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Phang Nga Bay

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Thailand : Southern Thailand : Phuket : Phang Nga Bay
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Ko Tapu

Phang Nga Bay is a bay between Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi known for its limestone rock formations. Most visitors explore the area in a one-day tour, but some larger islands have accommodation available.


There are dozens of small islands between Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi. The following have accommodation:

  • Ko Maphrao (Coconut Island)
  • Ko Racha — consists of two islands (Yai and Noi), popular with scuba divers and a relaxing snorkeling destination



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Tour operators organize many different tours and most of them follow the standard route around the bay passing weird rock formations, limestone outcrops, hidden lakes, tiny beaches and caves. Tours usually go to Khao Ping Gan (Leaning Rock) which was featured in the James Bond movie The Man With the Golden Gun as Scaramanga's hideaway. Ko Tapu in front of the James Bond Island is a popular rock. It is often used as a symbol of Phang Nga. Beware that on "the" James Bond Island, the beach is littered with trinket vendors trying to sell you something and the experience of seeing the island may be somewhat disappointing and diluted.

A Phang Nga bay tour may take you to Ko Panyi, a village built on stilts. The mosque and the graveyard are the only places which are built on ground. It's a tourist trap during the day as many tours also stop here. Some tours will give you the option to stay overnight, which is preferable to really experience the village as the tourist trap disappears in the evening. If you go inwards you can see more of the village and eat at local stalls. There are specially in the morning and late afternoon many boats to and out of the island. In Ko Panyi there are now many people living and working from outside. It is not authentic anymore. Many of those people come from the poorer Isaan region. If you want to see a real fishing village go to Ko Ma Paay. Just like other parts of Southern Thailand, the inhabitants of Ko Panyi are of Malay descent.

If you're coming from Phang Nga Town, you can make the Phang Nga Bay tour with Sayan [1] (in the bus station) or MT Tour (in the Muang Thong hotel, 100 metres from the bus station). If you arrive at the bus station there is the usual harassment. But take your time and don't believe everything the people tell you there because they want to force or lure you to their tour operator or hotel. So do not immediately buy a ticket when you get out of the bus. Talk with the different tour operators and see what's the best for you. Usually there are a couple of different trips available every day. James Bond Half day tours , full day tours and tours with a night in Ko Panyi. There are also trips with sea canoeing. Tours booked from Krabi or Phuket are shorter and are more expensive.

Sea canoeing in Phang Nga Bay

Sea-canoeing is a popular activity in the Phang Nga Bay. It is a form of eco-tourism that is available in several variations, as popular one-day tours, or more extended tours involving overnight camping on island beaches. You will see more than anyone else of the area, as many mangrove swamps and island grottoes are only accessible by canoe.

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Phang Nga Bay is surrounded by Phuket, Phang Nga Town and Krabi Province.




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