Grand Sand Dunes

Location : https://maps.app.goo.gl/gMkDTdvSCYSc81SN7

The Sand Dunes at Tham Thong-Bang Boet Beach are some 85km from Chumphon Town. Take road No. 3180 out of Chumphon Town. After 21km turn right onto road No. 3201 which forms part of the "Scenic Route".  You will see these signs along the road.

Follow the "Scenic Route" on roads 3201, 4004, 3253 and the 4015. The 4015 runs along side Tham Thong-Bang Boet Beach 22Km after turning onto the 4015.

The dunes are not hard to find, basically they start when you lose sight of the sea. A number of sign boards direct you to the wooden stairs in the centre of the dunes. They are the highest sand dune in Thailand, stretching over 12 kilometers and towering at 30 meters in some areas.

It is claimed that these dunes are the most distinct of all the dunes found in Thailand.

As Tham Thong-Bang Boet Beach is long, made up of find sand and with no offshore islands it's allowed, over thousands of years, the wind to sweep the sand into the central area of the beach. This is still ongoing as the dune is starting to consume the recently built walkway.

The walkway provided easy access to see the dunes.

The Grand Sand Dune's formation dates back to the Pleistocene Epoch, approximately 1.8 million to 14,000 years ago. Powerful storms along the coast during the monsoon season deposited large amounts of sand, gradually creating small hills. These hills, exposed to arid conditions and intense sunlight outside the monsoon months, transformed into the vast sand dunes we see today.

The Grand Sand Dune is a geological phenomenon unique to Thailand. Its desert-like landscape contrasts beautifully with the surrounding lush greenery.

The Grand Sand Dune is also an important ecological site. It supports a diverse range of plant life, including over 160 indigenous species, some of which are rare and have adapted to the harsh conditions. The vegetation around the sand dune varies, encompassing mangroves, beach forests, and dry and wet tropical forests. This combination creates a unique habitat for various wildlife, making the area a biodiversity hotspot.

Unsure what the fish statue means.

Tamsabai Resort shared these rather good drone photos of the dunes a few years back. Before the walkway was built.