Phang Nga Bay in Phuket and Phi Phi Islands
Part of the Phuket and Phi Phi Islands travel guide — see every topic in All Phuket and Phi Phi Islands Guides.
Phang Nga Bay lies north-east of Phuket, between Phuket and the mainland. It is a wide, shallow bay full of tall limestone islands that rise straight out of green water. Much of it is protected as Ao Phang Nga National Park, which also keeps one of the largest areas of mangrove forest left in Thailand. The sea here is calmer than on Phuket's west coast, so trips run for much of the year. This guide covers the main sights and the best way to see them.
James Bond Island
The most famous stop is Khao Phing Kan, better known as James Bond Island. It became famous after a 1970s spy film was made here. Next to it stands Ko Tapu, a thin rock tower that seems to balance on the water. Boats cannot go close to Ko Tapu, so you see it from the beach on Khao Phing Kan. The beach is small and very busy in the middle of the day. Many tours arrive at the same time. To enjoy it more, choose a tour that leaves early or one that visits in the late afternoon.
Canoeing into the hongs
The best part of Phang Nga Bay is sea canoeing. Many of the limestone islands are hollow inside. They hide small lagoons called hongs, open to the sky and ringed by cliffs. You enter through low caves that only open at certain tides. On most tours a guide paddles an inflatable canoe for you while you sit and look. Inside the hongs it is quiet and green, with plants hanging from the rock. Because of the tides, the order of stops changes every day. A good tour company plans the day around the tide table.
Mangroves and wildlife
The edges of the bay are lined with mangrove forest. The trees grow in salt water on tall roots, and they shelter young fish, crabs and birds. On a slow boat or canoe you may see monkeys on the rocks, kingfishers, eagles and mudskippers, small fish that walk on the mud. Some trips include a stop at Koh Panyee, a fishing village built on stilts over the water, often for lunch. Bring a hat and water, and keep your rubbish with you. Do not feed the monkeys, because they can bite.
Planning your day
Most tours pick you up at your hotel and drive to a pier on Phuket's east coast or in Phang Nga province. From there you go by speedboat, longtail or a larger boat. A full day with canoeing usually takes eight to ten hours with hotel transfers. Big group tours are cheaper but busy. Small group or private trips cost more but can avoid the crowds. The national park fee is usually included or paid on the boat. The bay is sheltered, but in the monsoon months rain and wind can still change plans.
Phang Nga Bay at a glance
| Getting there | Hotel pick-up, then a boat from a pier on Phuket's east coast or in Phang Nga |
|---|---|
| Hours | Full-day tours, about 8 to 10 hours with transfers |
| Cost | National park fee per person, often included in the tour price |
| Best time | About November to April; trips also run in the wet season when the sea allows |
| Bring | Hat, sun cream, water, a dry bag and a light rain jacket |