Phang Nga Bay Kayaking Tour

Thailand is full of beautiful kayaking opportunities. But, this small group tour around Phang Nga Bay takes the cake. Not only was this day trip the highlight of our time in Phuket, but it was the best overall kayaking experience that James and I had during our three months in Thailand.

Phang Nga Bay is a national park in South Thailand. It is full of incredible limestone cliffs, islets, caverns, and other geographical wonders. The bay is also well-sheltered from the ocean, making for a peaceful flatwater kayaking experience. The bay has two small islands that you can actually stay on if you wish: Ko Yao Noi and Ko Yao Yai. However, most visitors visit the bay as a day trip from Phuket.

Choosing a Tour

There are many kayaking day trips to choose from, most of which include a trip to James Bond Island. However, due to its fame, this island is quite touristy and crowded. If you’re looking for a more peaceful kayaking experience, I recommend taking a small group tour that instead takes you around some of the lesser known islets in the region. We booked our tour with Paddle Asia.

With this tour, a van will pick you up from your Phuket hotel in the early AM, and bring you to the main pier in Phuket. There, you will meet up with your guide and take a 30-minute ferry to Koh Yao Noi. From there, your group will travel by longboat to beautiful kayaking destinations around the bay. There is also a stop for a delicious Thai lunch on the beach midday.

Our booking wound up being a private tour with just me, James, and our local guide, Run. Run’s family has lived in this bay, which has over 40 islands, for generations. So, he was very knowledgeable about all the hidden places there are to explore.

At one point, we followed Run through a small opening in the limestone, and on the other side there were all these mangroves! A forest in the sea.

The sit-inside sea kayak we borrowed was very speedy, and comfortable enough for all-day use. Even though it was a full day of kayaking, I would not describe this experience as particularly challenging. It was all flat water, paddling at your own pace with plenty of breaks.

Near the end of the day, we also got to try out Run’s single kayak which was extra fun.

Nothing like a fresh coconut after a busy day of kayaking.