Phang Nga Bay Island Boat Tour By Speedboat By Phuket Sail Tours

Phang Nga Bay gets around 4,000 day-trippers at peak season, most of them crowded onto the same three stops. This nine-hour speedboat tour from Ao Por pier works a wider circuit, adding Phanak Island’s sea caves and less-visited lagoons into a route that still covers the icons. It’s on the pricier end at $142, but the boat departs earlier than most and the small-group format keeps things moving.

The 8am start puts you at Phanak Island before the big-boat crowds arrive, with time to paddle into caves and hidden hongs (island interiors reached through tunnels) by canoe. James Bond Island (Khao Phing Kan) follows, with its now-iconic needle-shaped Koh Tapu rock. Lunch is at Koh Panyi, the stilted Muslim fishing village built out over the water, at a restaurant with bay views. The afternoon visits a 2,000-year-old Sea Gypsy cave before the speedboat loops back, with swimming and beach time folded in around the stops.

Carbonated drinks, bottled water, snacks, lunch, tea and coffee are all included. Suits travellers who’d rather pay more for smaller groups than cram onto a 50-person cruiser. Pack motion-sickness tablets if you’re prone, as the speedboat moves fast between stops. Bring cash for the Panyi village, and reef shoes for rocky beaches. Reef snorkelling stops fold in throughout the day, with gear provided. The Sea Gypsy cave stop goes deeper than most tours manage, with commentary on the semi-nomadic Moken people who’ve traded in the bay for centuries. Group size stays small, with 15 as the 5.0-rated sweet spot across 15 reviews. Pickup isn’t explicitly detailed in the listing, so confirm with the operator when booking if you’re staying outside the Ao Por area.