If you look at a map of Phang Nga Bay, it seems almost unbelievable that a real village could exist in the middle of the water. Yet Koh Panyi has been proving otherwise for more than 200 years. This small settlement is built entirely on stilts directly above the sea.
What is Koh Panyi
Koh Panyi is a historic fishing village founded by Malay settlers. The history of the village began in the late 18th century. The first residents built their homes directly over the sea not only because it was convenient for fishing. At that time, foreigners were not allowed to own land in Thailand, so the settlers found a creative solution by building their community on stilts in a sheltered bay.
Many houses in Koh Panyi have stood on wooden stilts for several decades. During high and low tides, the water level rises and falls, but life in the village continues as usual, and from an early age, children learn to move confidently along the wooden walkways and travel by boat.
Today, around 1,500 people live in Koh Panyi, and most of them are still involved in fishing and tourism. This is not a tourist attraction but a real residential community with its own school, mosque, market, and the everyday life of local residents.
How to Get to Koh Panyi
Koh Panyee is included in selected tours to the Phi Phi Islands, James Bond Island, and Phang Nga National Park, Samet Nangshe. You can also find all tours that include a visit to Koh Panyee listed below.
Things to Do in Koh Panyi
While exploring Koh Panyi, you can visit small souvenir shops, enjoy fresh seafood and traditional Thai dishes, and see how people live in a community that literally exists above the water.
The village has a school, a medical clinic, small shops, cafes, and guesthouses. There are no cars here, and the main means of transportation are traditional long-tail boats.
One of Koh Panyi's most unusual landmarks is its floating football field. It was built by the villagers themselves using old wooden planks and fishing rafts, and over time, the local youth team became one of the strongest in the region.
The main attraction here is not a list of sights but the atmosphere itself. As you walk through the village, you can observe the daily lives of local residents, see fishing boats moored beside their homes, visit the local market, and experience one of the most unusual settlements in Thailand.
A visit to Koh Panyi is a unique opportunity to discover a different side of Thailand — quiet, authentic, and completely unlike the country's familiar beach resorts.
To visit the Koh Panyee Sea Gypsy Village on a private tour rather than as part of a group excursion, simply contact us via WhatsApp or Telegram, and we'll be happy to tell you about the available options.
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