The Number 1 activity on everyone’s Phuket holiday itinerary should be to explore the natural wonders of Phang Nga Bay. It’s an absolute must
By: Roger Osbourne
There is no shortage of local companies who offer day-trip boat tours around Phuket. An early decision you have to make is where on the island you want your boat ride to start and finish. The busiest boating harbour is Chalong, on the southern end of Phuket. There are literally hundreds of companies here, some of which have dubious safety records, so you do need to do a bit of research to make sure you choose a good one.
However, for tours exploring Phang Nga Bay you are better off finding an operator based at one of the east coast marinas, particularly if your hotel is in the central or northern parts of the island. Don’t forget, choppy water isn’t such an issue off Phuket’s east coast, as Phang Nga is a bay and therefore protected from the westerly winds. You can therefore explore paradise at any time of the year.
One of the best companies we could find is Sawanu Travel , who operate out of the convenient Royal Phuket Marina. We have decided to focus on their James Bond Island trip, which takes you to that iconic finger of rock, made famous in the 1974 Bond movie ‘The Man with the Golden Gun’.
This 7-hour experience leaves the marina at 10:15 am and returns before it gets dark at 5:30 pm. At the time of printing the adult fare was 3,700 THB, and for kids between 4 and 11 years old it is 2,700 THB; infants are FOC.
These prices include a return transfer to and from your hotel, lunch, drinks and snacks on board, snorkelling equipment, all National Park entrance fees, an experienced tour guide, insurance and of course life jackets.
One of the reasons I like Sawanu Travel is for their excellent marina facilities. You have the use of a hospitality area, which is akin to a first class airport lounge. Get there early for check-in (which opens at 9:45 am), so you can enjoy a quality coffee, buy some useful kit for the trip and get a sneak preview of the upcoming tour on one of their large flat screen TVs.
11:00 am – HONG ISLAND
After a 30-minute boat ride from the marina you will reach Hong Island. ‘Hong’ means ‘hidden’, and it is an appropriate name for this group of limestone atolls, because in the middle of the largest one is a hidden lagoon, which can only be reached by canoe.
12:00 pm – JAMES BOND ISLAND
The next stop is the nearby James Bond Island. This is one of THE instagram worthy locations in the whole of Southeast Asia. The boat takes you to the designated viewpoint where you will get the very best angle of the rock.
1:00 pm – PANYI ISLAND
Established by Indonesian fishermen over 200 years ago, Koh Panyi is home to around 1,500 residents, who live on stilted homes above the water; it even has a floating football field! There is a maze of wooden walkways to explore, an activity which will work up an appetite before a seafood lunch in the best restaurant.
2:40 pm – PANAK ISLAND
Next stop is Koh Panak, a wonderful natural area with rugged landscapes, dramatic cliffs, caves with stalactites and stalagmites and pristine waters. On this sightseeing stop you can discover the wildlife, above and below the water, including some cheeky monkeys.
3:10 pm – NAKA YAI ISLAND
Koh Naka Yai is known for its wonderful white sand beaches. The island is home to some quality small resorts and on the beach that Sawanu Travel visits there are some nice beachside restaurants and bars. This is a relaxing sunbathing and swimming stop; bring your snorkelling equipment.
4:20 pm – RANG ISLAND
The final stop is at the uncommercialised small island of Koh Rang. The surrounding waters are teeming with marine life, making Rang a perfect snorkelling location. After a busy day, this is a perfect spot to soak up the late afternoon rays and relax before the final leg of the tour back to Royal Phuket Marina.
This tour captures the essence of what Phang Nga Bay is all about: amazing rock formations, calm waters, mystery lagoons, fishing villages and a world famous movie set….not many places in the world can boast these attributes.