Hostels in Phang Nga, Thailand

Phang Nga is both a town and a province in southern Thailand on the Andaman Sea, on the west side of the Malay Peninsula. It is most well known for the limestone rock formations that rise from the sea - the most notable one is the James Bond rock, famous from The Man With the Golden Gun.

The nearest airport is in Phuket, but there are buses to Phang Nga from both Phuket and Bangkok that will get you to the province. The region is connected to the Phuket region by a bridge, making it easy to get to. Phang Nga is definitely on the Thai backpacker circuit, so there’s plenty of hostel and guesthouse accommodation in and around Phang Nga. Keep in mind that you will likely need to shell out a bit more money for air con, but even the more expensive rooms are less than what you pay in other countries. In Phang Nga, most of the hostels are south of the bus station, either on or just off Phet Kasem Road. Budget accommodation in Phang Nga could be a hostel, guesthouse, inn, or even a budget hotel with a few shared rooms. Its worth asking for a discount in the rainy season, even if it isn’t advertised.

Phang Nga is a good base from which to explore the bay and surrounding mountains and jungle treks; your hostel can help arrange tours for you. There are sea caves, waterfalls, and hot springs. The most popular form of transportation in town is a motorbike, which you can rent in Phang Nga. You cannot hire cars in Phang Nga - you will need to hire a car from Phuket or Krabi if you want one. Nearby attractions include seeing the bay by boat, visiting the Heaven and Hell cave on Tamtapan Road, or exploring the Somdet Phra Srinagarindra Park. Local tip: at the Heaven and Hell cave, climb the steps to the right of the cave entrance for an amazing view over the bay.