Overview

Phang Nga  is the provincial capital of Phang Nga Province.

How to get there
By plane

There is no airport here. The closest ones are in Phuket or Krabi.
By train

There is no train station here. You must catch a bus for Phunphin, near Surat Thani.
By bus

Buses from Phuket, Takua Pa and Krabi pass through Phang-Nga. During daytime there are many buses from the bus station to Phuket, Krabi, Takua Pa and Surat Thani. In the evening however there are hardly buses but if you're lucky you might catch a bus on the Phuket-Krabi road. (4 km from the city) The phone number of the bus station is 076/412014

By boat

The pier, Tha Dan, is 9 km south of the town.

Getting around

You can use the sonthaews for travel in the city. If you want to explore the area, it is better to rent a motorbike. You can rent a motorbike at M.T. Tour (Muang Thong hotel, from the bus station; go to the exit, turn right at the main road, walk 100 meters and it's at your left side). If you have an own car or a motorbike already you still can go to MT Tour (tel. 089 289 25 66) to get your detailed map of the area for free ! In general, everything (tours, accommodation, food) in Phang Nga is cheap, especially compared with Phuket. It's not possible to rent a car in Phang Nga. But in Khao Lak , Krabi or Phuket you can rent a car

What to Do
Phang-Nga bay is one of the most beautiful bays of the world. So it's not a surprise that many people visit the Ao Phang Nga bay. The best way to explore Phang Nga bay is by long tail motor boats or sea canoes.

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. Koh Tapu in front of the James Bond Island is a popular rock. It is often used as a symbol of Phang Nga. Beware that 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.

The Phang Nga bay tour also takes 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 to stay overnight, which is preferable to really experience the village as the tourist trap disappears in the evening. If you go inwards you can see more of the village and eat at local stalls. There are specially in the morning and late afternoon many boats to and out of the island. In Ko Panyi there are now many people living and working from outside. It is not authentic any more. Many of those people come from the poor Isaan region. (This region is by the way seen by many Thais as the supplier of prostitutes, pimps, thieves and other unwanted elements in society) If you want to see a real fishing village go to Ko Ma Paay. Just like other parts of South-Thailand, the inhabitants of Ko Panyi are of Malay descendant.

You can make the Phang-Nga bay tour with Sayan (in the bus station) or MT Tour (in the Muang Thong hotel, 100 meters from the bus station). If you arrive at the bus station there is the usual harassment. But take your time 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. So do not immediately buy a ticket when you get out of the bus. Talk with the different tour operators and see what's the best for you. Usually there are a couple of different trips available every day. Half day tours, full day tours and tours with a night in Koh Panyi. There are also trips with sea canoing. Tours booked from Krabi or Phuket are shorter and are more expensive

Phang Nga has also a beautiful landscape with many waterfalls, mountains, islands, rivers and hot springs. You can get a good map at M.T. Tour and visit the various attractions. Phang Nga has also special temples, each one with different characteristics. Attractions near the city are: The elephant mountain (temple), Sanong Manora waterfall, Dragon cave (offering gruesome images of hell and corny ones of heaven), Somdet Phra Srinagarindra Park. Further away are: Namtok Lamru a 5-tiered waterfall, Khao Lak (beach), Ko Similan National Park (diving & snorkeling), Ko Surin National Park (diving & snorkeling). There are also jungle tours with rafting and temple tours.

Another great thing to do is Community Based Tourism. Communities around the Phang nga province are opening up their villages to one day tours and overnight home stays. They usually come at a base price and list everything that will be included in the tour from Batik painting to tin mining.

Ko Tapu

What to Buy

Phang Nga city is not a mass tourist destination. There are many banks and ATM's in the city. But there are no exchange boots. So if you have cash change it before 15.30 on weekdays

What to Eat

During daytime you can get cheap and delicious meals at the market or at the restaurant in the Muang Thong hotel. In this hotel it's also possible to have a breakfast (eggs, toast, butter & jam). There is also a vegetarian restaurant on the main road if you walk south from the bus station. At night it is worth to try the restaurants at the riverside. Tuesdays and Thursdays there is also a night market 500 m south of the bus station (on the main road. Many guidebooks recommend Duang as a good place to eat. However as a tourist you pay more than Thais. And Malaysians have to pay even more than other tourists.

Where to stay

Khaolak Seaview Resort & Spa, Phangnga
18/1 Soi Nangthong Beach, Petchkasem Rd., Khukkhak district,
Takua Pa, Phangnga 82190 Thailand
Tel: 0 7642 9800
Fax: 0 7642 9819
Email: info@khaolak-seaviewresort.com
Website: http://www.khaolak-seaviewresort.com        
Accommodation : 197 rooms
Room Rates : 3,000 - 23,500 THB


Bor Saen Villa & Spa, Phangnga
19/3 Moo 1, Bo Saen district,
Thap Put, Phangnga 82180 Thailand
Tel: 0 7641 8888
Fax: 0 7641 8899
Email: info@borsaenvilla.com
Website: http://www.borsaenvilla.com        
Accommodation : 49 rooms
Room Rates : 4,000 - 26,400 THB


Khao lak-Lam Ru National Park
Moo 7, Tumbon Khukkhak, Amphoe Takua Pa, Changwat Phangnga 82190
Tel : 08 1979 1225, 08 1979 1577
Price Rates : 2,000 - 2,000 THB


Koh Lava Yai
Ao Phang-nga National Park, Tumbon Khok Khian, Amphoe Takua Pa, Changwat Phangnga 82190
Tel : 08 7267 9214
Website :     http://www.dnp.go.th
Price Rates : 1,500 - 1,500 THB
Number of Rooms :     6 rooms


Mu Ko Surin National Park
140/11 Moo 3, Tumbon Khura, Amphoe Khura Buri, Changwat Phangnga 82150
Tel : 0 7647 2145-6
Website :     http://www.mukosurin.com
Email : mukosurin_np@yahoo.com
Price Rates : 2,000 - 2,000 THB
Number of Rooms :     16 rooms


Mu Ko Similan National Park
93 Moo 5 Ban Thaplamu Phetkasem Rd., Tumbon Lam Kaen, Amphoe Thai Mueang, Changwat Phangnga 82210
Tel : 0 7659 5045
Website :     http://www.dnp.go.th
Email : reserve@dnp.go.th
Price Rates : 1,000 - 2,000 THB
Number of Rooms :     10 rooms


Sri Phang-nga National Park
65/16 Moo 2, Tumbon Bang Wan, Amphoe Khura Buri, Changwat Phangnga 82150
Tel : 08 6952 5246, 08 9473 5007
Website :     http://www.sriphangnga.4mg.com
Price Rates : 900 - 900 THB
Number of Rooms :     3 rooms


Aleenta Resort Phang-Nga
33 Moo 5, Tumbon Khok Kloi, Amphoe Takua Thung, Changwat Phangnga 82140
Tel : 0 2508 5333, 0 7658 0333, 0 2514 8112
Website :     http://www.aleenta.com
Email : reservation@aleenta.com, dos@aleenta.com
Price Rates : 8,500 - 34,125 THB
Number of Rooms :     50 rooms


Amina Bungalow
21/11Moo1, Tumbon Ko Yao Noi, Amphoe Koh Yao, Changwat Phangnga 82160
Tel : 0 7659 7278, 0 7659 7446
Price Rates : 300 - 500 THB
Number of Rooms :     11 rooms Unit


Amarin Hotel
7/5-6 Montri 2nd Rd., Tumbon Takua Pa, Amphoe Takua Pa, Changwat Phangnga 82110
Tel : 0 7642 1083
Price Rates : 150 - 450 THB
Number of Rooms :     20 rooms


Amsterdam Resort
56/6 Moo 5, Tumbon Khukkhak, Amphoe Takua Pa, Changwat Phangnga 82190
Tel : 0 7648 6634, 08 1857 5881
Website :     http://bangniang.freeservers.com
Email : keeshuahinth@hotmail.com
Price Rates : 400 - 1,000 THB
Number of Rooms :     14 rooms Unit


Andaman Princess Resort & Spa
111 Moo 3, Tumbon Ko Kho Khao, Amphoe Takua Pa, Changwat Phangnga 82190
Tel :     0 7659 2200-28, 0 2681 0102-5
Website :     http://www.andamanprincessresort.com
Email :     rsvnbkk@andamanprincessresort.com, sales@andamanprincessresort.com
Price Rates : 4,200 - 10,800 THB
Number of Rooms :     82 rooms


Arom Garden House
24/48 Moo 1, Tumbon Lam Kaen, Amphoe Thai Mueang, Changwat Phangnga 82120
Tel : 08 9733 6687, 08 9733 8154
Price Rates : 400 - 800 THB
Number of Rooms :     12 rooms Unit


Apsaras Beach Resort & Spa
45 Moo 2, Tumbon Khukkhak, Amphoe Takua Pa, Changwat Phangnga 82190
Tel : 0 7658 4444, 0 2158 9127
Website :     http://www.apsarasresort.com
Email : info@apsarasresort.com
Price Rates : 2,200 - 17,000 THB
Number of Rooms :     150 rooms


Ayara Villas
53/2 Moo 5 Bang Niang Beach, Khao Lak, Tumbon Khukkhak, Amphoe Takua Pa, Changwat Phangnga 82190
Tel : 0 7648 6478-9
Website :     http://www.ayara-villas.com
Email :info@ayara-villas.com
Price Rates : 1,600 - 5,950 THB
Number of Rooms :     80 rooms


Baan Khaolak Resort
26/16 Moo 7 Phetchakasem Rd., Tumbon Khukkhak, Amphoe Takua Pa, Changwat Phangnga 82190
Tel : 0 7648 5123-4
Website :     http://www.baankhaolak.com
Email : bklresort@hotmail.com
Price Rates : 3,500 - 12,000 THB
Number of Rooms :     68 rooms Unit


Baankrating Khao Lak Resort
26/28 Moo 7, Tumbon Khukkhak, Amphoe Takua Pa, Changwat Phangnga 82190
Tel : 0 7648 5188-9, 0 2314 5464, 0 2319 2793, 0 2718 0858
Website :     http://www.amari.com/baankrating/khaolak
Email : khaolak@baankrating.com, reservations@baankrating.com
Price Rates : 1,600 - 3,200 THB
Number of Rooms :     28 rooms Unit


Bangpat Homestay
29/1 Moo 8, Tumbon Bang Toei, Amphoe Mueang Phangnga, Changwat Phangnga 82000
Tel : 08 6274 4557, 08 4838 2993, 08 7282 6659
Price Rates : 1,000 - 1,000 THB
Number of Rooms :     4 rooms


Bangniang Beach Resort
55/10 Moo 5 Petchkasem Road, Tumbon Khukkhak, Amphoe Takua Pa, Changwat Phangnga 82190
Tel : 0 7644 3474
Website :     http://www.bangniangbeach.com
Email : reservation@bangniangbeach.com
Price Rates : 1,800 - 4,300 THB
Number of Rooms :     74 rooms Unit


Boon Piya Resort
175/1 Moo 1, Tumbon Khura, Amphoe Khura Buri, Changwat Phangnga 82150
Tel : 0 7649 1969, 0 7649 1464, 08 1752 5457
Website :     http://kuraburiboonpiyaresort.9nha.com
Price Rates : 650 - 650 THB
Number of Rooms :     20 rooms Unit


Bungalow Garden
136/19 Moo 9 Thaymuang Beach, Tumbon Thai Muang, Amphoe Thai Mueang, Changwat Phangnga 82120
Tel : 08 0700 3734
Price Rates : 250 - 500 THB
Number of Rooms :     6 rooms


Chayloung Bungalow
28/7 Moo 2, Tumbon Ko Yao Noi, Amphoe Koh Yao, Changwat Phangnga 82160
Tel : 08 1891 6394
Price Rates : 300 - 600 THB
Number of Rooms :     6 rooms


Cher Fah Khaolak Resort & Spa
41/12 Moo 3, Tumbon Khukkhak, Amphoe Takua Pa, Changwat Phangnga 82190
Tel : 0 7658 4888
Website :     http://www.cherfah.com
Email : info@cherfah.com
Price Rates : 3,750 - 6,250 THB
Number of Rooms :     298 rooms


Chongfah Resort Khaolak
54/1 Moo 5, Tumbon Khukkhak, Amphoe Takua Pa, Changwat Phangnga 82190
Tel : 0 7648 6858-61
Website :     http://www.chongfahresort.com
Email : info@chongfahresort.com, chongfah@usa.net
Price Rates : 2,700 - 9,700 THB
Number of Rooms :     30 rooms


Chulaphon Submarine Park Conservation Center Lodge
Moo 5 Ban Tublamu, Tumbon Lam Kaen, Amphoe Thai Mueang, Changwat Phangnga 82210
Tel : 0 7659 5090
Price Rates : 500 - 700 THB
Number of Rooms :     20 rooms


Coconut Corner bungalows
30 Moo 5 Pa Sai Beach, Tumbon Ko Yao Noi, Amphoe Koh Yao, Changwat Phangnga 82160
Tel : 0 7659 7134
Website :     http://www.kohyaonoi.com
Price Rates : 400 - 500 THB
Number of Rooms :     7 rooms


Elixir Resort
99 Moo 3, Tumbon Phru Nai, Amphoe Koh Yao, Changwat Phangnga 83000
Tel : 08 7808 3838, 08 7809 3838
Website :     http://www.elixirresort.com
Email : sales@elixirresort.com
Price Rates : 2,900 - 12,000 THB
Number of Rooms :     40 rooms


Extra Hotel
46 Senarat Rd., Tumbon Takua Pa, Amphoe Takua Pa, Changwat Phangnga 82110
Tel : 0 7642 1026
Price Rates :     302 - 756 THB
Number of Rooms :     79 rooms


Friend House Resort
25/6 Phetkasam Moo 2, Tumbon Bang Nai Si, Amphoe Takua Pa, Changwat Phangnga 82110
Tel : 0 7647 1363, 08 1892 4271
Price Rates : 500 - 800 THB
Number of Rooms :     24 rooms


Garden View Resort
88/2Moo 2, Tumbon Phru Nai, Amphoe Koh Yao, Changwat Phangnga 83000
Tel : 08 9867 1263, 08 9731 2782
Price Rates : 400 - 400 THB
Number of Rooms :     5 rooms Unit

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Google Map

Location: Latitude=8.305, Longitude=98.50