Koh Phanak Hongs and Caves

8° 10.5′ N · 98° 29.3′ E · approximate

Koh Phanak is honeycombed with sea caves and hidden hongs. Thai National Parks lists Ice Cream, Phanak, Diamond, Oyster, Khang Khao (bat) and Mangrove caves, and one bat cave can be entered by dinghy, with hundreds of large bats hanging from the roof.

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

Practical

Position approximate: the narrow tidal cave the Southeast Asia Pilot describes lies next to the Southwest Bay anchorage (08°10.487N 98°29.230E), and this point marks the shore beside it. That cave is kayak-only for about one hour around mid-tide; miss the window and you either drag out over the mud or wait about six hours inside the hong. The Pilot calls it worth the risk. In January 2025 a cruising crew took their dinghy into the bat cave in a lull between tour boats but found the water too high to exit into the hong. Don't run outboards inside caves or hongs, because the fumes and noise disturb the bats. Wear a rash guard near mangrove roots (see the jellyfish warning). Inside the national park, so fees apply.

Best for

Dinghy and kayak caving: bats, hongs and tide-timed tunnels

Practical

Best for

Nearby