James Bond Island and the islands of Phang Nga Bay

Phuket is one of the most visited tourist destinations in Southeast Asia. 83 kilometers northeast of the resort is the bay of Phang Nga, which has received the status of a national park in Thailand.

It is known for its 100-meter-high relict rocks and numerous islands with through caves, coral lagoons and bizarre grottoes. A total of 42 islands can be counted on the map of the bay. At least 10 of them are worthy to be visited, but only one - James Bond Island, the symbol of the bay and its calling card - is especially popular.

This island used to be called Ko Tapu (translated as nail island) and did not stand out as anything special. But in the mid 70's Asian exotics came into vogue. The creators of the next series of the Bond movies came to Phuket to find a suitable character.

Ko Tapu on a map of Thailand

Their choice fell on Koh Tapu, which served as the location for the filming of "The Man with the Golden Gun," starring Roger Moore. After the release of the film was a resounding success, Ko Tapu was renamed, printed on all advertising photos of the bay and became the second most visited tourist destination in Thailand after the resort of Phi Phi.

In fact, Ko Tapu is not an island, but a 20-meter vertical rock, covered with small sparse trees, tapering to the bottom. Its diameter is 4 meters at the base and 8 meters at the top. Its shape really resembles a huge nail hammered into the ocean water.

The rock is under the protection of the national park, and it is not allowed to land on it. But you can admire it as much as you like and take pictures from the observation decks of the neighboring island, the good thing is that it is only 40 meters away and also claims the right to be called James Bond Island.

Ko Plin Kan (the island of tilted rock). In photos taken from a bird's-eye view, it resembles a butterfly spreading its wings. Plin Kann has enough reasons to be called after a British spy, too.

True, there are no hints of Bondiana on the island: no autographs of movie stars, no remnants of scenery, no full-length cardboard photos of Roger Moore. But this is where the lair of the villain Scaramanga was located, where the final duel between Good and Evil took place, and where another Bond, Pierce Brosnan, returned in the next Bond films.

In addition to the beautiful view of the neighboring cliff, it has its own attractions: a huge cave formed by a rock fault and dividing the island into two parts, two comfortable shallow beaches, several grottoes.

How to get there

James Bond Island is second only to the resort of Phi Phi Phi, so all local travel agencies include it in their excursion programs. From Phuket Province to Phang Nga, Klong Khian Pier, can be reached by shuttle bus or rented vehicle, traveling 83 km for 1.5-2 hours.

Then there is the most pleasant part of the journey - 6 km of waterway.

There are three ways to overcome them:

• Speedboats are good because they are the fastest way to get tourists to the destination, but galloping on the waves of the boat does not allow you to enjoy the beauty and choose the right angles for the memorable photos;

• On longtails - Thai boats, with the owners of which you can always negotiate an individual tour and haggle over the price;

• On double-deck ships. These excursions are the longest. They take longer to sail than boats and longtails, but they have canoes that take you around the lagoons and caves.

Characteristic cost: 1,000 - 3,600 baht, depending on the type of trip. You will have to pay another 200 baht to disembark on Bond Island (there is an area for photography).

How tours go

Tour itineraries of all local travel agencies are about the same. In the first place tourists are brought to the island of James Bond. About half an hour is allotted to get acquainted with the rock. This time is enough to get aesthetic pleasure from its contemplation captured from different angles on the photo.

After tourists have enjoyed the views of the nail cliff, they are transported to the neighboring island of Plin Kann. Here there is a small market where you can buy interesting inexpensive things to remember Phuket: magnets, t-shirts, jewelry made of seashells and artificial pearls, as well as various goodies. It is customary to haggle with the sellers. They are always ready to give up their goods at a lower price.

Visiting the islands

Panak. A large rocky island, 700 m wide and 3.5 km long. You can reach it only by canoe through a dark cave, illuminated only by the guide's flashlight. There are about a dozen lakes, connected to the sea through narrow caves.

The island has rich and peculiar flora and fauna. There are many iguanas and crab monkeys. Mangrove trees grow on the cliffs, desalinating seawater, and eagles nest.

Hong. The island serves as a shelter for local fishermen in stormy weather. Most of the time it is under water. In Thailand, there is a belief that whoever gets to Hong in the interval of time when the water recedes, expects good luck. Naka Island, here you can only sunbathe and swim.

More expensive and longer itineraries may include a visit to the Buddhist temple Wat Suwan Kukha built on stilts inside a giant cave, a fishing village on Panyi Island, a ride through the mango thickets of the mainland of Phuket Province and Phang Nga Bay.

These trips are organized only on two-deck ships, as they have all the facilities for hours of travel, as well as photo and video shooting of seascapes. Prices for tours start at 1000 baht (on a large boat), 1500 baht on a speedboat and 1400 baht on a double-deck ship per person and depend on the complexity and length of the route. There are discounts for children, and a child under 4 years will be taken for free. The entire tour to James Bond Island, including travel time from Phuket and back, takes one day.

Diving and snorkeling are not included in the tour program, so the main thing you need to take on the road is a good mood, sunglasses and a video camera.