Phang Nga is the Andaman coast at its most dramatic. Just north of Phuket, hundreds of sheer limestone islands rise from the emerald water of Phang Nga Bay, while further up the coast the long, quiet beaches of Khao Lak lead to the Similan and Surin Islands, two of Thailand’s finest diving and snorkelling destinations. Inland are waterfalls, cave temples and the tin-mining town of Takua Pa, whose Sino-Portuguese shophouses and Hokkien-influenced food tell a story very different from the resorts. Phang Nga is easy to reach from Phuket airport yet feels far calmer.
- Region: Southern Thailand, Andaman Sea coast
- Best time: November to April; the Similan and Surin Islands open about mid-October to mid-May
- How long: 3–5 days
- Nearest airport: Phuket International (HKT), about 1 hour 15 minutes to Khao Lak
Getting there and getting around
Phang Nga has no airport of its own; most visitors fly into Phuket, which is roughly 30 minutes from the province’s southern border and about 1 hour 15 minutes from Khao Lak by road. Krabi airport is a good alternative for Phang Nga town and the bay. Long-distance buses run from Bangkok’s Southern Bus Terminal to Phang Nga town and Takua Pa in around 12 hours. Within the province, hire a car or arrange transfers through your hotel; public songthaews link the main towns but are slow. Boat tours of Phang Nga Bay start from piers near Phang Nga town and from Phuket, and speedboats to the Similan Islands leave from Thap Lamu pier south of Khao Lak.
Top things to do in Phang Nga
1. Ao Phang Nga National Park
The heart of the province: a maze of jungle-topped karst islands, mangrove channels and sea caves best explored by long-tail boat or sea kayak, paddling into hidden lagoons called hong. Tours leave daily from piers near Phang Nga town. Map.
2. James Bond Island (Khao Phing Kan)
The needle-shaped rock of Ko Ta Pu became world-famous after appearing in the 1974 film The Man with the Golden Gun. It is busy in the middle of the day, so choose an early tour or a long-tail trip from the Phang Nga side. Map.
3. Ko Panyi
A Muslim fishing village built on stilts beneath a towering limestone cliff, famous for its floating football pitch. Most bay tours stop here for a seafood lunch; staying overnight lets you see the village after the day-trippers leave. Map.
4. Samet Nangshe viewpoint
A hilltop viewpoint with one of the most breathtaking panoramas in Thailand: layer upon layer of islands across Phang Nga Bay, especially magical at sunrise when mist lies on the water. A small entry fee is charged and the last stretch is reached by pickup or a steep walk. Map.
5. Similan Islands National Park
Granite boulders, white sand and crystal-clear water make the Similans a bucket-list day trip or liveaboard for divers. The park is open roughly from mid-October to mid-May and limits daily visitor numbers, so book with a licensed operator in advance. Map.
6. Surin Islands National Park
Further north and more remote, the Surin Islands have some of the best snorkelling reefs in Thailand and are home to a Moken sea-nomad community. Like the Similans, they open only in the dry season. Map.
7. Khao Lak beaches
A string of long, uncrowded beaches backed by forest — Nang Thong, Bang Niang, Khuk Khak and Pakarang among them — with sunsets over the Andaman Sea and a relaxed resort scene suited to families and couples. Map.
8. Boat 813 and the tsunami memorials
Police patrol boat T.813 was carried about two kilometres inland by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and now stands as a memorial at Bang Niang. The Ban Nam Khem Tsunami Memorial Park further north honours the many lives lost along this coast. Map.
9. Takua Pa Old Town
Once a prosperous tin-mining port, Takua Pa still has a street of colourful Sino-Portuguese shophouses, Chinese shrines and old coffee shops. A walking-street market brings food and crafts to the old town in the evening, usually once a week. Map.
10. Sa Nang Manora Forest Park
Close to Phang Nga town, a series of moss-covered cascades and pools tumble through dense rainforest, with walking trails following the stream upward. It is a cool, shady escape on a hot afternoon. Map.
11. Wat Suwan Khuha
Also known as the monkey-cave temple, this temple near Takua Thung occupies a series of limestone caves, the largest of which shelters a long reclining Buddha. Watch your belongings around the monkeys outside. Map.
12. Ko Yao Noi
Officially part of Phang Nga though usually reached by boat from Phuket or Krabi, this rural island of rice fields, rubber plantations and fishing villages offers kayaking and cycling with views of the bay’s karsts. Map.
A two-day Phang Nga route
Day 1 – Phang Nga Bay: A morning long-tail or kayak tour through the bay, James Bond Island and lunch on Ko Panyi; Sa Nang Manora in the afternoon and a night near Samet Nangshe for sunrise.
Day 2 – North to Khao Lak: After sunrise at Samet Nangshe, drive north via Wat Suwan Khuha to Takua Pa Old Town for lunch, then visit Boat 813 and finish with sunset on a Khao Lak beach. Between October and May, add a day trip to the Similan Islands.
Festivals and events in Phang Nga
- Songkran (13–15 April): Celebrations in Phang Nga town and Takua Pa combine temple merit-making with water play, while Khao Lak’s beaches are calmer than Phuket’s party zones. Our guide to Songkran in Phuket covers the big celebrations an hour away, and the Songkran etiquette guide explains the customs.
- Vegetarian Festival (ninth lunar month, usually October): The Chinese shrines of Phang Nga town and Takua Pa hold processions and serve meat-free jay food for nine days, part of the same Hokkien tradition as Phuket’s famous festival.
- Similan and Surin opening (mid-October): The start of the dry-season boating and diving season along the coast.
- Tsunami remembrance (26 December): Ceremonies at Ban Nam Khem and Khao Lak memorials remember the victims of the 2004 tsunami.
- Loy Krathong (November full moon): Floats are launched on rivers, lagoons and beaches across the province.
Lunar-calendar dates change every year; check with the Tourism Authority of Thailand before you go.
Practical tips
- The south-west monsoon brings rough seas from about May to October; the Similan and Surin Islands close and some bay tours may be cancelled.
- Choose licensed tour operators and wear the life jackets provided, especially on speedboats.
- Ko Panyi and many coastal villages are Muslim communities: dress modestly and avoid alcohol in public there.
- Bring reef-safe sunscreen and never stand on or touch coral.
- National park fees are charged separately for Thai and foreign visitors; carry cash.
Frequently asked questions
When are the Similan Islands open?
Usually from about 15 October to 15 May. The park closes in the rainy season to protect the reefs and for safety.
Is it better to visit James Bond Island from Phuket or from Phang Nga?
Tours from the Phang Nga side are shorter and often cheaper; Phuket tours are convenient if you are staying there but involve more time on the water.
How do I get from Phuket airport to Khao Lak?
By taxi, private transfer or minivan, in about 1 hour 15 minutes along Highway 4.
Is Phang Nga good for families?
Yes. Khao Lak’s calm resorts, the bay’s kayak tours and easy waterfalls suit children well, especially from November to April.
More Andaman coast guides
- Phang Nga food guide: Takua Pa flavours, seafood and where to eat
- Phuket travel guide
- Krabi travel guide
Cover photo: Phang Nga Bay, Koh Tapu, Thailand.jpg · Vyacheslav Argenberg · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
