Ao Phang Nga National Park
Discover Ao Phang Nga National Park
Ao Phang Nga National Park is known for its limestone rock formations. It has more than 40 islands with beautiful cliffs, caves and the largest remaining mangrove forests in Thailand. Phang Nga Bay is one of the most beautiful bays of Thailand. It is famous for its gravity-defying limestone formations. Most travellers visit Ko Khao Phing Kan, that since 1974, when it was featured in the James Bond film The Man with the Golden Gun, has been popularly called James Bond Island (see also James Bond tourism). In front of it is Ko Tapu, probably the most characteristic islet of the bay and often seen on tourist brochures.
What to Experience in Ao Phang Nga National Park
Taste of Ao Phang Nga National Park...
Most people visit as a day-trip and do not spend the night at the park. It is possible, however. Some package tours include staying the night at Ko Panyi, one of the villages on stilts. Tha Dan also has lodging available. Most visitors go back where they originally came from, usually Phang Nga, Phuket or Krabi. From those places, you could take one of the boats to Ko Yao.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsAo Phang Nga National Park is in the province of Phang Nga, between the provinces Phuket and Krabi. It is north of the Ko Yao islands. To get there, get on one of the songthaews (shared taxis) from the centre of Phang Nga to Tha Dan. If you have your own transport, drive south along highway 4, and after about 5 km, turn left onto the road to Tha Dan. There you will find the park headquarters. You can hire a boat at the pier next to the park office for a three-hour tour of the park (1500 baht and a maximum of four passengers). Kayak is additional charge of 1200 Baht for two Kayaks (2 adults and 2 children). If you're coming from Phang Nga, you can make a tour with Sayan (in the bus station) or MT Tour (in the Muang Thong hotel, 100 m from the bus station). If you arrive at the bus station there is the usual harassment. But take your time and don't believe everything the people tell you there because they want to force or lure you to their tour operator or hotel....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
Tour operators organize many different tours and most of them follow the standard route around the bay passing weird rock formations, limestone outcrops, hidden lakes, tiny beaches and caves. Tours usually go to Khao Ping Gan (Leaning Rock) which was featured in the James Bond movie The Man With the Golden Gun as Scaramanga's hideaway. Ko Tapu in front of James Bond Island is a popular rock. It is often used as a symbol of Phang Nga. On the James Bond Island, the beach is littered with trinket vendors trying to sell you something and the experience of seeing the island may be somewhat disappointing and diluted. A Phang Nga Bay tour may take you to Ko Panyi, a village built on stilts. The mosque and the graveyard are the only places which are built on ground. It's a tourist trap during the day as many tours also stop here. Some tours will give you the option of staying overnight, which is preferable to really experience the village as the village returns to normal in the evening.
Where to Stay
Most people visit as a day-trip and do not spend the night at the park. It is possible, however. Some package tours include staying the night at Ko Panyi, one of the villages on stilts. Tha Dan also has lodging available. Most visitors go back where they originally came from, usually Phang Nga, Phuket or Krabi. From those places, you could take one of the boats to Ko Yao.
Money & Budget
You will be flooded with tacky souvenir shops on James Bond Island. Most people visit as a day-trip and do not spend the night at the park. It is possible, however. Some package tours include staying the night at Ko Panyi, one of the villages on stilts. Tha Dan also has lodging available. Most visitors go back where they originally came from, usually Phang Nga, Phuket or Krabi. From those places, you could take one of the boats to Ko Yao.
Safety Information
Safety Overview
Most visitors go back where they originally came from, usually Phang Nga, Phuket or Krabi. From those places, you could take one of the boats to Ko Yao.
Glimpses of Ao Phang Nga National Park
green island scnery
a man in a small boat on a large body of water
a body of water with islands in it
green island scenery
green body of water near brown rock formation during daytime
a body of water with trees on the side
a group of islands in the ocean
a group of people sitting on the back of a boat
Thailand. Sea village.
View of the Timleless Sea Gypsy Village in Phang Nga Bay in Thailand with a floating soccer field in the front.
green island scnery
a man in a small boat on a large body of water
a body of water with islands in it