Hong Island By Starlight
10 hrs
48 hours before the tour
English
Included
Phuket
By Email
Hong Island By Starlight - John Gray Sea Canoe
Since 1983, John Gray Sea Canoes have been gliding across pristine waters, providing visitors with memorable and enlightening ecological adventures. Those brave adventurers who dive in and sign up for a Hong Island By Starlight quickly grasp the meaning of the company’s motto: “We don’t do anything normal!” And it is indeed a well-chosen option, as John Gray tours strive to provide an experience of a lifetime for everyone involved.
John Gray’s Sea Canoe tours, one of ASEAN’s leading companies for kayaking tours in Thailand and beyond, seeks to assist individuals in discovering more about nature using only top-notch resources and ethical methods. The company is highly conscious of its duties to safeguard and defend one of the most magnificent sites in Mother Nature, with a strong emphasis on ecological sensitivity and sustainability. In 2008, John Gray Sea Canoes was honored with a SKAL International Eco Tourism award, and they are now widely recognized and respected in Phuket and beyond. The team puts forth great effort to engage actively and positively with the local community and to give back to the kind-hearted people of Thailand in any way possible.
Video of our Hong Island Tour from Phuket
The Vision
Eco-friendly kayaking tours in Thailand John Gray has been fascinated by nature and worried about environmental issues and humanity's detrimental effects on the planet since he was young. John carries on the ‘activist spirit’ that his cherished mother nurtured within him, and it fuels his ambition to make sure that every aspect of the company remains as natural and harmonious as possible.
Minimize your environmental impact as much as you can.
Take full advantage of the amazing beauty and variety that the area provides.
Make memories that will endure and always elicit a smile John derives immense personal satisfaction and feels a great sense of accomplishment as he observes his esteemed clients excitedly disembarking, filled with gratitude and remarkable memories that will last.
Transfer START from your hotel at Phuket 10:20 AM
12:00: ARRIVE AT AO POR PIER
Board our modern Twin-engine escort boat, Thai style light lunch, trip and safety briefing.
To dodge the crowds, our renowned Entry Trip begins around noon and includes tailored transfers. Skip lunch – we will serve you on our comfortable support boat. Post-lunch, a professional guide will paddle you through the “Tidal Nape Sea Caves” of Phang Nga Bay in our custom kayaks, which are hand-crafted in Oregon by SOTAR, the world’s leading manufacturer of white-water rafts. While the unique experience is dramatic, Caveman’s SOTAR custom kayaks are tailored specifically for your trip. We’ve never overturned, sustained a puncture, or experienced an accident.
13:00: JAMES BOND ISLAND
Khao Phing Kan or Ko Khao Phing Kan, popularly referred to in English as James Bond Island, is located in Phang Nga Bay, northeast of Phuket in Thailand. Ko Ta Pu or Ko Tapu is a 20-metre-tall islet located about 40 metres from the shores of Khao Phing Kan. Crusing and sightseeing from escort boat!
14:00: PANAK ISLAND
Paddle and discover the most renowned island (Panak Island), venture into caves measuring 20-150 m. (dimly lit, lengthy) guide you through the caverns and lagoons, revealing monkeys, bats, walking fish, and remarkable rock formations. Explore 1-2 caves and hongs with your private paddle guide.
15:30: HONG ISLAND
Upon reaching Hong Island, the most renowned island, you will find a circle of rocks in the sea encircling the lagoon. Explore two more caves and hongs with your private paddle guide.
16:45: MAKE YOU OWN KRATONG
We conclude our activities after dark by sending off your personally crafted flower “Kratong” in a magnificent and spiritual natural illumination display. Self-Paddle and swimming.
17:30: THAI BUFFET DINNER
Eating our delicious seafood-vegan buffet on the trip back, you return to the pier two hours after sunset.
18:30: KAYAKING AFTER DARK
Float your Kratong and see Bioluminescent Plankton. Guests describe our evening Loi Kratong ceremony featuring dinoflagellates (bioluminescent plankton) as a “Spiritual Experience”, “Best Trip of our lives-anywhere”, and “Best Thai Food We’ve ever had – and on a boat”.
20:00: BACK TO THE PIER
Arrive at Ao Por pier and transfer back to your hotel.
INCLUDED
- Hotel transfer from Phuket
- Water and soft drinks
- National Park Entrance Fees
- Tour guide (TH, EN)
- Insurance
- Light Lunch & Dinner Buffet
- Seasonal fresh fruits
NOT INCLUDED
- Beach Towel
- Tips
Customer Testimonials
Excellent company for airport transfers & excursions
We booked x2 transfers and the hong by starlight tour a few months before our holiday. Communication was quick and informative, and when we arrived to Thailand, kept regulaly informed by whats app. Transfers were alll on time, with clean and very good sized transport. However the highlight of our whole holiday was the John Gray Sea Canoes trip. A full day out with absolutely stunning scenery, we were allocated a private guide per x2 passengers who were so friendly and informative, taking photos and pointing out wildlife when out on the canoes. The food onboard was the best we have ever had on a boat trip, the coconut milk pudding with rainbow tapioca balls was deemed the best dessert ever by the kids! Making the kratong and floating it at sunset was a beautiful event and the lit up bioluminence after dark in the caves was again a memory we will all trwasuee forever. If you're going to book one trip, make it the John Gray Canoes - you wont regret it!
Excellente journée!
Excellente journée en bateau pour visites les 4 îles, la guide était super sympathique et accueillante. La journée était rythmée mais lorgique avec 4 îles à visiter! Et fin vers 14h30 donc c’est plutôt agréable pour rentrer tranquillement à l’hôtel pas trop tard ! Belle découverte, je recommande!
Ayutthaya
We would like to thank the Phuket Travel Store, especially Sunee for organizing some of our tours in Thailand. The team was really professional and we always had quick replies to our queries. We visited the Palais Royal de Bang Pa-In, in Ayutthaya the Wat Maha That and had a boat tour back to Bangkok with lunch. Our guide was kind and knowledgeable, we had a great day. Everything went well apart from the French guide not being available resulting in last minute changes and the boat/van not being completely wheelchair adapted. With help it was possible. I suggested either a car with a big booth for manual wheelchair users or a van with wheelchair ramp. Thank you for improving accessibility.
Wir wollten zu Zweit relativ kurzfristig einen Ausflug von Khao Lak zu den Similan Islands buchen. Dies privat. Es wurden alle Hebel in Bewegung gesetzt, dass wir 3 Tage später diesen wunderbaren Ausflug machen konnten. Dies war unter den gegebenen Umständen nicht einfach, da Peak Season war und es fast keine Boote mehr hatte, welche gebucht werden konnten. Die Kommunikation mit der Agentin Apple war perfekt. Wir waren immer auf dem neusten Stand. Anpassungen, welche wir noch vorgenommen haben, wurden immer sofort gemacht. Der Ausflug selbst war extrem gut organisiert. Alles hat von A-Z bestens funktioniert. Für mich ist Phuket Travel Store eine klare Empfehlung wert.
Top
Perfekter Service, freundliche und Kompetente Mitarbeiter, wir waren sehr zufrieden mit dem Service, vielen Dank
Frequently Asked Questions
What safety measures are in place?
Full safety briefing conducted before departure
"Sea Excursion" Life jackets, first-aid kit, VHF radio, GPS navigation
"Land Excursion" or "Transfers" All vehicles are regularly inspected and fully licensed, experienced and professional drivers with proper training, Seat belts available in all vehicles and Compliance with all local transport and safety regulations.
Local regulations followed strictly (e.g., respecting ecological preservation zones in in all national parks)
Crew trained in emergency procedures
Can you accommodate special dietary needs?
Yes! We cater to dietary preferences including vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal, and other allergies. Meals can be customized—just let us know when booking if your tour includes breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
What should I pack? Depends your excursion!
Swimwear
Sunscreen (reef-safe recommended)
Hat & sunglasses
Light cover-up or evening jacket
Towel
Waterproof camera or dry bag
Any personal medications
Sport shoes
Deck shoes
Clothing that covers shoulders and knees (e.g., long pants or long skirts and sleeved tops)
What is your cancellation policy?
Full refund up to 48 hours before excursion departure date/time
No refund if canceled less then 48 hours before excursion departure date/time
Can the itinerary be flexible on the day of excursion?
Yes—crew and tour guide will adapt the route based on weather conditions, sea currents, tide level, traffic..etc. They’ll brief you in the morning and adjust the plan for safety and enjoyment.
How do I reserve a excursion?
Easily book your next adventure direct at our website.
Share your desired date, guest count, guest names, pickup place and dietary needs.
Checkout and pay securely online through our trusted encrypted payment gateway.
Your e-ticket and payment confirmation will be sent to your email within seconds.
Which payment methods do you accept?
We accept secure online payments via Red Dot Payment: major cards (Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, Visa Electron, UnionPay), Thai e‑wallets, QR‑based payments, one‑click capture, recurring billing, and e‑invoices.
We accept Google Pay and Apple Pay (Global), and a wide range of popular payment methods across Asia and Oceania.
Powered by PCI‑DSS‑certified Red Dot Payment—enjoy fast, secure payment options: credit/debit cards, local e‑wallets & QR, one‑click payments, subscriptions, and digital invoices.
Pay securely through our trusted Red Dot Payment gateway—choose from cards, e‑wallets, QR payments, subscriptions, one‑click or e‑invoice options.
How far in advance do I need to book?
To secure your trip and preferred time slots—especially during November–April peak season—we recommend booking 2–3 months in advance. However, short-notice charters may be possible depending on availability.
Do your excursions include accident insurance coverage?
Yes, all our excursions include accident insurance coverage for your safety and peace of mind.
Will I receive instant booking confirmation?
You will receive instant confirmation by email as soon as you book and pay for your tour with Phuket Travel Store. Your reservation is immediately secured, and all details are confirmed right after payment.
Can I pay only a deposit for my tour?
Yes. You can secure your booking with a 30% deposit, and pay the remaining balance on your tour date directly with the tour supplier.
Can I book now and pay later?
YES. But due to the high demand and limited availability of some tours, full or deposit payment is recommended at the time of booking to secure your reservation.
