Football fans and travellers with a taste for remarkable destinations need to put a football pitch unlike any other on their bucket list. Imagine playing a football match with the Andaman Sea beneath your feet, as the pitch gently rocks with each movement, and steep limestone cliffs paint a dramatic backdrop. In fact, this is not a scene from a dream—it’s actually a captivating reality in a tiny Thai village situated just over two hours from Singapore. The eye-catching floating football pitch we speak of is in Ko Panyi (also known as Koh Panyee), located in Phang Nga Bay, in southern Thailand. Interestingly, the unique field was concepted by local children more than 30 years ago and today it stands as hidden gem to play the most beautiful game of football in the world. Here’s what to expect.
What makes Ko Panyi’s floating football pitch a must-visit?
The floating football pitch in Ko Panyi, was crafted in the late 1980s, by local children who were inspired by the excitement of the 1986 FIFA World Cup. With their village built entirely on stilts above the water and no solid land available, they cleverly assembled planks, unused wood, and fishing rafts to create a floating space to play soccer.
The original makeshift pitch set the stage for decades of local games and has become a symbol of resilience in the boat community. Although, the floating pitch evolved over time from a wooden platform into an upgraded pitch with a new floor, nets, and barriers to contain wayward balls—all perched above the turquoise waves against a stunning backdrop.
Wonderfully, the scenery surrounding the Ko Panyi floating pitch is equally as extraordinary. Nestled beside bustling, colourful stilt houses and seafood restaurants, every game unfolds with the emerald cliffs and tranquil blue sea as the ultimate grandstand. Certainly, one of the most instagrammable places in Thailand where visitors can expect the village’s blend of tradition and innovation. Just look the video below by @maclensky on Instagram.
Indeed, there are other floating water-based pitches across Asia. However, none have a grassroot origin story and cultural legacy like this one in Thailand. In fact, Koh Panyee’s pitch is widely known as the world’s first community-built floating football pitch for sports.
How to get there
Singaporeans eager to see the floating football pitch in Ko Panyi can take a 2-hour direct flight from Singapore Changi Airport to Phuket International Airport. From there, you arrange a car ride to Phang Nga Pier. The only way to reach the fishing village is by boat. Typically, this takes around 20 minutes from the pier. Otherwise, you can fly into Krabi Airport from Singapore.
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