'''Phang Nga''' (?????) is the provincial capital of Phang Nga Province.

Understand

Get in

By plane

There is no airport here. The closest ones are in Phuket or Krabi.

By train

There is no train station here. You must catch a bus for Phunphin, near Surat Thani.

By bus

Buses from Phuket, Takua Pa and Krabi pass through Phang-Nga. During daytime there are many buses from the bus station to Phuket, Krabi, Takua Pa and Surat Thani. In the evening however there are hardly buses but if you're lucky you might catch a bus on the Phuket-Krabi road. (4 km from the city) The phone number of the bus station is 076/412014

By boat

The pier, Tha Dan, is 9 km south of the town.

Get around

You can use the sonthaews for travel in the city. If you want to explore the area, it is better to rent a motorbike. You can rent a motorbike at M.T. Tour (Muang Thong hotel, from the bus station; go to the exit, turn right at the main road, walk 100 meters and it's at your left side). If you have an own car or a motorbike already you still can go to MT Tour (tel. 089 289 25 66) to get your detailed map of the area for free ! In general, everything (tours, accommodation, food) in Phang Nga is cheap, especially compared with Phuket. It's not possible to rent a car in Phang Nga. But in Khao Lak , Krabi or Phuket you can rent a car

See

Do

Phang-Nga bay is one of the most beautiful bays of the world. So it's not a surprise that many people visit the Ao Phang Nga bay. The best way to explore Phang Nga bay is by long tail motor boats or sea canoes. thumb|240px| Sea canoeing in Phang Nga Bay

Tour operators organize many different tours and most of them follow the standard route around the bay passing weird rock formations, limestone outcrops, hidden lakes, tiny beaches and caves. Tours usually go to Khao Ping Gan (Leaning Rock) which was featured in the James Bond Movie, The Man With the Golden Gun, as Scaramanga's hideaway. Koh Tapu in front of the James Bond Island is a popular rock. It is often used as a symbol of Phang Nga. Beware that on "the James Bond Island," the beach is littered with trinket vendors trying to sell you something and the experience of seeing the island may be somewhat disappointing and diluted.

The Phang Nga bay tour also takes you to, Ko Panyi, a village built on stilts. The mosque and the graveyard are the only places which are built on ground. It's a tourist trap during the day as many tours also stop here. Some tours will give you the option to stay overnight, which is preferable to really experience the village as the tourist trap disappears in the evening. If you go inwards you can see more of the village and eat at local stalls. There are specially in the morning and late afternoon many boats to and out of the island. In Ko Panyi there are now many people living and working from outside. It is not authentic any more. Many of those people come from the poor Isaan region. (This region is by the way seen by many Thais as the supplier of prostitutes, pimps, thieves and other unwanted elements in society) If you want to see a real fishing village go to Ko Ma Paay. Just like other parts of South-Thailand, the inhabitants of Ko Panyi are of Malay descendant.

You can make the Phang-Nga bay tour with Sayan (in the bus station) or MT Tour (in the Muang Thong hotel, 100 meters from the bus station). If you arrive at the bus station there is the usual harassment. But take your time time and don't believe everything the people tell you there because they want to force or lure you to their tour operator or hotel. So do ''not'' immediately buy a ticket when you get out of the bus. Talk with the different tour operators and see what's the best for you. Usually there are a couple of different trips available every day. Half day tours, full day tours and tours with a night in Koh Panyi. There are also trips with sea canoing. Tours booked from Krabi or Phuket are shorter and are more expensive

Phang Nga has also a beautiful landscape with many waterfalls, mountains, islands, rivers and hot springs. You can get a good map at M.T. Tour and visit the various attractions. Phang Nga has also special temples, each one with different characteristics. Some temples are on top or inside a mountain. Attractions near the city are: The elephant mountain (temple), Sanong Manora waterfall, Dragon cave, Somdet Phra Srinagarindra Park. Further away are: Namtok Lamru a 5-tiered waterfall, Khao Lak (beach), Ko Similan National Park (diving & snorkeling), Ko Surin National Park (diving & snorkeling). There are also jungle tours with rafting and temple tours.

Buy

Phang Nga city is not a mass tourist destination. There are many banks and ATM's in the city. But there are no exchange boots. So if you have cash change it before 15.30 on weekdays

Eat

During daytime you can get cheap and delicious meals at the market or at the restaurant in the Muang Thong hotel. In this hotel it's also possible to have a breakfast (eggs, toast, butter & jam). There is also a vegetarian restaurant on the main road if you walk south from the bus station. At night it is worth to try the restaurants at the riverside. Tuesdays and Thursdays there is also a night market 500 m south of the bus station (on the main road. Many guidebooks recommend Duang as a good place to eat. However as a tourist you pay more than Thais. And Malaysians have to pay even more than other tourists.

Drink

Sleep

There are many hotels throughout the city

Budget

All of the budget hotels are within 400 meters of the bus station so it won't be hard to walk to them. Exit the bus station and turn right. The first budget hotel is the Muang Thong, followed by Rattanapong , Phang Nga guesthouse, Thaweesuk and Lak Muang. If you don't like one you can have a look at another.

Mid-range

Phang Nga inn is bit more expensive

Splurge

Other hotels are not near the bus station and they're more expensive.

Get out