Phang Nga Bay

A distinctive feature of Phang Nga Bay is the sheer limestone cliffs that jut vertically out of the emerald green water.

James Bond Island and Koh Pannyi are just two of the more famous spots in this bay. By far the best means of enjoying the spectacular scenery, with only brief encounters with the tourist crowds as James Bond and Koh Pannyi, is to take one of the boat trips from the northern end of Phuket.

A leisurely day trip cruising through the dramatic limestone islands, occasionally stopping to enjoy quiet beaches, is far more rewarding than the standard bus-boat tour.

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Aleenta Resort & Spa is a collection of small, award winning luxurious boutique hotels with beachfront villas on the coast of Thailand in Phuket ˆ Phangnga with stunning design and personalized service. Intimate and private, Aleenta is perfect for a romantic getaway, honeymoon, wedding party, a perfect place for exclusive use, executive meeting, hideaway, or just to take sometime off from the hectic lifestyle.

James Bond Island

This famous landmark, called Koh Ping-gan, first found its way onto the international map through its starring role in the James Bond movie "The Man With the Golden Gun". And this is where they seem to take all of the tourists - all at one time.

The entire area surrounding this island with its signature rocky pinnacle is indeed spectacular, but most of the tours bus visitors up the main highway for an hour on the same well-worn itinerary. An integral part of that tour is lunch at Koh Panyee.

Koh Panyee (Sea Gypsy Island)

This is a remarkable village, the whole of it built out over water on stilts and with a giant rock monolith guarding its rear. At lunch time, many tourists on the James Bond Island tours are brought in to eat and shop for handicrafts.

As soon as the tourists leave, the community closes up its restaurants and trinket shops and transforms itself from a tourist trap into a quiet community of fishermen.

Read more about Koh Panyee...
See Koh Panyee Photo Gallery...

Other Islands in Phang Nga Bay

Most of the islands are uninhabited. Many of them have spectacular caves (hongs in Thai) which you can only reach by an inflatable kayak.

Koh Hong is one of the most popular of these islands. Khao Khien near Koh Pannyi is worth sailing past to see the ancient paintings of boats and animals on the rock walls.

One of the few inhabited islands, Koh Maak, sits near the top of the bay and is home to a small community of fisherfolk who maintain a traditional way of life - it's not part of any tour itinerary and it is recommended to bring your own food and supplies if visiting since there are no facilities for tourists. There are also no places to stay here.

Hong by Starlights The perfect opportunity to canoe in Phang Nga Bay and get the best of both worlds - by day and night. Starting after lunch, explore the limestone caves, which can only be entered by canoe when the tide is just right. Then at sunset enjoy the view, accompanied by a Thai style seafood dinner. Price: 3,950 Baht Book a Hong by Starlights Tour...

Cruising Phang Nga Bay

Phang Nga Bay is a great place for boating. The interesting limestone cliffs create a picturesque backdrop and there are many safe places to anchor.

The fact that it's protected from both the Northeast and the Southwest monsoon seasons means that its waters remain calm year-round, which adds to the appeal of its scenic wonders and abundant wildlife.

Read more about boat charters...

Rocky Cliffs

The cliffs are streaked with hues of black, tan, ivory, gray and red. Where do the streaks of red come from? According to some geologists, these stains are the result of iron deposits leached by ground water from ancient river beds.

The tops of those islands were once part of a continuous land mass covered with forested hills and carved streams. That would have been long before human beings appeared on the scene. But sea levels have fluctuated significantly in more recent times.

Approximately 10,000 years ago, for example, you could have walked between Phuket, Phang Nga or Krabi. And still, at that time, you would have seen these cliffs streaked with red and, perhaps, wondered why.

Basic White, Plus

Limestone is calcium carbonate, which is generally white. Over millions of years, the skeletons from a constant rain of marine organisms, plus the chemical precipitation of yet more calcium carbonate build thick layers of sediment. Eventually, the heat and pressure of their own weight turn these strata, hundreds of metres thick, to stone.

A variety of geological forces have then fractured the limestone beds and pushed up the 40 steep-sided islands that provide the exotic scenery for which this shallow bay is noted. Mineral oxides from various sources paint the vari-coloured streaks that characterise the cliffs of Phang Nga Bay.

Rooms with a View

And there are lost worlds awaiting discovery. It wasn't many years ago that aerial surveys first revealed the Hong, or "rooms", that lie inside some of Phang Nga's islands.

These fabulous microcosms, hidden realms rich in unspoiled flora and fauna, are collapsed cave systems open to the sky and surrounded by towering limestone walls. Try sea-canoeing, where you paddle sturdy inflatable boats through caves into the mysterious hearts of islands such as Koh Panak and Koh Hong. (Read more about Sea canoeing in Phang Nga Bay)

Getting to Phang Nga Bay

It's possible to see many of the bay's attractions in a single day. A launch from any point along the east coast of Phuket will take you immediately into Phang Nga Bay.

There are also a number of launching sites on the Phang Nga province mainland, including the Ka Sohm Pier in Takua Thung district just south of Phang Nga Town. Most visit the area by booking a long-tail or speedboat day trip, joining a cruise or canoeing tour, or chartering a yacht. Click here for more info.

Our editor's Sea Canoe Tours Reviews

Magical Phang Nga Bay Cruise on June Bahtra

Three ships cruise in parallel – distinctive sails raised – through the Phang Nga Bay, each pulling an empty dingy that chases behind like a tagalong sibling.

These boats are solid; no stomach churning motions, just a smooth push to the northernmost reaches of Thailand's aquatic mangrove-and-limestone-cliff playground. Read more...

Phang Nga Daytrip by Car

Phang Nga's official slogan goes something like this: “A town of valuable minerals, amidst water-village, fantastic caves, peculiar mountains, Champoon flowering plants and fertile natural resources.” Well said – though if they were interested in increasing tourism they might consider adding, “and only an hour from Phuket.”
Read more...

Hong by Starlight

When other hong-via-kayak tour operators are winding down for the day, the John Gray Sea Canoe crew is just getting started. Is it laziness, the result of a late night out, or a simple case of ineptitude?Were I in charge, it would be a combination of all three. Not so with Mr Gray, the godfather of sea kayaking in Thailand. He developed the ‘Hong by Starlight' tour as a way to avoid crowds.
Read more...

Kayaking in Phang Nga Bay

It's the late afternoon, and from the small plot of white sand I've laid claim to, I can see Phuket Island, the mainland province of Phang Nga, and a couple small, uninhabited islands - both inspiring Gilliganesque fantasies. Another boat arrives, an armada of inflatable canoes storms the beach, and tour guides do battle in a game of beach football while their charge flop on mats in the shade and reflect on the day. Read more...

Staying over

Few of the islands in Phang Nga Bay offer accommodation. Most visitors to the bay stay in Phuket, which is nearby, and there are a growing number of hotels and resorts on the Phang Nga mainland.

There are a handful of spots to stay on Koh Yao Noi, which is located right in the middle of the bay (see The Paradise Koh Yao or Koyao Island Resort). There are also some rustic bungalows on Koh Pannyi, a nice option for those wishing to see how the floating village looks outside of the peak tourist hours.

Click here for more info on accommodation.