Located southeast of Krabi Town 18km (11 miles) east of the small town of Khlong Thom; Khao Pra - Bang Khram Wildlife Sanctuary is a small area of lowland tropical forest.

Popular with bird watchers; the sanctuary is home to the rare Gurney's pitta; an endangered species once thought to be extinct; but rediscovered in very small numbers both here and across the frontier in remote parts of southern Myanmar (Burma).

The sanctuary is also popular for a 2.7 km (1.5 mile) nature trail; the Tung Tieo Forest Trail; that winds through the forest; leading to two lovely freshwater pools that are ideal for swimming and as picnic spots.

Krabi Province is made up of more than 5;000 sq km of jungle-covered hills and sharp; jagged karst outcrops; as well as more than 100km of luxuriant; pristine coastline and around 200 islands in the neighbouring Andaman Sea.

About 40 per cent of the provincial population is Muslim; the remainder being predominantly Buddhist. This is a clear indication that Krabi sits astride the invisible dividing line between Buddhist Thailand and the four southern provinces鈥擲atun; Narathiwat; Yala and Pattani鈥攚hich are predominantly Muslim. Far from causing any sort of problem; this adds immensely to the cultural width and diversity of the province; blending mosques with temples; Malay cooking traditions with Thai cuisine; and giving the province a pleasantly relaxed multi-cultural feel.