Compare Camping and Kayaking in Phang Nga Bay by Exo Travel vs Sublime Southern Thailand by Culture Trip

Day 1: Phuket Arrival

Phuket island

Upon arrival at Phuket airport, your local guide will greet you and accompany you as you transfer to your hotel by minivan.

Overnight in Phuket

Distance and journey time:

Transfer from Phuket Airport to The Old Phuket: 40 mins

Day 2: Phuket - Phang Nga Bay - Koh Phanak

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

This morning enjoy a lie in followed by a late breakfast before being picked up at the hotel and transferred to Ao Por pier for your camping and kayaking adventure. Your kayaking guide will greet you at the boat and give you a trip briefing after your boarding on boat.

Start cruising through Phang Nga Bay while enjoying a sumptuous light lunch. Then, take to the water and explore amazing caves and Hong Island with your paddling guide during the crowd-free afternoon. Active travelers can also kayak themselves if they wish. There are plenty of chances to swim or just relax on the boat, listening to the sound of nature and enjoying the serenity of the sea breeze.

While waiting for the sunset, your kayaking guide will show you how to make your own Krathong, a traditional Thai floating lantern made of organic materials. Dine on a delicious Thai seafood buffet dinner as the sun sets, then cruise back to the previously visited Hong Island and paddle under the moonlit sky into the cave to launch your own Krathong to create a memorable moment under the glittering sky.

Return to the boat and continue to the beach campsite on Koh Phanak with your guide to set up your overnight beach camping

Overnight on Koh Phanak (Campsite)

Distance and journey time:

Transfer from The Old Phuket to Ao Por Pier: 1 hour

Total Boat Experience around Phang Nga Bay: 4-5 hours

Kayaking: 2-3 hours

Difficulty: Easy

Day 3: Koh Panak - Phang Nga Bay - Phuket

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Awake early this morning for a full breakfast with fresh brewed coffee that is cooked and served by your guide. Start with an early morning paddling where you will be able to enjoy tourist-free scenery before the crowds begin to arrive.

Then travel by long-tail boat to the Krabi side of Phang Nga Bay which is filled with amazing limestone mountain scenery.

From here, hop back in your kayak and paddle through at least three remote islands and enjoy a picnic lunch on the way. Return to the boat and depart for Ao Por in Phuket (or pre-arranged drop off point is possible at Ao Nang in Krabi with supplemental charge), and then transfer by mini-van back to hotel.

Overnight in Phuket

Distance and journey time:

Total Boat Experience around Phang Nga Bay: 4-5 hours

Transfer from Ao Por Pier to The Old Phuket: 1 hour

Kayaking: 2-3 hours

Difficulty: Easy

Day 4: Phuket Departure

Meals: Breakfast

Free at leisure before departure time to Phuket Airport to catch a flight for next destination.Distance and journey time:

Transfer from The Old Phuket to Phuket Airport: 40 mins

Day 1: Arrive in Phuket and enjoy the local nightlife

Accommodation: Deevana Patong Resort and Spa

Activities Included: Welcome dinner, Patong night tour

Touch down at Phuket International Airport – whether you’re arriving from home or joining from our Welcome to the Jungle: Exploring Northern Thailand trip. At the hotel, you’ll be greeted by our local insider who will accompany the group throughout the trip. Meet your fellow travellers at 6pm. A welcome dinner at the beachfront is the perfect way to get your first night started before venturing out on a night tour of Patong. Take to the dancefloor or grab a beer in one of the many bars on Bangla Road – but be sure to bear in mind tomorrow’s early start!

Day 2: Discover Khao Sok Lake and stay in a floating raft house

Accommodation: Keeree Thara Floating Resort

Activities Included: Raft house boat trip, Guided Khao Sok Lake activity

Optional Activities: Kayaking

After breakfast, get ready for your transfer to Khao Sok Lake – a 165sqkm (64sqmi) body of emerald-green water, surrounded by dense rainforest and dramatic limestone formations. Upon arrival, you can store your luggage and take an overnight bag before setting off from the pier on a longtail boat for a scenic, guided journey to the raft house. Next, fuel up on lunch before hiking to a waterfall, underground cave or viewpoint, depending on the season. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure – swimming, kayaking or exploring the area’s rugged inlets.

Day 3: Spot local wildlife and kayak through mangrove forests

Accommodation: Pakasai Resort and Spa

Activities Included: Wildlife safari, Bor Thor Mangrove Forest Kayaking

Kick off day three with a wildlife safari by longtail boat. Keep a close eye out for hornbills and gibbons in particular; you may even be fortunate enough to spot a sun bear, too. Head back for breakfast and enjoy some free time before your minibus transfer to Krabi. En route, you’ll stop at Bor Thor mangrove forest for an unforgettable kayaking adventure. It's not strenuous, thanks to the lack of current here, and you can also explore caves that feature 3,000-year-old drawings. Come evening, watch the sun set on the beach and sample the delicious street food of Ao Nang.

Day 4: Explore Hong Island

Accommodation: Pakasai Resort and Spa

Activities Included: Hong Island day trip, Snorkelling

Optional Activities: Kayaking

Jump on a boat this morning for a day of island-hopping. You’ll start at Hong Island 6km (4mi) off the coast of Krabi; it’s actually an archipelago in the Than Bok Khorani National Park, characterised by sandy white beaches, limestone cliffs and a secluded turquoise lagoon. The calm, shallow water is ideal for swimming, snorkelling and kayaking among shoals of colourful fish. Follow the nature trail through the jungle to get a deeper feel for the islands before you head back to the mainland.

Day 5: Embark on a boat cruise and dine on deck at sunset

Accommodation: Pakasai Resort and Spa

Activities Included: Sunset cruise and barbecue

Following a laid-back morning at the hotel, you’ll be picked up and transported to the pier, where you’ll set off on a five-hour boat cruise. Enjoy Thai snacks and cold drinks, snorkel in the clear waters of the Andaman Sea and explore Chicken Island – named after the unusual chicken-shaped rock formation on its southern tip. Wrap up the day with a barbecue on deck served at sunset, featuring a variety of Thai delicacies.

Day 6: Kick back and relax in Koh Yao Yai

Accommodation: Koh Yao Yai Village Resort

Wave goodbye to the mainland once more as you take a two-hour boat transfer to Koh Yao Yai, a secluded island which sits halfway between Krabi and Phuket. Here, it’s all about relaxation. After checking into the hotel, why not make the most of the sea view from the infinity-edge swimming pool, sip on your favourite cocktail or book a soothing Thai massage at the spa. It’s time to switch off and recharge after an action-packed few days.

Day 7: Trek to the viewing point and enjoy a waterpark in the sea

Accommodation: Koh Yao Yai Village Resort

Optional Activities: Island exploration

Fancy taking it easy for another day? It’s your choice – but for those keen to explore Koh Yao Yai, there’s plenty to see and do. Trek to the north of the island for impressive vistas from the observation deck, visit the eye-catching sand formations jutting out into the sea at Laem Had Beach, or try the miniature inflatable waterpark at Coco Beach. Alternatively, lie back and catch some rays on the pristine white sand.

Day 8: Free time in Koh Yao Yai

Accommodation: Koh Yao Yai Village Resort

Indulge in a leisurely breakfast at the hotel, because how you spend the day today is entirely up to you. Get a taste for rural island life by visiting a paddy, rubber plantation or lobster farm, venture to a different beach such as Khlong Son, Loh Pared or Ao Sai for a sunbathe and swim, or you can simply lounge by the pool. There’s no shortage of options.

Day 9: Return to Phuket and share a farewell dinner with your fellow travellers

Accommodation: Bandara Phuket Beach Resort

Activities Included: Farewell dinner

Prepare for your transfer from Koh Yao Yai back to Phuket, where you’ll check into the hotel for your final stop of the trip. There are two beaches separated by a rocky headland in this peaceful corner of Phuket, called Ao Yon Bay, both of which tend to be much less crowded than other better-known beaches on the island. Take a gentle afternoon stroll along this unspoilt piece of coastline before toasting your fellow travellers during a final dinner on the beachfront.

Day 10: Depart from Phuket

After breakfast, it’s time to pack your bags and say farewell to the group. Head back to the airport via private transfer by approximately midday to begin your journey home. Alternatively, extend your stay in Thailand – there are plenty more beaches to discover.