We stayed at Panka Bay Resort during our incredible trip to Koh Bulone in 2016. If you’re looking to stay on Koh Bulone, I suggest you look to secure accommodation sooner rather than later. The island gets booked up quickly with returning guests year after year! Panka Bay Resort Koh Bulone was one of the cheaper accommodation options on the island and the only one we could find with availability. That said, it’s a great affordable option and fitted our needs perfectly, and I thoroughly recommend a stay at Panka Bay Resort if you’re heading to the island.
Panka Bay Resort Koh Bulone Beachfront Bungalows
During our stay at Panka Bay Resort, we stayed in a beachfront bungalow. Although basic, the bungalows were clean and comfortable, with a pretty ocean view and cost just 1000baht, or £20 per night. Like the rest of the island however, electricity back in 2016 was on a generator and limited to just a few hours per evening. And much to my horror there was no hot water. Ever. (Seriously, who can wash their hair in coldness. Not me)
Other accommodation options at Panka Bay Resort include the larger deluxe bungalows (although these are not beachfront) and camping. Due to lack of availability of bungalows on the entire island there were a number of guests camping – hence the need to book up quickly!
Our room rate included breakfast each morning. Although there is a set menu, staff were more than accommodating in a bit of mixing and matching to suit our vegetarian diets. For the first time in months, we took time to enjoy a leisurely breakfast. Most days we sat for almost two hours listening to the waves lap against the shore.
The Beach in Koh Bulone
Panka Bay Resort has its own beach. It’s not typically beautiful with white sand and blue waters, but it is gorgeous in its own right. Like much of the island, the beach is rocky and the shore lined with mangroves. It’s not the best for swimming or snorkelling but perfect for exploring when the tide is out. We spent an hour walking the beach after breakfast each morning. The less than perfect nature of the beach also helped us claim the hammock swings when the rest of the guests headed for the more pristine beaches. Personally we preferred the more rustic and peaceful landscape.
When we booked our accommodation at Panka Bay, the resort had no website and was not listed on any booking sites. We used Facebook messenger (and a big dose of repetition and patience) to book our stay – wondering if indeed we would have somewhere to kip on arrival. There might have been a few crossed wires which saw our 5 night booking being interpreted as a 6 night stay, but this worked to our advantage as we got to stay an extra night in paradise!
Panka Bay Resort Koh Bulone now has a website, but if you want to visit Panka Bay Resort book early and be patient.
When we visited in 2016 there wasn’t a great deal of wifi in the area. But that’s a good thing, right? If it isn’t – Panka Bay Resort and Koh Bulone island in general isn’t for you.
How Much Does Panka Bay Resort Koh Bulone cost?
Now listed as Pankabay Resort, the cost which I checked in October 2026 now appears to be £39 per night for a stay.
I think that is still exceptional value for a beachfront bungalow in such a wonderful location, and I’d be more than happy to pay double the price we did in 2016.
Prices will obviously vary depending on the room, dates and board basis, so it’s worth checking both the hotel and booking sites before booking.
You can check current prices and availability through the hotel’s official website or compare deals on Booking.com.
Would We Stay at Hotel Again?
Absolutely.
Koh Bulone is the most incredible destination, and whilst Pankabay Resort may be more rustic than some of the luxury resorts and hotels we’ve been lucky to stay in, sometimes it’s the place which is the star of the show.
We had hoped to be those guests who return year after year. And whilst that hasn’t yet been possible we still yearn to return to this paradise.
How to book PankaBay Resort
Check availability and prices on the Panka Bay Resort Koh Bulone website
See rooms and rates on Booking.com
Affiliate disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. If you book through these links, The Jasmine Journal may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This does not affect our opinions or the experiences we share.
Looking for accommodation in Koh Bulone?
Planning a trip to Koh Bulone? Accommodation on this small island can be limited, so it’s worth checking availability well in advance. Explore the map below to compare other places to stay.
Hotel Reviews: This Panka Bay Resort Koh Bulone review was updated in October 2026. We last stayed on the island in 2016 and cannot wait to return one day.