Kayaking Phuket: James Bond Island & Phang Nga Bay

Mangrove channels narrow enough that you paddle through them, not past them.

A full-day kayaking and sightseeing tour from Phuket to Phang Nga Bay, James Bond Island and surrounding islands, with speedboat transport, English-speaking guide, lunch and hotel pickup included. The day runs seven hours and mixes paddling (Hong Island and narrow mangrove channels) with motorboat sightseeing (Panak Island, James Bond Island itself, Panyee Island) and beach time. A minimum of ten people is required to run the tour; the National Park entrance fee (300 baht per adult, 150 baht per child) is separate.

Step-by-step itinerary

Phang Nga Bay and James Bond Island Tour

• Hotel pick-up in early morning
• Travel to Royal Phuket Marina
• Speedboat to Phang Nga Bay
• Kayak through narrow channels and limestone cliffs
• Sightseeing at Panak Island
• Stroll into cave
• Lunch at floating restaurant on Panyee Island
• Visit James Bond Island and Khao Ping Kan
• Explore tourist shops and caves at James Bond Island
• Kayak around Hong Island
• Swim and relax on Naka Island or Rang Yai Island
• Return to hotel

The Experience

Hotel pickup in the early morning gets you to Royal Phuket Marina, where you board a speedboat heading into Phang Nga Bay. The boat carries you past limestone cliffs and stops first at Panak Island for sightseeing and cave exploration, then to a quiet lagoon for swimming. Lunch is a buffet served on a floating restaurant at Panyee Island — a fishing village built on stilts — and afterward the pace shifts: you get into a kayak and paddle around Hong Island, threading through mangrove channels and hidden coves that a motorboat cannot reach.

The kayak part is the core of the day. Narrow passages flanked by steep limestone cliffs open into small coves and lagoons. You see ancient paintings in caves accessible only by water and move at your own pace through channels that feel enclosed and separate from the wider bay. Life jackets and sea canoes are provided; the guide speaks English and stays with the group throughout.

After kayaking, the boat takes you to James Bond Island (Khao Tapoo) — the actual filming location from "The Man With The Golden Gun" — where you can swim, explore caves at low tide and browse tourist shops. The final stop is a beach on Naka Island or Rang Yai Island for swimming and relaxing before the return to your hotel. Refreshments (soft drinks, water, fresh fruit and snacks) are available on board, plus complimentary coffee and tea at the port.

What’s included

• Round-trip hotel pickup and speedboat transport.
• English-speaking guide for the full day.
• kayak and life jacket.
• lunch buffet at Panyee Island.
• soft drinks, water, fresh fruit and snacks on board.
• complimentary coffee and tea at the port.
• travel insurance.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Oh-Hoo

Is this one for you?The early start and full seven-hour day suit someone with a free morning and afternoon, not a short port call or a late arrival. The paddling is calm and guided, so it works for first-time kayakers, but the mix of motorboat, kayak and beach time means you're moving between activities rather than spending hours in one place.

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Top questions

What's the difference between the speedboat stops and the kayaking part?

The speedboat takes you to Panak Island, the lagoon, Panyee Island and James Bond Island for sightseeing, swimming and exploring caves — you stay in the boat or walk on land. The kayaking happens around Hong Island, where you paddle through mangrove channels and narrow coves that only small boats can enter.

How much paddling am I actually doing?

Kayaking is one section of the seven-hour day, not the entire tour. You paddle around Hong Island through limestone channels and mangrove forest, but the day also includes speedboat transport to multiple islands, lunch, swimming and beach time, so the paddling is mixed with other activities.

Is this tour suitable for someone who's never kayaked before?

Yes. The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels, and life jackets are provided. The guide is English-speaking and stays with the group, and the paddling around Hong Island is through calm, protected channels rather than open water.

What happens if I don't want to kayak?

Kayaking is part of the scheduled itinerary around Hong Island, but you can ask the guide about alternatives when you arrive. The rest of the day — speedboat sightseeing, James Bond Island, beach time and lunch — happens regardless.

Does the tour include the National Park entrance fee?

No. The National Park fee (300 baht per adult, 150 baht per child) is paid separately at the park entrance. Hotel pickup, speedboat transport, guide, lunch, refreshments and kayak equipment are all included.

What time does the day start and finish?

Hotel pickup happens in the early morning; the full tour runs seven hours from there. You return to your hotel in the afternoon, but the exact pickup time depends on which hotel you're staying at in Phuket.