Phang Nga Bay in Thailand is replete with exotic island scenery, and one of the most noteworthy attractions in the bay is the famous James Bond Island, characterized by its unusual balanced rocks.

James Bond Island, also known as "Koh Ta Pu" or "Nail Island" in Thai, acquired its nickname after featuring in the 1974 Bond film "The Man with the Golden Gun."

Today, Phang Nga Bay is a national park in Thailand where you can kayak and admire dozens of enchanting islands adorned with caves, mangroves, and wildlife. There's even a floating village named Koh Panyee.

Accessible from Phuket, Krabi, or Koh Lanta via a one-day boat tour, Phang Nga Bay offers ample time to explore James Bond Island and other major attractions in the bay.

This travel guide to Phang Nga Bay will provide insights on how to get there, the top sights and activities, the best tour packages, accommodation options, and all the essential information you need before departure!

Best Phang Nga Bay Tour Packages

The only way to visit James Bond Island is through a tour group. GetYourGuide offers day trips from Phuket or similar excursions from Koh Lanta or Krabi, including hotel transfers, boat rides, lunch, shared island tours, and return transportation on the same day.

These day trips cover all the major attractions in Phang Nga Bay, including James Bond Island, Koh Hong, and the Koh Panyee floating village. You can also take a kayak or canoe to explore some limestone caves up close.

For those who prefer, private or semi-private tours are also available, albeit at a higher price. We have arranged numerous day trips and activities worldwide with GetYourGuide and have had fantastic experiences. Highly recommended!

Where is James Bond Island?

James Bond Island is located in Phang Nga Bay in southern Thailand.

As it is part of a national park, there are no airports, hotels, or accommodations within the bay. However, it is easily accessible from other parts of Thailand.

How to Get to James Bond Island in Thailand

The only way to reach James Bond Island is by booking a Phang Nga Bay boat tour. You can choose from Thai longtail boats, large wooden boats, or speedboats, all of which are great options.

Speedboats are the fastest and usually offer smaller tour groups and a more intimate experience, but they come at a higher cost. We have visited James Bond Island on various boats and had a great experience each time.

The closest airports are Phuket International Airport (HKT) or Krabi International Airport (KBV). Both airports have budget flights from Bangkok. You can purchase flights to Thailand on Skyscanner.

Many boat companies offer daily departures to James Bond Island from Phuket, Krabi, or Koh Lanta, often including hotel transfers. Again, we recommend the shared or private tours offered by GetYourGuide!

The boat ride through Phang Nga Bay itself is breathtaking, with dozens of rocky islands rising from all sides. However, one of the best parts of this trip is kayaking through the limestone caves. It was perhaps one of the most magical kayaking experiences I've ever had in the world!

Visiting James Bond Island: What to Expect

When you first arrive at James Bond Island, the boat will dock at the back of the main island (Khao Phing Kan), and you can disembark and walk around for a while.

Koh Phing Kan is a highly unusual island dotted with limestone hills. The main attraction is the pointed balanced rocks that seem to float on the sea surface. Unlike other parts of Thailand, snorkeling is not suitable in Phang Nga Bay due to murky water and the absence of coral reefs.

However, if you're lucky, you might still spot some wildlife here. We saw an eagle flying and later found a small lizard near the beach. We took a few photos of it before it climbed up a tree and disappeared.

Most Phang Nga Bay tour packages allow you to stay at James Bond Island for about an hour, which is enough time to swim on the beach, admire the famous floating rocks, and pose for the best James Bond-inspired photos.

Of course, due to its scenery, James Bond Island has become one of the most famous attractions in Thailand. Unless you arrive early in the morning, the island will be crowded for most of the day.

Many temporary souvenir stalls capitalize on this, but prices are a bit higher than usual, so shopping here is not a great idea.

If you want to avoid the crowds and capture some beautiful photos, you can walk up the cement stairs. The viewpoint above the rocks is usually less crowded, while the area near the beach tends to be the busiest and most congested part of the island.

James Bond Island gained its nickname after serving as the hideout of the villain in the 1974 Bond film "The Man with the Golden Gun." The film received criticism, but the filming location was a huge success.

Despite the crowds, we were pleased to see that the island was kept relatively clean, and we didn't find any trash on the ground or in the water. Overall, it's an amazing place that you should visit at least once!

Touring Phang Nga Bay – Costs

Phang Nga Bay is a national park in Thailand, so they charge 300 Thai baht (about $9 USD) for adults and 150 Thai baht for children aged 3-14.

Some Phang Nga Bay tour packages may already include these fees in the total price when you book, but usually, you pay them separately in cash when you start the tour or disembark at James Bond Island.

More Places to Visit in Phang Nga Bay

Here's a list of some famous attractions in Phang Nga Bay. You can visit most of these attractions (along with James Bond Island) on a day trip:

Koh Hong Island: Don't confuse this with Koh Hong Island in Krabi Province. Koh Hong in Phang Nga Province is a beautiful island with sandy beaches and several limestone caves that you can explore by kayaking. It's one of the most spectacular kayaking spots in Thailand and a must-visit!

Koh Panyee Island: Another large limestone island with several caves, including the Bat Cave and Ice Cream Cave, named for its bright white stalactites. You can also see mangroves and wild monkeys here.

Koh Panyee Floating Village: A fascinating small fishing village with a population of about 1,700 people. Established by Malay Muslims about 200 years ago, this floating village often serves as a lunch stop on James Bond boat tours.

Samet Nangshe Viewpoint: This stunning viewpoint is technically outside the national park and can only be accessed by land (not by James Bond boats). However, it offers breathtaking views of Phang Nga Bay, along with numerous mangroves and islands.