Phang Nga Town

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While most travellers view the small town of Phang Nga as little more than a transport hub, those who take a day or two to give it a chance are rewarded by a charming southern Thai culture, cheap and authentic food, and some surprisingly spectacular sights nearby. Phang Nga is the perfect place to get a dose of "the real Thailand" if you're tired of nearby tourist hotspots like Phuket and Khao Lak, and with some solid accommodation options in town, there's no reason not to stop here.

Unlike many a Thai provincial capital, Phang Nga has a markedly sleepy atmosphere, and the surrounding limestone karst cliffs and mountains make it a scenic town as well. Khao Chang, a karst mountain that soars dramatically upwards at a near 90 degree angle looms over the town to the southwest, and this is also the sight of one of the area's best known caves — Phung Chang Cave.

Well known as the jumping off point for trips into karst filled Ao Phang Nga Bay just to the south of Phang Nga town, the area is also home to a lesser known waterfall — Manora — that's situated a few km north of town and is worth a visit in its own right.

Orientation
Phet Kasem Rd (aka Rte. 4) is the main thoroughfare running north to south through Phang Nga, and it's along this road that most of the town's markets, restaurants, and hotels are located.

The bus station is also off Phet Kasem, within easy walking distance of the cluster of guesthouses and hotels right at the centre of town, which is where most travellers end up staying.

There are a few side streets off Phet Kasem, but apart from some old traditional Thai homes there's little of interest down these. It's a small town — little more than a km past the town centre to the north and the scenery switches to picturesque, hilly countryside.

To the south there are countless small streams and rivers, all of which feed in to Phang Nga Bay. The beaches of Thai Muang and Khao Lak are reachable by day trip to the west, and mountainous terrain lies to the east.

Phang Nga is home to a large hospital located a bit south of the town centre on Phet Kasem Rd, near the night market at Soi Bhangkang.

The police station is a block off Phet Kasem on Borirakbamrung Rd near the corner of Soi Thungchedee, which splits off Phet Kasem a short distance south of the town centre but before the Big C supermarket.

Internet is widely available in Phang Nga. Monster Internet and Games and Future Computer are both in the neighbourhood of Big C and charge charge 20B per hour. Closer to most of the accommodation, the simply named "Restaurant" across from Phang Nga Guesthouse has a few computers for 30B per hour, and they — as well as nearby Baan Phangnga — offer WiFi for free.

Banks and ATMs are plentiful throughout town.

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Text and/or map last updated on 21st July, 2012.

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Phang Nga Town reviews

Backchat from the Travelfish community

Nice base for Phang Nga Bay

One of the best ways to keep costs down for a bay trip is to base yourself in Phang Nga town.
This is a bustling place maybe half way between Phuket town and Krabi. The guidebooks call it a small town but it stretches for several kms along at least 2 different road routes - it aint small by Australian small town standards.

The Ratangapong is a typical Thai hotel - I got me a clean basic fan room with bathroom for 150. They also have air-con. This joint is about 300m from the bus station - turn right, stay on the same side, go thru traffic light intersection.
There is a 7-11 street level, a similar place across the road, several nearby restaurants and an internet cafe about 100m further on. The markets are down a soi alongside - a bit noisy from 4am, but lots of fresh and cooked stuff to eat for brekkie.

More modern Phang Nga Inn is 30m further on and a similar joint across the road.

Mr Kean's Tour can organise bay and other local tripst from his shop in the Pang Nga town bus station compound. The very similar Sayan Tour is about 2 shops away.
Mr Kean often meets incoming buses - he's a rugged looking old dude and I thought he was a tout trying to drum up business for an out of town guesthouse (which I didn't want) when I arrived at 8pm. I suggested next day he get a small sign MR KEAN TOUR or a printed t-shirt. Most travellers know about Mr Kean (and Sayan) from the guide-books and are less likely to ignore him.
His songthaew picks up booked people at accommodation places around town and takes them down to Tha Dan pier about 9km away for the start of the bay tours. Mr Kean also does a local mainland tour taking in the Monkey Cave Temple, the Heaven and Hell Cave and Sa Nang Manora Forest Park.
- Sights & activities
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- Scenery & environment
- Eat & drink
- Traveller's scene
- Romance
- Value for money
- I'll be back (or not)
By tezza (dabbler)
Written on 18th January, 2011 after a visit to Phang Nga Town in December, 2010

Also reviewed by tezza: Ao Phang Nga National Marine Park, Coral and Raya Islands, Haad Nopphara Thara, Haad Sai Khao, Kanchanaburi, Khao Lak, Ko Bulon Lae, Ko Kho Khao, Ko Kut, Ko Lipe,

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