Day Trip To Phang Nga Bay

Experience the wonders of a Day Trip To Phang Nga Bay, exploring majestic limestone cliffs, hidden caves, and pristine beaches. Cruise through emerald waters, kayak into secluded lagoons, and marvel at the natural beauty of this stunning marine paradise.

Day Trip To Phang Nga Bay

Day Trip To Phang Nga Bay in Thailand is home to a variety of fascinating islands. The well-known James Bond Island, with its oddly balanced rock, is among the bay’s top attractions.
James Bond Island, sometimes referred to as Nail Island or “Ko Ta Pu” in Thai, earned its current moniker after featuring in the 1974 James Bond film “The Man with the Golden Gun.”

Currently a national park in Thailand, Phang Nga Bay offers kayaking opportunities as well as views of numerous breathtaking islands featuring wildlife, mangroves, caves, and even a floating community called Koh Panyee.

It is simple to take a day journey (by boat) to Phang Nga Bay from Phuket, Krabi, or Khao Lak, and this allows you ample time to explore James Bond Island and the bay’s other attractions.

This comprehensive travel guide to Phang Nga Bay will cover all you need know before you go, including how to get there, what to see and do, which tour packages to choose, and where to stay.

Best Phang Nga Bay Tour Packages

Day Trip To Phang Nga Bay A tour is the only way to see James Bond Island, and Get Your Guide offers scheduled day trips from Phuket or comparable day trips from Khao Lak or Krabi. These trips include hotel transfers, a boat journey, lunch, a shared tour of the islands, and a return trip the same day. In addition to seeing all of

the major attractions in Phang Nga Bay, such as James Bond Island, Hong Island, and the Koh Panyee floating village, these day trips allow you to explore some of the limestone caverns up close in a canoe or kayak.

Book Now: James Bond Island Tour From Phuket / Khao Lak / Krabi

Where Is James Bond Island?

Situated in southern Thailand’s Phang Nga Bay is James Bond Island.

Since the bay is a national park, it lacks an airport and lodging options, but you can still get there from other parts of Thailand.

How To Get To James Bond Island Thailand

Scheduling a boat tour in Phang Nga Bay is the only way to reach James Bond Island. A speedboat, large wooden boat, or Thai longtail boat are your alternatives; all are great choices. The speedboat is more expensive, but it’s the fastest and typically has a smaller, more exclusive tour group. We have taken

the James Bond Island tour on a variety of boats, and we have always had a positive experience. The closest airports for flying into this are the ones in Phuket (HKT) and Krabi (KBV). Bangkok to both of these airports are cheaply connected. Skyscanner allows you to search for flights to Thailand.

Many boat companies from Phuket, Krabi, or Khao Lak offer daily trips to James Bond Island; most of them include hotel collection and drop-off. Once more, we suggest GetYourGuide for their personalized or shared excursions! The boat ride across Phang Nga Bay is breathtaking in and of itself,

with numerous rocky islets rising out of the water on every side. Kayaking into the limestone caverns is among the trip’s highlights, though. I’ve probably had some of the best kayaking experiences of my life here on Earth!

Visiting James Bond Island: What To Expect

Day Trip To Phang Nga Bay Initially, you reach James Bond Island by boat, which docks on the back side of the main island (Khao Phing Kan). After getting off the boat, you can explore the island on foot for a bit. The major feature of the peculiar limestone-hill covered island of Khao Phing Kan is the sharp, balanced rock that appears to float on the water. In contrast to other parts of Thailand,

Phang Nga Bay offers poor snorkeling due to its murky water and lack of coral. If you’re fortunate, you might still be able to spot some species here. After seeing a newborn monitor lizard close to the shore, we noticed a hawk circling overhead. He climbed a tree and vanished after we snapped a few photos of him. The majority of Phang Nga tour packages include an hour at James Bond Island, which is more than enough time to visit the iconic floating rock, swim at the beach, and try your best James Bond pose for pictures.

James Bond Island, famous for its stunning scenery, draws a large number of tourists during the day, except for early morning arrivals. The island offers makeshift souvenir stalls, but the higher prices make it unsuitable for shopping. The beach section is the busiest and crowded part of the island,

but for better shots, walk up concrete steps and visit viewpoints above the cliff.
James Bond Island gained fame as the villain’s lair in 1974’s “The Man with the Golden Gun,” but the film faced criticism. Despite high visitor numbers, the island remains clean and free of trash, making it a remarkable and highly recommended destination for a visit.

Visiting Phang Nga Bay – Tourist Fees

Since Phang Nga Bay is a national park in Thailand, visitors must pay a 300 Baht (about $9 USD) adult admission fee and 150 Baht for children aged 3 to 14. While these costs are often paid in cash at

the beginning of the tour or upon disembarking at James Bond Island, some Phang Nga Bay cruises may already include them in the total cost when you purchase.

More Things To See In Phang Nga Bay

This is a list of some of Phang Nga Bay’s most popular attractions. The majority of these locations, along with James Bond Island, may be seen in a single day of touring:

• Koh Hong Island is a stunning island in Phang Nga with a sandy beach and multiple limestone caverns that you may explore by kayak. It should not be mistaken with Koh Hong Island in the Krabi province. Make sure not to miss it—it’s one of Thailand’s most breathtaking kayaking locations!
• Koh Phanak Island is a sizable limestone island that has a number of caves, such as the Ice Cream Cave and the Bat Cave, so named because of the stalactite rocks inside. Here, mangroves and wild monkeys can also be seen.

• Koh Panyee Floating community: Home to roughly 1,700 residents, this is a fascinating small fishing community. Approximately 200 years ago, Malay Muslims established this floating town, which is frequently visited by James Bond boat trips for lunch.
• The breathtaking Samet Nangshe Viewpoint can only be reached on land—that is, not by boat on the James Bond tour—and is situated outside of the national park. But it offers breathtaking vistas of Phang Nga Bay, with all of its islands and mangroves. Not only is the sunrise spectacular, but the view is among the nicest I’ve ever seen.

1-Day Itinerary For The James Bond Island Tour

Here’s a sample itinerary for what the James Bond Island tour generally looks like:

• 7:30 AM – Hotel pickup and drive to the pier by bus or minivan
• 8:30 AM – Transfer to boat and start the journey to Phang Nga Bay
• 9:30 AM – Start sightseeing in Phang Nga Bay
• 12:00 PM – Lunch at the boat or on the floating village (Koh Panyee)
• 1:00 PM – More sightseeing in Phang Nga Bay
• 5:00 PM – Arrive at the pier and transfer back to your hotel by bus or minivan

Remember that each trip is unique, therefore your timetable could not coincide with this. Before you leave, you can inquire about the itinerary with your trip operator.

Is James Bond Island Open / Closed?

Yes, as of 2024, James Bond Island is OPEN to visitors!

When it rains, the Thai government prefers to close some of its islands for protection, although Phang Nga Bay and James Bond Island are usually open year-round.

Best Time To Visit James Bond Island Thailand

James Bond Island is a great place to explore year-round, while there are some seasonal variations.

The ideal months to visit the Andaman Sea region of Thailand, including Phang Nga Bay, are November through April, when the weather is sunnier and drier. But since it’s also the busiest travel time of year, there are a lot more day trips available.

May through October is not as wonderful for weather. Both the number of rainy days and the frequency of evening storms have increased. Even yet, there are less travelers during these months, so you can still enjoy an amazing trip. Boat cruises to James Bond Island are rarely canceled because the island is located inside a sizable harbor that shields it from choppy seas from the sea. During the rainy season, we saw a few significant storms, but they generally passed by

the time we got back to our hotel in the evening, so it wasn’t an issue. In actuality, the majority of the photos in this James Bond Island travel guide were shot in July, during the wet season.
We have taken different journeys to Phang Nga Bay during the rainy and dry seasons. In both instances, the weather was fantastic for several weeks, and we had a fantastic time. In summary, there’s never a terrible moment to go to James Bond Island!

What To Bring To Phang Nga Bay

• A bag that is waterproof. vital to ensure the security of your equipment while traveling by boat near Ko Ta Pu and Koh Hong island. My drone, tablet, camera, phone, and a ton of other items fit inside the 30 liter bag I brought. Even when I took the bag swimming a couple of times, nothing got wet!
• A phone pouch that is waterproof. The same as before, but just for your phone. Fantastic if all you need is a little protective item for your phone and you don’t own any other electronics.
• Sunblock. Pack a hat and sunscreen for boat tours because, despite some shade provided by speedboats and longtail boats, sunburns can still occur while swimming or strolling on Ko Ta Pu’s beach.

• Drinks and Snacks. When visiting the islands, you might want to bring some food and beverages on the boat. These can be brought from Krabi or Phuket. While you can purchase drinks and snacks in the national park, the costs are greater.

Can You Fly A Drone At Phang Nga Bay?

Drone usage is permitted throughout most of Thailand’s islands, but it is prohibited in the country’s national parks. This includes James Bond Island, which park officials police and will punish you for using a drone in the area. There, they are really stringent, and the rangers are always keeping an eye on every part of the island.

It is still feasible to fly from other spots in or around the bay, though, if you are discrete. With its excellent views of Phang Nga Bay, the Samet Nangshe Viewpoint is the ideal location for this. Naturally, you should still exercise consideration and limit your flying to areas where it won’t disturb others.

Other Tips For Phang Nga Bay

• Restrooms: James Bond Island offers restrooms, although you might have to pay a little price in Thai Baht (bring some cash for that). While Thai longtail boats and speedboats typically do not have restrooms, if you schedule the tour with a large wooden boat, those do.
• Cell Service: Due to the steep mountains around Ko Ta Pu, you may lose service when you dock on James Bond Island. However, we had excellent phone reception while traveling the entire Phang Nga Bay on the boat.

• Mosquitoes: While we didn’t notice many mosquitoes on James Bond Island or Phang Nga Bay, you can purchase bug protection in Phuket, Krabi, and other Thai locations if you’d like. This region is free of malaria.

Phi Phi Or James Bond Island: Which Is Better?

Day Trip To Phang Nga Bay So, James Bond Island or Phi Phi, which is better? That is a crucial query. Though I must admit that Phi Phi island is superior, they are both excellent. With its crystal-clear blue water and abundance of fish and coral visible while snorkeling or scuba diving, Phi Phi offers the best scenery above and below the ocean—no offense to James Bond Island. Furthermore, there is generally more to see and do in Phi Phi. It’s difficult to top Maya Bay,

Pileh Lagoon, and the other breathtaking sites on the Phi Phi islands, even if snorkeling isn’t your thing. They really are on a global scale. Don’t get me wrong, Phang Nga Bay remains breathtaking, and if you have the chance,

you should visit James Bond Island. If you have time, try to see James Bond and Phi Phi! Since they’re located in different directions from Phuket (north vs. south), you can’t see them both in one day, but you can see them both in two!

Is James Bond Island Worth It?

Yes, in my opinion, James Bond Island is well worth the trip!

Phang Nga Bay boasts an abundance of breathtaking scenery, with everything available at reasonable prices. This is still one of the greatest day trips in Thailand, even with the crowds, and it’s relatively accessible because it’s halfway between Phuket and Krabi.

More Thailand Travel Guides

I appreciate you looking! This travel guide for Phang Nga Bay and James Bond Island, Thailand, is hopefully enjoyable for you.

For additional advice on Phuket, Krabi, Koh Tao, and the other Thai islands, don’t forget to peruse my comprehensive travel guide to Thailand.

Happy journeys!