Phang Nga Bay

Phang Nga Bay is a national park situated in the south of Thailand and is often considered one of the country's most breathtaking natural wonders. The bay is characterized by its dramatic limestone cliffs, tranquil waters and lush vegetation.

The bay is home to approximately 40 small islands and the area is full of lagoons, caves and mangroves to explore, although seeing everything in one day could be a challenge!

The best known island is the intriguing James Bond Island,  an island that was used as the backdrop for the James Bond movie 'The Man with the Golden Gun'. The real name of this rock formation is Koh Tapu, which means ‘Nail Island”, well justified by the funny elongated and unbalanced shape. 

Another notable landmark in Phang Nga Bay you should visit is Wat Suwan Khuha, with a huge golden reclining Buddha hidden inside a cave.

Best time to visit

You can enjoy taking a day trip to Phang Nga Bay at any point during the dry season, from October to May. During this time, you can expect the weather to reach high temperatures of around 34 degrees Celsius. You'll also find the seas to be calm and mild, with water temperatures ranging from 27 to 30 degrees Celsius. The best time for diving is from November to April.

How to get there

Phang Nga is ideally located in the south of Thailand. It’s an hour’s drive from the seaside town of Khao Lak and an hour and a half’s drive from both Phuket and Krabi airport. It’s easy to get to, even from Surat Thani and Khao Sok National Park. Minivans from Surat Thani leave every hour between 9:30 AM and 5:30 PM and go to Phang Nga via Khao Sok, meaning you can travel on straight after your jungle tour!

But the easiest way to make the journey to Phang Nga Bay is by booking a guided tour. You can choose which time of day you want to explore the national park, and there are a plethora of day trips on offer.  To ensure you have a hassle-free experience,  tours will offer a hotel pickup service .