Island Hopping in Phuket-Phang Nga

Everyone knows May is beginning of rainy season in Thailand. This year I and my friends have small challenge about travel in rainy season. We have 3 options, go up to the mountain and forest. Go around historical area in central of Thailand and island hopping. And I got island hopping. 

And I chose Phuket-Phang Nga because I have Lek, my friend who live in Phuket and traveled to Surin island with me in March this year.  I have only 4 days holiday during 30 May - 2 June so it was a quick plan trip. The plan is to see the heart shape lagoon, visit ice-cream cave, see Hornbill, snorkeling at Rang Yai island.

30th May

Lek confirmed to join this trip with me, so I booked early morning flight from Bangkok by Air Asia which left Bangkok at 0640am of 30th May (that's mean I have to wake up at 3am and go to airport at 4am

Flight arrived Phuket Airport on time and Lek was there at airport. Because we will do the afternoon tour on first day and we have to reach to the pier at 1100am. So, Lek agreed to meet me at airport to get same car to pier. 

But because I took early morning flight, so we need breakfast before starting the tour. The transfer from Phuket Airport to pier was private car and driver was so kind to stop by local restaurant for our breakfast. 

After breakfast, we continue to Ao Por Pier. But we arrived a bit too early, so we wait at the panoramic sea view cafe

I order honey plum soda and Lek order honey lemon soda.

It was raining while we were at cafe but luckily it stopped around 30 minutes before the tour started.

We walked to the pier and get on the local truck which is one of signature transportation in Phuket. This truck took us to the end of the pier to get on the boat. 

Staff waiting for us there and we left the pier to start 8 hours tour.

The sky after rain always bright and nice

My model, Lek was enjoying everything

Staff help us took some nice shorts (^_^)

And Lek also took some for me as well. So, we both have good and many memories shorts

The boat with 3 levels helped us see better 360 degrees panoramic view

As we reached to the first stop. The canoeing start, they arranged one paddler for each canoe and limit 2 persons each for safety 

However, we cannot get into the cave because the water level still covering the entrance. Mr.Alan, our paddler then took us to see around the small island.

See some small caves from outside.

Some small crabs

Beautiful and colorful limestone mountain

And some small and lovely flower

And he gave us a chance to try paddle by ourselves

Mr.Alan took us visit one of the caves name ICE-CREAM cave. This cave located on small beach which we can drop our canoe and walk up few steps

Inside the cave is dark, so Mr.Alan gave us the light

Inside the cave quite large with high ceiling so there is oxygen inside so we can breathe easily (difference from some cave in the north)

We walk deep inside the cave and see difference shape of stalagmite and stalactite

Mr.Alan keep telling us do not touch and stone which still have water drop because we can kill them by the fat from our skin

We walk a few steps more and reached to the window (I call it myself because it is look like a windows

Mr.Alan took for me, and I really like this photo. This photo will remind me how beautiful the lagoon inside this cave

There were some more tourists arrived, so we left there and back to our canoe.

Finally, the water level low down and we can get into the first cave

Here is one island in the program called Koh Panak.  Mr.Alan told us this name came from the story that one of the princesses of Thailand came for sea trip, but the weather was not good then staff took her to stay around this island and wait for safety 

It is a large lagoon inside and this rock is one of the highlight, dolphin rock. Actually, I came here once with other tour company, but I like this place and come again with Lek (last time I travel alone) We spent around 15 minutes inside and then left to the boat

Relax time with watermelon and the boat moved to Jame Bond Island. On the way guide point us to the big island which look like snail

I like visiting this island and today we were lucky. Mr.Alan took us to another side of island where we can take a nice photo of the cave and sea

I got stamp from National Park office there

And also got the photos from the small cave which I came fore

And the place which everyone must take photo is the Khao Ping Kan. The two big stone standing next to each other with shallow cave. 

Mr.Musa who is a paddler in our group help Lek took a nice shot.

We spent around 20 minutes at Khao Ping Kan & Jame Bond Island and then walk to the canoe

Mr.Alan was waiting for us at the canoe and also Mr.Musa waiting for his customer. So, I got this nice shot of them. They are very good guys, full of knowledge about the cave, island, tree and really friendly

We continue to Hong Island to see highlight. I have been there once, but Lek never comes so she so excited.

And the highlight was there, when we lay down on the canoe and we saw the sky in heart shape

Lek's smiles show how happy she has from this island

Mr.Alan took us back to the boat. It was a dinner time while the sunset moment starting

Thai food ready, big fish with sweet and sour sauce

And the view

The sky changing to pink, then orange before getting dark

After sunset, we go back to canoe again to see another highlight. 

Mr.Alan took us closer to the cliff which darker and told us put our hands in the water and move around

We saw the light in the water like thousands firefly. But our camera cannot take any photos

Luckily Mr.Alan can pick a glass jelly fish which have some plankton inside so we can take video of the plankton inside jelly fish but when I took a photo it's shows only jelly fish without light. This is amazing of nature

We spent around 20 minutes enjoy seeing plankton then return to the boat again.

The tour finish and the boat heading back to the pier.

Around 08.30pm we arrived at the pier and the car was there. We transfer to hotel to check in and get in our room after long day

The hotel is nice the name is RAMADA PLAZA CHAOFAH which located in town, and I think this hotel is good location because it easier to go to the piers

We were tired after long day so after shower we fall asleep quite early

31st May

A day on Long Tail boat to Coral Island. Today we have 2 more friends join the tour Wan and Tan who also living in Phuket same as Lek and both join us today.

The car picked me and Lek up at 0800am while Tan and Wan went to the pier separately from their home. 

We all arrived at the pier and checked in at counter. From the counter we took a pink local truck to the boat. Our boat today names MATA and the tour guide name Kik

On the boat they prepared welcome snack,fruit and drink 

And nice decoration for photo in the front

We left the pier around 9am

On the way we have some exciting, we safe 2 life. Our captain notice a turtle struck with the net and he ask our permission to return and help the turtle. And yes, we all agreed. I took some video from this rescue mission and cut it as a picture here. The picture may not clear as in my video. Hope you can see how hard this turtle live with the net until we found him.

Besides of the turtle. There is a black crab struck with him. But very pity that almost of his legs broken

What we as a tourist can do is if you notice something like this try to tell captain (normally he notice before us) and you can save someone life same like us

After that we continue to Coral island

On the way we saw many difference boats on tour

We arrived at Coral Island. There are lots of activities

We saw some people enjoy parasailing 

Some people enjoy relaxing on the beach, some swimming 

The boat dock at jetty far from the sand to protect coral reef

There are lots of fish we can see along the way on jetty because the water is so clear and clean.

The highlight of this island is hornbill. So, they are greeting us with the hornbill sculpture at the entrance

I like the colorful surfboard with the flags they put on the beach. It makes the beach more colorful and livelier

This beach name Kahung Beach (this island has 2 famous beaches which is Banana Beach and Kahung Beach. I visit Banana Beach 4 years ago, so this time visit this beach mean I cover this island already

We all walked along the beach. Beach is clean, and water is clear. 

Tourists enjoy swimming

The color of the sea is so beautiful

Lek also enjoy,because there are many nice corners for photo

It was lunch time, and we want something spicy. We stopped at Thai restaurant on the beach and order papaya salad and a la cart menu for each

While enjoy lunch, we noticed a lovely hornbill on the tree

I saw many tourists enjoy swimming with their family, this is good beach for everyone

We finished lunch and return to the boat

We continue to next stop. They provide fresh fruit and drink again and highlight is coconut

Our guide Kik helped us take nice group photo

We arrived back to the pier and the same pink local truck was waiting for us

We finally arrived back to the pier.  The pink local truck waiting for us
We return to hotel, Lek went to swimming pool, I tried their sand bath spa

We already at lobby again for dinner.

Tan took us to the famous Thai BBQ (Moo Ka Ta). The name of restaurant is Moo Ka Ta Phu Torn. The price is low and the quality of the food are not bad 

After dinner, Wan took us to Chilva Night Market to find some dessert

This market quite large with variety of shops. I got a short pants jean

And ice-cream

Before we left, I got one Lego 

Around 10pm, we returned to hotel

1st June

Another boat tour day, we visit Phi Phi island with join speedboat. The car picks up us at 0800am and takes around 30 minutes to the pier

At the pier they serve some snack, drink, coffee

After tour guide brief itinerary of the tour, we three got a nice sunglass and beach shoes. Today Tan did not join us because she fell not well.

All customer for this tour arrived at the pier and all get on the boat. Their boat looks nice and clean. All staff are friendly

The first stop was Viking Cave, this cave we cannot get on as it is private area for the bird nest farm

You may see the color of the sea, so beautiful

The boat continues to another place for swimming. It's call Pileh lagoon

Guide took a nice photo for us

There were few boats arrived before us but the lagoon quite large, so it was not too crowded or maybe we arrived earlier than other.  We enjoy swimming

Around 40 minutes the guide call us back to the boat and continue to next stop, MAYA BAY

The boat stops at the pier, and we walked to another side of the island to see the famous beach

There is some signate from National Park along the way

And at the Maya Beach also have a big board of 12 rules we should follow

The water here is clear, the sand also clean because the park does not allow tourist swimming. They turn this area to be Sharks Watch Project. After took some nice photos. We walked back to the boat

And left to Monkey Island 

We all on the speedboat and watching the monkey. Today we saw only 2 monkeys relaxing on the tree and the rock

We cannot get off the boat because of safety reason so we can only take photos of them

After that the boat took us to another area near by

To enjoy swimming and snorkeling. There are lots of fishes, coral reef. Around 40 minutes we all back to the boat again

Next stop was lunch at the beach restaurant at Phi Phi Don. I like their fried chicken wing, delicious

After lunch, we have some relax time then we walked along the beach road. There are shops, restaurant, cafe. We return to the boat and ready to move to next stop

The last island in our tour program is Rang Yai

We arrived on good time because not many tourists, so beach is not crowded 

They provide some sport activities like paddle board

Kayaking. Glass bottom boat. And we tried everything. But the highlight is ATV

Lek doesn't know how to drive ATV

Wan want to try as it is her first time

But this is my most favorite activity

The track on the island is easy. Lek sat with me, and we ride along the beach

Some small forests.  And coconut plantation.It was fun, but because of Wan never try so we just drive a bit slow. Finished ATV we continued to water sport

I tried paddle board.I had tried this sport in Kanchanaburi but that one on the river.And then at Koh Chang also on the river. So, this is first time on the sea with waves. It is not easy but not too difficult

Wan preferred to relax on the beach. And before we get on the boat, Wan order pineapple smoothie for all of us. The boat arrived back to the pier around 5pm and we return to hotel for refresh

Tan did not join us for tour today, but she booked table for dinner. And she knows what we all like

Yardlong bean salad

Deep fried chicken

Shrimp sashimi with seafood sauce

Thai sour sausage

We finished all menu and full. This restaurant is located in the middle of local village so I think only local people know. The name is "Tumnaisuan"

Tan and Wan suggest us to see around Phuket Town at night. Then we drove to the old town. And saw beautiful decoration. Big bunny at the night market (but the market already closed)

And we completed the night with the Thai dessert. Whan La Moon is the name of the dessert shop which quite famous in Phuket. It was around 11pm and the shop closing then we left to hotel

It was a very long day and night, but it was happy hours for us to get together after long time because everyone was busy with our works  

2nd June

The last day in Phuket, we woke up quite late because I booked late evening flight while 3 friends live in Phuket

The last meal was lunch at restaurant name Pa Ka Krong. Thai authentic restaurant in Phuket old town

And this is my favorite menu (Southern food), shrimp chili past. There is a dessert of the day, I like to way they prepare and serve

Finally, time to say goodbye. It was 4 days 3nights in Phuket this time. We did many things together and the time flies too fast. 

All the beautiful memories never ending when we travel. And we got one nice memory from the boat tour in Phi Phi. I like this photo.