Thailand Guide
Southern Thailand: the Andaman coast
Boat and kayak tours of Ao Phang Nga
There are several departure points for tours of the bay and several ways of seeing its many attractions. The most rewarding, and generally the most expensive option is to join a sea-canoeing trip (either guided or self-paddle), which enables you both to explore inside the hongs and to see at close quarters the extraordinary ecosystems around and inside the karst islands. Most sea-canoeing tours use large support boats carrying groups of up to 30 people; they can be arranged from any resort in Phuket, at Khao Lak, Ao Nang, and on Ko Yao Noi, but the itinerary is usually determined by your departure point, with Phuket trips focusing on the western bay and Krabi tours concentrating on the eastern half. Most tours of the central bay are either in large tour boats booked out of Phuket or Krabi, which generally feature snorkelling and beach stops rather than kayaking, or in inexpensive, small-group longtail boats that depart from Phang Nga town, Phuket and Ko Yao Noi. All the main areas of the bay are extremely popular so don't expect a solitary experience.