Phang Nga Bay Canoeing

Sea kayaking is widely considered the finest way to explore Phang Nga Bay's most extraordinary features — the hongs, or hidden inland lagoons concealed inside hollow limestone islands, accessible only through low water-level tunnels passable at certain tidal states. Paddling silently through these rock passages and emerging into a canopied interior lagoon, completely enclosed and open only to the sky, is one of the most memorable experiences available in the Phuket region. Several specialist operators, including John Gray's Sea Canoe who pioneered the hong tours in the 1980s, run guided half-day and full-day kayaking excursions. The silence of paddling eliminates engine noise and allows close observation of wildlife including hornbills, sea eagles, and crab-eating macaques on the cliff faces. Small group tours offer a more intimate experience of the bay than the standard motorised day trips.