A full-day James Bond Island tour from Khao Lak through the Ramsar-listed Phang Nga Bay: stand beneath the famous limestone karst, paddle hidden sea caves by canoe, swim and meet the monkeys.
This private James Bond Island tour from Khao Lak takes you through the limestone karsts of Phang Nga Bay — the most dramatic bay in southern Thailand.
Known internationally as James Bond Island (Khao Phing Kan), this dramatic limestone karst rising from Phang Nga Bay starred in The Man with the Golden Gun — and a full-day tour here is one of the most memorable days you can spend in southern Thailand. A guided sea tour to picturesque Ao Phang Nga Bay National Park to behold Ko Tapu (James Bond Island) and visit Koh Panyee floating village is a highlight for many tourists venturing to the south of Thailand. Khao Lak Land Discovery would be honoured to take you there! Phang Nga Bay, a Ramsar Wetland and Marine National Park, is famed for its constantly evolving karst topography that water erosion has sculpted into some of the most strikingly beautiful islands to be found anywhere in the world, none being more iconic than Koh Tapu, also known as James Bond Island. Come with us on an excursion that will reveal how time has shaped the extraordinary landscape and proud culture of Phang Nga!
Our driver and guide will pick you up in a comfy air-conditioned minibus, right in front of your accommodation in the Khao Lak area, then begin the scenic drive to the pier at Phang Nga Bay, where your chariot awaits. Once at the pier, hop aboard a traditional Thai Longtail boat and embark on a sightseeing tour through one of the most breathtaking coastal regions in the world!
During the Longtail boat trip, you will disembark on Ko Khao Phing Kan Island, where you will have the chance to get a great photograph of James Bond Island. Koh Tapu, or James Bond Island was brought to the world's attention when it was featured in the 007 movie, The Man with the Golden Gun. A short walk to the viewpoint is all it takes to capture a photo of this spike-shaped island, jutting out of the sea. Ko Khao Phing Kan is a marvellous sight as well, with its unique karst formations, caves, and precarious rock outcroppings!
A little later in the day, your captain will navigate the Traditional Thai Longtail boat to an area where an experienced paddle guide will bring you inside mysterious sea caves by canoe to view the ever-changing stalactites and stalagmites and explore what lies within. Without the need to paddle yourself, you will have your hands free to take as many photos as you would like.
The boat will stop at Koh Panyee (Ko Panyi), the famous floating fishing village on stilts, for lunch served at a restaurant over the water. After lunch, you will have time to mingle with the locals, explore the floating village with your guide, and learn about their unique history and lifestyle. While at the village, you will have time to shop for raw pearls, handcrafted souvenirs and jewellery made by the Panyi people.
What trip to Thailand would be complete without visiting an authentic Thai Buddhist temple? After you are back ashore on the mainland, you can gain a little insight into the predominant religion of Thailand while walking the grounds of an authentic Thai Buddhist temple set against a lush rainforest backdrop. Macaque monkeys are a fan favorite for all ages. Before the end of the tour, you will be able to observe mischievous Macaque monkeys while they frolic and play! You can feed them too if you wish! At the end of the tour, your driver and guide will return you to your hotel in the Khao Lak area in time to catch the magnificent North Andaman Sea sunset. To see the bay at golden hour instead, try our Phang Nga Bay sunset cruise.
Book your James Bond Island and Phang Nga Bay tour with Khao Lak Land Discovery today and prepare for a day filled with breathtaking panoramic vistas and a unique local cultural experience! You will soon understand why scenic and historic Phang Nga Bay — a Ramsar Wetland protected as Ao Phang Nga Marine National Park — has become one of the top destinations for tourists visiting the south of Thailand!
Not sure whether James Bond Island or Hong Island is the right choice for your day? Read our honest comparison of James Bond Island vs Hong Island to help you decide.
Curious about the island’s James Bond history and the best photo spots? See our complete James Bond Island guide.
| Location | Ao Phang Nga Marine National Park, ~90 km south of Khao Lak |
| Duration | Full day · departs 07:30, returns ~17:30 |
| Highlights | Ko Tapu (James Bond Island) · Ko Khao Phing Kan · Koh Panyee floating village · sea caves by canoe · Buddhist temple |
| Group size | Small groups — max 8 guests |
| Included | Hotel pickup · longtail boat · canoe guide · lunch at Koh Panyee · national park fee |
| Price | From ฿2,900 per person |
| Languages | English · German · French |
A Phang Nga Bay tour is a full-day boat excursion through Ao Phang Nga Marine National Park — a Ramsar-designated Wetland famous for its towering limestone karsts rising from a calm emerald bay. The centrepiece is Ko Tapu (the spike-shaped rock that featured in the James Bond film The Man with the Golden Gun), alongside sea-cave canoeing, a visit to the Koh Panyee Muslim floating fishing village, and optional temple stops on the mainland. Tours typically depart from piers around Phang Nga town; from Khao Lak, hotel pickup is included.
The easiest way from Khao Lak is a guided tour with hotel pickup: your guide collects you by minibus at ~07:30, drives the scenic 90 km south to the Phang Nga Bay pier (~1 h 15 min), and transfers you to a traditional longtail boat for the full-day island circuit. Independent travellers can take a songthaew to Phang Nga town and arrange a boat from the pier, but this takes 2–3 hours with connections and requires navigating Thai-language signage. The guided tour from Khao Lak costs from ฿2,900 per person with everything included.
Ko Khao Phing Kan (also spelled Khao Phing Kan or Koh Ping Kan) is the large island in Phang Nga Bay that sits directly behind the famous Ko Tapu spike-rock. Its name means "leaning rocks" in Thai — the island's two halves appear to tilt toward each other. It was chosen as the villain's lair in the 1974 Bond film and has drawn visitors ever since. The small beach is often busy midday; early-morning tours reach it before the crowd. Ko Khao Phing Kan sits inside Ao Phang Nga Marine National Park and has been protected since 1981.
Yes — Koh Panyee is a standard stop on every Phang Nga Bay longtail-boat tour. The floating village was founded by Muslim sea-gypsies (Moken people) in the 18th century; today around 1,500 people live in houses built entirely on stilts over the water. Lunch is served at one of the over-water restaurants (included in the Khao Lak Land Discovery tour price), and there is time to browse the pearl and souvenir stalls before the boat continues to the sea caves and James Bond Island.
Khao Lak Land Discovery's Phang Nga Bay tour starts from ฿2,900 per person and includes hotel pickup in the Khao Lak area, longtail boat, a canoe guide for the sea caves, lunch at Koh Panyee, and all national park entry fees. Groups are capped at 8 guests for a more personal experience. The price is fixed — no hidden extras at the pier. You can book directly on this page; Khao Lak Land Discovery holds a TAT operator licence (TAT 41/00132).
Planning your trip from Phuket Airport to Khao Lak before your tour? Book a private Khao Lak airport transfer — your driver meets you at arrivals and delivers you door-to-door, so you arrive rested before your James Bond Island day begins.
Prefer a calmer, canoe-focused day in the bay? See our Hong Island & Phang Nga Bay tour.
Available to book
Next departure Sun 8 Nov 2026
59 open dates in the next 60 days
Exact timings flex with conditions and traffic — your guide sequences the stops to keep them calm rather than rushed. This is how the day usually runs.
Your friendly guide and driver will pick you up in an air-conditioned minibus in front of your hotel lobby around 7:30 am. Your exact pick-up time depends on the location of your hotel. We will confirm the pick-up time with you when you book.
Hop aboard a traditional Thai Longtail boat to begin the scenic journey into Phang Nga Bay! Have your camera ready to capture the breathtaking karst islands that earned Phang Nga Bay Ramsar-listed status!
Before long, Ko Tapu will appear in the distance. Ko Tapu received the nickname James Bond Island after being used as a filming location for the 007 movie, The Man with the Golden Gun. Once you have arrived on the neighbouring island, Ko Khao Phing Kan, your tour guide will lead you to a viewing area where you can photograph the iconic 20-metre-tall monolithic islet, Ko Tapu. Khao Phing Kan translates to English as the Island of Mountains Leaning Against Each Other. While you are there, be sure not to miss the opportunity to photograph the intricately scribbled cliff face leaning on the neighbouring peak.
The captain will stop at a location where an experienced paddle guide will take you by canoe into sea caves to witness the ever-changing formations up close and personal. Over the ages, water erosion and sedimentary deposits have sculpted the limestone islands into unique shapes with numerous sinkholes, caves, and caverns. Stalactites hang precariously from the cave ceilings over your head, and stalagmites rise from the shoreline. Without the need to paddle yourself, your hands are free to capture stunning photographs of the interior of the caves at your leisure.
The residents of Ko Panyi proudly welcome visitors to their village, which, when viewed from a distance, appears to float on the surface of the sea. Panyi Village may appear to float, yet nearly all the structures are supported columns embedded in the sea bed. One notable exception is the football pitch, made famous when the local youth football club won six back-to-back Southern Thailand Championships from 2004 to 2010. Panyi Village is currently home to around 1,600 residents who can trace their lineage to a few Javanese families that settled on Ko Panyi in the eighteenth century. You will dine on a traditional Thai lunch prepared by the Panyi people, with plenty of time afterward to explore their village, shop for souvenirs, and learn a little about their proud history and culture.
When the tour of Phang Nga Bay is complete, the captain will return to the pier, where your driver and minibus await. Please make sure that you have all of your personal belongings with you when you disembark.
On your return journey to Khao Lak, your guide will decide to visit Wat Prachum Sueksa Temple or Wat Tham Suwan Kuha Temple. Wat Tham Suwan Kuha tends to get uncomfortably overcrowded because it is a popular destination for large tour buses carrying tourists from Phuket who come to feed the resident monkeys and view the reclining Buddha statue inside the cave. Your guide will take you to Wat Prachum Sueksa for a more intimate experience if Wat Tham Suwan Kuha is going to be overcrowded. The temple grounds will be the subject of your photos at Wat Prachum Sueksa, not a hoard of tourists, albeit without the monkeys. If you have your heart set on seeing monkeys and we go to Wat Prachum Sueksa, don't worry! We have it covered. We will take you to view the monkeys at a picturesque public park in Phang Nga!
If you have your heart set on seeing monkeys and we go to Wat Prachum Sueksa, don't worry! We have it covered. We will take you to view the monkeys at a picturesque public park in Phang Nga! Be aware that monkeys love to collect shiny things, so we highly suggest leaving loose jewelry, such as necklaces and bracelets, in the minivan while in the presence of monkeys.
We will have you back at your resort around 5 pm, just in time to watch the sun set over the North Andaman Sea. Once again, please be sure you have all your belongings when you exit the minibus. We thank you for joining us and hope to see you again soon!
Not included
Children age 4–11 ฿2,400 · hotel pickup & lunch included
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Full DayThe full-day tour includes air-conditioned minibus pickup and drop-off in the Khao Lak area, a traditional Thai longtail boat trip through Phang Nga Bay, canoeing into the sea caves with a paddle guide, a visit to James Bond Island (Koh Tapu), lunch at the floating Muslim village of Koh Panyee, a stop at a local Buddhist temple, national park entrance fees, and your driver-guide for the day.
It is a full-day tour, roughly 8 to 9 hours door to door including the scenic drive between Khao Lak and the Phang Nga pier. Exact pickup time depends on your hotel location and is confirmed the day before.
About 45 minutes by air-conditioned minibus from Khao Lak to Ta Dan Pier in Phang Nga Bay. From the pier you continue by traditional Thai longtail boat through the mangroves of Phang Nga Bay to James Bond Island, enjoying the scenic views on the way.
We pick you up directly in front of your accommodation anywhere in the Khao Lak area. Pickups from outside Khao Lak can be arranged for an additional transfer fee — just let us know your hotel when booking.
No. An experienced local paddle guide does the paddling so your hands are free for photos while you explore the stalactites and stalagmites inside the limestone sea caves.
Yes, a Thai lunch is served at a restaurant in the Koh Panyee floating village. Please tell us about any allergies or dietary requirements (vegetarian, halal, etc.) at the time of booking so we can arrange suitable options.
Yes. The pace is relaxed and the activities are gentle, making it well suited to families with children and older travellers. There is some walking at the temple and on the boats; let us know if anyone in your group needs extra assistance.
Yes — our James Bond Island day trip is the same tour as our Phang Nga Bay tour. James Bond Island (Koh Tapu / Khao Phing Kan) is the headline stop, but it is just one part of a wider full-day Phang Nga Bay itinerary that also includes a longtail boat cruise through the limestone karsts, canoeing into the sea caves, and the Koh Panyee floating village. When you book the Phang Nga Bay tour you are booking the James Bond Island tour, and vice versa.
Both options visit James Bond Island, but they offer very different experiences. A traditional longtail boat is the slow, local way — atmospheric and great for photography, but it covers fewer stops and takes longer on the water. A speedboat covers more ground in the same day: typically James Bond Island, Koh Panyee village, the sea caves, and sometimes additional karst formations that longtail-only tours skip. Khao Lak Land Discovery uses a traditional longtail boat for an authentic Phang Nga Bay experience with a small group capped at 8 guests — giving you a quieter, more personal day than the large speedboat group tours that fill up fast from Phuket.
Koh Panyee (Ko Panyi) is a remarkable Muslim sea-gypsy settlement built entirely on stilts over the water in Phang Nga Bay — home to around 1,500 people whose ancestors arrived from Java over 200 years ago. The village has no land of its own: the mosque, the school, the market stalls, the restaurants, and even a famous football pitch are all suspended above the sea. On the tour you will have free time to wander the narrow walkways, browse stalls selling raw pearls and handcrafted jewellery, eat lunch at one of the over-water restaurants (included), and spot the floating football pitch that inspired a documentary. It is one of the most genuinely distinctive stops in southern Thailand.
Yes — a stop at Tham Nak (the Monkey Cave) is part of the day. The cave is home to a large colony of long-tailed macaque monkeys that roam freely around the entrance and rock face. Inside, the cave opens into a chamber where thousands of bats roost, and a short climb leads to a viewpoint over the surrounding karst landscape. It is a crowd-free stop compared to James Bond Island and a favourite with families and wildlife photographers. Your guide will tell you which monkeys are friendliest if you want to offer fruit — but keep bags closed, as they are bold.
James Bond Island can be extremely busy between 10:00 and 14:00, when dozens of speedboat tours from Phuket arrive at the same time. The difference between an early-morning visit and a midday one is significant — the small beach and viewpoint path are genuinely peaceful before 10:00 and genuinely hectic after. Khao Lak Land Discovery departs at 07:30, which means the longtail boat reaches Ko Tapu before the Phuket rush — this is one of the practical advantages of touring from Khao Lak rather than from Phuket. Weekdays are also noticeably quieter than weekends and Thai public holidays. The November–April dry season is the most popular period; May and October can bring rain but also far smaller crowds.
Cancellations made 24 hours or more before the tour date receive a full refund. Within 24 hours, the booking is non-refundable.
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Khao Lak Land Discovery Co., Ltd. 21/5 Moo 7, Khuk Khak, Takua Pa, Phang Nga 82220, Thailand Google 4.7★ · 506 reviews TAT 41/00132 Thailand-licensed tour operator
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