Phang Nga Bay in Thailand

The southwest of Thailand is justifiably considered the tourist center of the country. Despite heavy rains and not very comfortable weather most of the year, Phuket and Phang Nga province still wins over the resort areas of the Gulf of Thailand, whether it is the islands (Chang, Samui, etc.) or mainland resorts (Hua Hin, Pattaya, etc.).

One of the undoubted advantages that attracts tourists to this region is the Phang Nga Bay, a nature reserve of unique beauty, one of a kind.

Phang Nga Bay: Geography and Climate

The uniqueness of the bay, which is also acceptable to call Pang Nga, due to the peculiarities of its geological history and a tropical climate with a lot of rain.

Phang Nga is a bay that is part of the Andaman Sea and is located between Phuket and the mainland coast (Phang Nga and Krabi Province). The conventional boundary of the bay in the south is considered to be two large islands of Yao (Yai and Noi). Quite a large area (400 square kilometers) is a protected area with the status of a national park, which is called - "Phang Nga Bay".

The climate of Phang Nga is typical of the region:

• from December to February inclusive, it is warm and dry;
• March to June is the hottest, most humid time;
• July through September are the rainiest months, the temperature drops slightly, and the sun is hidden by clouds and clouds most of the time.
• In October-November, the rainy season gradually fades away, giving way to the dry season.

In the distant past, the water level of Phang Nga Bay was tens of meters higher. Gradually the bottom, represented by limestone sediments, has risen. Due to the frequent and heavy rains, sea water and wind blowing from the sea, the bare and relatively soft limestone rocks were subjected to bizarre deformations. So-called karst islands, mountains, caves, tunnels, inland lakes - all the natural attractions of Phang Nga - were formed.

Phang Nga Islands

In total, there are about 100 islands in the bay. Some of them are quite large, such as the island of Panyi, inhabited by people. Most, however, are uninhabited. Many, like Tapu Island, are so small that they can hardly be called islands.

Ko Yao

The largest island in the bay. You can get here on your own by ferry from Phuket. The island has tourist infrastructure: places to stay (bungalows), the opportunity to have lunch or dinner, well-equipped beaches.

If you want, you can stay here for a few days, during which you can tour the entire bay. This is not a bad option, given that the bay is large and to see everything in the standard 3-4 hours will not work.

Ko Tapu

Phang Nga Bay is best known for Tapu Island, which was featured in an episode of a James Bond movie. Since then, it has become a real brand, and tours of the bay with a stop on Phing Kan (or Phing Ghan) Island, which overlooks Tapu, are called nothing short of "a trip to James Bond Island.

Unfortunately, it is impossible to get to the island itself, because it is vertically protruding from the sea limestone rock, which is shaped like a man's fingernail. In fact, "tapu" is "fingernail" in Thai. Of interest is not so much the island as the surrounding nature of amazing beauty. The only drawback is that this area of the bay is always crowded.

Ko Panyi

A visit to this island is a must on the Phang Nga Bay tour program. The attraction here is a settlement of people known as a Muslim fishing village. Without going into the history of how Muslims were in a Buddhist country, and even on an isolated small island, we note that all who are interested in ethnography, traditional life of people of other cultures, it will be interesting.

In total, the village is home to just over 300 families. The total population today is about 1,500 people. How all these people survive here is a mystery. The island itself, like all the others in the bay, is a vertical karst rock. People live on an artificial "territory" attached to the island, which stands on stilts right in the water: this applies to all the buildings, including the sports field and the bridge-streets connecting the structures.

Electricity on the island is six times more expensive than on Phuket.

Despite the difficult conditions, the village has a church and a school. One of the latter's concerns is growing vegetables using hydroponics and teaching this process to children.

Ko Hong

The shore of Hong Island, according to many, is one of the best beaches in all of Phang Nga. "Hong" in Thai translates as "empty space. In all likelihood, the space is called the beach length of 400 meters, closed on all sides of the sheer karst cliffs.

Hong is one of the few islands in Phang-nga that has the opportunity to go inland. There is a special hiking trail, following which you can find yourself in a real Thai jungle. The island is known for the fact that it is home to a huge two-meter lizards, which come to see and the bulk of tourists.

The sea fauna around Hong is conducive to scorkeling and diving.

Ko Phanak

Quite a large island, the closest to Phuket of the islands discussed above. Phanak is known for its inland lagoons, karst caves and hongs.

The latter are isolated areas of land inside rock formations, which can only be accessed through dark and long tunnels. The hongs are accessible only at low tide, as the tunnels leading to them are low, and all the rest of the time they are filled with water.

How to get to Phang Nga Bay

The starting point of a Phang Nga island tour can be Phuket, Phang Nga province or Krabi. Since the bay is one of the main attractions of southwest Thailand, this destination is present in all local travel agencies.

The trip for one person will cost about $50, not including the entrance fee to the national park (200 baht per person), kayaking, food on the trip.

You can visit Phang Nga Bay on your own by renting a boat at any beach or pier. With a group of several people such a trip will be cheaper.

A multi-day trip to Phang Nga with accommodation on Yao Island is not a bad option. The number of available bungalows is limited. A night by Thai standards is not cheap. Nevertheless, it is convenient and, moreover, guarantees a vacation in complete isolation from civilization.