longer.

The most annoying thing is if you drive to one side of the walk then walk across you either have to get a taxi/tuk tuk back over the start or do the walk again in reverse.

[chuppachops]

watch out for snakes! eek

[mrjohn]

The only jungle left in Phuket is a concrete one.

[deazoff]

Thanks Peterocket, will try it soon

deazoff

Yeah it is the same trail, but it gets a bit more dense, I've done it loads of times. No need for a guide, there is a relatively well marked path with red ribbons (i think) pointing the right direction. At some points there is a choice of paths but taking the wrong one usualy just makes the walk a bit longer.

The most annoying thing is if you drive to one side of the walk then walk across you either have to get a taxi/tuk tuk back over the start or do the walk again in reverse.

[fiddlehead]

The only jungle left in Phuket is a concrete one.

Although there are attempts to concrete the whole island, there is still plenty of jungle.

I have hiked over 50 days in the jungles on the island in the last 3 years and have not been bitten by any snakes. Had a few "tor" bites and was attacked by a gibbon on the very trail that is mentioned above. (that was the scariest)

It is a nice trail though between those 2 waterfalls but, after I was bitten, I talked to the folks at the gibbon rehabilitation center who told me you shouldn't be up there. Go figure!

The only true marked trail on the island and we're not supposed to use it.

I just go bushwhacking myself and enjoy many of the mountains around although haven't really been around Kamala except for the peaks above Kathu waterfall which is basically above (west) of Kamala. Nice area there too but, no trails. (except paths that the rubber tree workers use to get the rubber out and they don't go very far)

Another idea is to go with the Phuket Hash House Harriers who run somewhere in the jungle every Sat. afternoon.

You can google their website to find out where each week.

Good luck.

[Thongkorn]

Get yourself to Rannong , Near Phuket . There is a National park and plenty of Jungel, You will see the real Thailand ,The town has few tourists apart from the Visa run from Phuket to the Anderman club.There are free hot springs and walks for ever more. If you want any help with an Hotel just pm me , hope that helps you,

[Peterocket]

Khao sok is even closer and there are some great hikes, camping, waterfalls, survival weekends etc.

I always fancied doing the 3 day Jungle survival....where you can only take a guide, bag of rice and hammock then have to catch/find anything else necessary in order to survive. Not in Phuket but would still be interesting.