Susan Hoi (which literally means “seashell graveyard”) or Fossil Shell Beach, is located roughly seventeen kilometres from Ban Laem Pho in Krabi, Thailand, close to the Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park. It is a massive rock slab that was created by fossils of shells that are nearly forty million years old. Only two other such sites can be found on the planet, one in Japan and one in the US. Millions of years ago Susan Hoi was a big freshwater swamp that was home to a special type of snail. Over time as the snails died their shells formed layer after layer which eventually compressed the form one giant mass.
Due to geographic upheaval much of the fossilised limestone has been broken and distributed over a vast area. The thickness of the fossil bed ranges between one and two meters, while most of the fossils are actually found under water. There are three main sites in Laem Pho from which to observe the shells. The first site is located west of the Visitor Centre; the second site is located at the Visitor Centre; and the third is located along the track and can only be accessed during low tide.
The site has come under threat due to rising ocean levels and stronger waves, and despite conservation attempts by the government it is not certain how long the site will remain. So tourists visiting Krabi should definitely try and visit Susan Hoi while they still have a chance. Other popular Krabi tourist spots include Noppharat Thara Beach and Phranang Bay (also called Au Nang). The beach is located just eighteen kilometres north-west of Krabi, and the bay is a further six kilometres away from the beach.
Krabi is one of the more popular destinations within Thailand, always drawing a large crowd. It is quite easy to find lodgings and eateries in the region. The Anantara Si Kao Thailand is one of the best luxury Krabi resorts around, and is quite popular among tourists vacationing here. The Trang Resort lies just an hour away from the Krabi International Airport, and enjoys a gorgeous beach side location. It is the ideal place to stay whether one is looking to relax and soak up the sun shine, or to try out a range of adventure water sports.
