Phang Nga Bay and Hong Island Luxury Sunset Cruise Phuket

Ao Por Pier and the cruise boat

The day starts with pickup from your Phuket hotel between 10:00 and 11:00 and a drive of about an hour to Ao Por Pier on the north-east coast of the island, a quiet harbour facing the islands of Phang Nga Bay. On arrival you are welcomed on board with refreshments and a short briefing from the crew.

The boat is designed for relaxing: wide decks with large cushions and day beds, shaded lounges, music and plenty of space to move around. Life jackets and towels are provided, and soft drinks, water and fruit are served all day. A buffet lunch with Thai and international dishes is served as you cruise into the national park, so you can enjoy the scenery from the table. This is what makes it one of the most comfortable ways to enjoy a Phang Nga Bay day cruise from Phuket.

Yai Island swim stop

Yai Island is the first break of the day, a sheltered spot with calm, warm water perfect for swimming. The crew sets up the water toys around the boat: a large water hammock where you can float and rest, stand-up paddle boards, a slide from the deck into the sea and colourful floats for children and adults alike.

You have about 30 minutes to swim, paddle and lounge in the water while the limestone cliffs rise around you. Life jackets are available for anyone who prefers extra support, and the crew keeps watch from the deck. Bring swimwear and sunscreen, and remember a dry change of clothes for later in the day. For families, this playful stop is often the moment the children talk about most.

Hong Island kayaking

Hong Island is one of the jewels of Phang Nga Bay. Hong means room in Thai, and the island hides enclosed lagoons open to the sky, reached through narrow sea caves. From the boat you board a kayak and paddle into this secret world of green water, hanging plants and walls of limestone draped in jungle.

The kayaking lasts about 45 minutes and no experience is needed; the crew helps you in and out and explains which route to take according to the tide. Inside the lagoons, look up at the open-sky ceilings and listen for birds and macaques in the trees. Hong Island kayaking is the most peaceful part of the cruise, so keep your phone in a waterproof bag and take your time to enjoy the silence.

Khao Phing Kan and Ko Tapu

Khao Phing Kan is the centrepiece of Ao Phang Nga National Park: two limestone hills leaning against each other on a small island, with a beach and walkways between them. Just offshore stands Ko Tapu, a slender rock about 20 metres high that narrows at its base and looks like a giant nail rising from the sea.

The visit lasts about 45 minutes, enough to walk around the island, photograph the leaning cliffs and Ko Tapu from the viewpoint, and look at the stalls selling shells and local pearls. Arriving in the afternoon means fewer crowds than in the morning. If you have ever wondered whether a Khao Phing Kan tour is worth it, this view is one of the iconic images of Thailand.

Sunset dinner on Phang Nga Bay

On the way back the boat slows down to cruise among the islands as the light softens. A buffet dinner is served on board with Thai dishes, grilled options, salads and fruit, and you can eat at the tables or on the lounge cushions while the sky turns gold, then pink, behind the limestone towers.

The sunset over Phang Nga Bay lasts about 45 minutes and is the perfect end to the day, with calm water and wide views on all sides. The boat then returns to the marina in the north of Phuket, where our driver takes you back to your hotel in the evening. The best time to visit Phang Nga Bay is from November to April, when the sea is calm and sunsets are clearest.