Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Phang-Nga is a scruffy, luckless town backed up against sublime limestone cliffs. There
isn't a whole lot to see or do unless you happen to be here during the annual Vegetarian
Festival in late September or October.
About 8.5km south of the town centre is Tha Dan. From here, you can charter boats to
see half-submerged caves , oddly shaped islands and Ko Panyi , a Muslim village on stilts.
There are tours to the well-trodden Ko Phing Kan (James Bond Island) and Ao Phang-Nga Na-
tional Marine Park (500B per person for a two- to three-hour tour). Takua Thung, another
pier area about 10km further west of Tha Dan, also has private boats for hire at similar
prices to tours. The park office, inside Ao Phang-Nga National Marine Park, also offers
boat tours.
Although it can be a pain to haggle with boatmen, it's nice to create your own itiner-
ary. Of course, it's easier (and cheaper) to go with an organised tour through an agency in
town. Several are clustered around the bus station. Sayan Tours ( 08 1397 4717, 08 3692 0537;
www.sayantour.com ) has been doing tours of Ao Phang-Nga for many years, and continues to
receive good reviews from travellers. Mr Kean Tour ( 08 9871 6092, 0 7643 0619) , owned by
the man himself, is another great choice. He's been running tours in the area for over 20
years. Half- and full-day tours cost from 700B to 1600B per person and include Tham Lawt
(a large water cave), Ko Phing Kan and Ko Panyi, among other destinations. You can
even add a bit of kayaking.
Sleeping & Eating
Phang-Nga won't entice too many folks into sleepovers. Most choose to swing through
on a day trip, though there are three decent sleeps. Several food stalls on the main street
of Phang-Nga sell delicious kà·nŏm jeen (thin wheat noodles) with chicken curry, nám
yah (spicy ground-fish curry) or nám prík (spicy sauce). There's a morning market open
from 5am to 10am daily and a small night market on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
evenings, located just south of Soi Lohakit.
Phang-Nga Guest House
( 0 7641 1358; 99/1 Th Petchkasem; r with fan/air-con 350/480B; ) A simple yet super tidy inn
with tiled rooms brushed in cheery pastels, halls dressed in Thai tapestries, and wall-
mounted flat screens. A touch of colour in the otherwise drab centre of town.
GUESTHOUSE $
Baan Phang Nga
GUESTHOUSE $$
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