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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.
See our Special offers for Trips
to Phang Nga Bay
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 Pannyi.
Koh Pannyi (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, up to 3,000 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.
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.
Cruising the 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.
More boat charter info here.
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
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'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...
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...
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... |
