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Phang Nga Bay Phuket
Thailand Phangnga

Ao Phang Nga, Phang Nga, Phang Nga bay, Phangnga Bay, Phang Nga hotel

- Phang Nga Bay is a part of Phangnga Province 

bordering Phuket to the west, Chumphon in the north and Krabi in the east.

Some unique pieces of land in the Andaman Sea. Bizarre limestone islands of the Phang Nga Bay have been used as backdrop in several movies like in James Bond -the Man with the Golden Colt-, -the Beach- with Leonardo Di Caprio -on Phi Phi Island a little bit further south- and other movies.

Dense green tropical fauna, warm turquoise waters and pristine beaches are typical. When you come from Phuket on the way to Krabi you will see the Phunga Hotel at the right just before
Ao Phang Nga. At the intersection just following this hotel turn right and you will end up at the pier.

There are always longtail boats around, rent one and negotiate the price, you must be tough otherwise they milk you merciless. Take a boat having at least a cover on the top otherwise you get a real sunburn.

If you do this tour don't forget to take some earplugs with you, otherwise it will be a deafening ride over  flat waves since the unmuffled engine is fixed very loosely at the back of the boat and makes a terrible noise, there is no way to escape, all longtail boats are made like this.

This is a great water world and the only way to enjoy this is by boat, there is no other way since the interesting stuff are the bizarre limestone islands. To get some better idea of the area take a few days accommodation in one of the Phang Nga bay hotels.

Passing Ko Panyi with a Muslim village right in the water on stilts. Ko Panyi is

Ko Panyi
Ko Panyi

a beautiful optical impression. Have a look around, maybe something to eat, be aware that everyone wants to sell you something.

Ko Panyi was founded by some Indonesian fishermen in the 18.th Century.
Phang Nga Bay Ko Panyi on stilts
Phangnga Bay Ko Panyi on stilts,Phang Nga hotel.

Ko Panyi Boats
Ko Panyi Boats, Ao Phang Nga

Explore Phang Nga Bay´s limestone formations, the natural formed caves and have a swim in the pleasant tropical water, just tell the boatmen to stop on a beach you like and jump. If you go swimming or just walk around in the splendid waters of Phang Nga Bay keep your shoes on or use dive boots, sometimes there are quite sharp coral pieces and other stuff around which is not visible but has

Phang Nga Bay James Bond Island
Phangnga Bay James Bond Island
Limestone Cliff and Beach
Limestone Cliff and Beach

Phang Nga Bay Video

sharp edges and after having a cut is having a problem.

- Phang Nga Bay is full of breathtaking


Phang Nga Bay Panorama during Monsoon
Phang Nga Bay Panorama during Monsoon

panoramas, full of excitement which makes you -gasp- oh - ah and I cant believe.

Phang Nga Bay Beaches are so many, nobody actually know how many, but for sure enough. In the emerald sea you will find your own private island with a beautiful white stretch of sand.

There are several secluded Phang Nga hotels and beach resorts on private islands.

James Bond Island from above
James Bond Island from above
Limestone Water World
Limestone Water World
Long Island
Long Island
- Exploring Phang Nga Bay with the Kayak

Our boat moves slowly away from the Ban Rong pier. The six cylinder diesel which once drove a truck howls and we rush quickly along 

Our boat at Phang Nga with a six cylinder diesel truck engine
Our boat at Phang Nga with a six cylinder diesel truck engine
emerald colored water
Emerald colored water
Hong or underwater cave kayaking in
Hong or underwater cave kayaking in
phang nga national park
Phang Nga national parkPaddle the kayak into the Hong
Paddle the kayak into the Hong
Phang Nga Bay underwater cave exploration
Phang Nga Bay underwater cave exploration
On the steep sloop many orchid leaves bending downwards
On the steep sloop many orchid leaves bending downwards
Pristine beaches
Pristine beaches
Limestone Cliff
Limestone Cliff
entrance to hong
Entrance to hong

the mangrove forests through the canal to reach open water. We are 3, Roy from siamkayak.com, a native of Kentucky who turned into an flora specialist after some years in Thailand, Roy’s son Siva and me .

The kayaks are stowed on top of the cabin. Roy reads through the tides table again, we have to be back at the pier approximately by 3 pm otherwise, we will get stranded in the channel.

From the hazy air the mighty bizarre-molded Stalactites materialize, they somehow shape Phang Nga Bay.

Phang Nga mighty bizarre molded Stalactites
Phang Nga mighty bizarre molded Stalactites
Phang Nga Bay Beach
Phang Nga Bay Beach

Somewhere to the left lays “James Bond” island, one of the old James Bond films - the man withthe golden colt- was partially made here. Further in the south,
Ko Phi Phi island lies where they did the exteriors shooting for the film ‘The Beach” with Leonardo Di Caprio, some indications of the unique landscape, a permanent playground for movie scouts.

We want to explore some of Phang Nga Bay islands with the kayak and want to track down wild orchids, not to pick them but to have a look. Since the exotic flowers “nest” in the rock crannies usually far above or make it comfortably on the mangrove plants as parasites, also touching is not possible, however the colors and the graceful forms are unique and worth the trip.

wild orchid
wild orchid

After a deafening ride over the flat waves of Phang Nga Bay - the unmuffled diesel engine is fixed very loosely at the stern of the boot - , Thai like it the more noise the better,..maybelai, maybelai, we swing in a turn and come to a halt, easily splashing in front of a mini atoll formed by a high rock formation.

We glide into the emerald water of the Phang Nga Bay and wade through the small opening just over the water surface into the rock formation. It is like an adventure fairy-tale, the upward  open grotto, 50x30m opens.

Emerald waters
Emerald waters

Crabs doze in the sand, shrimps run under the water surface, I withdraw the foot quickly as one of them comes to near, rainbow colored fishes move slowly, one could catch them with the hand to have a nice lunch.

Tom Hanks was obviously at the wrong island at the wrong time in the stranded movie, or maybe only the script writer was out of date. Above, a wild horde of Fruit Bats screeches, huge, fat creatures, they have no natural enemies.

Roy’s son paddles the kayak through the narrow opening above the water surface, a paradise setting. We find some....orchid who virtually glue on the

Orchid virtually glue on the Mangroves
Orchid virtually glue on the Mangroves

Mangroves. Pretty small flowers, one probably wonders how they came to this place, but we are in Thailand, a standard phrase in Thailand is ..me luuu. meaning I don’t know.

We had a short swim in the splendid water, its so inviting once you are in you don’t want to get out, better than any wirle pool. In the open grotto the water surface reflects the sky with an emerald shade. Some long tale macaques are having fun jumping up and down on the mangroves they are not shy coming near to say hello, actually probably expecting some food.  We move back to the motor boat and the boatmen bang the 2 seated kayak into the water. I take the front seat, cover the cameras with the shirt from the sun and Roy take the paddle, Siva is following us in the red kayak to function as messenger to the mother boat if necessary, we better be a little organized.

Some diamond club hanging down from the steep cliffs of Phang Nga Bay limestone formations looking like cactus but are from a other family and a good indication if you can expect orchids if they are there the orchids are not far.

Uncountable schools of mini fishes swim along the limestone cliffs, moving quite orchestrated.

We pass many green who found their niche of life on the stones, orchid leaves are everywhere but naturally the blossoms are not there all the time since the preferred blooming time is February to May, they only bloom once per year.

But there is a elegant way to have them visible all the time, visit the orchid nursery.

Consider the day trip as a prelude with a little intermezzo in the restaurant at the evening on Phuket to get some fresh seafood into the stomach and to have a finale the next day at the nursery, don’t forget the camera, the best time at the “orchid farm” is around 5 pm since at that time the sun has the right angle to illuminate the

Thailand Orchid
Thailand Orchid
Thai Orchid Pink
Thai Orchid Pink

precious flowers from the back to bring the colors out.

Anyway we are in a very positive mood but we have to move on since a hazy day means thunderstorm in the afternoon.  The long tail boat gains speed and we pass pristine beaches in front of some Phang Nga Bay beach resorts; it’s a feast for the eyes.

A hong is an atoll of ancient limestone rocks. The original cave centre becomes a hollow cave  formation, where the sun streams in. Usually, the hong can only be entered through a sea cave entrance. Since this cave is usually quite small, entry is by a canoe or by swimming. Be careful, only go with an experienced guide otherwise you might be trapped when the tide rises.

- When we enter one more limestone atoll though a narrow V,

a white bellow eagle materialized out from thick green jungle foliage sailing downwards from the top of the cliff. On the steep sloop many orchid leaves bending downwards, but as yet displayed no blooms. Within minutes the sky darkens into a dark blue mélange and fat drops of heavy rain bang down on us. We quickly get back to the boat and get the blinds down to continuing another time, it’s worth it, its a unique experience.

The natural extension is to download our unique e-book on southern Thailand where you will find much more content and a lot of exiting full scale pictures. You can have a look on the screen and if you like you can print all content on any dektop printer, auch in Deutsch, ...more e-book

southern thailand e-bookNorthern & Western Thailand

                               
Phang Nga Bay Phuket
Thailand Phangnga


Ao Phang Nga, Phang Nga, Phang Nga Bay, Phang Nga Bay Thailand, James Bond Island,
Phang Nga hotel, Phang Nga Thailand, Phuket,
Phang Nga province

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