Samet Nangshe Observation Deck in Phuket — review, photos and route for 1 day

The Samet Nangshe viewpoint for me is one of the main attractions near Phuket. All tourists are unanimous in their reviews: This place is worth a visit. And I’m joining them. With a guided tour or on your own — it doesn’t matter. But you should see Samet Nangshe. I wrote a detailed review with all the necessary information — how much does the entrance cost, when is it better to go, how to get there on your own or which excursion to choose for a trip to the observation deck.

Samet Nangshe viewpoint — is it worth going? My review and photo

Phang Nga Province itself and Phang Nga Bay are considered one of the most beautiful places in Thailand. A James Bond movie was shot here and one of the islands in the bay was named after the legendary spy. I even saw in the reviews that Phang Nga looks like a place from the movie “Avatar”!

Phang Nga Bay is studded with small picturesque islands

The best view of the bay opens from the Samet Nangshe observation deck near Phuket

There are many picturesque places in the bay that can be seen during a longtail boat trip

The rock Island became a landmark after the release of the James Bond film

The Samet Nangshe observation deck is located at the top of the hill. It is impossible to climb up on your own in 2024. Previously, they were allowed, and some tourists chose to climb a steep hill on foot in the heat. Now everyone is being taken to the viewpoint in a pickup truck. More on this below.

Upstairs there is a cafe, a restaurant, a toilet and various photogenic photo locations. The locations are made as instagrammable as possible: a bridge, a nest, a star, a drop and a swing. All this is set at a distance from each other so that the people taking pictures do not get into the frame of others. Here’s how it looks in the photo:

A charming heart

It is either a drop or a nest of one of the tropical birds

Almost like a throne

Just a star

I arrived at the exam room around 9 a.m. The sky was frowning, but it didn’t stop me from taking cool photos. I spent about two hours in the exam room. I leisurely drank coffee, took pictures at all locations, rode on a swing, watched children and adults take pictures in the “nest”. And then I went for a ride on Phang Nga Bay on a longtail boat. The location where the boats depart from, and my detailed route for 1 day, are below in the article.

When is it better to come to the Samet Nangshi Observation Deck?

If you are traveling for the sake of beautiful photos, then it is best to come here at dawn, early in the morning, or in the evening, after 16-00. When the sun rises above the bumpy islands, it begins to shine directly into the lens.

To arrive at the observation deck from Phuket at dawn, you will have to get up at 4 am. If you do not like very early ascents, then you can spend the night in the cabins on the observation deck or at the Samet Nangshe Boutique Hotel. The hotel is located next to the Samet Nangshe viewpoint and has the same view of Phang Nga Bay. The hotel price includes breakfast, and there are also many beautiful locations on site for Instagram photos against the background of Phang Nga Bay.

This photo was taken after the 11th day. The shadows are very hard, the polarizing filter did not help much. I’m not talking about the heat: the sun bakes so much that you just want to sit in the shade.

Samet Nangshe viewpoint: where is it located and how to get there

The exact location of the Samet Nangshe observation deck on the map is here. But the parking lot where you leave your car or bike is right here. There is a booth with a cash register in the parking lot and there is a pickup truck that will take you upstairs to the observation deck. It is forbidden to go up to the viewpoint by yourself on your own transport.

I went to the observation room on my own by car. I booked the car in advance on the LocalRent website. I told you more about what documents are needed to rent a car in Thailand in this article. I will leave a step-by-step route of the trip for 1 day at the end of the article.

Drinking Thai tea or coffee with this view is priceless

If you do not want to take a car, then there is an option to take a day trip by visiting Samet Nangshe viewpoint. I chose trips with Russian-speaking guides:

• Phuket 5 in 1 tour — sunrise at the Samet Nangshe observation deck and a trip through the beauties of Phang Nga. An eventful tour for the whole day. The tour page →
• The tour “In the footsteps of the Eagle and tails” — sunrise on Samet Nangshe, boat trip along the bay and James Bond Island. The tour page →
• Samet Nangshe and Ton Prai tour — sunrise on the observation deck, boat trip along the bay and a walk from the Ton Prai waterfall. A private tour for the whole day, there is an opportunity to go with a large company in a private minivan. The tour page with details →

There are much more tours with Russian guides to the observation deck. You can view all the excursions yourself at this link →

Samet Nangshe Observation Deck or Glass Bridge in Phuket — which is better?

The Samet Nangshe Observation Deck and the Glass Bridge in Phuket are two different places. But they are nearby, in the neighborhood. Does it make sense to visit both the Samet Nangshe viewpoint and Sky Walk at once?

To begin with, both observation decks offer stunning views of Phang Nga Bay with an armada of islands. Both Samet Nangshe and the Glass Bridge Beyond Skywalk look in the same direction. What is the difference then?

According to reviews, the glass bridge Beyond Skywalk is not so scary even for those who are afraid of heights. Yes, everything on the Skywalk observation deck is more coiffed and cultured. This is a more luxurious version of the Nangshe Observation deck with higher prices.

The view from the glass bridge is about the same as from the Samet Nangshe observation deck

This view is hard to forget!

Before going to the exam room, I visited the glass-floored exam room in Bangkok. There’s a real abyss under your feet! The skytrain train seems to be just a caterpillar. It’s breathtaking! Or the glass bridge on Langkawi, where many people’s knees were shaking. And Beyond Skywalk near Phuket does not cause such feelings.

In general, if you want to walk along the bridge with a glass floor, then a cool alternative is the Skywalk in Kanchanaburi or the Mahanakhon Tower in Bangkok. If you just want beautiful photos, then the Samet Nangshe viewpoint or the cafe at the Samet Nangshe Boutique Hotel is a good enough option.

The route of the trip to Samet Nangshe viewpoint and the Glass Bridge from Phuket or Krabi on your own

Both the Nangshi Observation Deck and the Glass Bridge are located in Phang Nga Province. They are located between Phuket and Krabi. If you are going to Cheo Lan Lake from Phuket, then I advise you to visit the observation deck and sky walk along the way. I shared the detailed route of the trip to Cheo Lan Lake in this article →

I visited Samet Nangshe twice. I drove from Phuket once, and from Krabi (Ao Nang) the second time. The route is the same, but if you go from Phuket Island, you can also ride a bike. I booked the car in advance on the Localrent website.

? Important! Even if you are not a lark, it is still better to arrive at the observation deck as early as possible. In the morning there is a soft beautiful light, and then the sun shines directly into the lens. Alternatively, arrive in advance and stay at the Samet Nangshe Boutique Hotel. Its terrace offers exactly the same view of Phang Nga Bay.

Route for 1 day by car or bike:

1. Samet Nangse Observation Deck (on the map) or Sky walk glass bridge (on the map). Choose an examination room according to your desire. I wrote my review and impressions above. We set 1.5 hours for the visit. For coffee, I advise you to stop at Bay View Caffe (on the map).
2. Longtail boat trip along Phang Nga Bay and to James Bond Island. After the observation deck, I went to the Hin Rom Pier (on the map) and took a boat to ride around Phang Nga Bay. It turned out to be an unforgettable trip. It is worth laying 3-4 hours on it. A primer still leads to the pier in 2024. There is free parking near the pier. Although I’ve seen James Bond Island and Phang Nga Bay before, this place can’t get bored. I love the bay and I advise everyone to definitely see it. Here are some photos from the tour:

The stones hanging over your head — it was remembered for a long time

I had to lie down on the bottom of the kayak to swim inside the cave

Before a thunderstorm, Phang Nga Bay is “layered” — you can post how many rows of rocks there are in it

After walking around the bay, there are two options:

1. The beach with Mai Khao planes. If you are vacationing on Phuket Island, then on the way back you can stop at the beach with Mae Kha planes.
2. Sam Chong Seafood Restaurant (on the map) on the water. If you come to the observation deck from Krabi, you can stop at the Sam Chong Seafood Restaurant. He has a very high rating and delicious dishes. I liked crabs the most — you can lick your fingers!

Источник: life-thai.com