Let’s Explore Phang Nga Bay and James Bond Island in Phuket, Thailand

Explore Phang Nga Bay

Phang Nga province has nearly 20 national parks, of which Ao Phang Nga National Park (Phang Nga Bay) has an area of about 400 km², located in the Andaman Sea, between Phuket island and the mainland of the Malay peninsula, southern Thailand. This archipelago has 161 large and small islands, one of the places most heavily damaged by the tsunami in 2004, claiming thousands of lives.

Visiting the entire bay will take you about half a day by boat. Furthermore, it will take a day if you want to have time to visit, take photos, or participate in beach games such as canoeing and kayaking. The place also allows you to stay overnight with a tour price of about 3,000 baht (more than $85).

Best Time to Visit Phang Nga Bay

The most beautiful time to visit Phang Nga Bay is from October to December. At this time the weather is cool and the sea is not rough. It is convenient for sightseeing activities, swimming, and boat travel to the island. You can stay overnight at the islands of Phang Nga Bay or resorts in the Phuket area.

Let’s Getting to James Bond Island

Ko Tapu, in Phang Nga Bay, commonly known as James Bond Island, is about 25 km northeast of Phuket. This is one of the most beautiful places to watch the sunset in Thailand, so it often attracts many tourists. Just a note that you should be here before 4:30 p.m. to not miss any beautiful moments.

The James Bond Island tour includes a cruise through Phang Nga Bay. You can reach Phang Nga Bay from Patong town, which is 41 km northeast of Phuket, by sea speedboat. Normally, each trip will take about an hour to reach the islands in Phang Nga Bay.

Here, you can immerse yourself in the world of limestone caves with a massive system of stalagmites and stalactites. Besides that, they have scuba diving trips with oxygen or snorkel for you to explore the ocean floor.

“The Man with the Golden Gun” was produced in 1974. It is the ninth film in the James Bond series. This is the second film to star Roger Moore as fictional MI6 agent James Bond. The film also reflected the popular martial arts film craze at the time, with some kung fu scenes. Settings were mainly shot in Thailand, Hong Kong, and Macau, including the aforementioned island.

Other Things to Do in Phang Nga Bay

If you have time, you can explore Hong Island, a beach with rich fauna, or go to Tham Suman Khuha reclining Buddha temple, one of the important temples visited by many tourists in Phang Nga. The temple is located about 40 km from Sarasin Bridge connecting Phuket island to the mainland.

Samet Nangshe, located in Phang Nga Bay, offers amazing panoramic views. Although it may be a bit far from Phuket island, it is worth driving a car or large motorbike to visit. Once you reach the top, you’ll be able to marvel at the beautiful limestone formations of Phang Nga Bay, although reaching this viewpoint requires a bit of effort. To get there, you will have to drive 25 km across Sarasin Bridge. The journey through Thailand’s poetic countryside will be very memorable for you.

Moreover, walking around the fishing village and kayaking in the cave are among the activities that you should not miss. The tour includes snorkeling equipment, lunch, and transportation from your hotel to Phuket pier by speedboat, cruise ship, or Catamaran.

In addition, if you travel on your own, you can go to Koh Nok, a small island where cruise ships stop to rest or have lunch on a small beach. If brave enough, you can climb the limestone cliff through the canopy of trees to reach the top. Nearby is Kudu Yai, a creek surrounded by unusually sharp rocks. The beach is small, usually only a few people swimming and taking photos.