Ao Luk - Thap Khaek

Today we'll proceed with our tour of Krabi, starting from the town of Ao Luk where we ended the first leg last Thursday. Before you leave this nice little town, make sure you drop by at the Than Bok Khoranee National Park first. From the park, drive to the intersection in front of the district office and turn left onto Rural Highway 1002 through the hill pass I told you about in last week's column and on to Highway 4 (Phetchakasem).

Nope, we're not going to Krabi via Highway 4. That's no fun.

After less than a kilometre and a half along Phetchakasem, veer off onto Rural Highway 1010. Follow this road for 14 kilometres till you reach Ban Ao Luk Noi. Here, you'll have to switch to the 4205. Drive down the new road for about 700 metres and then to the 4011 towards Ban Nai Nang which is about 8.5 kilometres down the 4011.

At Ban Nai Nang intersection, turn right, drive on for less than two kilometres and you'll see signs in front of Wat Nong Chik telling you to follow them to Tha Pom, our Point C.
From Tha Pom, drive back to Wat Nong Chik then take Rural Highway 1003. The minor road to Tha Laen, Point D, is five kilometres from the beginning of the 1003.
To reach the Sa Kaew Cave, you need to go on along the 1003 for a kilometre and a half, just before Ban Nai Sa.

At Ban Nai Sa, get on the 4033 for a kilometre and a half and then turn right onto the 4034.

Less than seven kilometres down the 4034, you'll find another road, the 6024, on the right-hand side. About six kilometres or so along the 6024, you'll get to a Y-intersection. The road on the left takes you to a beach at Ban Klong Muang. The one on the right goes to Thap Khaek, our Point F.
Bangkok Post October 2005 www.bangkokpost.com