Ban Bang Phat

Ban Bang Phat is a Muslim fishing community of around 80 families built entirely on wooden stilt houses over a mangrove inlet in Tambon Bang Toei, Mueang Phang-nga, on the edge of Phang Nga Bay. A footbridge of roughly 300 metres connects the village to the mainland; inside the settlement, residents move by longtail boat along channels that run between houses, a school, shops and a mosque, all raised on stilts above the tidal water.

The community’s income comes from catching crabs, shrimp, shellfish and fish with small boats. At low tide, villagers cross the exposed mudflats on foot; at high tide, the stilts disappear beneath the water and only the mangrove canopy shows above the surface. Several families run homestays where overnight guests join morning fishing trips, paddle a canoe or ride a longtail through the mangrove channels, try Thai-Muslim home cooking, and take part in a monthly mangrove-planting programme that has kept the surrounding forest close to intact. Seafood restaurants in the village typically charge per head rather than by the dish — a full meal runs around 250 THB.

Morning is the best time to visit: boats return with the day’s catch, the channels are busiest, and a sunrise boat ride over the bay is easy to arrange with any of the longtail operators at the pier. Afternoons are quieter, though a sunset trip covers similar ground under different light. There is no entry fee and no ticket booth — this is a working village, not an attraction built for tourists.

Insider Tip: Homestays here book up around Thai public holidays and weekends; arrange one a few days ahead through the village rather than turning up expecting a room.

Watch out: This is a Muslim community, not a photo backdrop. Dress modestly (covered shoulders and knees), ask before photographing residents or their homes, and keep noise down near the mosque during prayer times.

Ban Bang Phat is reachable by road through rural Phang Nga to a small parking area at the start of the bridge, or by longtail boat from nearby piers. It pairs well with Ban Kok Krai, another community-tourism village further south in Thap Put, or with a boat trip into Phang-Nga Bay (Ao Phang Nga National Park) itself.