James Bond Island Phang Nga Bay; one of the most beautiful bay of Thailand, the bay is between Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi. It is famous for gravity-defying limestone formations, including James Bond Island (Kao Ta-pu): On the fateful morning of 26 December 2004, Phang Nga Bay was attacked by a tsunami disaster and thousands of people lost their lives.
Koh Bon, it is about 10 minutes from Haad Rawai (Rawai Beach), part of Phuket. The island is an ideal island for a day of snorkelling and relaxing.
Koh Hae (Coral Island), coral island is approximately 15 minutes by speedboat from Chalong Bay (Phuket part), speedboat can be accessible all year.
Koh Lon, is one of the quiet small islands; there are mostly Muslim island lives here and with a few bungalows.
Koh Mai Thon, it is a gorgeous little island with only one which is expensive place to stay.
Koh Maphrao (Coconut Island)
Koh Racha, this island consists of two islands; Raya Yai and Raya Noi which means big and small, the island is an ideal island and popular with scuba divers and a relaxing, as well as snorkelling destination.
Koh Yao, this island is also consists of two islands; Koh Yao Yai and Koh Yao Noi. The is land is halfway to Krabi, the island has few upmarket resorts.
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| Kao Ta-Pu in front of James Bond Island |
Sightseeing along James Bond Island can be done in one day-tour. From Phang Nga Town; get your travel tickets from tour operators many different nearby your hotel, and see what's the best for you. Usually there are a couple of different trips available every day. Half day tours, full day tours and tours with a night in Koh Panyi with reasonable price. There are also trips with sea canoeing. Tours booked from Krabi or Phuket are shorter and are more expensive...
Tour operators has organized many different tours and most of them follow standard route around the bay; passing weird rock formations, limestone outcrops, hidden lakes, tiny beaches and many caves. The tours usually go to Khao Ping Gan - The Leaning Rock, which was featured in the James Bond movie "The Man With the Golden Gun" as Scaramanga's hideaway. Kao Tapu in front of the James Bond Island is a popular rock. Beware that on "the" James Bond Island, the beach is littered with trinket vendors trying to sell you something and the experience of seeing the island may be somewhat disappointing and diluted.
A Phang Nga bay tour may take you to Koh Panyi, a village built on stilts. The mosque and the graveyard are the only places which are built on ground. It's a tourist trap during the day as many tours also stop here. Some tours will give you the option to stay overnight, which is preferable to really experience the village as the tourist trap disappears in the evening. If you go inwards you can see more of the village and eat at local stalls. There are specially in the morning and late afternoon many boats to and out of the island.
Canoeing a popular activity in the Phang Nga Bay. It is a form of eco-tourism that is available in several variations, as popular one-day tours, or more extended tours involving overnight camping on island beaches. You will see more than anyone else of the area, as many mangrove swamps and island grottoes are only accessible by canoe :)
