Laem Son

Laem Son National Park is a marine national park on the Andaman coast of Ranong and Phang Nga provinces, about 60 km south of Ranong. It covers 315 km², has about 100 km of coastline, which is described as Thailand's longest protected shore, and has about 20 offshore islands. It was established in 1983^[1].

Long-tailed macaques on the islands of Piak Nam Yai and Thao are noted for using stone tools^[1]. The mudflats and beaches also serve migratory shorebirds and sea turtles.

The park mixes beaches, coral reefs, mangrove swamps and rainforest jungle, and it is named after the pines along the cape's shore^[1].

The park is a long, low coastline of sandy beaches, mudflats and river mouths, with islands offshore.

The Andaman coast has a tropical monsoon climate with a pronounced rainy season, roughly May to October, and calmer seas in the dry months.

The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami flattened the park's headquarters and split Ao Khao Khwai (Bull Horn Bay) into two small islands^[1].

Laem Son was established as a national park in 1983 and designated a Ramsar wetland on 14 August 2002^[1].

Hat Bang Ben beach looks out to offshore islands including Ko Kam Yai, Ko Kam Noi, Ko Khangkhao and Ko Phayam^[1].

The park is about 60 km south of Ranong, and it received 21,911 visitors in 2024^[1].

Laem Son is a Ramsar wetland, and a consortium of institutional partners is running a mangrove restoration project there^[1].