James Bond island by Big Boat – Phuket

Phuket Hotel Free Pickup Locations

Hotel pickup and return transfer are included for accommodations in Phuket. Exact pickup time varies by hotel area and is confirmed after booking.

James Bond Island by Big boat Natural Park fees already included in the price.

James Bond island by Big Boat – Tour Highlights

• Cruise through the extraordinary limestone scenery of Phang Nga Bay
• Experience sea-cave canoeing around Panak Island
• Paddle through the cliffs, caves and lagoons of Hong Island
• Visit James Bond Island and Khao Phing Kan
• Reach the James Bond Island area by traditional long-tail boat
• Swim, canoe or try stand-up paddleboarding around Nakae Island
• Enjoy a varied buffet lunch onboard the big boat
• Travel with an English-speaking guide throughout the day
• Phuket hotel pickup and return transfer included
• National park entrance fees included

James Bond island by Big boat from Phuket – Itinerary

Hotel Pickup in Phuket Approx. 7:30 AM to 9:00 AM

Your day begins with pickup from your hotel or designated meeting location in Phuket.

The exact pickup time varies by accommodation area and is confirmed after booking. Guests staying farther from the departure pier are normally collected earlier.

You will travel by shared vehicle toward Ao Po Pier, on Phuket’s northeastern coast and facing directly toward the islands and karst formations of Phang Nga Bay.

Be ready in your hotel lobby about 5 minutes before your confirmed pickup time.

Ao Po Pier and Safety Briefing Approx. 9:00 AM to 9:30 AM Duration: Around 30 minutes

Arrive at Ao Po Pier, the departure point for the day’s Phang Nga Bay cruise.

After check-in, meet your English-speaking guide and crew. You will receive useful information about the boat, the day’s itinerary, weather and sea conditions, canoeing procedures and basic onboard safety.

Personal flotation devices are available onboard, and the crew will explain how the canoeing portions of the tour work before departure.

A small refreshment is provided before or around departure.

The advertised 9:30 AM tour starting time refers to departure activities at Ao Po Pier, not necessarily your hotel pickup time.

Activities

• Check-in
• Welcome refreshment
• Meet your guide
• Safety briefing
• Boat orientation

Cruise from Phuket into Phang Nga Bay Approx. 9:30 AM to 10:40 AM Duration: Around 70 minutes

Leave Phuket aboard the big boat and begin the cruise northeast into Phang Nga Bay.

This first stretch counts as part of the tour itself. Take your time on deck and enjoy the cruise across the bay.

As Phuket disappears behind the boat, the open water gradually gives way to the steep limestone formations for which Phang Nga is famous. Hundreds of karst towers and forest-covered islands rise almost vertically from the bay to form one of Thailand’s most distinctive marine views.

The sheltered waters of Phang Nga Bay are generally calmer than the open Andaman Sea, which is one reason large-boat tours suit this area well.

Use this part of the cruise to relax on deck, take photographs and listen to the guide’s introduction to the islands ahead.

Activities

• Big boat cruise
• Sightseeing
• Photography
• Scenic views
• Introduction to Phang Nga Bay

Panak Island Approx. 10:40 AM to 11:30 AM Duration: Around 50 minutes

Your first main stop is Panak Island, one of the most interesting limestone islands in Phang Nga Bay.

Panak is well known for its caves, steep karst walls, mangrove areas and enclosed lagoons known locally as hongs. Some of these interior areas can only be reached through narrow openings in the limestone.

Guests do not paddle themselves. Instead, they sit in a small canoe paddled by an experienced local canoe guide.

Your route follows the tide and the conditions of the day, and may pass beneath overhanging limestone, into caves or toward sheltered lagoons behind the outer cliffs.

Wildlife varies, but the quieter stretches near mangroves and cliffs often hold birds, small crabs and other coastal species.

Because entry to each cave is tied closely to tidal height, the canoe route for the day is not fixed beforehand.

Why Panak Island is special

Panak shows the geological character of Phang Nga Bay at close range. From the main boat, the islands appear monumental. From a canoe, you can move directly beneath the cliffs and into spaces too narrow for large boats.

Activities

• Sea canoeing
• Boat cruise
• Cave canoeing
• Lagoon sightseeing
• Mangrove scenery
• Wildlife observation
• Photography

Hong Island, Phang Nga Approx. 11:40 AM to 12:30 PM Duration: Around 50 minutes

Continue farther into Phang Nga Bay to Hong Island, another favored canoeing destination.

The word hong means “room” in Thai and is commonly used to describe the enclosed lagoons found inside some of the bay’s limestone islands.

Hong Island shows a different character from Panak. Towering rock walls surround sections of calm water, while openings in the limestone can lead toward caves, small lagoons and sheltered channels.

Again, your canoe is normally handled by a local paddler familiar with the tides and safe routes through the area.

This is one of the most photogenic parts of the trip, above all where reflections from the cliffs and vegetation meet the green water.

Activities

• Canoeing
• Sightseeing
• Boat cruise
• Photography
• Lagoon paddling
• Scenic views
• Wildlife observation

Buffet Lunch Onboard Approx. 12:30 PM to 1:15 PM

Return to the big boat and enjoy a buffet lunch onboard while continuing through Phang Nga Bay.

Instead of spending the lunch break inside a restaurant, you stay surrounded by the bay’s scenery.

The buffet has a selection of dishes, and vegetarian food can be requested when booking.

Soft drinks and drinking water are available onboard, while alcoholic beverages may be purchased separately.

Activities

• Buffet lunch
• Relaxation onboard
• Scenic cruising

James Bond Island and Khao Phing Kan Approx. 1:15 PM to 2:15 PM Duration: Around 1 hour

One of the most recognizable stops of the day is James Bond Island, in the northern part of Phang Nga Bay.

The location became internationally famous after appearing in the 1974 James Bond film The Man with the Golden Gun.

The famous rock seen in countless photographs is Ko Tapu, a narrow limestone sea stack rising dramatically from the water.

Visitors actually land at neighboring Khao Phing Kan, from where Ko Tapu can be viewed and photographed.

For part of the approach, the tour uses a traditional Thai long-tail boat, adding a different style of travel to the day after the larger cruise boat.

Once ashore, walk through the island area, admire the limestone cliffs, visit the viewpoints and take the classic photographs across the water toward Ko Tapu.

Your guide can also explain the island’s geology and how the James Bond film turned this small corner of Phang Nga Bay into one of Thailand’s best-known attractions.

Activities

• James Bond Island visit
• Khao Phing Kan sightseeing
• Ko Tapu viewpoint
• Walking
• Photography

Nakae Island and Phang Nga Bay Water Activities Approx. 2:30 PM to 3:20 PM Duration: Around 50 minutes

The pace becomes more relaxed during the final main activity stop around Nakae Island.

After the cave canoeing and sightseeing earlier in the day, this stop is mainly about enjoying the water.

When conditions allow, you can go swimming, take another canoe ride or try stand-up paddleboarding.

You can also choose to stay aboard or rest near the water and take in the surrounding scenery.

The calmer waters inside Phang Nga Bay make this a pleasant final activity before beginning the longer cruise back toward Phuket.

Activities

• Swimming
• Stand-up paddleboarding
• Canoeing
• Relaxing
• Scenic views
• Photography

Return Cruise Through Phang Nga Bay Approx. 3:20 PM to 4:20 PM Duration: Around 60 minutes

Reboard the big boat for the return cruise toward Ao Po Pier.

This final hour gives you time to rest after the day’s canoeing, swimming and island visits.

Pass once more through the limestone scenery of Phang Nga Bay while watching the view from the boat.

Correction to the source itinerary: the listing that says “Sightseeing cruise, 60 hours” is a formatting error. It should read approximately 60 minutes.

Ao Po Pier and Return to Your Phuket Hotel Approx. 4:30 PM onward

Arrive back at Ao Po Pier, where your transfer vehicle will be waiting.

You will then be transported back to your hotel or original pickup area in Phuket.

Exact hotel arrival time varies with your accommodation location and traffic conditions.

Route Overview

Phuket hotel, then Ao Po Pier, then the Phang Nga Bay cruise, then Panak Island, then Hong Island, then the onboard buffet lunch, then James Bond Island and Khao Phing Kan, then Nakae Island, then Ao Po Pier, then your Phuket hotel.

Note: the times above remain approximate, and the order and length of individual stops can shift with tides, sea conditions and weather.

James Bond Island by Big Boat KEY DETAILS:

• DEPARTURE/RETURN LOCATION: Your Hotel.
• DEPARTURE TIME: 8:00 -8.30 AM.
• RETURN TIME: Approximately 6:30 PM.
• WEAR: Swimming suits, light t-shirt.

INCLUDED:

• Phuket hotel pickup and drop-off
• Big boat tour through Phang Nga Bay
• National park entrance fees
• Refreshment around departure from Ao Po Pier
• English-speaking tour guide
• Canoeing activities
• Local canoe paddlers where applicable
• Stand-up paddleboarding
• Long-tail boat transfer for the James Bond Island section
• Buffet lunch onboard
• Drinking water and soft drinks
• Life jackets
• Travel insurance
• Seasickness medication on request

NOT INCLUDED:

• Alcoholic beverages, available for purchase onboard
• Personal expenses
• Gratuities

WHAT TO BRING:

• Sunglasses
• Sun hat
• Swimwear
• Towel
• Camera
• Biodegradable sunscreen
• Comfortable lightweight clothing
• Flip-flops or suitable sandals
• Cash for personal expenses
• Image of your passport’s first page on your mobile

Children from 1 to 3 years old do not pay for any ticket! (Free ticket)

Children from 3 to 10 years old pay a reduced price! (38 USD)

The itinerary and timing above are approximate and may be modified without notice to fit the tide and local weather conditions. If above tour does not meet your requirement and you wish to customize your own tour, please feel free to contact us and tell us your preference. We will do our best to provide the best service we can.