Hong By Starlight: Sea Cave Kayaking And Loy Krathong Floating

Wow! What a fantastic day on the water. The excursion was extremely well run and organized. Our kayak guide was excellent in all respects the lunch and dinner that they serve on the boat is ample and good quality. I recommend this to her to anyone who loves nature the sea caves and cliffs were fantastic!

We attended this Tour on 23 Oct 26 and enjoyed it very much. Everything ran on time, was well organized and the guides were very friendly and informative. I highly recommend this tour to anyone.

From start to finish this trip was amazing! We were picked up on time and went directly to the meeting point where you could grab a snack or a cold beverage while waiting to board the boat. The guides were so nice and fun and funny. By the end of the trip you feel like everyone in the group both guides and guests are friends! The explanation of things is thorough and understandable. The caves and lagoons are very beautiful and unique. There were multiple opportunities for us to learn about the animal life and environment. We saw monkeys, mud skippers, and water monger. We were able to swim and enjoy the water on multiple stops. The food was delicious and plentiful. The Loy Krathong is a beautiful touch and made it very memorable to build as a family. The bioluminescence at the end was the grand finale for my 15 yr old who was dying to see it. If you have never seen it before it is beautiful to see! All in all this was a spectacular day and I am so glad that we decided to book it! Just getting out on the water for the day to explore the 150 islands is breathtaking. Don’t hesitate, book this trip with this tour company and look no more. Thanks for an amazing experience!

We had a brilliant time kayaking in and out of lagoons and caves. Floated a flower display in the bat cave and the sight of the luminescent plankton was a bonus. Lunch and dinner on board with fantastic variety of food. Big shoutouttoSonnyourguideand Zinourkayakcaptain

Everything the other reviewers said is true: the caves are amazing and unique - a must see. And the food was amazing too. Unfortunately the 4-5 hours after Hong Island was really just a waste of valuable vacation time.

Such a great experience - our 3rd time (over many years) and our friends first time. Guides were superb, great knowledge of the wildlife and control of the kayak. The food on the boat 😘 If you’re in Phuket, this is must do!

Best experience so far ! The guides and crew were amazing. The whole trip was a cultural experience to never forget. The candlelight ceremony at dusk was amazing.

It was wonderful, for me it the caves were so impressive.

I can’t recommend this tour highly enough. The guides were incredible and the actual caves and scenery were heavenly. Our guides were locals, their knowledge and love for what they do was felt by all. We had children 12-15 yrs old with us. And as a Mum I felt completely safe with the care that was taken by all the guides on this experience. It’s definitely a must do when visiting Thailand.

This tour was truly amazing! we have experienced beautiful scenery of the majestic rocks soring out of the clear water. The crew on board was beyond expectation in their kindness. They worked the kayaks through 3 different caves at 3 different stops. One of the stop was in the evening during sunset. We experienced biolumenessence in the darkness of the cave, and the ritual of the flower arangement with candles set free in the water. We enjoyed abundant fresh food cooked on board during our kayack expeditions. We swam in the lagoons and out of the boat. We also enjoyed the night sky and the constellations on our way back to land. We highly recommend this tour. A+

Great experience. Our guide Dool was the best. Everything is set up perfectly and all you have to do is enjoy the moment. You get what you put into this experience. The more open you are to do doing different things like catching crabs or having a mud fight in a mangrove forest, the better the experience will be for everyone. Go out of your comfort zone as the guides have more fun when you have fun.

Definitely the best activity we had in Phuket! The trip was amazing, our guide Saman was amazing and everything was organized in the best possible way. It felt so personal in the best way possible and we cannot recommend it more to any other activity! The only thing is that they could not arrange the weather so because of the clouds we could not have the dreamed sunshine! So I blame them for that :) Just give them a chance, we are sure you will be glad you did it!

This was an absolutely amazing and unique, one-of-a-kind experience that is a must-do for anyone in Phuket. This experience is one of my key highlights of my trip and is what comes to mind when I think of Thailand. The crew is very nice and experienced. This experience is worth the money and the day it will take.

Well organised and included so many great parts to the day, definitely left with memories and had delicious food through out.

If I could 10/10 that’s what this tour was The tour guides where excellent with knowledge and made the experience super Made sure you had a wonderful time We were a group of 10. Date we went was 9/5/26 My husband and I (David & Mel ) had, Jay as our tour guide Could not speak highly of Jay, very patient with me going through the tight areas in the caves. Reinsured me we were all good. We are team ☺️ very knowledgeable of the area and explaining each cave. The food was so yummy, the flavour was mmm’ no words can describe The tour guides made sure to keep everyone informed on what was happening throughout the day Again can not speak highly enough of this caves tour and the guides. creating flower offering to release in the caves and share with the guides was wonderful If you are after a boat tour that is abit more smooth and not feel rushed like the speed boats tours, take this tour won’t be disappointed Out of all the boat tours we have been on, our many times visiting Thailand, this has to be the best hands done 💯

Super fun trip, served fresh Thai dishes for lunch and dinner. Made in the boats galley. Kayak guide Sammie gave a incredible tourof Hong Island Cave. Everyone made a candle float and we paddled out lite and released all of them in a candle lick ceremony. Highly recommend this tour.

Long day but worth the unique experience with bioluminescent & sea cave kayaks. Would have preferred a smaller group but everyone was well taken care of. Our boat had about 30 plus passengers . The guides are fantastic and paddle you through the caves so you can relax and enjoy. The dinner was delicious & beer for purchase on board if you want. Very enjoyable day.

This was the most amazing day!!! So well set up and organised the staff were soooo great!! Our guide Sammie was just the best, we laughed so much and he knew so much, showed us all the cool stuff!! Everyone so.so.great and friendly it really made the day!! A must do!!!

It’s hard to put this experience in words because of how so great it was. From beginning to end, everything was efficient and well thought out. The people were great, transportation was on time, the food was tasty, the staff were friendly and the views are unimaginable.

Definitely one of the highlights of our month in Thailand. The tour was extremely well organized, the buffet food was the best we had in Thailand, and the views were breathtaking. A very special moment was seeing bioluminescence inside a dark cave, which was unlike anything we had ever seen or imagined. Having a guide handle the kayaking allowed us to enjoy the scenery without worry, and the kayaks were very stable.

What a beautiful and memorable day we had in Phuket on the John Gray tour. We were one of only four English-speaking guests on the boat, and our guide (Term) made the entire experience feel personal and special. We paddled through quiet caves, discovered our own little beach, and even took time to collect small pieces of litter so we could leave it better than we found it. The food was wonderful, the weather was perfect, and one of the most meaningful moments was creating a floating offering and praying for our family. And then — as night fell — the water came alive. Watching the plankton light up around us was nothing short of magical. Grateful for the beauty, the stillness, and the memories we’ll carry home with us. ✨ Our only feedback is that we wanted to see the sunset, but because the other boat was positioned the way it was, we did not have the chance. Both boats should have been positioned so that the other was not in its way.

What an amazing day! We really enjoyed ourselves. The scenery and caves were amazing and our guide Jay was the BEST!! He made our day very special and was such fun (see picture!) You have lots of time to kayak and see incredible caves. You also have lots of food and the flower offerings were a very special ending to the day. Thank you all so much. I would thoroughly recommend this trip.

These guys truly deserve all the great reviews on here! I was sceptical at first, especially as there were about 28 of us and I’d been expecting a smaller group, but we were so well looked after and had the most incredible day in the most stunning place. The boat was plenty big enough, there was always more than enough (delicious!) food, and because you get your own personal guide per pair, you’re always well looked after when out on the canoes. First of all, we headed out to James Bond Island – I thought it wasn’t possible to land there but the reason JG don’t is because it’s so disgustingly touristy (bars/cafes and crowds). Was interesting to sail round it though. Then we went to Phang Nga island – they time the visits carefully with the tides, and there was just enough space to be paddled through the tunnel into the amazing lagoon at the centre of the island (which is just mud when the tide is at its lowest). Our guide, Asang (apologies if name spelt wrong!), was brilliant and we always felt that we were in safe hands but there are some pinch-point moments if you’re claustrophobic (worth it though). He pointed out a mudskipper we wouldn’t have noticed, took great photos, and always knew the best areas to go into (especially at the second stop, Hong Island). Making a kratong was a great experience but the bioluminescence was the highlight, absolutely stunning. Again, Asang knew the best place to see it and let us spend ages there, stirring up the water and splashing it against the cave walls. He even got off the canoe (the water was about a metre deep) and scooped water up in his top, making it look like there was a whole galaxy contained in it. Just magical! If you want to visit these islands in a personal, up-close, environmentally-friendly way then you have to go with John Gray – we recommend them without hesitation!

There are 3 separate canoe rides with the first being the longest at 1hr. 2nd one is about 30-40 minutes and the last one is just under 30 min. Plenty of good food and water.

Wonderful day seeing some of the natural beauty of Thailand. Our guide Bookie was amazing and explained all about the places we were seeing and was excellent at manovering the canoe. Felt totally safe and looked after by him. Great trip. All of the staff on the boat were wonderful. We left from our day with our bellies full, with some amazing memories. Would recommend.

Hong by Starlight was an absolutely magical experience and one of the highlights of our time in Phuket. From start to finish the scenery was incredible, dramatic limestone cliffs, hidden caves, tranquil lagoons and unforgettable views, especially as the light changed towards sunset and into the evening. The whole day was exceptionally well organised, with top-draw guides who were knowledgeable, friendly and clearly passionate about what they do. They made everyone feel safe, relaxed and involved, while sharing fascinating insights along the way. The food was excellent, far better than expected for a boat tour, and added to what was already an outstanding experience. Kayaking through the caves, floating our krathongs, and seeing the bay at night was truly special and something we’ll remember for a long time. An incredible day from start to finish, we would thoroughly recommend this trip to anyone visiting Phuket.

The tour was amazing and all of our guides were very knowledgeable and skillful in showing us around the caves. The food on the boat was also a highlight, everything was incredibly delicious.

This experience was incredible from start to finish! Our tour guide was amazing and explained what to expect at each step of the journey. Delicious lunch and dinner provided on board! We were taken around multiple beautiful sights on our kayak by our guide Adam who was delightful and very well informed. I would highly recommend doing this!

An absolutely perfect experience! From the seamless planning to the delicious food, everything was amazing. One of the highlights was our guide Mike! He is an incredible guide with a wealth of knowledge and a personality that kept us laughing the whole time. Don’t hesitate to book this once in a lifetime trip!

Our family had an incredible time with John Gray Sea Canoe Hong by Starlight. I’m a non-swimmer and my family are beginner swimmers, but we felt completely safe and well looked after the entire time. The small-group tour was extremely well organized, calm, and professionally run. Nothing felt rushed, and the guides were always attentive and reassuring. Special thanks to Mr. Yu, our guide, who was knowledgeable, patient, and genuinely caring. He made the experience smooth and enjoyable for everyone. The food served on the boat was excellent — fresh, tasty, and far better than expected. Exploring the hongs by starlight was absolutely magical and something we’ll never forget. Highly recommended for families, beginners, and anyone looking for a truly special experience.

Met expectations and the food was more than sufficient and very nice. The trip was organised, facilities (bathrooms, dining, meeting area, seating) were all clean and appeared to be maintained. It's great that the company also supports locals, shout out to Asher for being our rower. He was friendly and kept us in the shade when it was hot.

Friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable staff. Well organised. We didn't realise that we wouldn't see James Bond beach due to the tides, so that was a bit disappointing. However, we got to see the bat cave, which was really cool. Our guide was friendly and informative, although the waves meant he got tired paddling us around (hey, we're not that heavy!) Food was plentiful and good variety

We’ve done lots of excursions over the years and this is definitely one of the best. It was a friendly and fun atmosphere, all of the staff were lovely and quite clearly enjoyed their jobs. The trip itself was breath-taking at times. The view from the boat in Hong Bay is memorable and then the trips through the caves was something I’ll never forget. Our own personal guide Zack was so knowledgeable about the geology, trees and wildlife of the area and made our journeys on each of the three kayak trips very personalised. Credit to the cooking team as well as the food was delicious for both meals. The overall trip was very good value for money. Everyone on board appeared to have a great day.

Unreal experience on this tour. Everything was perfectly planned and the caves were amazing. If you’re thinking about booking this trip, do it!!

We booked a few tours in Thailand but nothing was as good as this. If you are on the fence just book it you won't be disappointed. The tour itself is very traveller friendly they allow you to move freely on the boat as you travel which is a huge plus. And the views are incredible. They feed you throughout the day and drinks are readily available all of the time so it makes for a relaxed atmosphere. The staff was awesome. Very welcoming and they seemed to genuinely want to go out of their way to help you. The cave Kayaking is incredible. We travel all over the world and this is one of the best things that we have ever done. We also saw a surprising amount of wildlife. We are very grateful for this experience and would do it again any time that we come back to Phuket.

This excursion absolutely exceeded my expectations! The crew is very friendly, fun & professional. The lunch and dinner buffet was incredible, my eyes were much bigger than my stomach (don’t eat too much, you might not make it through some of the caves 😆) Our canoe guide, Term, was terrific! We had a great time with him exploring the various caves and were lucky enough to see a monkey. He took several pictures of us & made our ride in the canoe very comfortable, all you have to do is kickback and enjoy the ride. We enjoyed a beautiful sunset & discovered the Thai tradition of making a krathong, that we later floated in one of large sea the caverns. Words can’t describe the lifelong memories that were made & pictures wouldn’t do it justice. It’s just something you must experience for yourself. We traveled to Phuket from San Diego, CA to celebrate our anniversary and taking this trip was definitely worth it. Add this trip to your itinerary!! A big thank you to the entire crew 🤙

Quite a unique experience with making a flower alter. Good food and friendly staff. Our group had 51 people and needed to pick up more local guides to help. These extra guides did not speak English.

Highly recommend! Really worth it. It was really entertaining and memorable experience. Food, activities and guides all excellent. Amazing scenery. Also highly respect their sustainable values, like using recyclable glass bottles instead of plastic ones and hiring and training local people so they can learn and work as well.

We had the most incredible day. Even though it didn’t stop raining I couldn’t recommend it enough. Magic Mike our tour guide made the day so fun for us even though all the tour guides were fabulous. Everyone was so friendly, the best excursion I’ve ever done let alone on this holiday. Mikey was so knowledgeable about all the areas we went to and his English was perfect. Thank you so much again for the best day

Stunning! We loved this tour. It was so beautiful. Our guides made it very fun, all of the staff was amazing. This is a must do tour.

Our experience was actually great. We managed to take 6 of us (4 adults and 2 kids). It was an all day adventure but we were really happy with the experience. We were picked up then a boat ride, lunch, paddled out to beautiful caves and views even though it was raining. More snacks, boat ride more caves and finding little crabs, more food, then we made some kratong together and took them out to float them and make wishes. This is when we stirred up the wayer and saw the bioluminescent plankton. It is not like the pictures at all. More like glowing stars in the sea. But it was fascinating and our whole family enjoyed it. Then we got transport back to our hotel. We had 3 different guides with our lot and all of them were so helpful and kind and informative.

Absolutely fantastic!!! We can’t recommend this tour enough. Mr T was our guide and we can’t speak more highly of him. Funny, informative, helpful! The tour is not advertised as wheelchair accessible but The team were amazing with helping my husband in a wheelchair. They helped lift him on and off the boat and made sure he didn’t miss a single part of the experience. Thank you!!! The food on the boat was sensational!! Freshly cooked and served in buffet style. Watching the sunset out on the water while surrounded by the tropical islands is one hell of an experience! The wreath making portion of the trip was great fun, especially when we got to release them in the caves at night. For environmental reasons we took the wreaths back on board afterwards. Seeing the caves and coves was simply stunning, and in some cases it felt like you’d paddled back in time to the most beautiful untouched parts of the world. Seeing the bioluminescent plankton was something I’ll never forget. You’re in the darkest cave, in your kayak, surrounded by diamonds. Just awe inspiring. I can’t recommend this enough. Do it or you’ll regret it!!

What an amazing day! Exceeded our expectations. Every family drew a guide from the lottery. Ameen was our guide and power behind the canoe. What a great bunch of people you have at John Gray. A seemless team kept us interested, fed (with tasty, healthy food) and entertained from beginning to end. (8 hours). There was a wide range of nationalities and ages from 5 year olds to folk in their 70s. As long as you can climb up and down a few steps you could do this tour. Ameen did all the hard work and found us all sorts of interesting things to see, from tiny crabs to long tailed macaques. It was all enjoyable, don't think I stopped smiling all day. This was on a cloudy day which meant we didn't have to worry about the sun too much. Endless drinking water meant no one at risk from dehydration. Would recommend. Maybe not the cheapest tour but worth it for such a unique and memorable day.

This boat excursion was the best I’ve had so far. Views are spectacular, crew is super friendly and accommodating. The water was worm and swimming was a delight.

What a brilliant experience! The staff were fantastic — so friendly, funny, and full of interesting info about everything we saw. The food was absolutely amazing too, really fresh and delicious — way better than we expected on a day trip! We saw incredible wildlife, including sea eagles swooping above us, all set against a backdrop of sunshine that later turned into dramatic thunderstorms. Even then, it didn’t dampen the mood or stop the fun — it just made the scenery even more memorable! Such a special day out. Can’t recommend John Gray Sea Canoeing highly enough — a must-do if you’re in Thailand!

I am so glad I booked this adventure! This is a MUST DO if you're in Phuket. My tour guide was Tom and he was exceptional. Very knowledgeable, attentive, kind, and camera ready to get the best shots of me around the islands and cave. I enjoyed this excursion from start to finish. The pick up and drop to my air bnb was prompt, the food was delicious and if I am honest I don't have a strong taste buds for thai food but kudos to the chefs on board the ship, I even went for seconds. The views are unmatched and even the photos and video can't do the beauty of this untouched nature justice. I especially enjoyed how artsy and creative my Guides along with the rest are when we did the loy kathong floating offering for the water guides. I went on this adventure solo and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I may be bias but if you do decide to do this, ask for TOM. You won't regret it, either way you will be glad you booked this adventure. I am soon grateful!

Great day in the bay saw amazing natural beauty, had a beautiful lunch and dinner. The whole team is a 10/10 , the canoeing was such fun saw bats/lizards

The Hong by Starlight sea cave kayaking tour was an unforgettable experience! Gliding through the limestone caves and hidden lagoons was peaceful, scenic, and full of natural beauty. Our guide was excellent, friendly, knowledgeable, and always made sure we felt safe and comfortable. The rock formations, crystal-clear water, and quiet surroundings created a truly magical atmosphere. Everything was well-organized, and the kayaks were stable and easy to handle. This tour is a must-do for anyone visiting Phuket who loves nature, adventure, and exploring unique landscapes. Highly recommended!

We did this tour in 2015 and again September 2025.Still the best. Best experience, exceptional client service. If you are in Phuket this is the best tour group to use. All the staff really beyond excellent