James Bond Island & Phang Nga Bay — Canoeing

About this trip

James Bond Island and Phang Nga Bay is the classic day out from Krabi, and it is the one trip that takes you off the Andaman coast and into the sheltered bay behind it. You leave Ao Nang or your hotel by minivan in the morning, join a big longtail boat at the pier, and spend the day among the limestone towers of Phang Nga Bay: mangrove channels, sea caves, the leaning rock made famous by a Bond film, a fishing village built out over the water on stilts, and a cave temple in the hillside on the way home. It is a full day, roughly eight to nine hours door to door.

What the day looks like

After a morning pickup, the minivan runs north out of Krabi to the pier, and the boat takes over from there. The first stretch is the mangrove forest and the open water of Phang Nga Bay, where the longtail threads through emerald green channels beneath cliffs that go straight up out of the water. It is the best part of the day to have your camera ready.

On the canoeing version of the trip, sea cave canoeing comes next, and it is the reason most people choose that option. You swap the longtail for a canoe and paddle into the bay's hidden sea caves and the hongs, the collapsed lagoons hidden inside the limestone, which you reach through low openings that only work at certain states of the tide. Inside, the noise of the day disappears and you are in a walled garden with the sky at the top.

James Bond Island, properly Koh Tapu, stands just off Khao Phing Kan: a narrow limestone needle leaning out of the water, world famous since The Man with the Golden Gun. You get time ashore on Khao Phing Kan to see it from the beach and take the photograph everyone comes for.

Lunch is at Koh Panyee, the stilted Muslim fishing village built out over the sea beneath a sheer limestone cliff. It is a working village rather than a stop invented for tourism, and the back lanes are worth ten minutes after you eat.

On the way back the trip stops at Suwan Kuha, the Monkey Cave Temple: a cave set into the hillside with a large golden reclining Buddha inside and a troop of resident monkeys at the entrance. Keep food and loose sunglasses out of sight and out of reach here. The order of the stops depends on the tide and the weather on the day, so treat this as the shape of the trip rather than a timetable.

Who this trip suits

This is a good first big day out from Krabi: couples, families, first time visitors and anyone who wants the famous view without organizing the logistics. The canoeing version suits those who want to be on the water rather than looking at it, and no paddling experience is needed because a guide handles the canoe. Choose the sightseeing version if you would rather stay dry and take the day at a slower pace. It is a long day with a fair amount of road and boat time, which is worth thinking about with very young children.

What to bring

Bring a towel, sun cream, a hat or cap, sunglasses, sandals and a camera. Add a light layer for the boat, a dry bag for anything electronic, and cash for the national park entrance fee, which is not included. Modest clothing that covers shoulders and knees is appropriate at Koh Panyee and at the temple, so pack a light shirt or sarong.

Good to know

Included are your hotel transfer, insurance, soft drinks, seasonal fruit, lunch, a life jacket and a professional guide. The national park entrance fee is not included and is paid on the day. Phang Nga Bay is a national park, and entry is ฿300 per adult and ฿150 at the child rate, charged per person on top of the tour price.

High season runs roughly from November to April, when the bay is at its calmest. During the monsoon months, roughly May to October, the trip still runs regularly because Phang Nga Bay is sheltered, but conditions vary more from day to day. We collect from Ao Nang, Krabi Town, Ao Nam Mao, Klong Muang and Tubkaek. Tell us your hotel when you enquire and we will confirm the pickup time.

Booking

Message us on WhatsApp with your date, the number of adults and children, your hotel name and which version you want, sightseeing or with sea cave canoeing. We will confirm availability and your pickup time, and answer anything else before you book.