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James Bond Island Big Boat Benefits: Why a Slower-Paced Cruise with Lunch and 2 Canoeing Experiences Can Be More Enjoyable Than a Fast Speedboat Ride
05
Nov
Nov
James Bond Island Big Boat Tour Pickup Time: When We Collect You from Your Phuket Hotel
Hotel pickup, national park fees and two canoeing sessions included, from $48 per adult.
Your James Bond Island big boat tour pickup time depends on where you’re staying in Phuket. Collections start at 07:00 in Rawai and Nai Harn, while the latest pickups are between 08:30 and 08:50 in Laem Hin, Ao Po and Yamu. Most northern hotels, including those in Laguna, Bang Tao and Mai Khao, have an 08:00 to 08:20 pickup window.
When you book, give us your hotel name so we can confirm the right time. We recommend booking 24 to 48 hours ahead, especially for busy weekends. The boat carries up to 85 passengers, and departures can fill.
The adult price is $48, including the national park fee. You won’t need to pay that fee separately at the pier.
Pickup at a glance
- Most northern hotels: 08:00 to 08:20
- Rawai and Nai Harn: 07:00 to 07:10
- Laem Hin, Ao Po and Yamu: 08:30 to 08:50
- Collection point: your hotel lobby, followed by a minivan transfer to Ao Por Pier
- Adult fare: $48, including the national park fee
- Recommended booking notice: 24 to 48 hours
Where will the minivan collect you?
We collect you from your hotel lobby and take you to Ao Por Pier to join the boat. Your hotel’s location determines the pickup window; the time you make your booking doesn’t affect it.
After running this route more than 140 times, I’ve found that guests often want to know where the minivan will stop and how early they need to be downstairs. Start with the pickup window for your area, then confirm the details for your hotel with us.
If you’re staying in Rawai or Nai Harn, collection starts at 07:00. For a confirmed 07:00 pickup, be in the lobby by 06:50. Guests staying farther north generally have a later start, which can leave more time for breakfast.
What are the pickup times for each Phuket area?
Use the table below to find your area. All times are local Phuket time.
| Area | Pickup window | Example hotels or locations from our list |
|---|---|---|
| Rawai, Nai Harn | 07:00 to 07:10 | The Nai Harn |
| Panwa Cape, Makham Bay | 07:30 to 07:50 | Baan Panwa Resort and Spa, So View Phuket Resort |
| Kamala, Patong, Nakalay | 07:40 to 08:00 | Kamala hotels |
| Koh Siray | 07:50 to 08:00 | Koh Siray hotels |
| Surin, Bang Tao, Laguna, Layan | 08:00 to 08:20 | Banyan Tree Phuket, Angsana Laguna, Anantara Layan |
| Nai Thon, Nai Yang, Mai Khao | 08:00 to 08:20 | JW Marriott Phuket |
| Phuket Town | 08:00 to 08:20 | Phuket Town hotels |
| Laem Hin, Ao Po, Yamu | 08:30 to 08:50 | Cape Yamu and Laem Hin hotels |
You can also check our James Bond Island big boat pickup schedule for more information about the day.
Remember that these are hotel collection times. An 08:20 pickup in Layan means that’s when your transfer begins. You still have the drive to Ao Por Pier before boarding the boat.
How does your hotel location affect your morning?
The biggest difference is how early you need to be ready. If you’re staying in Laguna, your pickup window starts at 08:00. In Rawai, the minivan may collect you a full hour earlier.
For Kamala, Patong and Nakalay, expect collection between 07:40 and 08:00. Panwa Cape and Makham Bay have an earlier window of 07:30 to 07:50, while Koh Siray pickups run from 07:50 to 08:00.
Check your hotel’s breakfast hours before planning a sit-down meal. With an early southern pickup, you may need to eat before the restaurant opens.
Send us your hotel name and room number when you have them. If you’re still choosing accommodation or your resort sits between two pickup areas, ask us to confirm the window before you book.
What time will you get back to your hotel?
The itinerary puts the return to the pier at around 16:30, with hotel arrival at approximately 17:30.
Treat 17:30 as an estimate when making evening plans. We wouldn’t arrange dinner around an exact hotel arrival time, particularly if you want time to shower and change after the tour.
How much do children pay?
Our price article lists a fare of $38 for children aged 3 to 10, with children under 3 travelling free.
On the booking page, the categories are labelled:
- Adult: age 11 and above
- Child: under 11
- Infant: under 3
The child and infant labels overlap in wording, so choose the category that matches your child’s age. If you’re unsure, send us their age before booking and we’ll help you check.
If you’re also preparing for your arrival in Thailand, remember the Thailand Digital Arrival Card. Foreign visitors entering through immigration, including children and infants, need to complete it within the three days before arrival. Submission through the official website is free. No Fees Required
Is this big boat tour a good fit for your day?
For $48 per adult, our big boat tour includes hotel pickup, shaded space on board, a Thai lunch on deck and the national park fee.
You also have two separate canoeing sessions, at Panak and Hong islands. If canoeing is one of the main reasons you’re booking, that’s a useful detail to know when comparing tours.
For guests staying in northern Phuket, the 08:00 to 08:20 pickup window makes the morning easier to plan. From Rawai or Nai Harn, you’ll need to be comfortable with a 07:00 start. Panwa guests should plan around their own 07:30 to 07:50 window.
Bring swimwear, a towel, sunscreen and a dry bag. You can leave your snorkelling gear at the hotel; the bay’s murky green water isn’t suited to clear underwater views.
Once you’ve chosen your date, book your James Bond Island big boat tour with enough notice, particularly for a weekend departure.
What other tours could you consider?
If you’re comparing different ways to spend the day, these tours have different itineraries and experiences. Check their pickup arrangements separately.
- Our luxury sunrise James Bond Island speedboat tour is for guests who want an early visit to the bay before the day boats arrive.
- The Phang Nga tour from Phuket combines national park scenery with stops on land. It’s an option if you want another outdoor day with a different itinerary.
- The Ao Thalane kayaking tour takes you through mangrove channels and past cliff walls, with kayaking as the focus of the day.
What to check before the morning pickup
Confirming your hotel pickup takes very little time, but it makes the morning easier. Before your tour:
- Find your hotel’s area in the table.
- Book 24 to 48 hours ahead and send us your hotel name and room number.
- Confirm your pickup window by email the day before.
- Have your swimwear, towel, sunscreen and dry bag ready.
- Be in the lobby ten minutes before your confirmed pickup time.
Based on our schedule notes, I expect more departures to reach the boat’s 85-passenger capacity during peak season, with quieter decks returning from May.
If you have questions about the route, tides or a private trip, contact our team and we’ll help you plan.
These pages are worth a bookmark before you travel:
