Phetchaburi Thailand

Ban Laem

Ecosystem & local Way of Life

• Ban Paktalae - Ban Bangkhunsai : Seashell collection
• Bangtabboon - Banlaem estuaries : Fishery business
• Bangtaboon : School-based ecosystem study project
• Banlaem : Swiftlet edible bird’s nest home observation
• Had Chaosamran - Banlaem : Salt farm and business
• Laem Pakbia : Shore-bird and ecosystem observation
• Laem Pakbia - Laemluang : Mangrove conservation
• Wat Khoatakhlow - Wat Koongtamnak : Water-fowl watching

A Unique Way of Life

Banlaem is a district located in the North-east of Phetchaburi Province. It covers the area beyond Laempakbia Cape to the North. The Phetchaburi River and Bangtaboon Rriver that drain down to the Gulf of Thailand give the way of life to the local communities. In the past, Banlaem used to be a very big port in the Kingdom of Siam where sugar and salt were exported.

Although its shore is muddy and not good for swimming, there are many interesting attractions and activities for tourists to enjoy. First of all, sights along the roads are fascinating to see; such as salt farming, mangrove forests, and fisherman’s communities by the rivers. Sea fisheries along the shore are also worth seeing. Banlaem’s muddy shore is a large mussel and cockle breeding ground that provides a seafood source and local shell farming way of life.

Bangtaboon, a sub-district to the north of downtown Banlaem, is a good place for river-boat riding and sightseeing along the banks of the Bangtaboon River observing how the people make their livings, such as wood-charcoal making, coconut sugar making, prawn fishing, inner-river fish catching, and crab trapping. Seafood is also plentiful here.

Phetchaburi River Estuary: Banlaem   It is interesting to experience the history and sight of the Phetchaburi River estuary where it was once a most important harbor town. About 150 years ago this harbor town exported the Phetchaburi local prodoct of palm sugar and salt to overseas countries in South-east Asian and China. The business brought foreign labor and merchant immigrants to live here. Therefore Banlaem residents now are a mixture of Thais with different ethinic backgrounds; Chinese, Muslim, Indian, Burmese, Mon. Today the estuary community earn their living with fishing, shrimp farming, and salt farming.
	Sightseeing tours, cycling, and eco-tour to learn and enjoy about life-cycle along the shoreline, mangrove froest, and the local people's way of life where people do clam picking on muddy land.   Water-fowl watching is an activity tourists to Banlaem do most frequently followed by visiting magrove forests and Laem Pakbia Enviornemnt Development Project founded by His Majesty King Bhumibol, King Rama IX.

Laem Pakbia Environmental Development Project area is open during office hours, but early morning bird-watching can be done in front of the area and around. The area is very sunny and warm, so prepare your water, hat and light clothes properly.

Bangtaboon from Phetchaburi River to Bangtaboon River

This is a recommended sightseeing tour of the Bangtaboon River. A boat-ride sightseeing tour can be started from Wat Pakkhlong in Bangkhrok villsge. A boat-riding trip will take the tourists northward to Wat Khaotakhrow. This temple has long been well-known for its magical Buddha image. A lot of coconut trees cover both sides of the river banks makes a view of locality here.

Then, a boat-riding will go downstream to Wat Khoongtamnak where tourists can experience Mon ethnic community. Also, this route is a best place for watching fireflies at night in the winter time. Near Wat Kohkaew, mangroves and local charcoal braziers give an exotic sight. And with a short ride to Wat Pak-aow or the “temple at the estuary,” tourists will see beautiful sights of the Bangtaboon estuary; a sight of little shell-farm observing houses with tall stilts in the sea, seashore mangroves, and fishing boats running up and down the bay. The lifestyle along the Bangtaboon River is something unique and different. The last stop can be a mangrove eco-system demonstration study project at Bangtaboon Wittaya School, or a fresh seafood meal at a restaurant.

Mangrove Forests

Eco-tour of mangroves and shoreline activities is promoted in Lampakbia, Paktalae, Bangkhunsai, and Bangtaboon areas. Walking bridges in mangrove forests make an easy access to experience a shoreline ecosystem. Tourists may need a tour guide to describe about ecosystem of mangrove forests and marine life; such as crabs, fish, shells, mud skippers, and monkeys.

Bird Watching Fun

Water-fowl watching is one of popular activities along Phetchaburi's seashore. Laem Pakbia is a very well-known area for watching birds. The vast area of salt fields is a good feeding ground for shore-birds. Herons, egrets, gulls, sandpipers, plovers, lapwings, and stints are commonly found. A rare bird like Indian Skimmer can be found here if it is lucky enough for a bird watcher.

Shoreline Fishery

Away from the shoreline, abandoned shrimp farms, unused wetlands, shallow swamps and cannels, rice paddies, small lakes and ponds are a good place for water-fowls. There are plenty of little fish, crabs, shells, shrimps, worms, and planktons to feed them. Actually, birds feed two times a day –early morning and afternoon. Most water-fowls have long bills and legs. Some of them can swim. Most of them are local birds, while some migrate from countries in the northern hemisphere in the winter (around October to May) and will fly back in the summer time (around June to September)

Firefly watching is fun and can be done in Bangtaboon area, too. But a good time to watch firefly in Bangtaboon is in winter season of Thialand, which is from November to January. A starting point should be at Wat KhaotaKhlao. Riding a local boat or a long-tailed boat along the Bangtaboon River to see local people's lifestyle, blacklish water fishing, and making charcoal from mangrove wood in a traditional way can be fun activies, too.

Had Chaosamran Your First Alternative Destinations

Had Chaosamran is located approximately 15 kilometers to the South-east of downtown Phetchaburi. It is considered the very first sandy beach on the West coast of the Gulf of Thailand. A history tells that the beach was discovered in Ayudhaya Era. The name "Had Chaosamran" meaning "Royal Leisure Beach" was derived as a result of several visits for extended periods of time made by King Naresuan the Great and his brother, King Ekathotsarot. In addition, the beach was the most popular one among other beaches in Thailand during the reign of King Rama VI when he ordered the construction of Had Chaosamran Palace in 1918 before he had it moved down South to Cha-am and built a new summer palace called "Phrs Rajaniwet Mrigadayavan" there.

Sightseeing from Bangtaboon down to

Hadchaosamran Beach is spectacular with

salt fields, mangroves, and fisherman's communities.

Hadchaosamran Beach is an alternative place where resorts and shops are conveniently available.