James Bond Island or a cinematic attraction
We are sure many of you have heard the name of the place discussed in this article more than once—James Bond Island. This article explains why it is called James Bond Island and provides useful information for tourists planning to visit.
General information
Bond Island – or more precisely, the James Bond Islands in Thailand – consists of two islands located in Phang Nga Bay. They acquired their name and fame after the 1974 release of the James Bond film ‘The Man with the Golden Gun,’ in which the final battle between 007 (played by Roger Moore) and his adversary takes place in this area. Interestingly, although only one island was featured on screen, both islands have come to be known by the name.
In this area, there are two Thai islands:
- Ko Tapu.
- Khao Phing Kan.
Their Thai names have nothing to do with the famous British spy, and in general, hardly anyone knew about this place before.
A little historical note: According to Phuket tour guides, the islands are approximately 65 million years old.
James Bond Island is indicated on the map below.
Khao Phing Kan is the place where James Bond fought his adversary. It isn’t shown very well in the film—just sand, beach, water, and a leaning rock that was long believed to be cursed. Moreover, there are two sharp rocks on Khao Phing Kan, one on each side.
In contrast, the second island – Ko Tapu – is featured more prominently in the film, albeit only briefly (around 15 seconds of screen time). Nevertheless, that short appearance has spurred decades of continuous tourist excursions to the spot where 007 once set foot.
Landing on Ko Tapu is prohibited because local authorities strictly monitor the area due to the rock’s instability. No one can say how long it will remain intact, continuing to delight visitors with its photogenic allure. Moreover, visitors are not permitted to approach the rock closely, in order to preserve its fragile balance.
However, there is enough space on Khao Phing Kan to accommodate large tourist groups. Compared to the Phi Phi Islands, there are fewer people here, but the area is also much smaller.
Beach and going into the water
Although most visitors do not come here to swim or sunbathe, preferring instead to take photos and admire the landscape, note that the water is somewhat cloudy (unlike in the Phi Phi archipelago). However, the sand is snow-white and pleasant to walk on. The shore is fairly shallow, so you typically transfer from the arrival boat to the Ko Tapu area via smaller boats.
Entertainment
As mentioned earlier, most visitors come here primarily for photography. If you plan the angle, lighting, and other photo parameters correctly, you only need to take a couple of shots (one with Ko Tapu in the background and one with the leaning rock behind you).
You can climb a bit higher to a makeshift observation deck, which offers a better view of Ko Tapu and is less crowded than the beach below.
There is also a small souvenir market with insanely high prices. It is run by local Panya tribe members, and they mostly sell cheap trinkets that are also widely available on the mainland.
The same can be said about the food: expensive and hardly different from what you find on the mainland. Therefore, if you come here on your own, not with a tour, it’s best to bring your own food.
It’s worth spending a little extra time by the leaning rock – a striking feature of Ko Tapu, jutting out of the water, covered with vegetation, and seemingly on the verge of collapse, despite having stood for over 60 million years.
So, the “cursed” rock. Why is it cursed? Typical Thai superstitions. Because of its unusual shape, locals decided someone had cursed it and were afraid to even get close to it, let alone touch it.
Everything changed when the royal couple stepped onto the shore and, setting aside their fears, touched the rock. Ever since, it turned from “cursed” into one said to grant wishes. There are even commemorative plaques here.
So if you’re on Khao Phing Kan, don’t hesitate—touch the stone. Who knows, maybe…
How to get there
Unlike the Similan Islands, James Bond Island is open to independent visitors and isn’t restricted to guided tours only, so you don’t necessarily have to buy a package.
But let’s be clear: traveling on your own will cost several times more than a standard tour (1,500–2,000 THB per person).
You can plan your own trip:
- from Krabi Province, Phang Nga Town (this is faster and somewhat cheaper);
- from Phuket, Chalong Bay (if you’re going alone, the trip will be quite expensive).
Boats depart from Krabi and charge 1,000–2,000 THB per hour, meaning the minimum cost is about 2,500 THB, assuming you spend 20–30 minutes on Ko Tapu.
Renting a boat in Chalong Bay costs 15,000 THB for a round trip. It’s therefore more cost-effective to order a group trip.
If saving money is a priority, it’s better to purchase a standard tour at any travel bureau (they should be located in each town, usually on the main street or square). As noted above, such a trip will cost 1,500–2,000 THB per tourist.
Tip: No matter how you travel, bring some water—it will come in handy.
Tour program
If you’re not ready to spend big money on a private boat, you might be interested in what a typical excursion to these islands looks like.
In general, there are two options:
- by speedboat
- by conventional boat
An experienced traveler would say that the regular boat is more comfortable (plus you usually get lunch included), while the speedboat is faster, but while speedboats, though faster, may lead to seasickness and feel cramped for larger groups.
In any case, after you’re picked up from your hotel and brought to the pier, you’ll likely wait in a short line, because this tour is world-famous and there are plenty of people wanting to go.
Finally, you’re invited on board and the adventure begins. What awaits a tour group, besides the famous Ko Tapu?
- magnificent scenery that everyone visiting Thailand should see;
- several stops to explore grottos and caves by narrow canoe (sometimes you have to lie down to avoid hitting your head). There are usually two or three such stops, and each time you should sit with the same boatman (this is necessary so you can tip one person at the end for all the rides, rather than spreading tips among several people—it’s clever, right?);
- a visit to Khao Phing Kan (regardless of the tour, you usually have 30–40 minutes there due to the huge influx of visitors and the small island area);
- swimming with or without a mask.
During the tour, you have the opportunity not just to sit in the canoe but to try steering it yourself at some point (no one forces you, of course).
So, the James Bond Islands are definitely worth visiting once to a must-see at least once to experience its unique charm, but in our view, spending over 2,000 THB on a private tour or transfer isn’t justified.
Don’t forget to share your travel impressions in the comments; they’re helpful for those who haven’t yet decided on a destination.
