Phang Nga

Phang Nga was originally inhabited by small communities and named Kraphu-nga. During the reign of King Rama II, nearby areas (including Thalung, now known as Phuket) were occupied by the Burmese and so many people fled to Kraphu-nga. In 1824, Siamese troops defeated the Burmese and the invaders were expelled. King Rama III renamed the area Phang Nga and in 1933 the town was expanded to be a province.

Phang Nga is a mix of Buddhists, Thai-Chinese, Muslims and even sea gypsies. The majority of the rural population is Muslim. Phang Nga, however, is free of religious tension and the populace live in peace and harmony. Outside of the provincial town, the rural folk speak with a thick Southern dialect which is difficult for even other Thais to understand.

Given its ethnic mix, Phang Nga is always celebrating something, be it part of Thai Buddhist, Thai-Chinese or Thai-Islamic tradition.

On the small island of Ko Surin is a community of Moken sea gypsies who still live their traditional lives as seafaring people. These sea gypsies speak Yawi dialect and are welcoming to tourists. However, just as is the case of the long-necked Karen in Mae Hong Son, some Moken complain that their village has come to resemble a human zoo with hoards of tourists walking around gawking at the villagers. Nevertheless, there are organised tours from Phang Nga which go there.

• First route: From Bangkok, take Hwy 4, passing the provinces of Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, and Ranong, then drive straight to Phang Nga town. It is 788 km from Bangkok. The trip takes around 12 hours.
• Second route: From Bangkok, take Hwy 4 to Chumphon, from there, take Hwy 41 to Amphoe Tha Chang, then go straight to an intersection where a right turn is made to Hwy 401, keep driving to Amphoe Ban Ta Khun for about 50 km, and then take Hwy 415 for 30 km, take a right turn to Phang Nga town.
• Visitors travelling from Phuket should use Hwy 402, passing the Sarasin Bridge to Ban Khok Kloi, take a right turn to Amphoe Takua Thung. It is 87 km from Phuket. The journey takes around 1 hour and 30 minutes.

There is no airport here. The closest are in Phuket, Krabi, or Surat Thani.

From Krabi airport you do not have to go to the Krabi bus station to get a bus to Phang Nga, as the buses coming from the South pass by the airport on the highway. To catch a bus walk out to the highway (100m), cross over and go about 50m to the right where you will see a yellow shelter on the left side of the road. In May 2015 a bus (big and air conditioned) to the Phang Nga bus station cost 100 baht and passed by at 9:30am after waiting for less than half an hour. Make sure you hail down the bus. Frequency and times unfortunately unknown, so if this sounds too uncertain for you, make your way to the Krabi bus station and get a bus from there (price to Krabi bus station displayed inside the airport was 80 baht).

Thai Airways operates Bangkok-Phuket flights daily. From Phuket, take a bus or rent a car to Phang Nga, about 58 km. For more information, call Thai Airways tel: 1566 or +66 2 2800060, +66 2 6282000 or Phuket office at tel. +66 76 360444.

Bangkok Airways has daily flights connecting Phuket Airport with Pattaya and Ko Samui. For more information, contact their Bangkok office at Tel. +66 2 2655678. Reservations can be made at Tel. +66 2 2655555 or Phuket office Tel. +66 76 225033, +66 76 225034.

Air Asia also offers several daily flights connecting Bangkok and Phuket airport. Call +66 2 5159999 or Phuket office at Tel. +66 76 351428, +66 76 369182 for reservations.

There is no train station here. The nearest train station is Phun Phin, near Surat Thani.

The State Railways of Thailand operates daily train services between Bangkok and Surat Thani. Note that the sleeper trains arrive before dawn. A trip to Phang Nga can be made by getting off at the Surat Thani Railway Station and then taking a bus for another two hours. For more information, call Bangkok's Hualamphong Railway Station tel. 1690, +66 2 2237010, +66 2 2237020.

Buses from Phuket, Takua Pa and Krabi pass through Phang Nga. During the day there are many buses from the bus station to Phuket, Krabi, Takua Pa, and Surat Thani. In the evening, however, there are few 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 +66 76 412014.

There are daily bus services from Bangkok to Phang Nga. Air-conditioned buses, 3 types, depart from Bangkok's Southern Bus Terminal at the following times:

• VIP Bus: 18:30
• Standard 1 Bus: 19:30
• Standard 2 Bus: 06:30 and 16:00

Travel time is ~12 hours. For more information, call the Southern Bus Terminal at +66 2 4351199200 or the Phang Nga Bus Terminal at Tel: +66 76 412300 or +66 76 412 014.

At the bus station itself, there is a friendly travel agent who will give you a map of the city and area.

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

From Phuket there are a variety of taxi and private car-hire services. However, there is a stranglehold on many of these agencies through local "associations" that demand high prices and disallow competition. It is a common complaint that passengers are made to stop at local gem and/or travel agencies allowing the drivers to collect a commission. To avoid this, demand the meter to be turned on or agree to price ahead of time, with no stops. Try to use licensed and certified agencies.

• Watermelon Day (งานวันแตงโม) is organized every year. There is plenty of watermelon on offer and a food and beauty contest.
• Free The Turtles Fair (ประเพณีปล่อยเต่า) annually at Thai Muang Beach. The celebration takes place for seven days. During the festival baby turtles raised by the Fisheries Department are released into the sea at Thai Mueang Beach.
• Songkran Festival (งานประเพณีสงกรานต์) April merit making ceremonies, a water-pouring ceremony to pay respect to monks and elderly people, and many shows performed by local students.
• The Ma Jor Poh Statue Procession (งานแห่เทพเจ้าศาลเจ้าแม่ม่าจ้อโป๋) It's a yearly ceremony. The statue of Ma Jor Poh is carried on an ancient Chinese carriage around the town along with the weapons of various sacred spirits from the Chinese temple with traditional music played on Chinese musical instruments.
• The Chao Ley (sea gypsy) Boat Floating Festival (งานประเพณีลอยเรือ) It's a ceremony to celebrate the ancestor's spirits (Nia An Lo Pong). Morgan sea gypsies of all kinds join in this ceremony. The ceremony includes spirit dwelling, ancestor worshipping, fortune telling, music performances, dances, and "Kabang" floating which is believed to take away all sickness and bad luck from their families and community.
• The worshiping ceremony of Narayana and his followers (งานบวงสรวงเทวรูปพระนารายณ์และบริวาร) There are also various shops, several forms of entertainment, and activities performed by students.
• Vegetarian Festival (ประเพณีถือศีลกินผัก) The Phang Nga Vegetarian Festival: Similar to the well-known vegetarian festival in Phuket and Trang, this festival is held from the first through the ninth nights of the ninth Chinese lunar month.
• Amazing Phang Nga Festival: High Season Opening in Phang Nga (งานเปิดโลกมหัศจรรย์แดนสวรรค์เมืองพังงา) There is an opening and special events ceremony in Khao Lak. The ceremony features entertainment, cultural shows, an exhibition of tourist attractions, water sports and local sport competitions, local products shops, and seafood from many resorts in Khao Lak.

All of the budget hotels are within 400 m of the bus station so it won't be hard to walk to them. Exit the bus station and turn right.

• Muang Thong Hotel, Petchkasem Rd. Old hotel with free Wi-Fi, TV, air-con, fridge and generally friendly staff. The office for booking tours of Phang Nga Bay is in the same building (MT Tours). 400 baht. 
• Phang Nga Guesthouse, 99/1 Petchkasem Rd, ☏ +66 76 411358. Looks more decent from the outside and the rooms look better than in the other hostels/budget hotels. Rooms have air-con, TV and free Wi-Fi but are smaller than the rooms in other hotels in town. They seem generally cleaner, although slightly moldy. 350-480 baht. 
• Rattanapong Hotel, 111 Petchkasem Rd (on the main road 5 minutes from the bus station next to 7-Eleven), ☏ +66 76 411247. Rooms have free Wi-Fi, TV (Thai channels only), air-con and are clean. Mosquitoes and street noise are problems (May 2015) 450 baht (double room, May 2015). (updated Oct 2022)

Other budget options are Thaweesuk (150 baht), and Lak Muang.

• Phang Nga Inn, 2/2 Soi Lohakit (turn left as you exit the bus station, take the second street on your left--opposite the school. The hotel is about 100 m along on your right), ☏ +66 76 411 963. It's clean, with A/C and TV, and hot water in the shower. 500 baht. 

• Phang Nga Villa, Natai Beach beachfront (25 minutes drive north of Phuket airport). 6 bedrooms, 7 bathrooms. The villas are laid out as 3 individual pavilions, each with pool and ocean views, and have a contemporary Thai style. 294,000 to 438,900 baht per week.