Southern Thailand is renowned for its world class watersports. The Andaman Ocean around Phuket, Krabi and Phi Phi has long been a hot scuba diving spot. However, more modern types of watersports are becoming popular, including sea kayaking. Due to the craggy coastline of the area around Phang Nga Bay, which has formed dozens of sea level caves, a day trip out kayaking in this area is part watersports, part exploration.

The most popular kayaking location is Hong Island, which is situated inside the Phang Nga Bay National Park. If the tides are right, you can take a kayak or canoe right inside many of the caves that make up part of the shoreline of the island. Many of the kayaking tours available offer an overnight stay. Most usually the cave exploration will only form part of the day’s adventures. The extensive mangroves swamps usually make up another part of the trip, exploring the natural wildlife which abounds in this environment. In the evening, a beach BBQ is usually lit, and a Thai style supper served, as the sun sets. As darkness falls the complete lack of artificial light out in the mangroves means that the night sky is clearly visible, bathing the visitor in moonlight.

This kind of kayaking trip may sound somewhat strenuous. However, the sea around Phang Nga Bay and Hong Island is usually quite calm and little effort is required to keep a kayak moving steadily through the water. The only potential health hazard is sunburn, so make sure you bring plenty of sun block along, as well as a shady hat.