- ABOUT US - CONTACT US - ADVERTISING - SUBSCRIPTION   - BUSINESS INDEX - PHOTO LIBRARY  - OTHER MAGAZINES

LAST UPDATE: Thursday October 23, 2003

BACK TO HOMEPAGE

Phang Nga -- Bay of Vertical Rock Mountains

Phang Nga the Province, the Bay, the Town, the Karsts
How it was formed; where to go; how to go

Phang Nga is a province of southern Thailand running along the east coast of Phuket, but to most outsiders, even Thais from other parts of the country, the name gives rise to images of a calm bay from which mountains of limestone rock rise almost vertically. So strange are these unlikely shapes that we can hardly imagine the forces of creation that sculpted them.
 

To many people the weathered rocky columns suggest ancient volcanoes. But no, the processes that created Phang Nga’s famed monoliths was much less violent, but extremely time consuming. For more information about the geological formation of this special world, go to our page on the Geology of Phang Nga.

In the era of mass tourism Phang Nga’s magical bay of mountains is a windfall, especially since right next door is an island of beautiful beaches that attracts millions of tourists. Phang Nga is the most popular day trip for Phuket visitors, with two or three thousand visiting each day it the peak of the high season.

James Bond was here
Strangely, the scores of huge mountains of Phang Nga have almost been overshadowed by one of their tiny brothers, nicknamed James Bond Island after it starred in a Hollywood movie in the early 1980s. Visitors on Phuket find tours to James Bonds Island cheap and on offer at every turning. Finding a tour that offers a quality experience in Phang Nga itself is more difficult, and one should take care before buying a day tour ticket. Information on tours and the best means to visit Phang Nga can be found on Touring Phang Nga Bay.

After the single rock – hardly an island - called James Bond, the most popular place to visit in this province is perhaps the water village, Koh Pannyi. This community several hundred fishing families is built on stilts protruding from the waters of the bay, with a huge rock mountain rushing skywards behind it – a dramatic setting indeed Most day tours to the Bay stop here for lunch.

The province, the town
Beyond the bay, Phang Nga also offer some stunning scenery, for the rocky limestone mountains, called karst, also punctuate the landscape here. The craggy, cave-pocked rocks often rise from lush forest and tangles of vines, creating scenes of another primal kind. Phang Nga town is set in a valley amongst such protective sentinels. While there it little of great note to see here, it is very typical of upcountry towns across Thailand. There is a fresh fod market, a few Buddhist monasteries, lots of restaurants and streets of unremarkable shophouses, their contents often spilling out onto the streets creating the bazaar-like atmosphere common in the heart of Thai communities.

Drive – the best way
Driving a rental car through this province is easy, and recommended. The roads are good, the people friendly and helpful (if you need it) and accommodation is readily available. One of the best self-drive trips in this region is a two day journey from Phuket to Krabi, passing through Phang. For information see Driving Tours of Phang Nga.