Phang-Nga Province
Phang Nga is the Andaman coast province of limestone islands in Phang Nga Bay, and Khao Lak is a base for its beaches and national parks.
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Phang Nga is a southern province of Thailand on the Andaman Sea coast, with Phang Nga Bay to its south. The bay is known for limestone islands, karst cliffs and caves. Ko Ta Pu, a needle-shaped limestone rock about 20 metres off the main beach and often called James Bond Island, appeared in the 1974 film The Man with the Golden Gun. Phuket lies to the south, linked by the Sarasin Bridge.
Go for boat trips among the limestone islands and for beaches. Ao Phang Nga National Park covers about 400 square kilometres of limestone formations, caves and mangrove forests, and Khao Lak is a base on the coast road. Diving is a draw as well: the Similan and Surin islands are notable diving destinations. The Similan Islands national park closes every year from 16 May to 31 October for ecological recovery, so plan island trips for the drier months, roughly November to April. Plan a few days for a bay tour and the beaches.
Phang-Nga Province in five
- Check how a Phang Nga Bay tour is runLongtail, speedboat and sea-canoe trips visit the same karsts at very different speeds and crowd levels. Ask which stops are included and when the boat reaches the busiest lagoons.Ao Phang-Nga Marine National Park
- Plan the Similan and Surin parks for the dry seasonThe island parks close during the monsoon, roughly mid-May to mid-October, and dates are set each year. Check the Department of National Parks before you book a liveaboard or day boat.
- Base in Khao Lak for calmer beachesKhao Lak is a long strip of resorts and sand north of Phuket, about an hour from the airport. It suits divers and families who want quiet rather than nightlife.Hat Khao Lak
- Pair the coast with a night at Khao SokThe lake and jungle park is about 1.5 hours inland, and many itineraries split a Khao Lak stay with one night there.Khao Sok National Park
- Swim only where the flags allowWest-coast beaches carry strong currents from May to October, and some long stretches near Khao Lak have no lifeguards. Red flag means stay out of the water.
Neighborhoods
Khao Lak
- Price band: $$
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.
Things to do in Phang-Nga Province
See all attractions in Phang-Nga Province
Need to know
- Airport
- Phuket (HKT), about 1 hr to Khao Lak; Krabi (KBV) for the east side
- Getting there
- Road from Phuket or Krabi; long-distance buses stop at Phang Nga town
- Getting around
- Taxis, songthaews, rental scooters and boats for the bay
- Best base
- Khao Lak for beaches; Phang Nga town for the bay on a budget
- Time needed
- 2–4 days
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Days with storms
- Best
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain15 rainy daysHigh30°Low23°Dry, calmJanuaryRain
Best
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 102 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, calm
- FebruaryPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh31°Low23°Dry, hotFebruaryPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 57 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, hot
- MarchRain15 rainy daysHigh31°Low25°Hot, calmMarchRain
Best
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 109 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, calm
- AprilRain24 rainy daysHigh31°Low26°Hot, humidAprilRain
Mixed
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 213 mm
- Rainy days
- 24
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, humid
- MayRain29 rainy daysHigh30°Low26°Rains beginMayRain
Poor
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 395 mm
- Rainy days
- 29
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rains begin
- JuneRain26 rainy daysHigh29°Low26°Wet, roughJuneRain
Mixed
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 362 mm
- Rainy days
- 26
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, rough
- JulyRain27 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh29°Low26°WetJulyRain
Mixed
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 374 mm
- Rainy days
- 27
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Wet
- AugustRain27 rainy daysHigh29°Low26°Wet, big swellAugustRain
Poor
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 395 mm
- Rainy days
- 27
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, big swell
- SeptemberRain27 rainy daysHigh28°Low25°Very wetSeptemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 483 mm
- Rainy days
- 27
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Very wet
- OctoberRain29 rainy daysHigh28°Low25°Wet, parks shutOctoberRain
Mixed
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 467 mm
- Rainy days
- 29
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, parks shut
- NovemberRain26 rainy daysHigh29°Low25°Seas settleNovemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 314 mm
- Rainy days
- 26
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Seas settle
- DecemberRain17 rainy daysHigh29°Low24°Peak, calmDecemberRain
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 148 mm
- Rainy days
- 17
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Peak, calm
Average daily high and low in Khao Lak, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Phang-Nga Province
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%
Ao Phang Nga National Park
04:24 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
- Ao Phang-Nga Marine National Parkabout 30–60 min to the pier, then boatKarst islands and mangroves, usually by boat tour.Read the guide
- Khao Sok National Parkabout 1.5 hours by road from Khao LakRainforest and a lake; better as an overnight than a rush.Read the guide
- Phuketabout 1 hour by road from Khao LakBeaches and Old Town if you want a bigger-resort day.Read the guide
Before you go to Phang-Nga Province
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Rules for Phang-Nga Province, checked
- Check Thailand's entry rules with the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs or your nearest Thai embassy before you book, since they change.Source
- Mu Ko Similan National Park closes every year from 16 May to 31 October for ecological recovery, so plan island trips outside that window.Source
- Phang Nga has no airport, so most visitors fly into Phuket International Airport.
Plan around Phang-Nga Province
Entry rules, regions and costs
Read the guidePhuket & the Andaman CoastHow the province fits into a coast route
Read the guideAo Phang-Nga Marine ParkThe bay itself: karsts, mangroves and sea canoes
Read the guideHat Khao LakLong beaches and dive trips north of Phuket
Read the guideKhao Sok National ParkLake, jungle and floating bungalows
Read the guidePhuketThe nearest airport and beaches
Read the guidePhang-Nga Province FAQ
Is Khao Lak better than Phuket?
Khao Lak is calmer, with long beaches, fewer bars and more space, but it has less nightlife and fewer shops. Phuket has more choice and flights. Pick Khao Lak for quiet beach days and diving trips.
How many days do you need in Phang-Nga?
Two days for Khao Lak and a bay tour; three to four if you add Khao Sok or a Similan day boat. The bay trip takes most of a day, so do not stack it with a long transfer.
When can you visit the Similan Islands?
Only in the dry season. The national park closes during the monsoon, roughly mid-May to mid-October. Check the Department of National Parks for the current season before booking a trip.
Is it worth visiting Phang Nga Bay?
Yes for the scenery of tall limestone cliffs rising from calm water, especially on a boat that visits sites away from the main crowds. It is busiest in the middle of the day.
Can you do Phang Nga Bay as a day trip from Phuket?
Yes, and most visitors do. Allow a full day with road transfers, and ask the operator which boat type and stops are included before you book.