Phang Nga Bay sea kayaking trips
| country: | Thailand |
| location: | Southern Thailand |
| departures: | Year-round departures. Regular departures for the Hong by Starlight day trip. We also offer a wide range of other trips to suit length and capability |
| price: | From US $95 (1 day) excluding flights |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
the amazing things you'll be doing
A range of high-quality tropical sea kayaking eco-tourism adventures guaranteed to expand your awareness. Combining kayaking, nature, culture, great food and re-creation. We welcome general adventurers seeking intimate marine experiences. A range of tours are available from day trips to week long trips. Please make an enquiry for a full list of options.
Depart your hotel at Noon for an afternoon of nature, sea cave/Hong exploration and a superb Thai Seafood Sunset dinner. In the late afternoon, you experience the tranquility of real Nature and enjoy the "Time Machine" ambiance that made the hongs famous in the first place. Then after dark, things get mystical. You have to see it - beyond description and imagination.
3-days/2-nights on Tarutao
We first explored Tarutao in 1989 and started operations in 1991, and our experience says Tarutao' s best locations are all tidal, so each trip is custom planned according to the tides. We won't know your actual program until you book, but you get the following activities in a custom-designed sequence. We do not announce our camping locations to protect their tranquility.
Honeycomb Hong and Klong Son may not be accessible May-November, so depending upon local conditions we may switch to paddles on the East Coast. We can still visit Park HQ, Malacca estuary and the Crocodile Cave.
Depending upon seasonal weather and local conditions, you will enjoy the following activities in your 3-days/2-nights on Tarutao:
Croc Cave/Mangroves - Paddle from Park HQ or take a longtail deep into the Pante Malacca estuary thick with 10 meter mangroves. We usually see Bramany kites, kingfishers, water monitors and crab-eating macaques while paddling our silent kayaks. Explore the Crocodile Cave by kayak or on foot, depending upon the tides.
Honeycomb Hong - On Tarutao' s West side, Honeycomb hong can only be entered safely in the November-May season. Once inside, the tall but narrow catacombs extend through many different rock channels, all tidal dependent.
Prison - When we first saw the prison, it was rusty metal pieces scattered through the jungle. Today there's a footpath with reconstructed buildings so antiseptic they can never convey the horrors of this island hell. It still makes an interesting story - and the drive (or trek) across Tarutao' s highlands is spectacular.
Klong Son/Survivor Site - Klong Son is a multi-fingered mangrove estuary that should only be entered by kayak. Motors only scare away the wildlife. From kayaks, we've seen mouse deer, crab-eating macaques, otters and wild pigs that never saw us, as many as a dozen reticulated pythons in one day, fish owls and white belly sea eagles. Fresh water streams behind the mangroves host an entirely different ecosystem including hornbills, dusky langurs and more wild pigs.
Jungle hike - We spend at least one half-day on a jungle trek. We have three favorites depending upon the seasons - central highlands, east coast and west coast. All are packed with wildlife and thick primary growth evergreen forest, often standing 20 meters or more. When we move quietly, we often surprise wildlife on the trail.
2 nights beach camping - For 19 years, we've built our reputation on first-class meal plans and beach camping in an expedition setting. We include waterproof-tested top quality spacious 3-season tents with a heavy duty 6" double size air mat with built-in pillows and sleeping sheet designed for hot tropical nights. Our "Best Ever" meal plan prepared fresh on boat or in camp is famous for two decades, including fresh brewed coffee and gourmet teas. We often buy seafood directly from local fishermen. Smaller groups are supported by a longtail boat, while larger groups use a cabined escort boat complete with dining deck, galley, shower and toilet.
trips
Phuket Day Trips - Hong by Starlight Depart your hotel at Noon for an afternoon of nature, sea cave/Hong exploration and a superb Thai Seafood Sunset dinner. In the late afternoon, you experience the tranquility of real Nature and enjoy the "Time Machine" ambiance that made the hongs famous in the first place. Then after dark, things get mystical. You have to see it - beyond description and imagination.
3-days/2-nights on Tarutao
We first explored Tarutao in 1989 and started operations in 1991, and our experience says Tarutao' s best locations are all tidal, so each trip is custom planned according to the tides. We won't know your actual program until you book, but you get the following activities in a custom-designed sequence. We do not announce our camping locations to protect their tranquility.
Honeycomb Hong and Klong Son may not be accessible May-November, so depending upon local conditions we may switch to paddles on the East Coast. We can still visit Park HQ, Malacca estuary and the Crocodile Cave.
Depending upon seasonal weather and local conditions, you will enjoy the following activities in your 3-days/2-nights on Tarutao:
Croc Cave/Mangroves - Paddle from Park HQ or take a longtail deep into the Pante Malacca estuary thick with 10 meter mangroves. We usually see Bramany kites, kingfishers, water monitors and crab-eating macaques while paddling our silent kayaks. Explore the Crocodile Cave by kayak or on foot, depending upon the tides.
Honeycomb Hong - On Tarutao' s West side, Honeycomb hong can only be entered safely in the November-May season. Once inside, the tall but narrow catacombs extend through many different rock channels, all tidal dependent.
Prison - When we first saw the prison, it was rusty metal pieces scattered through the jungle. Today there's a footpath with reconstructed buildings so antiseptic they can never convey the horrors of this island hell. It still makes an interesting story - and the drive (or trek) across Tarutao' s highlands is spectacular.
Klong Son/Survivor Site - Klong Son is a multi-fingered mangrove estuary that should only be entered by kayak. Motors only scare away the wildlife. From kayaks, we've seen mouse deer, crab-eating macaques, otters and wild pigs that never saw us, as many as a dozen reticulated pythons in one day, fish owls and white belly sea eagles. Fresh water streams behind the mangroves host an entirely different ecosystem including hornbills, dusky langurs and more wild pigs.
Jungle hike - We spend at least one half-day on a jungle trek. We have three favorites depending upon the seasons - central highlands, east coast and west coast. All are packed with wildlife and thick primary growth evergreen forest, often standing 20 meters or more. When we move quietly, we often surprise wildlife on the trail.
2 nights beach camping - For 19 years, we've built our reputation on first-class meal plans and beach camping in an expedition setting. We include waterproof-tested top quality spacious 3-season tents with a heavy duty 6" double size air mat with built-in pillows and sleeping sheet designed for hot tropical nights. Our "Best Ever" meal plan prepared fresh on boat or in camp is famous for two decades, including fresh brewed coffee and gourmet teas. We often buy seafood directly from local fishermen. Smaller groups are supported by a longtail boat, while larger groups use a cabined escort boat complete with dining deck, galley, shower and toilet.
Read an article about this trip Sea kayaking in the land of the Pterodactyls. Read about Justin Francis from responsibletravel.com's sea kayaking holiday in Thailand here
how this holiday makes a difference
 After 12 years designing and developing one of the World's most highly awarded Ecotourism companies, John "Caveman" Gray has gone his own way with 18 of his most loyal and experienced guides. John's previous business was a classic Ecotourism business model, and his local enfranchisement concept and stunning trips led to a string of six major Ecotourism Awards from 1995-99.The operator is an activist organization. Your booking is a stand for honesty, quality, enlightened human resources, environmental conservation and basic human rights. We need your participation if we are to promote these concepts in our host communities. Enlightened human resources is the cornerstone of the company. We are proud to serve you with an all-local staff, trained to international standard and developed as professionals. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |