8 Best Things to Do at Phang Nga Bay

Phang Nga Bay is an area of a 400 km2 bay in southern Thailand, between the island of Phuket and the mainland of the Kra Isthmus. Many archaeological sites dated back around 10,000 years ago, can be found in Phang Nga Bay.

Phang Nga Bay is one of the most beautiful bays of Thailand.

Why is Phang Nga Bay so Famous?

Phang Nga bay is famous for its lagoons, caves, and tiny undiscovered secluded sandy white beaches, spectacular scenery with limestone cliffs rising out of green and water tropical islands to enjoy.

Snorkeling in Phang Nga

Phang Nga is one of the most beautiful areas in Thailand for snorkeling. Thailand scuba diving season runs all year round, but November through to April has the best site conditions.

Visitors can find some great underwater adventure in Phang-Nga province with impressive marine life, whale sharks, turtles and reefs hosting mantas. Fish, shrimp, nudibranch, bannerfish, barracuda, angelfish, lionfish, triggerfish, anemonefish are also found here.

James Bond Island Tour from Krabi

You can find in Phang Nga bay many amazing islands, including the most famous James Bond Island, which is a popular tourist destination. The original island name is Koh Tapu and became world-famous after it got featured in the 1974 Bond movie “The Man with The Golden Gun” and since then became a major attraction.

Limestone shrubland covers most of the island with evergreen trees and plants, such as cycads, Pandanus, and euphorbs, plants like red algae, Halimeda, seagrass, and plant plankton, and more than 100 species of birds in the area.

Explore Ao Phang Nga National Park

Since 1981 an extensive section of the Phang Nga bay has been protected as the Ao Phang Nga National Park. The park consists of the Takua Thung District and Mueang Phang Nga District and area with numerous limestone tower karst islands including Khao Phing Kan, or also popular as “James Bond Island.

In the park, you’ll find plant species in the mangrove forest such as Rhizophora apiculata, Rhizophora mucronata, Avicennia alba, Avicennia officinalis, and trees Xylocarpus granatum and Xylocarpus moluccensis. Hopea ferrea, Acacia catechu, the mulberry tree Artocarpus lacucha are popular inside the tropical rainforest of the islands.

Sunset Cruise on a Chinese Junk

Enjoy the stunningly beautiful scenery of Phang Nga Bay by joining a cruise onboard a traditional Chinese Junk while enjoying a delicious Thai Buffet Dinner and relaxing and watching the sunset and abundant wildlife.

Usually, you can get beers or cocktails at extra cost from the bar on board.

Chinese Junk Boats were first built in the second century and you can still find many in the Hong Kong Harbour. The waters remain calm year-round because it is protected from both the northeast and the southwest monsoon seasons and you can enjoy some snorkeling.

Phang Nga Bay Sea Cave Canoeing

One of the most popular activities in Phang Nga Bay is by sea-canoeing along the amazing landscape. This exciting Sea Cave Canoe is offered as a service that will take you a full day.

There are about 42 islands and islets in Phang Nga Bay, beautiful and really spectacular shape and fantastic caves.

Keep in mind that the caves are very dark and in some places get pretty tight.

Sa Nang Manora Forest Park & Birdwatching

Sa Nang Manora forest park located in southern Thailand was established on 15 September 1980 and it covers an area of 0.29 km2 in Phang Nga Province, about four km north of Phang Nga town.

You’ll find trees in the forest such as Euphorbiaceae, Sonneratia, Eugenia, Shorea laevis. You can also visit the Sa Nang Manora waterfall at the hill Khao Thoi.

You may have the chance to observe over 90 species in Phang Nga, including the endangered Malaysian plover and Asiatic dowitcher.

Phang Nga Elephant Park

Phang Nga Elephant Park is family-owned through generations for over 150 years that cared for elephants. Visitors can Phang Nga Elephant Park so special. Our visitors can learn about these magnificent animals in a relaxed and natural environment and have an unforgettable experience communicating with elephants.

The Phang Nga Elephant Park opened in 2015 and put elephants in a stress-free environment. In the park, you’ll find also a cafeteria, souvenir shops, free Wi-Fi, shower and bathroom facilities.

Two different plans are available for visitors to choose from. You can enjoy a Half Day Elephant Care Program or choose the Family Elephant Experience and feed the elephants with children and take a bath with the elephants.

Trip to Samet Nangshe Viewpoint

Located in Phang Nga Bay, Samet Nangshe is a superb panoramic viewpoint with one of the most spectacular places to watch the sunrise in Thailand.

This magical place was just recently discovered by a Thai photographer in 2017. It offers stunning 180-degree views overlooking the peaceful of beautiful natural and local lifestyle in Phang Nga Bay and its small islands and gorgeous limestone formations.

Samet Nangshe is a series of viewpoints that can be reached after a 15 -20 minute climb up a dirt path.

Phuket International Airport is the closest nearby airport.

The spectacular view includes over a mile of mangrove forest and hundreds of islands that stretches in both directions.