Phang Nga Bay

Phang Nga (pronounced fang nar) Bay is a 400 km² bay lying between the island of Phuket and the mainland of the Malay Peninsula.  An extensive section of the bay is protected as the Ao Phang Nga National Park (Phang Nga Bay Marine National Park) and is also a designated Ramsar Site (a wetland of international significance). The bay is shallow and dotted with 42 islands.  The 3m plus tidal range gives rise to large intertidal zones including forested wetlands supporting 28 species of mangroves.  At least 88 bird species have been recorded in the marine park.  Seagrass beds and coral reefs are also present. Many animals of conservation significance inhabit the park including dugongs, and species of gibbon, goat-antelope, and porpoise.

Location map of Phang Nga Bay

 Some of the 42 islands (limestone stacks) which dot the bay.

Phang Nga Bay’s limestone geology has created many common ‘dissolution’ landforms like sink holes and caves with stalactites, stalagmites and flow-stone.  These amazing overhanging cliffs with pendulous stalactites are quite scary to paddle under – but it’s nice and shady!

Large caverns within many of the bay’s islands have caved in from the top, creating sink holes or ‘Hongs’ as the Thais call them.  They are often accessible from the sea via cave tunnels such as this one.  The unique shady, moist environment within these sink holes provides habitat for many rare and endangered plant species.

Within the bay are several traditional Islamic stilt fishing villages, home to ‘sea gypsies’, descendents of a tribe who fled civil strife in Indonesia perhaps three centuries ago. This one is on the southern end of Koh Yoh Yai.

This ‘sea gypsy’ village, Koh Pan Yee, has managed to place itself on the tourist map – and enjoys far greater economic success than it ever managed to from fishing.

photogenic huh?

We had a bit of an idea from a guidebook where these were, but eagle-eye Nina was the first to spot them as we paddled along under seacliff overhangs in our dinghy.  These rock-paintings are thought to be many thousands of years old – depicting fish, porpoise, turtle and the locally extinct crocodile.

This could be the most photographed limestone stack in the world –  lying within the lagoon of ‘James Bond Island’ it is visited by thousands daily – we tried to get to places like this very early or late in the day.

House of a park ranger- not a bad spot. 

Sunset over boats on the bay!