Tours and Excursions around Phang Nga City

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At the reception of Muang Thong Hotel you will find the guide Mr. Hassim from M.T. Tour. He offers Phang Nga Bay Tours and a Forest Temple Tour, in addition he rents motorbikes.
These are 3 tours in the morning or afternoon as well as a special tour with kayaking among the breathtaking rocks. The rates are very inexpensive for what he offers.
Mr. Hassim has many letters of recommendation hanging on the wall. Unfortunately he can not read them, but I can assure you that they are really positive.
Details of the tours see in the photos below.

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Sayan Tour runs boat trips to Phang-Nga National Park, Tham Lod, Tham Talu, James Bond Island, Koh Panyee, Khao Khien, Khao Maju. You can choose between half day, full day or overnight trips. The rates start from 500 Baht.

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James Bond Island or Koh Tapu is the most famous tourist attraction at Phang Nga Bay National Park. In 1974 several scenes of the James Bond movie The Man with the Golden Gun, starring Roger Moore, were shot here.

James Bond Island can only be viewed from Koh Khao Phing Kan. As James Bond Island is a part of Phang Nga Bay National Park every visitor needs to pay the entrance fee.

James Bond Island is located in Phang Nga Bay National Park.

James Bond Island is located in Phang Nga Bay National Park.

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Koh Hong (Room Island) is a limestone island completely surrounded by a cliff so that it looks like a huge hall with one entrance. There are many islands like this in the Bay of Phang Nga.

Access to these islands is only by a narrow cave. Due to the low cave roof, only kayaks can get through the channel at a suitable water level. Entering the sunlit hall from the dark cave gives an immense feeling of the creative power of nature. The unique experience of entering this natural wonder in solitude will remain with you for the rest of your life.
The area is also good for swimming.
The first person to detect the hongs inside the towering limestone cliffs was John Gray, an adventurous American. He had seen similar rock formations on Fiji and investigated the Bay of Phang Nga with the first inflatable sea kayak. He then started his sea canoe company in order to show other nature lovers this marvel. In 1991 Richard and Ursula Doring were among his first highly impressed customers and subsequently described their experience in the Loose Guide Book.

Most hongs are in the Bay of Phang Nga and can be accessed with one of the numerous sea kayak tour companies from Phuket or on a Phang Nga Bay Tour from Phuket, Khao Lak or Krabi.
So far only the private 5 Highlight Tour, organized by Yui and Gaeng from Sita Garden in Khao Lak, visits the hongs without any other tourists in the area.
Several islands along the Andaman Coast are called Koh Hong due to their natural features. All of them are certainly worth a visit.

Most hongs are in the Bay of Phang Nga and can be accessed with one of the numerous sea kayak tour companies from Phuket or on a Phang Nga Bay Tour from Phuket, Khao Lak or Krabi.
So far only the private 5 Highlight Tour, organized by Yui and Gaeng from Sita Garden in Khao Lak, visits the hongs without any other tourists in the area.
Several islands along the Andaman Coast are called Koh Hong due to their natural features. All of them are certainly worth a visit.

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Koh Panyi is a small island in the Bay of Phang Nga. Koh Panyi consists of a tall limestone hill and a small plain land area. This is a Muslim community. It is well known in Thailand for being built on stilts by Indonesian fishermen.

The population consists of roughly 200 families or between 1500 and 2000 people who descended from two seafaring Muslim families from Java. The settlement at Koh Panyi was established at the end of the 18th century by Indonesian fisher families. Around the village are floating baskets to keep fish in the water. There are also many restaurants, a school, souvenir shops and a few tourist residences on the island. The Muslim people here are still today fishermen and sellers of souvenirs and preserved seafood. Their main income nowadays derives from being a "must" stopover for the many tour boats passing to the famous James Bond Island.

Koh Panyi is in Phang Nga Bay, which is situated between Krabi and the island of Phuket in the south of Thailand.

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At the southern end of Phang Nga city a set of attractive limestone mountains catches the eye. There are several caves and small streams as well as a large flock of monkeys.
In the 162 rai of Srinakarin Park visitors can enjoy a relaxing place which is very suitable for children, too. In the sheer cliff mountains one can walk through from one side of the cave to the other, viewing the stalagmite and stalactite formations on the way. Near to this cave is a smaller cave named Tham Luk Sua (tiger's cub cave) which also has stalagmites and stalactites. Streams which include fresh water, brackish water, and salty water, run through the caves; the salt water comes from higher sea tides and is why a variety of sea animals live here.
A bridge has been constructed crossing the streams to connect the caves. There are also many monkeys that frequent the front of this cave. The park has spacious grounds with beautiful trees providing shade and many varieties of flowering plants. Golden Hopea trees and Theptaro trees, which are symbolic of the Phang Nga countryside can be seen here also.
For recreation there are also two climbing routes, a jogging path and a small food-stall market around lunch time.
Srinakarin Park is next to the junction of H415 leading to Thap Put and Krabi.

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Khao Chang (elephant mountain), a limestone mountain about 500 meters in height, is considered a symbol of Phang Nga. Its shape resembles a large crouching elephant with its head turned to the southwest. Inside the mountain is a dark, long cave, named Tham Peung Chang, which is full of stalactites and stalagmites.
Khao Chang is located behind the old City Hall in the south of Phang Nga Town.

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Tham Pung Chang is a large cave passing all the way through Khao Chang in the south of Phang Nga town.
There is a stream flowing in the middle of the cave with both shallow and deep areas. If desired, sightseers can wade through the stream, ride on a raft or paddle one of the available canoes. It takes about 1 hour to travel to the other end of the cave and visitors are advised to wear shorts and rubber sandals.
This area of Tham Peung Chang is one of two sanctuaries for Kitti bats which are the smallest bats in the world and were first found in 1973 in Thailand's Kanchanaburi Jungle.

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Sa Nang Manora Forest Park covers a total area of 180 rai. It has a topography of limestone mountains running northeast to southwest and covered with rain forest.

There is an Oyster Shell Cave about 1,300 meters from the forestry park office. Inside the cave is an oyster grave yard. The Bat Dung Cave is about 2,300 meters from the park office. This cave is bigger than the Oyster Shell Cave and many bats live here. The paths to these caves are not too steep so it is easy to walk to them. Kaeo is a large cave which is 3 km from the park office and 1,500 meters from the Bat Dung Cave. Inside are beautiful glittering stalagmite and stalactite formations.

Sa Nang Manora Forest Park is situated inside the Khao Thoi Nang Hong National Forest Reserve area in Tambon Nop Pring.

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Khao Tao is a mountain and is located in Phang Nga province, Thailand. It is situated between Phang Nga Town and ThapPut in the village Bo Saen. The estimated elevation according to Google Terrain is 320 metres above seal level.
Der Gipfel kann in ca. 2 Stunden anstrengenden Aufstiegs mit einem ortskundigen Bergfuehrer bestiegen werden. Insbesondere die letzten 15 Minuten sind schwierig und mit Kletterei auf einem 20 cm breiten Pfad am Abgrund entlang verbunden. Die Aussicht ist ganz fantastisch. Den Aufstieg buchen kann man bei T-Tour in Bang Niang, Khao Lak, Phang Nga.
Die Kosten fuer die ganztaegige Tour mit Anfahrt, Verplegung, Versicherung und 2 Bergfuehrern liegen bei 2800 Baht pro Person. Mindestteilnehmerzahl ist 2 Personen, maximal 6 Personen. Der Aufstieg ist nur fuer geuebte und trainierte Bergwanderer ratsam.

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Wat Thamtapan, inside of the temple's cave has a small waterfall. You will see Dhamma Petchra ground, a three topped pagoda, a stalactite castle, a thousand year old stone stove and Buddha images that line the wall. The trail in this cave is approximately 400 m long.
At the entrance is a sculpture of a dragon and outside the monks residence is a sculptured impression of hell. Walking through the tunnel you will cross a bridge called "Dragon Bridge to Hell" continue for 100 m and go through the mouth of Tham Tapan. A monks residence is inside of the cave.
At a steep cliff covered in greenery there are many statues of the Hindu Pantheon, such as God Vishnu, Krishna and Sarasvati.
Impressive is also a set of statues depicting the birth of the historical Buddha Siddhartha Sakyamuni.
Wat Thamtapan is located in the west of Phang Nga Town along the Panorama Road Montri Road.

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The Chedi above Wat Thamtapan affords a panoramic view of Phang Nga Town and the limestone rocks in the environs. This extraordinary panorama shows that Phang Nga Town is located in one of the most beautiful locations of all provincial capitals of Thailand.
The 144 steps up to the chedi were for years the favourite toilet of the local monkeys. Therefore tourists rarely visited this exceptional viewpoint. It seems that most of the monkeys live somewhere else now so that the climb up to the chedi is really rewarding.

The chedi with its slender spire towers above Wat Thampapan in the west of Phang Nga Town.

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The Chedi Khao Lang Bart is a National Monument above Phang Nga Town.

The observation point is small, merely a narrow walkway around the chedi itself. Ascending requires climbing 122 steep steps. From here you can see most of the city; the view is partially obscured by tree branches.
The signboard by the Fine Arts Department reads:
"The stupa was built of brick and mortar. It is small in size on a square base with redented corners, decorated with a lotus petal design at the base. The stupa itself is on top of a large limestone rock. The bell-shaped portion rises over a vertically diminishing base, with a spire on top. This national monument was originally built from late Ayutthaya to Bangkok period, 18th - 19th centuries."

The Chedi Khao Lang Bart is located on the western edge of the city, on a high point in Phang Nga Town.

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In the center of Phang Nga Town this colorful shrine is quite attractive. Opposite is the famous Khanom Chin Restaurant of Phang Nga.

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Tham Suwan Kuha is one of the oldest and important temples with the symbol of Mueang Phang Nga. It includes the largest cave which is
20 m. wide, 40 m. long and used as a temple The floor is level and the ceiling is dome shaped, decorated with willow ware cup tiles and houses a big sculpture of Buddha Saiyasana which is gold in colour.

There are other Buddhist images including a heart shaped slate stone pendant inscribed with the Thai alphabets during King Rama V's reign. Next up the hill is Tham Chaeng which has inscriptions with the royal monogram of the kings, members of the royal family and the former prime minsters on the cave walls. Next to this cave is Tham Mued (Dark Cave) of limestone. On the right hand side in Tham Kaeo with 3 Buddha images installed on a high throne. Admission is 20 Baht.

Wat Suwan Kuha is located at Mu 2 Tambon Krasom, about 9 km from Phang Nga town.

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Phraya Nakarat Cave Temple, also called Wat Tham Khao Ngu, is a very attractive cave temple with a breathtaking scenery. Four religions are represented in this temple: Thai Buddhism, Chinese Buddhism, Hinduism and the ancient belief in spirits. You can admire highly venerated statues such as Phra Pikaneth, the elephant-headed deity, Shiva Nataraja, the dancing deity, and various forms of the historic Buddha. The main attraction is the tip of the tail of a huge snake (ngu) sticking out from the ground in a cave.

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Wat Rat Upatam, commonly called Wat Bang Riang is is a hill top temple in the mountains at the eastern border of Phang Nga Province.

The hilltop pagoda overlooks surrounding undulating mountains and hills as well as a huge Buddha image and a Guan-yin Chinese Goddess statue.
It is surrounded by hills where a big Buddha with Naka (the 7 heads snake) and a statue of Kwan Him are facing it. Inside the temple are various important Buddhist artifacts including the Phra Maha that Chedi Buddha Dhram Banleu.


Wat Bang Riang or Wat Rat Uppatham is situated on Khao Lan hill in Tambon Bang Riang, 11 kilometers from the Amphoe Thap Put office on Petchkasem Road.

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Songpreak Elephant Camp is one of the many nature adventure activities that can be enjoyed in the Song Phraek Valley.

Mainly tour companies from Phuket come to this very lonely valley to the north of Phang Nga City. Their customers can indulge in nature experience activities like river rafting, trekking, elephant riding, and ATV driving in various categories. Tourists interested in botany can hike to see the Rafflesia, the largest flower in the world, that can grow up to 80 cm in diameter.

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Tham Pha Peung is a cave temple by the side of a nice stream not far from the second byepass road of Phang Nga. You can see the large cave and several monks dwellings in the cliff side.

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Tham Sam has old mural paintings, which are thought to have been painted at the beginning of the Rattanakosin era. The Fine Arts Department has registered the paintings to be genuine ancient remains.

The outer hall way is a long covered area with a smooth floor with light appearing to shine through it. The cave walls are irregular with paintings continuing along the wall for a distance of approximately 70 m.
The discovered paintings are historically typical of local handiwork and mostly depict beliefs in Buddhism, nature, and the way of living in those times.
In front of the cave is a stone carved Buddha Image. This is in a natural swamp area called Nongharn Samsam.

Tham Sam is located beside H3027 in Moo 2, Ban Fai Tha, Tham Nam Phut Sub-district to the northwest of Khao Thoi. On Rong Ruea Road it is 1.1 km to the east of the city center beside the beautiful lake.

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Than Boke Khorani National Park covers an area of 37.5 rai. The Park is covered by a diverse canopy of various species of tree, such as wild gardenia, Asoka, and Apocynaceae that are scattered around Sa Boke Khorani.

At the north end of Sa Boke Korani, which flows through a winding passage in the mountain, is a wood carving of Lord Buddha's footprint and a shrine of Chao Pho To Yuan - To Chong. Other attractions in the park include several limestone mountain caves, verdant mangrove forests and beautiful islands which can be reached only by boat. Admission fee for adults and children are 200 and 100 baht per person. The Park does not provide accommodation, but camping in the park is allowed although tourists have to bring their own tents. For more information, Tel. 075-681071, 075-682058.

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Tham Klang is one of the most beautiful caves in Thailand. It is very easily accessible and poses no danger whatsoever.

Tham Klang features the most beautiful stalagmites and stalactites of different kinds that can be visited in less than one hour. Most remarkable are the grisly hair stalactites of one to two millimeters in diameter. Absolutely unique are the stalactite hairs dangling from the ceiling invisible to the unsuspecting eye. Other highlights in the cave are the "Viewpoint" and the "Dome", the small fishpond at the "end" after 45 minutes in the cave, and the myriads of drinking straw stalactites growing from the ceiling 2 to 3 meters in height.
For cave freaks we mention that the cave is said to be 4 hours deep, but such a trip has to be arranged long in advance, best with the guide Gaeng and the cave freak Richard from Khao Lak who are waiting for an expedition to be put together.

Turn off at KM stone 144.4 of highway H4, just 4 1/2 km south of Ao Luk junction. Drive 1 1/2 km down the asphalt road until the turnoff to the left which leads to the entrance within a few hundred meters on a gravel road. Next to the parking area is the resident guide's house. There are two caves accessible from the parking area. The right one an underground river which is said to be navigable by canoe for 2 hours. The left one is Tham Klang whose entrance is nearly hidden behind some greenery.

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Tham Hua Kalok is split into two main sections accessible by a single entrance. The left section is the larger cavern lit by a small opening in the top. The right section is an open hall which many believe was once the dwelling of pr-historic people.

Inside the right section there are over 70 rock paintings portraying both people and animals. Also found in the cave were several large skulls and a large pile of shells. This cave is very close so go along the same route to Tham Lot.

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Tham Phet has myriads of sparkling stones inside the cave that produce beautiful reflections on the cave wall just like glittering diamonds. This is where its name derives from.



Tham Phet is about 3 km from Ao Luk Na market intersection. You will see signs.

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