Phang Nga Bay Guide
Located a northeast of Phuket, Phang Nga Bay consists of 400 kms² of spectacular natural beauty. In sharp contrast to the sometimes destructive development of Phuket, Phang Nga Bay is almost entirely unspoiled. Except for a few sporadic fishing villages the bay is devoid of human habitation and has been for the past for hundreds of years. In the absence of human presence, nature has flourished and Phang Nga Bay is a wonderful window into a time when all of southern Thailand was wild.
The most stunning features of Phang Nga Bay are undoubtedly the dramatic limestone cliffs which rise straight up out of the turquoise sea. These awe-inspiring karst formations reach heights of up to 300 metres and are covered with lush vegetation that provides a home to a wide variety of tropical birds. The bases of these cliffs are honeycombed with amazing caves and aquatic grottoes, known as hongs (rooms) in Thai.
The most famous feature of Phang Nga Bay is James Bond Island, due to its starring role in The Man with the Golden Gun. This is the most common stop for tour boats heading to Phang Nga Bay and is often extremely crowded, especially during peak season.
The other main tourist stop in Phang Nga Bay is Koh Phan yee, which is home to the largest human habitation in the bay. The Chao Leh (Sea Gypsies) have built a permanent village on this island of stilts, and the mosque which is clarly the dominant structure suggest that they are mostly Moslem, apparantely descents of Java migrants hundreds of years ago. Tour boats from Phuket stop here at lunchtime and the entire village gets inundated with up to 3,000 tourists at once. The villagers make a part of their living providing lunch and selling handicrafts to the visitors, but once they leave the village returns to its normal, quiet self.
Phang Nga Bay has quite a bit to offer besides the well-travelled islands, however. Koh Hong is known for its extensive network of caves, which are only accessible by sea kayak or canoe. Koh Kien is definitely worth a look for its amazing examples of ancient cave drawings. The bay itself is attractive because its sheltered position means that the water is preternaturally calm almost year round. The natural protection provided by the islands makes this a perfect haven for wildlife and snorkelling and diving options are excellent.
Touring Phang Nga Bay
There are a few different ways to enjoy the sights of Phang Nga Bay. The most common way is to join one of the many tourist excursions that visit the bay daily. These usually involve being bussed to Phang Nga province and then boarding a boat to see the usual sights. More leisurely boat tours can be arranged from the northern end of Phuket Island by hiring a private boat for the day piloted by a knowledgeable local guide. In this way you can avoid contact with the tourist scene and really lose yourself in the pristine waters and stunning islands. Another popular option is to visit the bay on a kayak or sea canoe. This is the only way to get inside the grottoes and sea caves and is the most tranquil and peaceful way to see the bay. There are several companies around Phuket that offer kayak rentals and expert guides for the area.
