Phang Nga Bay Boat Cruise, Small Group

Full-day Phang Nga Bay run on a catamaran (the MV Phuket Champagne, per the operator listing) with room for up to 38 guests, easy difficulty, and both breakfast and lunch included rather than just one meal, a step up from the average half-day speedboat trip.

The day covers two main stops: one beach for swimming, jumping off the boat, or floating around on deck-issued flotation devices, plus a pass by limestone cliffs where, per the itinerary notes, local families still climb the rock to collect birds’ nests. The second stop is Koh Hong Island near Krabi, uninhabited apart from resident marine rangers, where the FAQ lists a lagoon for swimming, monitor lizards, hornbills, and the chance to see flying fish. Onboard, breakfast (bread, egg, ham, yoghurt, fruit salad) and a Thai buffet lunch (three dishes plus salad, vegan and vegetarian on request) are both included, along with free-flow pancakes, cookies, snacks, tea, coffee, juice and soda.

Watch out: hotel pickup outside the main Phuket tourist zones costs roughly 1,200 THB extra return, and alcoholic drinks (beer, wine, spirits) are a cash add-on rather than part of the ticket price. The listing also advises against joining if you have cardiovascular or spinal conditions, and sets the onboard drinking age at 18.

Anyone wanting a private long-tail alternative in the same bay, with James Bond Island on the route instead of Koh Hong, can compare the private Phang Nga Bay tour.