Pha Nga Bay Thailand
Some of the Andaman coast’s most exceptional scenery is found in Pha Nga Bay, located between Phuket and the province of Krabi. In fact Pha Nga is a province of its own, most notable for the awesome karst pillars that jut out of the ocean and landscape across this region. So exotic is this location that it was famously featured in the James Bond movie The Man with the Golden Gun and is one of the must see destinations on any tourist’s itinerary in the area.
The best way to see Pha Nga bay is by boat and numerous tours leave Phuket and Krabi on day trips to this incredible natural wonderland that provides a feast for the camera lens. You can also drive to the small settlement of Tha Dan, near the town of Pha Nga, and catch a long tail boat tour to the highlights of the bay.
Several famous sites are located in Pha Nga Bay which are all part of a tour of the area and the best known is probably James Bond Island, which received its name after the filming of the movie took place here in the sixties. There’s a fee for landing on the island (usually included in your tour price) and most people alight so they can have themselves pictured with the famous needle of karst in the background that rises dramatically out of the sea.
Tham Lawt is nearby and also included in the itinerary. It’s a large cave which has now been commandeered by the kayaking companies that have capitalised on the beauty and suitability of the area for paddling. Tours by kayak can also be arranged from numerous travel agents in Phuket and Krabi and it can be a fun day out, paddling through these water caves.
Perhaps the most intriguing sight in Pha Nga bay is the Muslim fishing village of Koh Phan Yee which is entirely stilted and clustered beneath a karst cliff entirely surrounded by water. This village has been here for two centuries, deliberately placed here for defensive purposes and its proximity to the sea. The 200 families living here supposedly descended from just two families that migrated here from Java. As you approach the island the turrets of the island’s mosque add to the impression of this remarkable village.
Even today fishing remains the chief activity but the village makes its fortunes by providing lunch to the boatloads of visitors. The precariously narrow piers that dissect the village are now loaded with souvenir shops and there are plenty of comfortable restaurants serving fresh seafood. You’re welcome to wander around the small village, visit the school, and peer into the lives of these sea-bound people, though it’s polite to support the local economy by buying something, and try not to be too obtrusive. There are a couple of basic homestays as well, but staying over isn’t popular.
Pha Nga Bay was not spared in the devastating Tsunami of December 26th 2004 and although it did not take a direct hit from the killer waves, the village was all but flooded by rising tides and regrettably kayakers lost their lives after being trapped in the caves of Tham Lawt.
Pha Nga Bay is part of a 400km square national park that was created in 1981. The geological features are an incredible site, formed by fault movements (the same fault which was responsible for the Tsunami) which pushed massive limestone blocks up into patterns. The result is over 40 islands of towering karst that create this unique and breathtaking scenery. Sheer cliffs, overhangs and caves typify the topography and after millions of years they’re covered in verdant vegetation. There are a number of tidal canals and channels that penetrate the mainland and can be explored by boat, creating a scene of utter confusion and manifold massifs. In the upper reaches you’ll discover some magnificent mangrove which supports a range of aquatic and wild life.
If you do decide to hire a car and find your way to the north side of the bay before catching a longtail boat you have the opportunity to visit the enchanting Sa Nang Manora forest park. Although the bay itself can barely be seen or appreciated from the road, the landscape is still full of karst obelisks. The park itself is free and boasts a fairy-tale like scenery of cascading waterfalls and numerous hiking trails that criss-cross the streams and waterfalls. It’s certainly one of the best-kept secrets in the area.
South of Pha Nga Bay are two inhabited islands, Yao Noi and Yao Yai, which have a number of resorts and bungalows on them and offer a peaceful retreat from Phuket. Boats leave several times a day from Phuket and once here you can find day tours to Pha Nga Bay.
Traveller tale: Visiting Phang Nga Bay
Boasting unbeatable natural beauty Pha Nga Bay will impress each visitor...more
