Ao Thalane
Kayaking the Ao Thalane mangroves
- Crocodile Cave by kayak
- Pickup available
- Best for
- A half day in the mangroves, young children included
- Skip if
- You want open sea, beaches or snorkelling
Pools, springs and mangroves · On the coast, northwest of Ao Nang
Ao Thalane
A bay of mangrove channels between limestone cliffs, seen from a kayak you paddle yourself.
Access
By boat only
Time to allow
Half a day on a guided trip with pickup
Best time
When the tide allows: the operator sets the time
Why go
For the mangrove from water level, at your own paddling pace, in channels that run between limestone cliffs.
What you will find
You paddle through the mangrove channels and between the cliffs. Operators mention crab-eating macaques, otters and sometimes gibbons; wildlife is never guaranteed.
One of the guided tours sold online includes a stop by kayak at a cave it calls Crocodile Cave.
Getting there
By road to the Tha Lane pier, northwest of Ao Nang, where the kayak trips start, or on a guided half-day tour with hotel pickup. One source mentions kayaks for hire at the pier without a guide; we have not been able to confirm it.
Before you go
The tide decides when you can get through the passages, and sources disagree on whether the best time is towards high tide or as it falls. Leave the timing to the operator, and do not assume the rule is the same as at Tham Lot in Ao Luek, where you go through at low tide.
Not for you if you do not want to paddle: on a kayak trip you do the work. Check the minimum age of the tour you book, as it differs between operators.
Monkeys live along the channels: keep food and loose bags out of reach, and do not feed them.
Days out that go with this
Ao Thalane
Ao Thalane kayaking, with pickup
- About two hours of paddling
- Pickup and drop-off
- Best for
- A short mangrove paddle, without a long day around it
- Skip if
- You are travelling with a child aged 2 or under
Common questions
Do I need experience to kayak at Ao Thalane?
You paddle yourself, so some comfort in a kayak helps. If you have never kayaked, a guided trip is the sensible choice.
Does the tide matter at Ao Thalane?
Yes. Some passages can only be done at certain stages of the tide, and the operator sets the time accordingly. Sources disagree on the best stage, so leave it to them.
Can children kayak at Ao Thalane?
It depends on the tour: one has a child rate from 5 to 10 and lets children 4 and under join free, the other does not take children aged 2 and under. Check the age rules of the tour you book.