Koh Panyi Sea Gypsy Village

8° 20.1′ N · 98° 30.2′ E

A Muslim fishing village of about 1,600 people, founded around 1880 and built almost entirely on stilts beneath Koh Panyi's sheer cliffs. Only the mosque and the graveyard stand on land.

Phuket & Phang Nga Bay Koh Lanta to Koh Lipe Koh Samui & the Gulf of Thailand

Practical

Coordinates from Wikipedia. Despite the 'sea gypsy' name the residents are Muslim fishermen; dress modestly and don't bring alcohol ashore. Up to 3,000 tour visitors crowd the lunch-time restaurants, and peace returns in the late afternoon. A January 2025 cruising crew found the tour restaurants closed by about 6pm, so come in the morning before the tour boats, or land early for dinner. The walkways hold shops selling pearls, shells and coconut bowls, and a market sells basics such as medicine and toiletries. The village is inside the park boundary but not run by the park. The Southeast Asia Pilot notes cave drawings on the east side of Khao Khian to the north.

Best for

Wandering the stilt lanes once the day-trippers have gone

Practical

Best for

Nearby