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The sheer-sided sea mountains that rise vertically out of Phang Nga Bay form some of Thailand’s most spectacular scenery. Images of Phang Nga have travelled the world and shaped perceptions of southern Thailand, and the boating experiences to be had here.
As a result the cruising yachtsman may encounter many tour boats with sea canoes during the middle hours of the day, but tranquillity does return by late afternoon.
While the bay itself is not so large, the number of islands, inlets and mangrove channels to be explored ensure that no matter how long a yachtsman spends here, new experiences will always be nearby.
We list only 21 of the many anchorages in this area. Much of the joy of sailing in Phang Nga, after all, lies in discovering the uncounted creeks, caves and coves for yourself. |
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Most islands are uninhabited, offering secluded anchorages under soaring cliffs fringed with jungle, as well as fascinating dinghy expeditions to hidden beaches, caves and creeks not shown on charts or maps.
Three rivers run into the head of the bay so the water is silty, though otherwise clean, forming a milky green backdrop to the striking scenery.
Since a large part of the area north of Koh Yao is shallow (less than 10 metres), it is possible to anchor virtually anywhere in north Phang Nga Bay. |
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This chapter, then, focuses only on the more suitable overnight anchorages – those which provide shelter from the squalls and storms which can hit unexpectedly, particularly in the southwest monsoon season.
Some of the area covered by this section is National Park and rangers patrol around the islands. The entry fee is 200 Baht per boat and 200 Baht per day per person on board, which is collected on the spot. |
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Click links below to go to anchorages |
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Koh Phanak |
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| Approaching Koh Phanak from the south, beware of the drying rock to port. Koh Phanak changes its profile considerably according to the direction of approach, but it has four obvious peaks from the east or west. |
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| A secluded anchorage in approximately 4 metres with good holding on a muddy bottom, the southwest bay is an ideal overnight haven in the northeast monsoon season. There is interesting exploring to be done by dinghy under spectacular limestone overhangs along the entire west coast. |
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| The northwest bay also offers good holding in approximately five metres. This is another fine overnight shelter, with the added attraction of many passages and lagoons (known locally as hongs) which lie hidden inside the island, accessible only by dinghy or canoe at certain states of the tide. |
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Tourists visit these hongs every day, with many canoes vying to get in and out of the tunnels at the right tide times. If staying overnight you will have quiet access to them (if you can find them) after the tour companies depart.
Opposite this anchorage on Koh Phrao is the Natural Island Resort, which can be accessed by dinghy from mid tide or by using the makeshift floating jetty. This small bungalow resort has a restaurant overlooking the bay. |
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This is our recommended overnight stop during the southwest monsoon. Secure holding in mud can be found in approximately 4 metres. Vessels should approach from the east until a comfortable anchoring depth is found. The Hong in this location is a difficult access and only at lower than mid-tide.
Do not under any circumstances run dinghy engines in the caves or hongs. The two-stroke petrol fumes and noise can play havoc with the bat population and other elements of these delicate and otherwise unspoiled ecosystems. |
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Koh Hong Group, Phang Nga
(Koh Hong Tunnel) |
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| This Hong (Thai for ‘room’) can only be entered by dinghy or small motorboat from the shallow lagoon at high to middle tide, or else from the open-water entrance on the south-western corner of the island at low tide. |
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| The hong, which gives the island its name, is a stunningly beautiful, enclosed pool with a large chimney opening to the sky. Once inside, you will find perfect opportunities for photography, relaxing or exploring. |
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The best anchorage in this group of islands (A) lies between Koh Hong and the shallow water to the west of Koh Na Khae.
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Suitable for both seasons, this very picturesque anchorage has good holding in approximately 12 metres on a muddy bottom, and gives easy access to Koh Hong should you want to explore by dinghy.
Please remember to take a set of paddles in your dinghy so you don’t have to run your outboard engine whilst inside the hong.
Care ought to be taken, if heading north from this location, to keep well clear of the shallow bank to the west of Koh Na Khae. The passage between Koh Yai and Koh Na Khae is not recommended for any but shoal draft vessels.
Yachts proceeding east from this group should pass north around Koh Na Khae or south of Koh Yai.
Another anchorage is to be found just south of Koh Hong (B) in 4-5 metres on a muddy bottom directly outside the small cave that opens into the lagoon.
Both these anchorages are very busy with day trips and sea canoe tours coming and going during the day.
If swimming in these channels beware of strong currents, particularly during spring tides. There is a National Park station on Koh Yai and it is likely the ranger will approach and ask for the park entry fee, currently 200 baht per person. |
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Koh Phing Kan
(James Bond Island) |
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Made famous by the filming of the James Bond movie “The Man with the Golden Gun”, this island is now a major tourist attraction, visited by hundreds, sometimes thousands, of people daily.
Most come by bus then longtail boat from Phang Nga, so it is best visited before 10:30 am or in the late afternoon, assuming you want to avoid the crowds. Koh Phing Kan has a stunning lagoon and some interesting rock formations, though it is no more impressive than many other islands in the area which the day tours ignore. |
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| Scores of food and souvenirs vendors come from Koh Pan Yi to set up stalls on the island during the day. A small fee is levied by the Park Rangers when going ashore. |
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The best anchorage in this group is found in the channel between Koh Raya Ring and Koh Daeng Yai. This is an exceptionally beautiful place to awaken in the morning, when sunlight strikes the sheer rock cliffs of Daeng Yai. The anchorage can be approached either from the south, via the channel formed by Koh Yang and Koh Daeng Yai, or from the southeast, passing east of Koh Yang, distinctive due its high, thin column of rock, visible from far south.
There is a convenient transit approaching from the south, lining up Koh Lolo and Koh Khai to avoid the sand bars.
Good holding is available on a muddy bottom in 5-8 metres. The sandbank east of the anchorage is very shallow and almost dries at low tide. There is a current of up to 2 knots in the channel, strongest at ebb tide. |
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The lagoon on the north side of Koh Phing Kan can be entered by dinghy at high tide; otherwise access is possible by dinghy at most tides via the jetty on the southwest side.
This is a delightful, well-sheltered anchorage on a small bay facing south. There is good holding on a muddy bottom in 4-5 metres. The approach should be made from the deep channel on an easterly heading, taking care to avoid the shallow bank approximately 600 metres south of the anchorage which often has a bamboo stake to show its position.
There is a small community of thatched houses on the beach, and a restaurant where coconuts, fish, crabs or prawns can often be bought from the villagers who maintain temporary fishing houses here.
Again, if moving north from here, beware of the rock that lurks beneath the surface at all tides in the passage between Koh Yang and Koh Daeng Yai (see chart). |
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Koh Pan Yi |
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| Koh Pan Yi, otherwise known as Sea Gypsy Village is built almost entirely on stilts over water to the south of the sheer cliffs of the island. The people here are really Muslim fishermen, not Sea Gypsies as the tourist name suggests, the nearest of whom live far south on Phuket Island. |
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The approach from the south is clearly marked by a light structure at the river entrance and the course to the village is straight. Favour the right side, if any, to stay in deeper water. Anchor in 4-9 metres to the east of the village, taking care to avoid the many floating cages used for raising fish.
There are dinghy landings, many restaurants and souvenir shops in the village, which is usually packed with up to 3,000 tourists during the lunch period, but is quiet and peaceful in the late afternoon and evening.
Further north on the east side of Khao Khian are cave drawings dating far back, perhaps to Neanderthal times. West of Khao Khian is a mangrove river that passes through a tunnel in Khao Ra Ya, which is one of Phang Nga’s most spectacular caves. |
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North Koh Yao Noi |
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Reasonably well sheltered, particularly in the southwest season, this anchorage is in five metres on a muddy bottom, tucked in 100 metres southwest of the small rocky outcrop.
The Paradise Koh Yao is a boutique resort nestled in the palm trees behind the beach. There is a floating dinghy jetty in the north of the bay and yachties are welcome to use the restaurant ashore. There is a regular transfer speedboat to The Yacht Haven several times each day.
The bay just to the north, Ao Pho Noi, is great for dinghy excursions, and features several small beaches for landing and swimming against a backdrop of mangroves overhung by towering limestone cliffs. Ashore there are plans for an exclusive boutique resort. |
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This is a pretty anchorage on the outer fringe of a deep bay backed by mangrove swamps and flat ground. Anchor well out in the bay in 4-5 metres and allow enough swinging room to accommodate an onshore breeze.
The northwest bay offers protection in both seasons, with good holding on a muddy bottom.
Dinghy trips ashore are possible at high tide, where there is a beach with a few huts at the back of the bay. The bay dries a considerable distance from the beach at low tide. |
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The new 56 Pool Villa Evason Hideaway Six Senses Spa at Yao Noi is the first ultra-luxury hotel to be built on the island. Situated on a small all-tide beach between Ao Muang and Long Beach this property brings a new level of luxury to this once sleepy island. The established Koh Yao Island Resort is just south past the headland and there is a walkway through the mangroves at the back of the outcrop joining the properties.
Anchor in 8-10 metres on the muddy bottom in front of either of these stylish boutique hotels.
The more rustic Long Beach and Sabai Corner bungalows to the south also have small restaurants but their beaches are fringed with drying coral banks at low tide. |
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Koh Roi & Koh Kudu Yai |
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This group of islands affords good shelter in both seasons and is a useful stopover when heading south for Krabi.
If approaching from the north or west end of Phang Nga Bay beware of the shallow area and drying rock marked on the chart as Hin Mot Daeng which lies athwart the direct route. |
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Anchorage can be found in a small southwest facing bay with a rocky, off-lying islet on the north side. The bay is deep until close in and vessels can anchor in about 8-12 metres on a muddy bottom with some rock.
Several hundred metres to the west the water is generally shallow and the approach should be made close to the island. A great anchorage in the northeast season and reasonable in the southwest season.
A large, attractive hong can be entered on foot at all but high tide from the northeast end of the beach. Fringing coral prevents access to either beach at low tide. This island marks the limit of VHF radio communication with Phuket, before Koh Yao Noi masks it. |
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There is an excellent anchorage for all seasons nestled between the two islands in 5-8 metres on a muddy bottom although winds can be funnelled between the islands causing a slight chop. The larger island has interesting caves and hongs to explore by dinghy, particularly on the southern point where a coral-filled bay can be accessed at most tides.
At dusk during some months thousands of huge fruit bats with metre-wide wingspans can be seen rising out of the middle of this island and streaming off to the mainland for their night’s foraging in the jungles and orchards. |
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Koh Chong Lat & Koh Khlui Channel |
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Access to the channel
The deep entrance to the north of Koh Chong Lat is easily navigable, as is the middle entrance just north of Koh Khlui. The middle entrance should be approached on an easterly heading, turning southeast between the islands.
Inside the main channel between Koh Chong Lat and the mainland, immediately north of the middle passage, is a dangerous area of shallow water with drying rocks. This should be left well to port if heading north.
If entering the main channel from the south, it’s better to stay close to Koh Khlui which will afford a minimum depth of 3 metres.
When entering from the north it is better to pass through the narrow channel between Koh Ngam and Koh Chong Lat which is deep rather than passing north of Koh Ngam where there is a very large drying bank. |
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This is a quiet location with beautiful views of the sheer cliffs of Koh Chong Lat to the west. The anchorage is on a direct line between the two islets shown on the chart, in 8-10 metres, near a lovely mangrove-covered flat, which is awash at high tide.
This spot is good for all wind conditions, though mid tide currents of up to 3 knots mean that care should be taken if swimming from the boat. |
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Local lore has it that there are no longer any crocodiles in the area, although there are families of sea otters which can be spotted at dusk.
This has been used as an overnight anchorage for the Phang Nga Bay Regatta which is held every year during Chinese New Year and attracts over 40 yachts. |
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Anchorage can be found in the passage in 4-5 metres, making for a good overnight stop in either season.
To the north and south large and scenic bays with shallow waters are easily reached by dinghy. The bay to the south is an ideal anchorage for bilge keelers or vessels drawing less than one metre. |
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Koh Khlui East is very sheltered, with good holding in the southwest monsoon season. The best anchorage is just south of the small inlet in about five metres.
This is also the best place from which to explore the bay and rocky outcrops to the north by dinghy. |
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Chong Koh Yao |
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Chong Koh Yao is the passage between the Yao Islands, used extensively by local vessels en route to Phuket from the Krabi area.
Always approach the anchorage from the east. The west entrance can be crossed by a shoal-draft boat at the peak of the tide, but it is not a recommended approach without local knowledge.
A ferry service leaves several times daily from the jetty on Koh Yao Noi, landing on Phuket at the inlet called Bang Rong just south of Ao Po. |
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Good overnight holding can be found in 7-10 metres to the east of the low rock in the middle of the passage (Hin Klang Rong).
The largest village in the area is on Koh Yao Noi, a kilometre in from the jetty, and this is the best bet for topping up stores. Visit the little local restaurants or get a ferry to Phuket from the all-tide floating jetty.
South of this anchorage is a long sandy spit ideal for swimming at high tide. Three other villages perch on the north shore of Koh Yao Yai, one of them with a jetty. A visit ashore is an interesting experience, but please note that the people are Muslim and women should cover up, and alcoholic beverages are not available (neither should they be taken ashore).
A reasonable road traverses the length of Koh Yao Noi and sometimes small motorcycles are available for rent. |
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Tucked in, as it is, behind the neighbouring small islets and rocks, this spot offers limited protection in the northeast monsoon season.
To the north, a sandy spit runs out in shallow water towards some rocks. Excellent as a stopover on the way to the Koh Hong island group or Krabi, this beach is also good for swimming, with water much clearer than that found in the passage. |
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To the north of the channel anchorage can be found in 6-10 metres off the eastern shore.
These two locations have simple bungalows and restaurants, which operate all year round and give welcome opportunity to dine out on seafood after several days of cooking on board. Access is limited at low tide due to the drying reef. |
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