Koh Panyi
3.5
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view
Top ways to experience Koh Panyi
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
3.5
172 reviews
Excellent
35
Very good
53
Average
42
Poor
26
Terrible
16
Phinaizard
Littlehampton, England, United Kingdom2 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
We were very glad our tour stopped here for lunch and a browse. Reading some of the reviews we were apprehensive however, we were treated to a yummy lunch and given little extras as we are veggie. We then went for a browse. The mosque is beautiful, the shops were quaint and it's generally a great place to see how other people live.
We are so spoilt in the UK. These people live a simple life, fish for their food and do what they need to do to get by. We got some right bargains on some t-shirts and they don't mind a haggle.
Yes there is a smell but I'm sorry not everyone has 5* plumbing!
Really interesting place, do not miss if you want to see and experience other cultures and ways of life.
We are so spoilt in the UK. These people live a simple life, fish for their food and do what they need to do to get by. We got some right bargains on some t-shirts and they don't mind a haggle.
Yes there is a smell but I'm sorry not everyone has 5* plumbing!
Really interesting place, do not miss if you want to see and experience other cultures and ways of life.
Written January 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JohnnyJohnny11
Khao Lak, Thailand152 contributions
Ko Panyi is a Muslim fishermen island. They are as different from sea gypsies as a Wall Street broker from a Navajo shepherd.
Written March 3, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kerri D
Kangaroo Flat, Australia99 contributions
Aug 2018 • Couples
This was part of a tour of island hoping , which provided lunch, since then and even still being back in Australia my husband and myself are still sick, I only got a little sick but my husband very ill from the food, wish we had seen the village before they sat us down to eat, as after walking about , you were able to see the filth that was there, this tour came highly recommended from agency, but wish I had read these reviews would then have not even considered this. I can see why they didn,t want people looking around as my husband saw the kitchen after we had eaten and said it was filthy. And yes there was food in buckets and lots of smelly water . Whole place was the dirtiest part of Phuket even the peasants were cleaner than here. Beware if you do this tour do not eat the food, bring your own lunch. We were probably lucky this was on the tail end of our holiday, but still ruined the final 3 days as we were unable to leave our room. Husband swears now he will not return to Thialand, which is such a pity. We have now been home 4 days and husband has been to doctor here as well as there and was told food poisoning very bad case. Please be aware of what can happen. We only ever eat at restaurants when we travel to Asia, but got caught this time , but when an agency sells it you would think you would be safe. Please take care when travelling. Can otherwise become very uncomfortable for you during your holiday.
Written August 22, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TheShis
Tel Aviv, Israel42,744 contributions
Sep 2013 • Couples
This is yet another tourist trap, which is a mandatory part of so many day trips in the area.
It's a floating Muslim village. Wow.
There's nothing to it at all, and all the locals do is fish all day long and wait for the bigger fish - aka, the tourists - to get caught in their traps.
The food in the village is very average, and the sanitary condition of the restaurants is appalling.
The prices in the so-called "authentic" market are VERY high and the locals, unlike Thais in other markets around the country, do not like to bargain and take offense when you claim their nick-nacks are expensive.
Try to pick a day trip that does not stop for lunch at this village, but rather watches it from afar.
This is a total waste of time.
It's a floating Muslim village. Wow.
There's nothing to it at all, and all the locals do is fish all day long and wait for the bigger fish - aka, the tourists - to get caught in their traps.
The food in the village is very average, and the sanitary condition of the restaurants is appalling.
The prices in the so-called "authentic" market are VERY high and the locals, unlike Thais in other markets around the country, do not like to bargain and take offense when you claim their nick-nacks are expensive.
Try to pick a day trip that does not stop for lunch at this village, but rather watches it from afar.
This is a total waste of time.
Written February 28, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Leesheeleeshee
Los Angeles, CA231 contributions
Jun 2014 • Friends
This is not really a tourist attraction. It's really a small and unique muslim community that live on the water and, I think if you booked any tour to Phang Nga Bay or James Bong Island or anything around that area, the tour may inevitably include this trip. If we just passed by it, I would have been fine looking at it from a far. But you will most likely dock and walk around their community and they expect you to come, because they have all those "I love Phuket"/"I love Thailand" junk ready to sell, and they are hoping that you buy something from them. I'm not sure why these tour operators include this in their itinerary, because it almost feels like trespassing and disrupting their culture and way of life. Just imagine having boatloads of people come in to my house watching, snapping pictures, disrupting peoples daily routines continuously throughout the day. That's pretty annoying, but they allow it and they hope you buy something from them. If you booked a private tour ask them to skip or just pass by it instead.
Written June 21, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
petethatcher
Phuket, Thailand22 contributions
May 2012
This floating village in the middle of the phang nga bay area is somewhat special and only really found in SE Asia. The surrounding dotted islands and landscape have a very strong mystical feel and you feel like you are in Arthur Conan Doyle's Lost World or a scene from Jurassic Park. The Village itself provides some great food perfect for lunch when doing a day trip to see James Bond island etc. The residents of the gypsy village are muslim however, which means alcohol is prohibited so leave your booze on the boat!
Written January 7, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The Wandering Reviewer
Melbourne, Australia12,190 contributions
Aug 2016 • Friends
After the James Bond Island trip, this is where they bring you for lunch. The food wasn't too bad but the best part was being given around an hour to explore the floating village. It's easy to get lost but the locals will help direct you back to the launch.
Scooting through the back of a shop, you find yourself weaving through boardwalks passed vendors, homes, a school and even a mosque.
I felt privileged to be allowed to enter the school during nap time and sat quietly talking to the teacher. Only a few students were awake and smiled when I gave them a little wave. Be respectful people. This is their school and their community and their home.
I would allow at least two hours here to eat lunch and explore. If you're into learning about the locals, maybe even more time.
The tourists do tend to dominate the place but you can get away from them if you try hard enough.
If you want to buy trinkets, it's nice to buy here as it's not an easy life here.
I really enjoyed this place and would return.
Scooting through the back of a shop, you find yourself weaving through boardwalks passed vendors, homes, a school and even a mosque.
I felt privileged to be allowed to enter the school during nap time and sat quietly talking to the teacher. Only a few students were awake and smiled when I gave them a little wave. Be respectful people. This is their school and their community and their home.
I would allow at least two hours here to eat lunch and explore. If you're into learning about the locals, maybe even more time.
The tourists do tend to dominate the place but you can get away from them if you try hard enough.
If you want to buy trinkets, it's nice to buy here as it's not an easy life here.
I really enjoyed this place and would return.
Written November 1, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dldarcy
Columbus, OH154 contributions
Oct 2013 • Family
If you are committed to "touristy" sites then do not go to the Sea Gypsy Village. This is a small village with people trying to get by on what they know - fishing. The people are friendly but distant (as I would be too). We walked back into the village to see what life is like. We enjoyed it and found it to be interesting but it likely wasn't worth making the extra trip. Wear shoes that are closed toes. Women were sitting around shucking clams. Children were running and laughing among stray dogs and chickens. There were some great photo moments.
Written November 6, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
joy o
Phuket, Thailand21 contributions
Oct 2012 • Family
This is a muslim village where you can appreciate how people can live together and be happy in a small area with lot of house and school children play on the concreat play ground above the water, no alcohol allow here, good seafood reastaurant and lot of shops selling dry fishes and cashew nuts at the reasonable price.
Written July 25, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vivian L
Southern Finland, Finland2,393 contributions
Jan 2012 • Solo
Really small village, poor people in conditions we are not accustomed. Plenty of different kind of souvenirs to buy for the tourists also here are available and big restaurants for tourists.
Written January 17, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi there, can you advise what charter company you did the trip through. Thank you
Written January 18, 2018
Hi, anyone can advise, where can i find a tour from Krabi town to just Koh Panyi? like a half-day tour? coz we have already been to James Bond and want to slowly walk around this place. Thanks
Written November 9, 2017
Showing results 1-2 of 2
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing