Phang Nga Bay and James Bond Island from Khao Lak: speedboat, longtail or canoe?
Three ways into Phang Nga Bay from Khao Lak: by speedboat (daily, ฿4,100, pickup 4:00), by longtail with lunch at the Samet Nangshe viewpoint (฿3,600, from 7:30) or by canoe from a big boat (daily, ฿3,950). Which one suits whom.
Phang Nga Bay — the limestone towers, the mangroves, James Bond Island from "The Man with the Golden Gun" (1974) — lies between Khao Lak and Phuket, and there are three ways to see it in a day. By speedboat: daily, ฿4,100, pickup at 4:00, the full programme with canoe, Koh Panyee and Samet Nangshe. By longtail boat: ฿3,600, pickup not until 7:30, slower, closer to the water, lunch with the best view in the region. Or by canoe from a big boat: daily, ฿3,950, a paddler steers, lunch on board — the calmest option.
The three tours at a glance
- ·James Bond & Beyond — speedboat: ฿4,100, children (4–12) ฿3,100 · daily · pickup Khao Lak 4:00 · from Royal Phuket Marina, back 15:15 · cave on Koh Panak, James Bond Island, Samet Nangshe viewpoint, canoe through the Tum Lod Nai caves, lunch at Koh Panyee, beach time · see the tour
- ·Phang Nga Bay by longtail: ฿3,600, children (5–12) ฿2,800 · dates on request, minimum 6 guests · pickup 7:30, back 17:00 · mangroves by longtail, canoe at Koh Hong, James Bond Island, beach, lunch at Samet Nangshe, Suwan Kuha cave temple, waterfall · see the tour
- ·Canoe trip by big boat: ฿3,950, children (3–12) ฿1,975 · daily, no minimum · from Yacht Haven, Phuket · across the bay past the James Bond rock, canoe with paddler into caves and lagoons (hongs), lunch on board, beach · see the tour
All three with hotel transfer from Khao Lak, park fees, lunch, water and soft drinks. Guides speak English and German; on the speedboat French too.
Speedboat: the full programme
The fastest and fullest tour. The drawback first: it departs from Royal Phuket Marina, so pickup in Khao Lak is at 4:00 and the drive takes an hour and a half. In return you see everything the bay has in one day — the walk-through cave on Koh Panak, the Koh Tapu pinnacle off James Bond Island, the panorama from Samet Nangshe, a canoe ride through the Tum Lod Nai caves from a private canoe station, the stilt village of Koh Panyee with lunch, and beach time in the afternoon. Canoeing replaces snorkelling here. At 15:15 the boat is back at the marina.
Longtail: slow, close to the water, the best view
The tour for guests who do not want to get up at 4:00 and would rather see the bay the way locals travel it. Pickup at 7:30, about 90 minutes to the pier on the mainland side, then by longtail through the mangrove forest, canoe at the Hong islands, a stop at James Bond Island and at a beach. Lunch is at the Samet Nangshe viewpoint, with the view over the whole bay that the speedboats only glimpse in passing. On the way back the Suwan Kuha cave temple with its reclining Buddha and the monkeys outside, and a waterfall to swim in. Back at 17:00. Dates on request, from 6 guests — ask us for the next one.
Canoe from the big boat: the calmest
A big, stable boat sails from Phuket across the bay, past the James Bond rock, and anchors off the hongs — the hidden lagoons inside the limestone islands, reachable only through low caves at certain tide levels. You sit in the canoe, a paddler steers; all you do is look. Lunch on board, out on the water, then two more caves and a beach. Daily, no minimum, children from age 3 at half price. The choice for families with small children, older guests and anyone who finds speedboats too rough.
Which tour for whom
- ·You want to see it all and the early start does not bother you: speedboat.
- ·You want a lie-in, quiet and the viewpoint: longtail.
- ·You are travelling with small children or dislike speedboats: canoe from the big boat.
- ·You want to snorkel: none of the three — the bay is murky and shallow. For that there are the Similan and Surin Islands.
Good to know
The hongs depend on the tide, so the order of the programme can change. Bring swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, a hat, a waterproof pouch for your phone — the canoe gets wet — sturdy sandals for the cave on Koh Panak and, for the temple, clothes that cover knees and shoulders. More trips in our overview of tours from Khao Lak; the rules in Thailand from A to Z.
Frequently asked questions
How far is James Bond Island from Khao Lak?
The bay lies south-east of Khao Lak. The longtail tour drives about 90 minutes to the pier on the mainland side; the speedboat and the big boat leave from Phuket, an hour and a half away. In every case we collect you at the hotel.
Which film is James Bond Island from?
In “The Man with the Golden Gun” from 1974, with Roger Moore. The island is really called Khao Phing Kan; the pinnacle in front of it, in every photo, is Koh Tapu — “Nail Island”.
Longtail or speedboat in Phang Nga Bay?
Speedboat if you want to see everything in one day and the 4:00 start does not bother you (daily, ฿4,100). Longtail if you want a lie-in, the bay at a slow pace and lunch at the Samet Nangshe viewpoint (฿3,600, dates on request).
Which Phang Nga tour works with small children?
The canoe trip by big boat: from age 3, children ฿1,975, a paddler steers, the boat is stable and lunch is on board. It runs daily with no minimum number.
Can you snorkel in Phang Nga Bay?
No — the bay's water is shallow and murky; this is about rocks, caves, mangroves and lagoons. On the speedboat tour the canoe replaces snorkelling. For snorkelling, go to the Similan or Surin Islands.
