Phang Nga Bay - Thailand

Phang Nga Bay (Thai: อ่าวพังงา, RTGS: Ao Phang-nga, Thai pronunciation: [ʔàːw pʰaŋ.ŋaː]) is a 400 km² bay in the Andaman Sea between the island of Phuket and the mainland of the Malay peninsula of southern Thailand. Since 1981, an extensive section of the bay has been protected as the Ao Phang Nga National Park. The Park is situated in Phang Nga Province, at 08°17'N 098°36'E.

Limestone cliffs with caves, collapsed cave systems and archaeological sites are found about Phang Nga Bay. Some 10,000 years ago, when sea levels were lower, one could walk from Phuket and Krabi.

Ramsar site

Phang Nga Bay Marine National Park was declared a protected Ramsar Site (no. 1185) of international ecological significance on 14 August, 2002. Phang Nga is a shallow bay with 42 islands, comprising shallow marine waters and intertidal forested wetlands, with at least 28 species of mangrove; seagrass beds and coral reefs are also present.

At least 88 bird species, including the globally threatened Malaysian Plover (Charadrius peronii) and Asiatic Dowitcher (Limnodromus semipalmatus), can be found within the site, as well as 82 fish species, 18 reptiles, three amphibians, and 17 mammal species. These include the Dugong (a vulnerable species), White-hand Gibbon (Hylobates lar), the endangered Serow (Capricornis sumatraensis), and the Black Finless Porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides).

A number of diverse cultures co-exist in local communities, which practice fishing, harvesting Nypa palm fronds for thatch, and catering to an international tourist presence drawn both by the natural beauties and by the archaeological sites, which have paintings more than a thousand years old.

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.

Islands

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

• Ko Bon — 10 minutes from Rawai, an ideal island for a day of snorkeling and relaxing
• Ko Hae (Coral Island) — 15 minutes by speedboat from Chalong Bay, accessible all year
• Ko Lon — quiet, mostly Muslim island with a few bungalows
• Ko Mai Thon — gorgeous little island with only one (expensive) place to stay
• Ko Maphrao (Coconut Island)
• Ko Racha — consists of two islands (Yai and Noi), popular with scuba divers and a relaxing snorkeling destination
• Ko Yao — two islands halfway to Krabi, with four upmarket resorts

Phang Nga Bay is one of the most beautiful bays of Thailand. It is famous for its gravity-defying limestone formations, including James Bond Island (Ko Tapu). On the fateful morning of 26 December 2004, Phang Nga Bay was devastated by a tsunami disaster and thousands of people lost their lives.

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 (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. 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.