Top Things to See
Above all, Phang Nga is a haven for natural beauty, ranging from unique limestone features such as karst structures and interconnected caves to some of Thailand’s finest coral reef ecosystems. Travel agencies here rely heavily on tourists’ desire to see these landmarks, and most of the packaged tours involve trips to caves, islands and key snorkelling or diving areas.
 James Bond Island Officially known as Koh Tapu, this island was featured in the 1974 James Bond film, The Man with the Golden Gun. Positive reviews of the scenery in this Bond film bolstered tourism for Phang Nga bay, especially to this island, where a great deal of filming took place. The island features prominently in package tours of the bay, and there are numerous market stalls onsite hawking souvenirs and trinkets to tourists. Sunset cruises around the island are an ideal way to take in the sights.
 Khao Lak–Lam Ru National Park Fronted by a string of coastal resorts, this national park is situated in Amphoe Thai Muang. Lak Mountain (Khao Lak), complete with a Buddhist shrine, is the premier attraction here. These mountains, most of which are covered by evergreen forests, crest at more than 3,500ft, and several waterfalls within the park draw a steady stream of visitors. The most prominent cascade, Lam Ru waterfall, tumbles through five tiers and flows year-round. There are several interesting varieties of plants and animals protected within the park. Phone: +66 81979 1225.
 Khao Lampi National Park Covering 28 square miles north of Amphoe Thai Muang, this national park includes eight miles of the white-sand Thai Muang beach. Beyond its baseline appeal as a place to swim and soak up the sun, this beach becomes a nesting ground for sea turtles from November to February. Best visited during the swells of the rainy season, Lampi waterfall is the other primary park attraction and is divided into three separate 300ft falls.
 Koh Yao The two islands of Koh Yao Noi and Koh Yao Yai are situated side-by-side in Phang Nga bay. The smaller island, Koh Yao Noi, is relatively well-developed and boasts a number of resorts, while Koh Yao Yai is considerably more rustic and less-travelled. Many of the indigenous people from these unique islands represent immigrating Malay people, the nomadic Sea Gypsies and mainstream Thai residents. There are several noteworthy grottoes that hold information about the historic civilisations that once prospered here.
Luk Sua and Rusi Sawan Caves These two interconnected caves are located relatively close to Phang Nga town, with Rusi Sawan cave situated closer to the highway. Both caves receive a fair amount of visitors who come to wander through the inner chambers and admire the naturally-occurring stalactites and stalagmites that are formed by droplets concentrated with the prevalent limestone deposits that characterise this region.
Phang Nga Bay National Park This park stretches from just outside of Phang Nga city proper to Takua Tung district. The vast majority of the park (more than 80 per cent) is underwater, while the land-based portions of the park are divided into mangrove forests and other transitional geography between land and sea. There is a diverse collection of protected wildlife in the park, ranging from white dolphins to egrets, herons to Siamese box turtles. Well-located within close distance of Phang Nga town, this national park is nonetheless a superb natural landscape that feels as if it’s hundreds of miles away from Phuket’s busy tourist scene.
 Similan Island Widely considered the best place for scuba diving in Thailand, the archipelago of the Similan islands is designated as a national park. Lush jungles, white-sand beaches and intensely colourful coral reefs all contribute to the Similan islands world-renown beauty. Manta rays, behemoth whale sharks and dozens of colourful varieties of reef fish populate these reefs. Diving tours, which range in length and depth, depart from Tab Lamu Pier, north of Thai Muang beach along the western coastline.
Surin Islands National Marine Park A collection of five islands in the Andaman Sea, the Surin islands are home to a fascinating mixture of natural beauty and unique, island culture. On land, there are several hiking trails that bring visitors to key cultural and historic attractions across these islands. Meanwhile, the greatest draw to the marine park lies under the Andaman, where divers can explore diverse coral reefs. The underwater nature trail here is the first of its kind in Thailand.
Top Things to Do
Attend a cooking class. In the event that savouring the flavour of Thai food only increases your craving, you may wish to take a cooking class and learn the recipes and techniques that go into the most popular dishes. There are several privately-operated cooking courses (often run in conjunction with restaurants) offered in the area.
 Explore ancient grottoes. The limestone rock formations in this part of Thailand have formed a number of subterranean caverns, some of which are easily accessible to tourists. Wat Tam is the most interesting of these caves, as it holds dozens of ancient Buddha images including a large reclining Buddha.
Explore Phang Nga bay. Truly a picturesque body of water, Pha Nga bay is dotted with striking outcroppings of limestone. Independent travellers can see the sights of the bay from a canoe or sea kayak, while organised expeditions by long-tail boat are also common.
 Go scuba diving. Phang Nga province holds some of Thailand’s finest diving and snorkelling potential. Of particular interest are two sets of islands off the western coast: the Surin and Similan islands. Travel to both locations can be arranged through local travel agents, and trips of varying lengths are possible.
Meet the sea gypsies. The Moken people have a long tradition of seafaring, often nomadic lives. This minority culture is found almost exclusively in this part of Thailand, and some of the most accessible and tourist-friendly villages are found on Koh Panyi island.
See James Bond Island. Fans of the film series will remember Roger Moore’s journey to Thailand in The Man with the Golden Gun. Many of the scenes from this movie were filmed here on James Bond Island, or Koh Tapu as it is known locally.
 Visit local waterfalls. The national parklands throughout Phang Nga have plenty of waterfalls onsite. Many of them are equipped with picnicking facilities and some spill into pools that are suitable for swimming. Make sure to visit during the rainy season when swollen streams make for fantastic cascades.
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