We pick up our guests by taxi or van at about 8:30 a.m. on the first morning and meet them at the pier at about 9:00 a.m.
Day 1
We´ll meet at 8:30 a.m. and board our covered escort boat. After a short orientation to the trip as we leave the bay, we get our first look at the remarkable karst formations. Our first stop is an island with a large ´hong´, an interior room formed by the collapse of a huge cave system in the middle of the island. We land at a beach and walk into the ´hong´ through a short tunnel.
This is a most impressive introduction to the unique geology which we will explore for three days. We proceed to a nearby island and transfer to the beach for kayak orientation and instruction in paddling technique. Each person is fitted to the kayak he/she will paddle for the duration of the trip. Safety procedures are discussed and demonstrated. We go for our first paddle.
We circumnavigate the island, observing the variety of birds, monitor lizards, fish, crabs, orchids, fruit bats and monkeys that live on and around the island. There are certain areas where we generally see Brown-winged kingfishers. Brahminy kites and White-bellied sea eagles are a common sight on the back side of the island.
We point out a variety of native orchids that have adapted to the limestone and ocean air environment. Depending on water level, we paddle or walk into an isolated hong which never fails to fascinate our guests. Returning to the escort boat we have refreshments and lunch, and have time for a swim in the lagoon. After lunch we paddle across a channel to a lovely bay on a larger island.
We go for a short nature walk to see a large, old ficus tree and other native vegetation. We have heard the odd cry of the small Barking deer and often see monitor lizards clinging to the oyster-encrusted rocks. Returning to the beach, we have time for another swim. We return to our escort boat. There is time for refreshments while the kayaks are loaded, then we make the scenic trip along the east coast of Yao Noi Island to our bungalows. The bungalows are owned by a lovely local family. Ta Khao Bungalows sit in a shallow bay overlooking several small islands. Krabi lies in the distance. Before retiring to our rooms, we pre-order breakfast so it will be ready for us in the morning.
Day 2
After enjoying a Western or Thai-style breakfast, we board our escort boat for a full day of exploration. We go to a group of small islands, transfer to a beach, then get ready to paddle. Each island in this group is within a ten minute paddle of the next one. We paddle around an island, alert for the special features and wildlife of that place. There are a number of beaches where we can rest as desired. Then we´re off to the next island.
We´ll return to our escort boat for lunch and a swim. Our afternoon paddle will be to a very special hong on a lovely island. We generally see Collared and Black-capped kingfishers, and sometimes White-bellied sea eagles will be lurking inside. There are many orchids in this hong and we have seen Long-tailed Macaques and Dusky Langurs (both are monkeys) climbing around the cliffs. Then we will paddle around this island, enjoying the great variety of rock formations and the lovely beaches.
We again return to the escort boat and head for the bungalows. As with the previous day, there is time for a rest or a walk along the beach before we meet for dinner. The beach is perfect for late afternoon strolls. The islands in view offer great photo opts in the late afternoon lighting
Day 3
Today is a special treat . We head out to explore an extensive area of mangroves. We explore different channels through this unique ecosystem. This is a remarkable area, a real highlight of the trip. Thailand ´s remaining mangrove forests are the breeding ground and nursery for much of the marine life in the ocean. And many creatures come to the mangroves to feed on the young fish, shrimp and crabs hiding among the root systems. We can, usually at lower tide levels, see the ´mud skipper´, a fish whose lungs can extract oxygen from the air as well as from the water. They love to crawl around on the mud flats, and even climb the exposed roots of the mangrove trees.
Your trip leader will give more knowledge of the adaptive mechanisms that allow the mangroves to thrive in low-oxygen mud, flooded daily by saltwater. We paddle slowly through an area where we have seen Buffy fish owls and Dusky langurs, and have heard the unforgettable sound of gibbons making their morning calls. We return for lunch aboard the escort boat, and have time for a swim or practicing different paddle strokes and assisted rescues.
Then it is time to head back for Phuket. We stop briefly to view gibbons that have been raised in captivity and released on certain islands. It is rare to see gibbons this close. We´re back on Phuket by approximately 4:00 p.m. and meet taxis which return our guests to their hotels. Notes: Exact itinerary will vary with tide levels and times of year. In the event of strong winds that sometimes occur in low season, we can stay on the lee (protected side) of islands, depending on the needs of each group. This flexibility allows our Phang Nga Bay tour to be offered year ´round. This is the advantage of having skilled trip leaders for whom safety is always the primary consideration.
No experience is needed for any of our trips. The majority of our guests have never paddled before. No problem, we´ll teach you proper paddling technique. Our trips are all-inclusive: all transfers (airfare not included), all equipment, accommodations once on the trip, all meals, all snacks, all non-alcoholic drinks and insurance.
Level : very easy
Season : all year
