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Located immediately
north of Phuket, Phang-nga is renowned for its
island-studded bay of haunting natural beauty
whereby it is ringed by limestone mountains.
Typically, you approach this wondrous seascape
down a river estuary where mangrove swamps evoke
a primeval mood and this place is usually packed
with day trippers coming from Phuket although
many visitors are known to stay overnight as
well.
The eeriness takes a dramatic
turn as the estuary widens and the bay is
suddenly revealed sprouting countless, weirdly
shaped limestone outcrops swathed in tangles of
creepers and shrubs. Some rise sheer from the
water, others are humped or jagged and all
present an unearthly aspect. One is particularly
famous which is known as the 'James Bond Island'
as it was the
location for the movie 'The Man With the Golden
Gun'. The main activity here is to join a boat
tour through Ao Phang-Nga, a beautiful bay of
mangrove forests and limestone caves or you can
go to visit a traditional Muslim fishing
village.
A different
attraction awaits off the northern shores of
Phang-nga, where the waters around the Similan
and Surin island groups present ideal conditions
for scuba diving, the underwater world teeming
with tropical fish and abounding in breathtaking
coral formations or join a kayak tour which is
arranged by the many travel agents in Phuket.
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