John Gray's Hong by Starlight with Sea Cave Kayaking and Loy Krathong Floating
Overview
Enjoy an afternoon of sea cave exploring in Phang Nga Bay, including the limestone caves and hidden cliff-lined lagoons discovered by John Gray in 1989. Expect a great nature and wildlife adventure with an experienced guide and enjoy the best Thai seafood buffet during your holiday aboard the convenient escort boat. Finish your trip after dark by floating your own self-made flower “Kratong” in a spiritual and spectacular natural light show.
Inclusions
- 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
- Kayak equipment including a dry bag
- Basic accident insurance
- National Park entrance fee
- Professional and experienced English speaking guide
- Life jacket
What to expect
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: John Gray's Sea Canoe, Phuket Town, Phuket 83000 Thailand
This full-day kayak trip from Phuket starts at midday to avoid the crowds, with a convenient pickup service by luxury air-conditioned minivan from the entire Phuket Island. Don’t eat lunch, as you will be served a healthy and nutritious meal onboard the comfortable and modern twin-engine escort boat after leaving from Ao Po Pier. During the boat ride you will watch a raptor show and get a detailed briefing about the nature and geological site of Phang Nga Bay. Learn the basic do’s and don’ts of how to securely enter the caves and hongs.
Start the first kayaking session with your well-educated and experienced guide through limestone caves and lagoons in the dramatic setting at Panak Island. The hand-made kayaks are specially designed for your trip, and you can feel absolutely safe because there was never a capsize, a puncture or any accident. Your professional guide paddles 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 populated with macaques, water monitors, kingfishers, mud-skippers, egrets, sea eagles and brahminy kites. Return to the escort boat and move on to the second island with two more caves and hongs to explore.
You will finish after dark by floating your own self-made flower “Krathong” in a spiritual and spectacular natural light show. Guests say that the evening Loi Kratong ceremony complete with fireflies and dinoflagellates (bio-luminescent plankton) is a 'spiritual experience'.
Eat a delicious seafood/vegan buffet on the trip back, you return to the pier two hours after sunset. Only the highest-quality ingredients are used to prepare the lunch and dinner, 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 & get instructions
• 13:00 - 13:10: Departure 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: Head back to Phuket
• 20:30 - 21:00: Transfer to your hotel
Duration: 10 hours
Stop At: Ao Po Pier, Pak Kret 4007 Pa Klok Rural Road, Pa Khlok, Phuket Thailand
-
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Phang Nga Bay., Ao Phang Nga National Park Thailand
-
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Ko Pa Nak, Ao Phang Nga National Park 82160 Thailand
-
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Ice Cream Cave, Ao Phang Nga National Park 82160 Thailand
-
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Hongs of Phang Nga, Ao Phang Nga National Park Thailand
-
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Koh Panak Cave, Ao Phang Nga National Park Thailand
-
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Pass By: John Grays Sea Canoe Co., LTD., W94G+8GF, Ratsada, Mueang Phuket District, Phuket 83000, Thailand
-
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: John Gray's Sea Canoe, Phuket Town, Phuket 83000 Thailand
This full-day kayak trip from Phuket starts at midday to avoid the crowds, with a convenient pickup service by luxury air-conditioned minivan from the entire Phuket Island. Don’t eat lunch, as you will be served a healthy and nutritious meal onboard the comfortable and modern twin-engine escort boat after leaving from Ao Po Pier. During the boat ride you will watch a raptor show and get a detailed briefing about the nature and geological site of Phang Nga Bay. Learn the basic do’s and don’ts of how to securely enter the caves and hongs.
Start the first kayaking session with your well-educated and experienced guide through limestone caves and lagoons in the dramatic setting at Panak Island. The hand-made kayaks are specially designed for your trip, and you can feel absolutely safe because there was never a capsize, a puncture or any accident. Your professional guide paddles 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 populated with macaques, water monitors, kingfishers, mud-skippers, egrets, sea eagles and brahminy kites. Return to the escort boat and move on to the second island with two more caves and hongs to explore.
You will finish after dark by floating your own self-made flower “Krathong” in a spiritual and spectacular natural light show. Guests say that the evening Loi Kratong ceremony complete with fireflies and dinoflagellates (bio-luminescent plankton) is a 'spiritual experience'.
Eat a delicious seafood/vegan buffet on the trip back, you return to the pier two hours after sunset. Only the highest-quality ingredients are used to prepare the lunch and dinner, 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 & get instructions
• 13:00 - 13:10: Departure 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: Head back to Phuket
• 20:30 - 21:00: Transfer to your hotel
Duration: 10 hours
Stop At: Ao Po Pier, Pak Kret 4007 Pa Klok Rural Road, Pa Khlok, Phuket Thailand
-
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Phang Nga Bay., Ao Phang Nga National Park Thailand
-
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Ko Pa Nak, Ao Phang Nga National Park 82160 Thailand
-
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Ice Cream Cave, Ao Phang Nga National Park 82160 Thailand
-
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Hongs of Phang Nga, Ao Phang Nga National Park Thailand
-
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Koh Panak Cave, Ao Phang Nga National Park Thailand
-
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Pass By: John Grays Sea Canoe Co., LTD., W94G+8GF, Ratsada, Mueang Phuket District, Phuket 83000, Thailand
-
Time of tour
12:00 PM
Meeting point
Ao Por Pier, 3C6M+95Q Andaman Sea, Tambon Pa Klok, Thailand
Traveler pickup is offered
Get picked up from your hotel on the entire Phuket Island. If you are staying on the hill, you have to come to a nearby hotel. The exact pickup time will be confirmed by email after you have made the booking.
Pick-up and drop-off service from/at Phuket Airport is also available. In this case let us know the flight number of arrival/departure flight.
Traveler pickup is offered
Get picked up from your hotel on the entire Phuket Island. If you are staying on the hill, you have to come to a nearby hotel. The exact pickup time will be confirmed by email after you have made the booking.
Pick-up and drop-off service from/at Phuket Airport is also available. In this case let us know the flight number of arrival/departure flight.
Additional information
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Infants must sit on laps
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- To be able to check-in at the pier with the Thailand Marine Department, Please send us a copy of the passport ID page for all travelers. We have to send this information to the Thai Marine Department before the trip starts. It will be handled strictly private and confidential. Without those documents you won't be able to join the trip.
- The tour program is subject to change due to weather & sea conditions
- Most travelers can participate
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 45 travelers
- Face masks required for travelers in public areas
- Face masks required for guides in public areas
- Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
- Social distancing enforced throughout experience
- Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas
- Gear/equipment sanitized between use
- Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized
- Guides required to regularly wash hands
- Regular temperature checks for staff
- Temperature checks for travelers upon arrival
- Proof of COVID-19 vaccination required for travelers
Exclusions
- Hotel pickup from remote locations in Phang Nga, or from private villas/rentals
Ticket delivery
You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start time of the experience.
Sushritha_U
May 2022
This trip was SOOO awesome, easily one of the best things I did in Thailand. My parents (aged 60+) accompanied me on this trip and they had a blast! The guides were so nice and addressed my parents as "Mama" and "Papa" (so cute, haha!) throughout the trip. They made sure my parents felt fully saf...
This trip was SOOO awesome, easily one of the best things I did in Thailand. My parents (aged 60+) accompanied me on this trip and they had a blast! The guides were so nice and addressed my parents as "Mama" and "Papa" (so cute, haha!) throughout the trip. They made sure my parents felt fully safe and had fun! If you're having second thoughts about it, DON'T. This is worth every penny spent! I could keep talking about how wonderful it all was, but it's best experienced. Go ahead and book this trip, you will not regret it. :)848Linzee
May 2022
Today's microsoft picture was of the hongs round Phuket and it took me right back 2013 (couldn't select right date below) when on Christmas Day we (family of 4 with grown up kids) went on John Gray's kayak trip. We have been on many aqueous tropical trips since but this one remains our best exper...
Today's microsoft picture was of the hongs round Phuket and it took me right back 2013 (couldn't select right date below) when on Christmas Day we (family of 4 with grown up kids) went on John Gray's kayak trip. We have been on many aqueous tropical trips since but this one remains our best experience. 1. Its not a early start great for teenagers! 2. Well managed, comfortable and punctual pick up. 3. Great food 4.The hongs were were fabulous exciting unusual, we loved the bats! 5. Everything well organised safe and secure 6. Great swim, play in the water at end of the hong viewing. 7. The twilight activity making our Kratongs was lovely and the phorescence mesmerising. 8. Don't know the exchange rate at the moment but how ever much it is, its worth every baht!katiesS5298XB
May 2022
Amazing tour! This is the second time I have done this tour and would do it again! Food is perfect, so delicious and the team is so friendly, informative and helpful, a must do!!
Amazing tour! This is the second time I have done this tour and would do it again! Food is perfect, so delicious and the team is so friendly, informative and helpful, a must do!!Jackson_L
May 2022
One of the highlights of our trip in Phuket. Met some amazing people onboard and our guide Karee was amazing.
One of the highlights of our trip in Phuket. Met some amazing people onboard and our guide Karee was amazing.samanthag396
May 2022
At first it looked like the tour was going to be busy but then we were informed two boats would be taking us - this meant plenty of space on board! The food was great and in abundance but it would have been nice if some soft drinks were included (even if only offered with dinner). The kayaking is...
At first it looked like the tour was going to be busy but then we were informed two boats would be taking us - this meant plenty of space on board! The food was great and in abundance but it would have been nice if some soft drinks were included (even if only offered with dinner). The kayaking is spectacular, some guides know/talk more than others, and you do get a chance to go off on your own for a bit. It was a super day and the hosts make it very fun!!annabT6161SK
May 2022
We seldom take group tours, but tours like this make us rethink that decision. This was an amazing experience that you owe it to yourself to do. From the pre-tour payment and communication, to the hotel pick up, the tour itself, and drop off back at the hotel, everything was incredible. The organ...
We seldom take group tours, but tours like this make us rethink that decision. This was an amazing experience that you owe it to yourself to do. From the pre-tour payment and communication, to the hotel pick up, the tour itself, and drop off back at the hotel, everything was incredible. The organization and efficiency was beyond belief. You can read a description of the itinerary on their website; I won't take up time in this review with that. But, know that the description is on the one hand spot on, and on the other hand, exceeds even your wildest expectations. We saw other tours on the water, and through our research knew that they were only slightly less expensive, but they were in a completely different league as the awesome John Gray Sea Canoe Tour. Come hungry for adventure, top notch hospitality and service, not to mention two amazing onboard meals. Special thanks to our tour leader Sunny, the amazing cooks, and our personal paddler Ameen.