Hong Island Tour in Phuket, Thailand with Bioluminescent Plankton

FOR: All Phuket visitors. Rated tops on Trip Advisor!

WARNING: The first one isn’t “Free” but you may become addicted to ‘’John Gray’s Natural History By Sea Kayak”.

Experience the Hong by Starlight tour, John Gray’s Sea Canoes’ most-loved evening adventure through Phang Nga Bay’s ancient sea caves, hidden lagoons and bioluminescent plankton in Phuket. It’s consistently rated one of the top Phuket experiences on TripAdvisor, and it’s not hard to see why.

As Caveman himself says: “This is just the intro trip.”

Explore Phang Nga Bay by Canoe

This Hong Island tour from Phuket departs mid-day, deliberately avoiding the morning crowds. Your canoeing in Phuket adventure begins aboard a comfortable support boat, where lunch is served before you head out into the bay.

A professional guide then paddles you through Phang Nga Bay’s tidal sea caves in custom-designed SOTAR kayaks, hand-built in Oregon by the world’s premier white-water raft manufacturer. These kayaks are purpose-built for sea cave exploration, and in over four decades of touring, there’s never been a capsize, puncture, or accident.

You’ll glide through tidal passages into hidden cliff-lined lagoons, or ‘Hongs’ (Thai for ‘room’), that John Gray found in 1989. Wildlife is never far away. Keep an eye out for macaques, water monitors, kingfishers, sea eagles, and Brahminy Kites along the limestone walls.

Discover Bioluminescent Plankton in Phuket

As darkness falls, the real magic begins. Guests float their own hand-made flower Kratong as part of a spiritual Loi Kratong-style ceremony, before watching the waters come alive with dinoflagellates, the bioluminescent plankton that make this kayak tour to Hong Island truly unlike anything else in Thailand.

Past guests have called it a “spiritual experience” and “the best trip of our lives, anywhere.”

Why Choose John Gray’s Sea Canoe Tour?

John Gray’s Sea Canoe Phang Nga Bay by Starlight is the original. Widely copied, never matched. Here’s what sets it apart:

• Rated top on TripAdvisor by thousands of guests
• Mid-day departure avoids the crowds entirely
• Custom SOTAR kayaks designed specifically for cave kayaking in Phuket
• Professional guides with deep knowledge of the local environment
• Luxury mini-van transfers are included from anywhere on Phuket island
• No prior paddling experience needed

What’s Included in the Hong by Starlight Tour

After the caves, guests return to the support boat for a freshly prepared seafood and vegan buffet. Every ingredient is sourced daily: net-caught seafood, free-range chicken, and brown, red, and black rice served with homemade Massaman curry. It’s real food, cooked with care, and guests consistently say it’s the best Thai food they’ve had anywhere, let alone on a boat.

You return to the pier around two hours after sunset, full, and with memories that don’t fade.

What to bring: swimwear, a towel, dry and warm clothes for the return journey, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Dry bags are provided for your belongings.

For other ways to explore the bay, take a look at our day tours in Phuket or browse the full kayak trip to Hong Island details to check availability and pricing.