Hong by Starlight Sea Cave Kayaking and Loy Krathong Floating

1,080 Ratings

Tambon Pa Klok

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Embark on an exciting sea cave kayaking adventure in Phang Nga Bay, discover hidden lagoons, and enjoy a Thai seafood buffet. End the day with a mesmerizing Loy Krathong ceremony.

Duration: 10 hours

Cancellation: 1 day learn more

Highlights

John Gray’s Sea Canoe - This full-day kayaking adventure from Phuket begins at midday to avoid the crowds, with a convenient pickup service by luxury air-conditioned minivan from anywhere on Phuket Island. Skip lunch, as a healthy and nutritious meal will be served onboard the comfortable and modern twin-engine escort boat after departing from Ao Po Pier. During the boat ride, enjoy a raptor show and receive a detailed briefing about the natural and geological features of Phang Nga Bay. Learn the basic guidelines for safely entering the caves and hongs.

Start the first kayaking session with your knowledgeable and experienced guide through limestone caves and lagoons in the stunning setting of Panak Island. The hand-made kayaks are specially designed for this trip, ensuring safety as there has never been a capsize, puncture, or any accident. Your professional guide will paddle you and your partner through ‘Tidal Nape’ sea caves inside Phang Nga Bay’s marine limestone karstic islands into ‘hongs’ (Thai for room). The hidden cliff-lined lagoons are home to macaques, water monitors, kingfishers, mud-skippers, egrets, sea eagles, and brahminy kites. Return to the escort boat and proceed to the second island with two more caves and hongs to explore.

You will conclude after dark by floating your own self-made flower “Krathong” in a spiritual and spectacular natural light show. Guests describe the evening Loi Kratong ceremony, complete with fireflies and dinoflagellates (bio-luminescent plankton), as a ‘spiritual experience’.

Enjoy a delicious seafood/vegan buffet on the return trip, arriving at the pier two hours after sunset. Only the highest-quality ingredients are used to prepare the lunch and dinner, sourced fresh from the local market. Seafood is net-caught and chickens are free-range. Brown, red, and black rice is served with homemade Massaman curry.

Itinerary:
• 10:30 - 12:00: Hotel pickup service in Phuket
• 12:00 - 13:00: Meet the crew at Ao Po Pier & receive instructions
• 13:00 - 13:10: Depart by escort boat to Phang Nga Bay
• 13:10 - 14:10: Enjoy lunch on board the tour boat
• 14:15 - 16:15: Kayak into the cave at Koh Phanak
• 16:15 - 16:30: Continue to Hong Island
• 16:30 - 17:30: Sightseeing & kayaking at Koh Hong
• 17:30 - 18:15: Free time for relaxing at the beach or kayaking
• 18:15 - 18:45: Make your own Krathong & have dinner on the boat
• 18:45 - 19:15: Float the self-made Krathong in the cave of Phanak Island
• 19:15 - 19:30: See phosphorescent plankton
• 19:30 - 20:30: Return to Phuket
• 20:30 - 21:00: Transfer to your hotel

Ao Po Pier - -
Phang Nga Bay. - -
Ko Pa Nak - -
Ice Cream Cave - -
Hongs of Phang Nga - -
Koh Panak Cave - -
John Gray’s Sea Canoe - -

What's Included

Basic accident insurance
Life jacket
Professional and experienced English speaking guide
National Park entrance fee
Kayak equipment including a dry bag
Hotel round-trip transfer on the entire Phuket island including airport pick-up and drop-off service
Lunch, dinner, bottled water, herbal tea & seasonal fruits
Caveman’s SOTAR sea kayaks

What's Not Included

Hotel pickup from remote locations in Phang Nga, or from private villas/rentals

Additional Information

Experience a day of ocean cavern exploration at Phang Nga Bay, featuring the rock formations and secluded lagoon landscapes uncovered by John Gray in 1989. Anticipate an exceptional journey through nature and wildlife with a knowledgeable guide, and savor the top-tier Thai marine cuisine buffet during your vacation on the comfortably-appointed escort boat. Conclude your journey at nightfall by releasing your personally-assembled floral “Kratong” in an enchanting and spiritual illumination display.

The tour program is subject to change due to weather & sea conditions

Location

Ao Por Pier

Meet at Ao Po Pier in the north-east of Phuket. The exact meeting time will be confirmed by email after you have made the booking.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings

4.9

(1080 Ratings)

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869karap

Aug 1, 2024

Unmissable Thailand experience - One of the best operated tours we’ve been on, they all made sure we were well looked after and informed throughout the day, felt relaxed the whole time. The kayaking and scenery is great, however the highlight was definitely the food served on board, probably our favourite meal we had in Phuket. Our personal kayak guide Armeen was super accomodating and personable, it made our experience feel unique and personal. Can’t recommend the tour & company enough.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Carolyn_m

Jul 30, 2024

Memorable day - The entire day was perfect. The food served was amazing, the trip to the caves with our guide paddling us flawless. Our guide pointed out creatures that lived in the caves and he offered to take pictures of a viper for us. Everyone was so kind.

Review provided by Viator

Stay641595

Jul 23, 2024

Best experience ever! - John Gray tour’s was one of the most funnest experiences I’ve ever had in my life. I highly recommend it. Friends of mine did the tour 20 years ago with John Gray himself and raved about it. I was astonished to find it was still going. Sonney who ran our day is an absolute legend. He’s been there for over twenty years and he actually trained under John back in the day. Sonney’s energy was contagious and his passion to ensure everyone has a great experience was phenomenal. (He also kept calling me Sharon Stone which was hilarious). Big shout out to our personal guide Adam who was fantastic and made the whole experience such a great one. Woody was also great value and made us laugh a lot. Communication leading up to the experience was top notch. The food was absolutely sensational. My husband can’t tolerate gluten and they went out of their way to provide him with his own special meal. Kayaking through the caves that opened out into the beautiful lagoons was something you’ve got to see to believe. At times we had to lie flat to get through but it was so much fun and we felt safe in our guide’s expert hands. The day was capped off perfectly by making floral tributes that we then set free in the water while making a wish. The air was barmy, the water calm, the reflection of the candles mesmerising—such a beautiful moment. And to top it off, our guide then waved his paddle in the water triggering an explosion of bioluminescence!! We sat there for ten minutes waving our hands in the water creating our own spellbinding waves of sparkling blue stars. It was one of the most magical moments I’ve ever experienced!! Our guide then paddled to another spot where he jumped into the sea and collected a bundle of water into his shirt and then when he lifted it, a galaxy of blue stars lit up inside. I’ve never seen anything so beautiful. I tried to capture it with my camera but it only showed a tenth of how spectacular it was. All in all it’s one of the best trips I’ve ever done.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Priscilla_b

Jul 15, 2024

The Gift that Keeps on Giving - Because of Viator's well-organized site with feedback, I was able to fully enjoy hours-long kayaking experiences led by Mr. Yiu (sp?) and his amazing crew (I see you, Mr. Luis!). I wanted a day tour to capture some of Phuket's natural wonders and this day tour did not disappoint. There was excitement going through watery caves lined with millenia of shells stuck together, marking infinite time. Those shells are wicked sharp, so I made sure to lay completely prone in the kayak so my face didn't undergo facial reconstruction with a random nick. Navigators would call out to the monkeys high up on the mountainous rock ledges to see if they'd make a appearance (some did at dusk). We were warned to never bring food like bananas, because the food bearer would risk loss of fingers, nose (maybe worse) when the monkeys would come down and take the food by force. No thank you! The food was yummy and special attention was given to those of us with food restrictions. I had an absolute blast finding shapes like elephants and alligators and snakes (oh my!) in the various rock structures. And finding pockets of orchids (some with SCENT), growing on trunks or on mossy rocks--was MIND BLOWING. Toward dusk we went back into dark sections of a cave to light up our floral orchid arrangement (loy krathong) that we helped make (it was mainly the artistry of the staff to turn the petals into birds, though). My prayer of not falling into water was answered. When we blew out our loy krathongs we were delighted to splash the water to experience the bioluminescence of the microorganisms (plankon?). We even got to see a bit of the moon on our final journey back to our boat. The sea water, combined with food, heat and humidity made it a struggle to keep my eyes open on the way back to our shuttles. The fact that I was picked up directly from the airport to participate in the tour--and then brought to the hotel at the end of the tour--demonstrates just how organized and efficient this outfit is run. There were 43 participants, representing various groups and languages --and we were all taken care of. I cannot express enough my gratitude and appreciation for my first introduction to Thailand.

Review provided by Viator

Yvonnep937

Jul 11, 2024

Best tour in Phuket - The tour was amazing with stunning view, great people and delicious food! The staff were very helpful and nice especially our guide, Sammi! He is very funny, educational and caring. We had a wonderful time and enjoyed the tour so much.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Charlesetienne_t

Jul 10, 2024

Phang Nga adventure - Amazing views, amazing staffs and amazing food. My wife and I had a wonderful time and recommend this adventure to everyone. Enjoy!!

Review provided by Viator

Melanielocklear76

Jul 10, 2024

Beautiful tradition and excellent food. - What a fantastic day. We were fed a delicious lunch soon after our departure. As we traveled to the location of the caves/lagoons. The guides pick up local fishermen who assist the staff in paddling the sea kayaks while you enjoy the scenery. We swam in the water and had a lot of fun with the group. The kids on board were enthusiastic and entertaining. We then built our krathongs (water spirit blessings). They were beautiful and so many unique designs. Then it was dinner time and after dark we lite our blessings and floated them. We then saw the bio illuminating plankton. All and all a great experience. Highly recommend. Take a video as you exit the cave into the lagoon. It’s beautiful!

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Mark_j

Jun 26, 2024

The best cave kayaking trip - Excellent day night trip with great kayaking through the caves. Loved the food for lunch, afternoon tea and dinner. We have been on this trip twice and the format is different depending on the tides.

Review provided by Viator

Ceecee144

Jun 25, 2024

A great day out made by the great tour guides! - I would highly recommend to this trip whilst in Phuket! It’s a long day but it’s well organised with thoughtful and kind tour guides. Our guide Mr Book was funny, educational and great fun! The flower arranging felt very special. Amazing to see the plankton too. Thank you to the chefs for catering to vegetarian diet!

Review provided by Tripadvisor

A1926rvjackd

Jun 19, 2024

10/10 Recommend - The guides were excellent. The food was delicious. The activities were engaging. The views were spectacular. 10/10 recommend. Absolute favorite activity in Phuket

Review provided by Tripadvisor

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up to 15 guests

1 Adult