James Bond Island is the name everyone uses for Khao Phing Kan, a pair of limestone islands in Phang Nga Bay, and for the slim rock pillar just offshore called Ko Tapu. The pillar appeared in the 1974 film The Man with the Golden Gun, and it has been one of Thailand's best known sights ever since. This guide covers what you will actually see, how to get there from Phuket, the best time to go and how to make the most of a short stop.
What is James Bond Island?
Khao Phing Kan means roughly "hills leaning against each other". It is made of two limestone outcrops split by a crack, with a small sandy beach between them and a few caves and overhangs along the cliff. Ko Tapu, often translated as "nail island", is the needle-shaped rock that rises out of the water a short distance from the beach. Its base has been worn narrower than its top by the sea.
The island lies inside Ao Phang Nga National Park, north of Phuket, in a bay full of steep jungle-topped karst islands, sea caves and hidden lagoons. That wider bay is covered in our Phang Nga Bay guide. This page focuses on James Bond Island itself.
How to get there from Phuket
Speedboat day tour
Most visitors join a speedboat tour from a pier on Phuket's east coast. The ride into Phang Nga Bay takes around an hour, and the day combines James Bond Island with other stops such as sea canoeing at Hong Island and lunch at Koh Panyee. Phang Nga Bay is sheltered by the mainland, so the water is usually calmer than on the open sea to Phi Phi.
Big boat or longtail
Larger, slower boats also run day trips from Phuket, and longtail boats can be hired from piers on the Phang Nga side of the bay. A longtail is noisy and slow but very atmospheric among the karsts. Our boat type comparison explains the trade-offs.
Private charter
With a private speedboat you can aim to reach James Bond Island early, before most day tours arrive, and spend as long as you like at each stop.
Best time to visit
You can visit all year. Phang Nga Bay is sheltered, so tours run in the green season too, although heavy rain can still cancel a day. November to April usually brings the sunniest skies and the best light for photos. The island is busiest from late morning to early afternoon, when most tour boats arrive. Early or later visits are quieter.
Tides matter in Phang Nga Bay. They decide when sea canoes can pass through cave entrances and how much beach is exposed. Guides plan the order of stops around the tide, so the itinerary may change on the day.
What to see and do
Ko Tapu
The view of Ko Tapu from the beach is the reason everyone comes. Visitors are not allowed to climb or touch the rock. You view and photograph it from the beach and from the boat. The best angles are from the northern end of the beach and from the rocks near the landing point.
The beach and the leaning rock
Walk through the split in the rock to the small beach on the far side. Look up at the leaning slab of limestone that gives Khao Phing Kan its name, and at the stalactites in the overhangs. There are a few souvenir stalls. The island is small, so a visit is usually 30 to 45 minutes.
Around the island
James Bond Island is almost always part of a longer day. Typical stops nearby include:
- Hong Island or Talu Island for sea canoeing into hidden lagoons, depending on the tide.
- Koh Panyee, a fishing village built on stilts, often the lunch stop.
- Panak Island, with caves you can paddle into.
- Naka Island, for a swim and beach time at the end of the day.
Our James Bond Island tour
The James Bond Island and Phang Nga Bay speedboat tour covers Panak Island, a sea canoe at Hong Island (or Talu Island depending on the tide), a Thai buffet lunch at Koh Panyee, James Bond Island and a swim stop at Naka Island. Hotel pickup, a guide, the sea canoe and lunch are included. The Ao Phang Nga National Park fee is not included and is paid on the day.
If you prefer an active day inland, the Phang Nga white water rafting tour explores the jungle side of the same province.
Practical tips
- National park fee: James Bond Island is inside Ao Phang Nga National Park, so an entrance fee applies. On our tour it is paid on the day. Bring Thai baht in cash. See our national park fees guide.
- Footwear: the landing area can be wet and rocky. Sandals with grip are better than flip-flops.
- Sun protection: there is little shade on the boat and on the beach. Bring a hat and reef-safe sunscreen.
- Expect company: James Bond Island is popular and the beach is small. Be patient for photos.
- Swimming: the water around James Bond Island is greenish and boat traffic is busy, so swimming happens at other stops such as Naka Island.
- Health: speedboat trips are not recommended for pregnant guests or anyone with back problems.
Respect the bay
Phang Nga Bay is a protected area with mangroves, caves and a fragile limestone landscape.
- Do not touch stalactites or carve anything into the rock.
- Do not feed monkeys or fish on any stop.
- Take your rubbish back to the boat. Plastic that falls into the water ends up in the mangroves.
- Keep noise down in the lagoons, where birds and other wildlife live.
Why the water is green, not turquoise
Many first-time visitors expect Phi Phi colors. Phang Nga Bay is fed by rivers and mangrove channels, so the water carries more sediment and plankton and looks jade or olive green. That is natural. The attraction here is the landscape of towering karsts and caves, not beaches. For clear water and snorkeling, see Phi Phi or Racha Island, and read how to choose the right island tour if you are deciding between them.
More reading
- James Bond Island: everything you need to know
- Phang Nga Bay complete visitor guide
- Kayaking in Phang Nga Bay
Frequently asked questions
Can you walk on James Bond Island?
Yes. Boats land at Khao Phing Kan and you can walk on the beach and paths around the rocks. Ko Tapu, the pillar in the water, can only be viewed. Climbing or touching it is not allowed.
How long does it take to get to James Bond Island from Phuket?
By speedboat from Phuket's east coast it takes around an hour. Most people visit as part of a full day tour of Phang Nga Bay.
Which James Bond film was filmed there?
The Man with the Golden Gun, released in 1974, with Roger Moore as James Bond.
Is James Bond Island worth visiting?
The stop itself is short and busy, but the day around it is the real draw: sea canoeing into hidden lagoons, the stilt village of Koh Panyee and the karst scenery of Phang Nga Bay.
Is there a national park fee?
Yes. James Bond Island is inside Ao Phang Nga National Park. On our tour the fee is paid in cash on the day.
