Ao Phang Nga National Park
Go for limestone islands rising from calm green water, slow longtail boat rides, and sea canoe trips into caves and lagoons.
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Ao Phang Nga National Park covers part of Phang Nga Bay on Thailand's Andaman coast, in Phang Nga Province in the south of the country. Its main draw is the limestone karst scenery. Steep islands with sheer sides rise out of green water, and many have caves and narrow inlets. Mangrove forest lines much of the shore. Boats are the usual way to see the bay: longtail boats and sea kayaks run between the islands, and some routes pass Ko Panyi, a fishing village built on stilts.
It suits a day trip or a stay of one or two nights. Boat trips to the bay usually leave from Phuket, Krabi or Phang Nga town. The calmest seas run from December to April. From June to October the southwest monsoon brings rougher water and can cancel boat trips, with May often unsettled. A full day on the water leaves time for sea canoeing as well as the main boat route.
Ao Phang Nga National Park in five
- Book a bay tour and check the routeBoat trips to the bay usually leave from Phuket, Krabi or Phang Nga town. Ask which islands the route covers and whether the park entry fee is included.Tours and tickets
- Check the monsoon before you book a sea tripThe southwest monsoon, roughly June to October with May often unsettled, brings rough seas that can shorten or cancel sea canoe runs. Book in the dry months and keep a spare day.
- Carry small baht notes for fees and boat crewsPark entry fees and tips to boat crews are easier to pay in small notes, and crews may have no change for large ones.Money and costs
- Fill in the arrival card before you flyForeign visitors file Thailand's Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) online before arrival. Check whether your passport needs a visa first.Visas and entry
- Dress modestly on Ko PanyiThe stilt village is a Muslim community. Cover your shoulders and knees, and ask before photographing people or their homes.
Need to know
- Currency
- Baht (THB)
- Entry
- Visa exemption or visa on arrival depends on passport; arrival card needed Read more
- Emergency
- 191 police, 1669 ambulance, 199 fire
- Tipping
- Not expected at restaurants; tip boat crews and guides if satisfied
- Time
- UTC+7, no daylight saving
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Days with storms
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh30°Low25°Dry, coolJanuaryPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 89 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, cool
- FebruaryClear8 rainy daysHigh30°Low25°Calm seas, coolFebruaryClear
Best
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 48 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Calm seas, cool
- MarchClear12 rainy daysHigh31°Low26°Calm seas, dryMarchClear
Best
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 71 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Calm seas, dry
- AprilRain20 rainy daysHigh31°Low27°Hot, dryAprilRain
Best
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 27°
- Precipitation
- 149 mm
- Rainy days
- 20
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, dry
- MayRain28 rainy daysHigh30°Low27°Very hotMayRain
Mixed
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 27°
- Precipitation
- 284 mm
- Rainy days
- 28
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Very hot
- JuneRain24 rainy daysHigh29°Low27°Monsoon startsJuneRain
Poor
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 27°
- Precipitation
- 260 mm
- Rainy days
- 24
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Monsoon starts
- JulyRain24 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh29°Low27°Rough seasJulyRain
Poor
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 27°
- Precipitation
- 243 mm
- Rainy days
- 24
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Rough seas
- AugustRain25 rainy daysHigh29°Low26°Rough seasAugustRain
Poor
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 268 mm
- Rainy days
- 25
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rough seas
- SeptemberRain25 rainy daysHigh29°Low26°Rough seasSeptemberRain
Poor
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 341 mm
- Rainy days
- 25
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rough seas
- OctoberRain28 rainy daysHigh29°Low26°Rainy, roughOctoberRain
Poor
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 333 mm
- Rainy days
- 28
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rainy, rough
- NovemberRain26 rainy daysHigh29°Low25°Dry season startsNovemberRain
Good
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 264 mm
- Rainy days
- 26
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry season starts
- DecemberRain18 rainy daysHigh29°Low25°Calm seas, busyDecemberRain
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 133 mm
- Rainy days
- 18
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Calm seas, busy
Average daily high and low in Phang Nga town, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Ao Phang Nga National Park
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
23
- Feels like
- 27°
- Humidity
- 96%
- Wind
- 4 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 100%
Phang-Nga Province
03:38 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today31°24°100%Tuesday: Rain. High 31°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Wed32°24°100%Wednesday: Thunderstorms. High 32°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Thu31°23°98%Thursday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 98%.
- Fri30°24°99%Friday: Thunderstorms. High 30°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 99%.
- Sat31°23°100%Saturday: Rain. High 31°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Sun31°23°94%Sunday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 94%.
Updated 03:14 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 33.76 THB
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Phuketabout 1 hour by road to the bay piersThe largest base for Phang Nga Bay departures.Read the guide
- Ao Nang and Krabiabout 1.5 to 2 hours by roadBoats and minivans connect the bay to Krabi's beaches.Read the guide
- Khao Sokabout 1.5 hours by roadRainforest and a dam lake, a natural second day.Read the guide
Before you go to Ao Phang Nga National Park
Rules for Ao Phang Nga National Park, checked
- Taking coral, shells, rocks or other natural items from a national park is prohibited; follow the park office rules at the entrance.Source
- Insulting the monarchy is a criminal offense in Thailand, and this applies to speech and posts online as well as in person.
- Dress modestly at temples and in the Muslim village of Ko Panyi, and remove shoes where a sign or local custom asks you to.
Plan around Ao Phang Nga National Park
The town, piers and the wider province around the bay
Read the guideAll of ThailandEntry rules, money basics and regions beyond the bay
Read the guideTours and ticketsBay trips, sea canoe tours and what each one covers
Read the guideGetting aroundTransfers from Phuket and Krabi airports to the bay
Read the guideMoney and costsBaht, cards and what the bay tours usually cost
Read the guideVisas and entryVisa exemption by passport and the arrival card
Read the guideAo Phang Nga National Park FAQ
Do I need a visa for Thailand?
It depends on your passport. Many nationalities enter visa-free for short stays, and others get a visa on arrival or apply in advance. Check your nationality on the official Thai embassy or consulate site before you book.
How do I get to Ao Phang Nga National Park?
Travelers usually fly into Phuket (HKT) or Krabi (KBV) and join a boat tour or a road transfer to the bay. Ask the operator how the pickup works and whether the park fee is included.
How long do I need for Phang Nga Bay?
A full day covers the main bay islands, Ko Panyi and a stop for sea canoeing. Two days allows a slower pace and a second trip if the first is cancelled by weather.
Is Phang Nga Bay worth visiting in the rainy season?
It can be, but expect cancelled or shortened sea trips and rougher water from about June to October. The calmest months, December to April, have the most settled sea conditions.
Can I visit Ko Panyi on my own?
Ko Panyi can be reached by boat from a tour or by a local boat from Phang Nga town. Check the current boat options with the operator, and dress modestly while you are there.