Kayaking Phang Nga Bay: Caves, islands & lunch included

Paddle into sea caves and emerge in hidden lagoons

Full-day kayaking in Phang Nga Bay National Park from Phuket includes hotel pickup, guide, inflatable canoes, lunch and drinks. You paddle through caves 20–150 meters long, explore Panak Island and its lagoons, visit James Bond Island, and swim or paddle at a beach stop. The guide handles navigation. You control the paddle. Tides shift the day slightly each time.

The experience

How do you get inside a sea cave without a boat captain steering you? You paddle an inflatable canoe yourself, or let the guide do it while you sit in front and take photos. The day starts with hotel pickup from Phuket, arriving at Ao Por pier by 11am. From there, the boat carries you and the canoes out to Phang Nga Bay National Park, where you trade seats for paddles. The caves at Panak Island run 20 to 150 meters deep, dark enough that the guide points out rock formations you'd miss in daylight. After paddling and exploring the lagoons, you beach the canoe, swim, or stay aboard with water and snacks.

Lunch arrives on the boat around 1:30pm (a Thai buffet with fresh fruit, nothing heavily spiced) followed by a stop at Hong Island, a circle of limestone rocks surrounding a lagoon where you can paddle or float. James Bond Island sits nearby if the tide allows a close approach. On the return to Ao Por pier around 6:30pm, the crew serves light BBQ chicken. The whole day runs about seven hours, though the exact timing shifts with the tides, so some stops may move earlier or later.

Guides speak English, German or Thai and hold Tourism Authority of Thailand approval. The operator has run these trips since 1991 and keeps groups small. Free hotel transfer is included October through April from anywhere in Phuket. May through September, transfer from Khaolak runs Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday (private transfer available Wednesday and Friday for an extra fee). Bring a remark at booking if you have children or need any note about the day.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup from Phuket (October–April) or Khaolak (select days May–September).
• inflatable kayak and paddle.
• guide in English, German or Thai.
• entry to Phang Nga Bay National Park.
• lunch buffet with Thai options and fresh fruit.
• coffee, tea, soft drinks, juice and water.
• snacks and light BBQ chicken on the return.
• waterproof bag for personal items.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupUp to 40

Live guideEnglish, German and Thai

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 17 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 91

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Phuket AK Reisen Co., Ltd

Is this one for you?The guide's control of the canoe means you can relax and watch the caves if paddling isn't your priority, or take the oars yourself during the beach stop if you want to try. Groups stay small, so the pace doesn't rush past the lagoons and rock formations.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, German and Thai.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 12 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What are the caves like inside Panak Island?

Panak Island's caves stretch 20 to 150 meters into the rock, some dark enough that you'll need the guide's light to see the limestone formations and lagoons inside. You paddle the canoe through them or ride while the guide navigates.

Do I have to paddle the kayak myself, or can the guide do it?

The guide sits in the back of the two-person inflatable canoe and handles the paddling if you prefer to sit in front and watch. You're welcome to paddle yourself during the beach stop or whenever you want to take the oars.

What's included in the lunch?

Lunch is a Thai buffet served on the boat with fresh fruit and a variety of options, but nothing heavily spiced. Coffee, tea, soft drinks, juice and water come throughout the day.

Does the hotel pickup work from Khaolak as well as Phuket?

Free pickup from Phuket hotels runs year-round October through April. From May through September, free transfer is available from Khaolak on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Private transfer from Khaolak on Wednesday and Friday costs extra.

How long is the full day on the water?

The day runs about seven hours from hotel pickup to return, though the exact timing shifts slightly each day because the sea tides change the schedule of the stops.