Avatar Path Tour to Phang Nga from Phuket

What the Avatar tour includes

The highlight of every option is the panorama over Phang Nga Bay, where limestone islands rise from the water like the floating mountains of Pandora. From the viewpoint the day moves on to the Monkey Cave and Wat Suwan Khuha, a cave temple with a reclining Buddha, stalactites and bats; you can feed the wild monkeys if you like. At the sea gypsy village you board a traditional longtail boat for a trip through the mangrove channels, then sit down to a seafood lunch with crab, prawns, fish, squid and tom yum. In the afternoon you meet elephants: a ride, bathing and a baby elephant show.

Comparing the three options

Amazing Phang Nga is the classic Avatar tour: a pickup-truck ride up to Samet Nangshe viewpoint, one of two temples (the Black Monk temple or the Temple of Heaven and Hell), a waterfall stop and the airplane beach at Mai Khao at the end of the day. Amazing Phang Nga + glass bridge follows the same route but swaps Samet Nangshe for the Beyond Skywalk glass bridge.

Avatar + glass bridge + bamboo rafts starts with the airplane beach in the morning, goes up the Beyond Skywalk, and instead of the extra temple and waterfall adds a bamboo raft float down a jungle river before the elephant village. Choose it if you want a more active afternoon on the water.

Who it suits

There are no speedboats on this Phang Nga tour, which makes it a comfortable option for families and for travellers who get seasick. Pregnant guests can take part, but should skip the elephant ride.

Tips for the day

It is a long day — you return to your hotel in the evening — so bring water, sunscreen, insect repellent and a hat. Pack clothes that can get wet for the elephants and something covering the shoulders for the temples. Keep small change for the reclining Buddha temple entrance, which is paid on the spot. Timing may shift at the guide's discretion.