Description
**National Park entry fees are INCLUDED in the ticket price for this trip. This is because James Bond Island is in Phang Nga Province; the “cash on the day” policy only applies to the islands in Krabi.**
ITINERARY: Drive for around an hour and a half through the scenic north of Krabi and into Phang Nga province, stopping off at a waterfall and a fruit garden for a buffet lunch before heading to the small pier which is the jumping off point for James Bond Island. You will spend 30 – 45 mins on the beach here, enough to do your best Bond / Bond girl impressions in front of the famous rock for Facebook / Instagram purposes, or perhaps just explore the various caves.
Then it’s time to head to the floating village at Koh Panyi. This traditional Muslim fishing community is now heavily dependent on the income it gets from tourism, so you will also see row upon row of souvenir stalls. You’ll then spend some more time cruising around the bay of Phang Nga with its amazing rock islands, or (select option above) spend half an hour paddling around the coastline and through the mangrove lined backwaters to visit some caves. Paddle guides are available and though included in the price, most expect a tip.
Transfer overland back to your hotel – another 1.5 hours in the minivan.
Expected group size: 10 – 25 pax, depending on the day and time of year.
Important: This trip includes a 1 hour 15 minute drive each way to and from the boat pier in Phang Nga Bay. Although you visit the islands, there is nowhere for swimming or snorkeling as the water is not very clear.
FURTHER READING:
– More info on James Bond Island.
Simon C –
Just got back from the James Bond island trip and it was fantastic, thank you so much for putting on a great day.
TE Ang –
– The drive to the pier was extremely long.
– The stops at monkey temple and fruit farm was supposed to be at the end of the tour but we were brought there prior.
– Also we were told that THB20 donation was compulsory. We relied on your written advice and desist from giving involuntarily.
– We had to change vans during the journey to the pier already.
– No bottled water was given out. We had to ask for them and they only had 2 bottles, which we gave away to this other couple who was more thirsty than us. Were we meant to get bottled water from the driver or the boat operator?
– We could not hear the guide even though we were sitting midway on the long tail boat as the propeller was too loud and the guide had no microphone
– Other long boats were speeding past us so we were riding across their wake. Our engine was not powerful enough
– Kayak experience and guide was excellent. He guided well and took good photos for us with initiation
– Not much shopping available on the floating village as was our expectation
– Drive home was well planned as different vans were catered for direct drive to hotels in same area
Roman –
The tour is horrible. I had low expectations from going on many other tours in my life. But this one hit rock bottom.
– monkey temple had no monkeys, just a bunch of sellers. Temple itself is mediocre at best.
– at a fruit garden I felt like cattle. The amount of fruit provided was hilarious. Just small cuts of fruits you can get at any market for ฿20.
– long tail boat engine sounded like it was pulled from an ’80s bus. So loud and stinky.
– James Bond island was annoying. Boats coming and leaving non stop. Loud. Almost all area is taken up by peddlers of same old same old.
– we didn’t pay for kayaking, however everyone else in the group did. So we had an option of paying ฿ 300 each right there or just wait 50 minutes for everyone to come back. Time wasted.
– floating village meal was mediocre at best. Nothing else to do other than shop around at countless stalls selling exactly same uncreative wares
– waterfall was ok. Nothing special. At least no peddlers. Must be a new attraction. But this was already at the end and too tiring after a long day.
– ride back was ok, but instead of 16:30 we came at 18:30. Too long of a day. Wish we just didn’t stop at all the useless stuff and went home earlier.
Overall: I wouldn’t go for free.