We've only had a short time to explore here but look forward to returning. From the areas we've seen, it's spectacular! Phang Nga is about 40 miles square, and has an unbelievable variety of limestone islands of varying shapes and heights, along with caves and stalagtites. It's like exploring in The Forgotten World. The shapes of the islands and sheer cliffs are amazing. Sunrise and sunset colors are especially beautiful. We've taken the dinghy into many of the hongs (rooms), and have explored a river and a Muslim fishing village. Our anchorages have been shallow, and going from one island to another demands only that you make a decision where to explore next...most are only a few miles away, so you can wait for the current to be with you, or just go anyway, albeit slowly! Our stops after Ko (Thai for "island") Phanak have taken us to Ko Hong, Ko Pan Yi, Ko Khai, and Ko Nakha Yai. We didn't anchor at Ko Phing Kan, also known as James Bond Island (where The Man With the Golden Gun was filmed), but went by dinghy to explore in the late afternoon after the tour boats had gone. Water color has been a hazy green, and it's impossible to read depths. The area is well charted, but some of the electronic charts are way off and caution is advised. Many of the islands afford year round protection both in NE and SW monsoon seasons. Provisions and water are hard to come by, and finding an uninhabited island is easy. We've been off the internet for most of the past week, thus this consolidation of places and events. After haul out and major refit, we're planning on exploring more of this unique and beautiful region. You could spend weeks here, slowly going island to island, cave to cave, and enjoy every minute of it!
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