Ko Panyi, also spelled “Koh Panyee”, is one of the most fascinating cultural destinations in southern Thailand. This floating village is built almost entirely over water in the center of Phang Nga Bay, surrounded by towering limestone cliffs and dense mangrove forests.

Unlike resorts or purpose-built tourist attractions, Ko Panyi is a functioning Muslim fishing community where children go to school, fishermen head to sea before sunrise, and families have lived for generations on wooden platforms above the water. Visiting Koh Panyi lets travelers experience both the dramatic marine landscape of Phang Nga Bay and authentic village life in one journey.

History, Culture & Life in Thailand’s Floating Village

Where Ko Panyi Is Located in Thailand

Ko Panyi is located in Phang Nga Province, northeast of Phuket and northwest of Krabi. It sits inside Ao Phang Nga National Park, an area famous for its sheer limestone pinnacles rising vertically from shallow water. The village is built around the base of a towering limestone wall, with houses, shops, walkways, restaurants, and public buildings extending outward over the sea on stilts.

There is no bridge to Ko Panyi. Access is only by boat, which shapes almost every part of daily life. Food, building supplies, fuel, and school materials are delivered over water. Local residents commute by longtail boat. During low tide, mudflats are exposed beneath the buildings, which reveals how elevated the village really is.

Ko Panyi’s central location inside Phang Nga Bay makes it easy to combine with nearby attractions such as James Bond Island, Hong Island sea caves, and Samet Nangshe Viewpoint. That convenience, combined with its remarkable construction, explains why Ko Panyi has become one of the most famous floating villages in Southeast Asia.

History of Ko Panyi & How the Floating Village Was Built

Ko Panyi was founded more than two centuries ago by three Muslim fishing families from Indonesia, who migrated north in search of productive fishing grounds. At the time, foreign settlers weren’t permitted to own land in Thailand. Rather than abandoning the area, the families used their maritime knowledge to build over water instead of on land.

They constructed wooden platforms supported by stilts driven into the seabed. Homes were built on top, then linked with narrow walkways. As the community grew, new structures extended outward, and Ko Panyi gradually became a complete village above the water, with a mosque, school, shops, and later restaurants.

Electricity, fresh water systems, and mobile reception were added much later. Even today, the village retains its maritime orientation. Fishing remains culturally central, though tourism now provides additional income through restaurants, boat services, and handicrafts.

That relationship with the water has also shaped everyday life in creative ways. One of the best examples is the village’s iconic floating football pitch. With no usable land for a sports field, local children built their own from scrap wood and discarded fishing materials. What started as a simple solution became a powerful symbol of ingenuity, and today the floating pitch is one of the most recognizable icons of Phang Nga Bay.

What Daily Life Looks Like in Ko Panyi

Ko Panyi is home to roughly 1,500 - 2,000 residents, mostly descendants of the original families. The majority of villagers follow Islam, and the village mosque is a landmark easily seen from the water. Calls to prayer mark the rhythm of daily life. Schoolchildren wear uniforms and commute across the wooden walkways. Fishing traps and nets line sections of the platforms. Small convenience shops operate beside seafood restaurants built over water.

Because Ko Panyi is a working village and not a tourist stage, travelers see ordinary things happening in an extraordinary setting: laundry drying above the tide, fishermen cleaning nets beside floating cages, families transporting goods by longtail boat. Understanding that Ko Panyi is first a home, and second a tourist destination, makes visiting it a much more rewarding experience.

How to Get to Ko Panyi from Phuket

Longtail boat trips to Ko Panyi depart from Surakul Pier on the Phang Nga mainland, which is the closest and most convenient access point to the floating village. To get there from Phuket, you can travel independently by scooter or rental car, which gives you full control over timing, allows you to avoid peak tour crowds, and lets you combine Ko Panyi with other stops in Phang Nga Bay.

The scooter ride from Phuket Old Town to Surakul Pier takes around 90 minutes. The route follows paved highways and rural roads that are generally in good condition. However, some sections near the mainland involve heavier truck traffic and occasionally uneven surfaces, so travelers without much scooter experience may feel more comfortable renting a car or booking a private van instead.

Once you arrive at Surakul Pier, you’ll find local boatmen offering private longtail boat trips to Ko Panyi. Prices aren’t fixed and often start higher than they should, especially for tourists, so it’s important to barter a bit. Costs vary based on season, demand, and how many people are in your group, but you should always negotiate confidently and politely, as it’s common for travelers to be quoted inflated prices here.

Most longtail boats provide life jackets, but it’s still worth checking before you leave the pier. During windy weather or throughout the monsoon season, routes and travel time may be adjusted for safety, so staying flexible with timing is helpful.

Ko Panyi - Longtail Boat Trip — *Longtail boat ride*

Ko Panyi - Boat Trip — *Longtail boat ride*

The Longtail Boat Journey Through Phang Nga Bay

Leaving Surakul Pier, the longtail boat heads straight into the mangrove waterways of Phang Nga Bay, moving over calm, shallow water that gradually opens up into wider channels. Almost immediately, the scenery becomes dramatic. Limestone formations rise ahead in the distance, growing larger as you approach Ko Panyi, and the sense of scale increases with every minute of the ride.

The journey to Ko Panyi typically takes 20 - 30 minutes, depending on tides and weather conditions. As you draw closer, the village reveals itself in a striking sequence. First, an enormous limestone cliff dominates the skyline, forming a natural wall behind the community. Then the mosque comes into view, followed by clusters of wooden houses built above the water, connected by platforms and walkways. Beyond the village, more limestone karsts sit scattered across the bay, framing Ko Panyi with one of the most spectacular backdrops in all of Thailand.

Ko Panyi - Mangroves — *Mangroves of Phang Nga Bay*

Ko Panyi - Phang Nga Bay — *Mangroves of Phang Nga Bay*

Ko Panyi - Limestone Karsts — *Mangroves of Phang Nga Bay*

Ko Panyi - Mangrove Waterways — *Mangroves of Phang Nga Bay*

Arriving & Navigating Ko Panyi

Longtail boats normally dock at floating piers or restaurant platforms. From there, wooden walkways lead into the main village. Paths are narrow and sometimes uneven, but they are easy to follow. Travelers with reduced mobility can still visit sections of the village, though full access is limited due to tight alleyways and corners.

Signs guide visitors to the football pitch, mosque area, school, and restaurants. Beneath the walkways, you can observe tidal changes and see how the structures are anchored.

Ko Panyi - Landscape — *Limestone wall of Ko Panyi*

Ko Panyi - Viewpoints — *Arriving at Ko Panyi*

6 Best Things To Do in Ko Panyi

Most travelers spend two to three hours in Ko Panyi, which is enough time to walk the main pathways, eat lunch, and experience the highlights without feeling rushed. Here’s the most natural order to experience the village:

1. Walk the Wooden Pathways & Explore Village Life

The first thing you’ll do after arriving is walk straight into the narrow wooden pathways that run through the village. These walkways take you past homes, floating fish farms, family spaces and everyday life unfolding above the tide. Many houses have small terraces overlooking the water, and it’s fascinating to see how daily routines adapt to life on platforms.

Ko Panyi - Arrival Platform — *Ko Panyi*

2. Visit Local Shops and Support the Community

As you continue deeper into Ko Panyi, you’ll come across small shops selling dried seafood snacks, drinks, clothing and souvenirs. Buying something small directly supports local families, many of whom balance tourism with fishing incomes. It’s a simple but meaningful way to contribute to the village economy.

3. Visit the School and Its Colorful Sports Area

Further inside the village, you’ll reach the school - one of the most interesting insights into real life in Ko Panyi. You can often see into open classrooms, watch children playing between lessons, and view the bright, colorful football pitch attached to the school (different to the floating pitch). It’s energetic, lively and a genuine window into childhood in a floating village in Thailand.

Ko Panyi - School — *School at Ko Panyi*

Ko Panyi - Local Kids at School — *School at Ko Panyi*

4. See the Famous Floating Football Pitch

Not far from the school area is Ko Panyi’s iconic floating football pitch. Originally built from scrap wood by local children, it has since been upgraded but still floats above the water. If you visit in the late afternoon, there’s a good chance you’ll see kids playing, and watching quietly from the edges provides a powerful travel moment.

Ko Panyi - Floating Football Pitch — *Floating football pitch*

5. Eat Fresh Seafood Over the Water

Most visits naturally end with lunch overlooking the bay. Restaurants line the seaward edge of Ko Panyi, offering shaded seating with panoramic views of Phang Nga’s limestone karsts. Expect fried fish with garlic and pepper, spicy seafood soups, steamed crab, grilled prawns and vegetables, all halal and freshly prepared. Prices are slightly higher than mainland street food but reasonable considering the location.

Ko Panyi - Andaman Restaurant — *Restaurants of Ko Panyi*

6. Learn About Local Culture and Daily Realities

Throughout your walk, conversations add depth to the experience. Speaking with a restaurant owner, guide or local resident often leads to interesting insights about religion, schooling, fishing and how the village is built and maintained. English is spoken at a basic level in most restaurants and by many younger residents, making interactions surprisingly easy.

Visiting Ko Panyi on a Phang Nga Bay Day Trip

Combining Ko Panyi with other Phang Nga Bay attractions turns the day into a far richer adventure, blending culture, scenery and exploration into one unforgettable experience. After returning from Ko Panyi by longtail boat, many travelers continue by road to Samet Nangshe Viewpoint, which is roughly a 30-minute drive from the pier.

The road leads through quiet countryside before reaching the base of the viewpoint hill. From here, the final ascent is steep and not ideal for standard vehicles or inexperienced riders, but pickup trucks shuttle visitors up the last section. Once you reach the top, a sweeping panorama opens across the mangrove estuary and the limestone islands of Phang Nga Bay - the same seascape you cruised through earlier, now viewed from above.

Nearby, Bay View Cafe at Sametnangshe Boutique sits just above the viewing platforms and provides air-conditioning, shade, and drinks overlooking the same breathtaking scenery. After sunset, the return journey toward Phuket requires more care due to reduced lighting, so many travelers choose to leave while there is still some natural light.

Ko Panyi - Samet Nangshe Viewpoint — *Samet Nangshe Viewpoint*

Samet Nangshe Viewpoint - Ko Panyi — *Samet Nangshe Viewpoint*

*Bay View Cafe at Sametnangshe Boutique*

Views from Sametnangshe Boutique — *Views from Bay View Cafe*

Booking Ko Panyi Tours from Phuket

Organized tours from Phuket are the simplest way to visit Ko Panyi. Many James Bond Island tours and Phang Nga Bay itineraries include a lunch stop in Ko Panyi. Tours generally provide hotel transfers, national park fees, English-speaking guides, and structured schedules.

Speedboat tours allow travelers to cover more distance quickly. Catamarans offer more stability and comfort, especially for families or travelers prone to seasickness. And private longtail boat tours are slower but more atmospheric and allow flexible timing to avoid crowds.

Lunch on tour itineraries is normally served at one of the larger restaurants in Ko Panyi. Some tours offer kayaking in mangrove lagoons or sea caves at Hong Island or Panak Island before or after visiting the village.

Travelers who dislike rigid schedules may prefer private arrangements, while first-time visitors or those short on time often find group tours stress-free and straightforward.

When to Visit Ko Panyi: Weather & Seasonality

The peak season for visiting Ko Panyi runs from November to April, when rainfall is minimal, skies are clearer, and sea conditions are generally calm. This is also the busiest period, especially around December and January.

From May to October, the southwest monsoon brings more frequent rain. However, showers are often brief, and Phang Nga Bay is relatively protected compared to the Andaman Sea’s outer islands. Boat trips still operate on most days, canceling only when conditions are unsafe.

Midday heat can be intense year-round. Visiting during the morning or late afternoon makes walking through the floating village more comfortable and less crowded. Cloudy days often produce excellent photography conditions due to softer light.

Ko Panyi - Fishing Village with Mosque — *Ko Panyi*

Practical Tips for Visiting Ko Panyi

Bring cash as card payments aren’t accepted everywhere.
Negotiate longtail boat prices at Surakul Pier before departure.
Wear modest clothing appropriate for a Muslim community.
Choose sturdy footwear suitable for wet or uneven wooden surfaces.
Carry water, sunscreen, and a hat during hotter months.
Check weather forecasts during monsoon season and stay flexible.
Supervise children closely near edges and floating platforms.
Buy from local shops or eat locally to contribute directly to the community.

Why Ko Panyi Belongs on Your Thailand Itinerary

Ko Panyi isn’t remarkable simply because it floats, it’s remarkable because it’s home to a real community. Families live, study, work and raise children here in a setting most people would never consider practical, yet daily life continues to thrive.

Visiting this floating village in Thailand is meaningful not just for the views, but for what it shows you about problem-solving, resilience and how communities adapt to their environment. It offers a first-hand look at coastal life shaped entirely by geography, history and necessity.

Ko Panyi - Karsts — *Limestone karsts surrounding Ko Panyi*

Ko Panyi (Koh Panyee): How to Visit Thailand’s Iconic Floating Village