Beaches
Viking Cave, this was renamed by H.M.Rama IX when he visited it in 1972, Tam Pya Nak, from the shape of a particular boulder, which resembles in shape the head of the great serpent of Buddhist legend, the Naga.
It is said that in the old days, pirates who paused in their travels from west to east, sheltering in the cave to escape the monsoon winds, transfer cargo, or make repairs. On the eastern and southern walls of the cave are colored drawings dating from historic times. There are pictures of elephants and also of various boats.
The cave now is owned by a company for collecting the swift's nests used to make Bird's Nest Soup, a Chinese delicacy. Agile collectors climb rickety bamboo scaffolding to reach the nests, which are so valuable that the caves are protected by armed guards (around 50,000baht -80,000baht/kg). It used to open for tourists, but after the bird was hurt by the flash of the cameras in the eyes and reduce nesting, the company decided to close the cave for tourists.
Travel to the Phi Phi Islands Tour operators in both Phuket and Krabi provide transport and tour packages to this popular destination. Regular boat service is available form Jao Fah pier in Krabi.