Page 38 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - Phuket

36 ❯❯ Top 10 Phuket Highlights

Phang Nga Bay

Just east of Phuket over 40 small islands dot the brilliantly azure
waters of Phang Nga Bay. Wind and water have eroded these
limestone karst islets into a variety of extraordinary shapes that
tower above the water’s surface. This National Park is home to
an abundance of flora and fauna that thrive amidst the crevices,
arches, tide pools, caves, and coastal forests. Paddling a sea kayak
amongst the grandeur of these soaring peaks is an experience to
savor, but motorized boats can also transport you around the bay.
James Bond
3
Island
The backdrop for 007’s
infamous duel in The
Man with the Golden Gun,
the island – also known
as Ko Khao Phing Kan –
today represents one of
Phuket’s most pop ular
island day trips (right).
Diving
4
Several popular
dive sites, including the
sunken passenger ferry,
King Cruiser, can be
found in Phang Nga Bay.
You can also snorkel to
coral reefs.
Kayaking
Ko Phanak
1 5
This island is
Paddle through
extraordinary aquatic favored by sea kayakers
Khao Khian
grottoes that open into because of its abundance 6
magni ficent open-air of hongs – amazing Also known as
lagoons (above), hidden sea chambers “Writing Hill,” this cave
popu lated by exotic birds that are open to the sky has ancient draw ings of
such as hornbills and but enclosed by the humans, birds, fish, and
king fishers. The pristine island, and accessible other marine life, dating
jungle scenery beside only though caves. back some 3,000 years.
these lagoons is also
worth exploring on foot.
Ko Panyee 2
Most of Ko
Panyee’s landmass is
consumed by a towering
limestone rock. Due to
this geology, it is difficult
to build on the island,
and the village has been
constructed on stilts
above the shallow waters
of the south coast (right).

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