Guide
Ko Panyi: the Muslim village on stilts in Phang Nga Bay
The mosque, the lunch stop and the floating football pitch on a James Bond Island day
2 min read · 6 sources
The short answer: Ko Panyi is a Thai Muslim fishing village built on stilts under a limestone cliff in Phang Nga Bay. Many James Bond Island trips from Phuket stop there for lunch.
It has a golden-domed mosque, seafood restaurants and a famous floating football pitch, all within a few minutes’ walk.
At a glance
- What it is
- A Thai Muslim village built on stilts in Phang Nga Bay
- Mosque
- Masjid Darussalam, with a golden dome
- Getting there
- On a James Bond Island day from Phuket
- Park fee
- Ao Phang Nga National Park: 300 baht adult, 150 child
- Halal?
- A Muslim village, but ask at the restaurant — no official halal listing
The village
Most people here are Thai Muslims, living from fishing and from selling food and souvenirs to visitors. The village has its own school and health centre.
Late 18th century: the Tourism Authority of Thailand says three Javanese families arrived by boat from Indonesia. The name comes from *Pulau Panji*, “flag”.
About 1,400 people live here, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand.
The mosque
Masjid Darussalam is the village mosque: two storeys, a golden dome and marble inside, as the Tourism Authority of Thailand describes it.
No visiting rules or prayer times are published. Dress as you would for any mosque, and ask before going in during prayer.
Eating there
Seafood restaurants serve the visitors who come on island tours, and villagers sell dried and processed seafood.
Ask about halal. It is a Muslim village, but we found no official source that lists the restaurants as halal or alcohol-free, so ask as you would anywhere.
The floating football pitch
Built by boys in 1986, inspired by that year’s World Cup, according to the FIFA Museum. The island’s team became known across Thailand.
16 by 25 metres, next to the pier. The pitch there now was rebuilt after a 2010 advertising campaign, the Bangkok Post reported.
Getting there
From Phuket, on a Phang Nga Bay day trip. Our speed catamaran stops at Ko Panyi for lunch; check the itinerary of any other trip before you book.
Park fee: the village sits in Ao Phang Nga National Park, where the Department of National Parks charges foreign visitors 300 baht per adult and 150 per child. Ask whether your trip includes it.
Sources
6 sources, each linked in the section it supports.
Photography is licensed stock, credited to Sanat Anghan on Pexels. Some images show the named place; where no photograph of a venue exists, the picture shows Thailand rather than that venue.
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