John Gray's Sea Canoe Overnight Expedition - 2 Days & 1 Night Exploring Phang Nga Bay by Kayak - Day 2

Phang Nga Bay Expedition Express trip report: Day 1 | Day 2

The best sea view "room"

I woke up around 7:00 when the sun was already high enough to warm up my tent, and when I unzipped the tent I was welcomed by a beautiful scenery with some of the limestone islands of Phang Nga Bay at the horizon, it was the best sea view "room" in the world!

While my fellow travellers where still in their tents the staff quickly prepared an abundant picnic breakfast, there was food to suit all habits, from scrambled eggs to bakery stuff and fruit along with tea and coffee.

Campsite on Panak Island

Our unique breakfast

After breakfast and some relax time our support longtail boat arrived, it was time to move for some self paddling canoe, one couple had booked a different program so the group was split. Starting from our beach camp we circumnavigated about half of Panak Island and reached a cave, a different one from those we visited on the previous day. This time there was no water in the cave so we parked our canoes on a tiny sand stripe at the entrance and walked through a long tunnel which once again ended up in a hong.

Mud Skippers

Due to very low tide also the hong had no water at the time so we could walk around and see some huge mangrove trees and some funny Mud Skippers, a kind of fish with the ability of breathing air and hop around the muddy floor when the tide is low.

Back on the canoe we paddled further and got to a little beach hidden between two cliffs, at first glance it was nothing special but then the guide showed us an old wooden ladder that was leading to a hole a couple of meters above the ground, it was the entrance to another cave but once again it was different from the previous one, we never got bored of seeing caves because each one had its peculiarities. This particular one is called "Icecream Cave" because there are plenty of white and brown stalactites and stalagmites which were mixing together and really looked like huge ice creams. 

Some of the magic in Phang Nga Bay

Once back outside we loaded our canoes on the support boat and started cruising east towards a new island where we had some more self paddling around, this time no caves but beautiful environment and landscapes. Later with the boat we moved further east to the Krabi side of the bay and stopped at Pakbia Island which has a nice quiet beach and clear water with the opportunity to do fairly good snorkeling, here we had about 1 hour free time to enjoy the place at leisure.

Cruising towards Pakbia Island

Little corner of Parafise at Pakbia Island

When it was about 12:30 we cruised to the little Thalen Pier whiich is located not far from Ao Nang, there we had another great meal at a local restaurant, this time was a seafood set menu lunch. Time to part ways with my new friends Josh and Maggie, they got a car waiting for them to transfer them to Ao Nang and then a short boat ride to Railay Beach where they had booked their new hotel, while I returned strait to Phuket with the fast and comfortable long tail boat. The journey back took about 2 hours, just enjoyed the breeze and the navigation admiring the landscape, there are more than 50 small limestone islets all around. We finally reached Ao Por Pier around 17:00.

Great lunch at local restaurant

A big thanks to the very professional and friendly staff who took very good care of all the guests allowing us to have a truly unforgettable experience. I highly recommend this trip to anyone who wishes to have an original and safe adventure off the beaten track, just remember that accommodation is in a tent so it's very basic and definitely not as comfortable as a hotel. As long as you don't have back ache issues or similar health conditions the experience is definitely worth the effort, after all it's just for one night.

Phang Nga Bay Expedition Express trip report: Day 1 | Day 2

Like to join this tour? Contact us and get your free quote!!!

John Gray's Sea Canoe Overnight Expedition - 2 Days & 1 Night exploring Phang Nga Bay by Kayak - Day 1

Phang Nga Bay Expedition Express trip report: Day 1 | Day 2

For this first day of the Overnight Expedition Express by John Gray's Sea Canoe we followed the same itinerary of the Hong By Starlight Tour, sharing the boat with the day trippers.

JGSC Escort Boat

According to the tide prediction of the day I was picked up on time at 12:00 and transferred to Ao Por marina where all participants were gathered at a restaurant for the count, then after the staff introduced themselves we got on the "escort boat". Once on board the tour leader did a safety briefing about the do's and don'ts on the boat while we started cruising towards Phang Nga Bay. There were about 25 guests on board plus many guides though there was plenty of space for everybody, fruits and soft drinks available all the time, the boat also has a toilet on the lower deck.

When we were about half way to destination a light buffet lunch was served, mostly vegetarian choices and plenty of food for everyone.

Safety birefing

After lunch we were given a very detailed briefing about the canoe session that we were about to enjoy, the guide in charge was using maps and other funny pictures which made the briefing interesting so people didn't miss the important parts. We then finally got to our first stop which was at Panak island, a canoe and an English speaking guide/paddler was provided each 2 people, all the guides are kind and knowledgeable about the local environment providing a lot of information and smiling all the time. In the meanwhile we were paddling from the moored boat towards a high and steep limestone cliff with a dark cave entrance at the bottom.

Cave entrance

Once we went deeper into the tunnel it was pitch black so the guides turned their flashlights on, the tunnel was large and very long and we could see hundreds of bats sleeping while hanging on the ceiling. After about 200m the cave started to get more and more narrow to the point that we had to lay down horizontally and deflate the canoe a bit in order to move forward, when we managed to pass through the little hole I realised that we entered another world. This was one of the so called "hongs" (Thai word for "room"), a large hidden lagoon completely surrounded by limestone cliffs covered in lush vegetation, only accessible through a cave.

Inside a hong

The atmosphere inside the hong is surreal, you can find absolute silence only broken by the animal sounds. The effects by the light filtering through the trees was amazing and could see plenty of sea eagles flying above us. Looking carefully into the trees we also spotted some large hornbills and monkeys (long tailed macaques) laying on the rocks. After about an hour exploring this hong we went out again trough the cave and then to a smaller lagoon before returning to the boat. 

The very narrow hong access point

We immediately started cruising towards the other side of the island and during navigation we were followed by a flock of sea eagles "hunting" some pieces of chicken skin that where tossed from the kitchen, quite impressive! When we reached our destination we had some free time to self paddle, swim and relax on the beach, this was also the place where we would later spend the night camping. There were few other boats from other tour operators moored here and many people wandering around though they left very soon as they were at the end of their day while we still had plenty of time to go. 

Diamond-like Calcium carbonate

Once back on board the guides provided us banana leaves, flowers and needles to teach us how to build a traditional krathong, this part was interesting and a particular experience of Thai culture. Before sunset we moved to the nearby Hong Island and went for another canoe session through caves and hongs, pretty similar to the first though in this cave there were some formations of calcium carbonate that was shining like diamond when hit by the light from the torches, therefore it was called "Diamond Cave". 

Krathong construction...well done!

Back again on the boat a great Thai buffet dinner was waiting for us, this time there was more choice with both seafood and chicken curry dishes plus some vegetarian option. By the time we had our dinner it got dark, so the tour leader gave us a detailed explanation about Thai culture and history related to the Loy Krathong festival, all this in preparation for what we were about to experience. Once ready we finally went for our last canoe session into a hong, this time in the total darkness. When we all got into the hong we lit the candles and launched our self-made krathongs, all the candles floating in the dark together with their reflection in the water made it a truly magical moment. In respect of the environment before heading back to the boat we recovered all our krathongs, though they are mostly made with natural components there were also too many steel nails in them to be left there, it's good to be Eco-friendly.

Panak Island's beach - overnight campsite

While most guests returned to Phuket, the 5 of us who chose to stay overnight were left on the tiny secluded beach at Panak island together with few of the guides. They already prepared the camp site with tents, fire, oil lamps and all the supplies we could ever need. Everything was perfectly organised and it was nice to be just a handful of people from different countries chatting around a fire on a remote beach, all under a starry sky. Unfortunately as it often happens in tropics the weather quickly changed and in a couple of hours a short thunderstorm came, time to go to sleep. The tents were set under a limestone cliff and a large tree so we were well sheltered from the heavy rain, it actually cooled down the temperature enough to allow us a nice sleep and be fresh for the second day of our adventure.

Sunset in Phang Nga Bay

Phang Nga Bay Expedition Express trip report: Day 1 | Day 2

Like to join this tour? Contact us and get your free quote!!!

Reviews - Andy and Jules bartush - honeymoon

Francesco,

Thank you so much for helping set up the wonderful Honeymoon in Thailand for my wife Jules and I. We had an amazing time and enjoyed being able to sit back and have the logistics figured out for us! The Phang Nga Bay tour was wonderful and our guide Bee was great! The Allano was also a spectacular hotel in Patong and the owner there was simply perfect! They had amazing customer service. Despite the muddy conditions/construction there we had an amazing time!

Jules is CC'd here on this email and she will be getting in contact with you because her parents will be traveling through Thailand in I believe a few weeks and would like to work with you in setting up some transfers, hotel bookings and maybe a tour.

I hope you have a wonderful day and thanks again!

We will definitely be in contact again on our next trip!

Andy Bartush

Bangkok situation update 2/12/13

Bangkok situation update 2/12/13

Now I can’t really denier that the situation in Bangkok is getting bad, but for someone who already plans your vacation in the center part of Thailand or even connecting flight in Bangkok. You may have considering yourself “Should I cancel all my trip?”  It’s actually a very good question.

As I am here living in Bangkok. Here is some info that you would like to know.

Tourist activities in Pattaya, Hua Hin, Ko Samui, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Krabi, Phang-nga and Krabi, for instance, are operating as per normal.
Transportation:
International and domestic airlines are operating flights between Bangkok and Thai cities, as well as destinations around the world, as per normal.

Tour around Bangkok and site trip:

These provinces’ administration halls are located in official designated areas, and are not where tourists normally go to or where tour companies include in the tour program.

Foreigners have not been involved in any accident and just need to know the areas that have to be avoided.

Overall normal life is going as usual. We hope that parties will soon find an agreement and all back to quiet.

Feel free to ask for any on site update 
Or check Thailand news in English  at Bangkok Post 

Amazing Train Market, Mae Klong - Bangkok Tours

Today I have a trip to Floating market  is Thailand’s icon of most of the would travelers, where you will board a charming wooden boat for a cruise around this colorful market, but what I just amaze the most is not a Floating Market, but it’s a place that we stop on the way back from Floating Market to Bangkok  call “Train Market” or they call “LomHubb Market”  in Thai

Train Market is actually a local market in Mae Klong, Samut Songkhram, where all the local people go to shopping for food all kind of fresh seafood from the pear, vegetable, fruit. It’s very fresh and incredible cheep, but what make Train Market famous is not just only about that. It’s actually a market built on top of the railway of that train that is actually still running every single day, so how does it work? It’s actually interesting on this point.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aM38fUjR7sg 

The train track is actually was there before the market but when the community are expanding people just need more space to make business, so they are just expand on the railway track. When the train is coming they all have to pack all the stuff and move away from the train track and move it all out again when train leave. It’s seemed to be a very normal of the people here. For packing their stuff and run away from a train. After the train leave just like nothing never happen. This train track have 5-6 trains running per day, so before you visit just make sure you check the train schedule. I hope you guy enjoy the train market as much as I do ;)

Phuket Weather Blog from 21 to 24 October 2013

Everything is getting ready for the Phuket FIVB Volleyball Open. This great international event will start on 29 October to en on 3rd November.

Phuket FIVB Open - Karon Beach

The teams will play at best at Karon Beach where sand is ready for them and the viewers. The weather should stay at it is now, blue sky with some white and foamy clouds that helps to keep the temperature down. Really can ask better.

Stands are ready for Phuket FIVB Open - Karon Beach

On 20th was last day of Buddhist Lent period, remember it started back on 23rd  July. Weather was very different that day. The day is also called oog Pansa, that means end of the Lent. It marks the passage from rain season to dry and in Phuket couldn't be more true this year. Very nice and flat sea, only some shower at night that just lat one hour.

This week also an important Thailand public holiday on 23rd October is Chulalongkorn Day or or “Piyamaharaj Day". This is a very important day for Thai People. It is the memorial of the day when reverted and loved King Rama V passed away.  Also yesterday weather was very good making great for those on holiday and those took a day off.

Karon Beach 23rd October 2013

This morning again nothing changed and Kamala beach is ready for the season. Still my favorite place to chill out on week end. specially before gets to crowed during peak season. This morning was just perfect. high tide,, sun shining and not too many people. The Maphrao BeachResort  is just in front the beach making this small guest house a perfect place where enjoy an easy holiday.

Kamala Beach on 24th October 2013

Kamala Beach - Maphrao Beach Resort

Phuket weather 18, 19 and 20 October 2013

Definitely we are going into dry season, Winter or high season. However like to call it. air is getting fresher despite sometime humidity raises making to feel hot.

Rain is every day more and more rare, despite today was quiet cloudy.

Wind has changed and now i actually non at all. For nesx two days is expected to blow a bit stronger and it will change directlion coming from North East.

Can see from forecast and from this interesting link the actual situation.

So we like to say on our blog about Phuket that here in South Thailand and specially on West Coast that faces the Andaman Sea everything is running normally. News show and reports about flooding that are happening in North East Thailand, the area that border Laos and Cambodia. There in October is normal to have torrential rains that result in rivers to raise in level.

These floods will affect also Bangkok region where all major rivers flow into the Gulf of Thailand.

Enjoy your holidays and don't worry about Phuket beaches are beautiful and ready. and for those like diving and snorkeling the Similan Island Marine park has reopen, Flat sea and good visibility makes the reef s there unique. Best way to visit the Thailand Marine parks on the Andaman Sea Coast is by one of the many Thailand liveaboard.  

Flat sea off Phuket 18 October 2013

Phuket weather from 14 to 17 October 2013

Quickly we getting to end of the week and winter is getting closer.

Correct I said winter, and means Monsoon will turn blowing from North East. Fresh and dry air from inner Asia will keep sky clear and reduce humidity. In fact winter means high and good season.

Why winter in Thailand? Yes because Thailand is north of equator and follows same season as Europe and North America. Don't expect cold or snow. Will be dry, specially from January, air in the morning between mid November and end of January could be "just" 16 degree Celsius...and just for one hour. During the day will be very nice sunbathing as humidity is low,  making pleasant stay in the Sun.

For the moment still some shower and storm, but they normally last just one or two hours. the image here below show exactly what you can expect. Sun shining and storms at horizon, the Picture was take on the road between Patong and Karon Beach, where Le Meridien Beach Resort is located.

Flat Sea in front Le Meridien on 15 October 2013

Sea is now flat making perfect for any water activity, later in November will stay flat on west side where or famous beaches are and could be more rough on the way to Phi Phi islands. This condition will be normal specially during the morning when air will be colder than sea resulting in wind and waves.

Flat Sea at Patong Beach on 17 October 2013

Update about Phuket life, last night an iconic Phuket place got fire and is now just a big pile of rubble still burning after 15 hours.

In the picture below takes at dawn in Kathu can see over the hill a tick smoke, isn't a cloud. That is 10 km away and behind hills. The famous Supercheap store is still burning.

Smoke from Supercheap fire from Kathu on 17 Octber 2013

Supercheap in Phuket is a local supermarket chain, up to two years ago was just the huge superstore close to Mission Hospital in the north part of Phuket Town. Just opposite the Provincial Bus Terminal. in Phuket everyone has been there at least twice a year. At Supercheap you could find anything. From car spare parts to cooked meals. All best foreign brand. Restaurants, Hotels and boats use to get supplied form there. Hopefully nobody died inside last night when at 9:00 pm the fire started. We will miss the place and next week will be difficult find all supplies.

Phuket Weather - 11 to 13 October 2013

Time is running and we already are in mid October, and at the end of famous Phuket Vegatarian Festival.

The Festival started under heavy rain as can see from our Phuket blog post few days ago. But since few days weather turned good with only few showers lasting maximum one hour.

So last night will be perfect for fireworks and crackers to make sure all Emepor Gods will make their way back to Heaven. And people can enjoy one of most strange things in Thailand. The open air cinema. Offered by Kathu Temple.

Open Air free movies in Kathu - 13 October 2013

The street cinemas in Thailand use old projectors that show the movie on a screen. The screen is sometime placed opposite the road than the projector so traffic pass in between, drivers slow down or stop to look part of the movie.

The one in the picture was in Kathu near the shrine to entertain people for vegetarian festival last evening. They are normally part of offers to temple or placed during funerals. In open air and open free to everyone like to stop and have a look or enjoy the full length.

Now with internet and satellite TV, people can enjoy a lot of movies any time and in remote areas too. But up to few years ago for small villages these kind of cinema where the only way to see new and old movies, specially Kung Fu.


For all next week forecast are good with only 30% to 40% probability of rain, despite tropical Storm Nari. It is going to crash over north East Thailand but already weakened by Vietnam.

Relax bay at Le Meridien on 13 October 2013

A bit stronger wind is blowing however sea is almost flat and actually wind is keeping sky clean from clouds and allow the Sun to dry everything.

Phuket Vegetarian festival 2013 - last night

Normally on a Phuket blog everyone writes about starting day and processions during the Phuket Vegetarian Festival. So why don't say what happen last day and specially last night?.

After nine days on Earth is time for the spirits of the Emperor Gods to go back to heaven. This evening in Kathu people were waiting for the time to gather at Kathu Shrine and get blessed by those possessed. To receive blessing must have observed the  "Jay" tradition for at least last three days. Then wear a white shirt and get to in time to Shire.

Kathu Village - The Shrine entrance

A lot of people queued up soon after sunset, to get a place to pass between two wings of "Ma Song", those that have let the spirits enter their bodies. the Ma Song will stamp everyone one the shoulders, the red stamps will be then well visible. More you get more you will be protected.

Blessing at Kathu Shrine

Ma Song blessing people

After the whole nine days on Vegan diet I have got two stamps on my shirt no so bad and should be enough for the year.

got two stamps

Tonight fire crackers and fireworks will be fired specially well the moon will go down to be sure all spirits will leave.

Kathu Shrine

Tomorrow everyone back to normal food and actually most chats during evening where about food tomorrow. After the Vegan diet that has last nine days people will aim to their favorite dishes.

Thanks for coming to Emperor Gods.

Phuket vegetarian festival is probably the most important tradition for Phuket people and during this time the year you will see how serious all this is taken. Don't think is just for tourist but enjoy the nice and festive atmosphere around and if you are here on holidays you will see something really special.

Reviews - Chris from Australia

Gents,

Just a very brief note to express, once again, our gratitude for the tours and activities that you and Tee arranged for our recent trip to Phuket with the kids.

Both the Kerr’s and our family thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.  The kids loved Tee (I think both Karen and Liz did as well), his friendly out going personality typifies what we expect each and every time we contact you for help.  Tee really made our ½ day island tour very special by taking the time to explain to us, amongst all of the activities we did that day, the significance, intricacies and lifestyle of the Monks at Wat Chalong, then topped off the experience by having us make an offering and to getting blessed by a Monk.  The kids are still talking about it.  He put up with a lot that day (and the previous day when we had to reschedule due to the kids getting ill), especially being able to find the Phong Phang Seafood restaurant from my poor description of how to get there!

The over night stay at the P.P. Erawan Palms Resort was the highlight of the trip for us.  The accommodation, ferry trip on the Royal Jet Cruiser, pick up and return to Katathani was brilliant.  Tee spent a lot of time arranging this trip (not sure whether he did this direct or via yourselves) and we will be eternally grateful for his efforts.

Our diving day to Racha Yai didn’t quite go to plan (no one can control the weather) however Riccardo and crew did a fantastic job of getting Karen and the kids comfortable, and getting Peter and myself in the water.  I’ll never want to dive Thailand again unless it’s on MV Sai Mai……what a great vessel.  Seriously, Riccardo really looked after the needs of those who were suffering from sea sickness whilst trying to get a couple of decent dives in.

Lastly our night at FantaSea was a great night.  The kids loved it.  The Mums loved it!  I’m afraid I’ve done it again, forgotten the name of the driver, but he was a delight, a very funny and entertaining man.

We will of course have absolutely no hesitation in recommending your services to any of our friends or colleagues travelling to Thailand.

Anyway, thanks again, all of you have helped us have a brilliant holiday.

Chris

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