Phuket Old Town
Phuket, Thailand
James Bond Island (Khao Phing Kan), Phuket
i
Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia CommonsThe essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- park fee ≈ 300 baht
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Hours
- A day trip; park ≈ 8:30–16:30
- Time on site
i
A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes. - 4 h
- With kids
- Fine with kids
- National park fee
- About 300 baht for foreign adults; often included in the tour price
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Park hours
- Roughly 8:30–16:30
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Ko Tapu
- Seen only from the water and from Khao Phing Kan — no landing
- Also on the tour
- Usually sea-kayaking in the hongs and the Ko Panyi stilt village
- Best time
- November–April; the bay is sheltered and tours run all year
- Where
- Phang Nga Bay, Phang Nga province, north-east of Phuket
Key facts
1974The Man with the Golden Gun was filmed here — the villain's hideout
Sourcei
English Wikipedia20 mthe height of Ko Tapu, which stands 40 m off Khao Phing Kan
Sourcei
English Wikipedia'Nail'is what Ko Tapu means; Khao Phing Kan is 'hills leaning against each other'
Sourcei
English Wikipedia1981Ao Phang Nga National Park was founded
Sourcei
English Wikipedia400 km²the park's area — mostly sea dotted with limestone islands
Sourcei
English WikipediaMangrovesthe park protects Thailand's largest remaining native mangrove forest
Sourcei
English Wikipedia1,600people live in the Ko Panyi stilt village, founded in 1880
Sourcei
English Wikipedia≈ 300 bahtthe national park fee per foreign adult
2 sourcesi
Thai National Parks2026 guidesWhat is James Bond Island?
James Bond Island is what visitors call Khao Phing Kan ('hills leaning against each other') and the neighbouring Ko Tapu rock in Phang Nga Bay, north-east of Phuket. Ko Tapu is a slender limestone needle 20 m tall, 40 m offshore; its name means 'nail'.
The islands became world-famous in 1974, when The Man with the Golden Gun was filmed here: Khao Phing Kan was the villain Scaramanga's hideout. They're part of Ao Phang Nga National Park (founded 1981, about 400 km²) — a sea of sheer limestone islands with Thailand's largest native mangrove forests.
Fees, rules and season
The park charges a fee of about 300 baht per foreign adult (per the Thai National Parks site and 2026 guides; some sites say 400, without a source). Pay in cash; many tours already include it — check when you book. The park is open roughly 8:30 to 16:30.
Visitors land only on Khao Phing Kan, via a small beach and a path between the rocks. You can't get close to or land on Ko Tapu. The bay is sheltered from ocean swells, so tours run all year, but the calmest sea and clearest skies are November to April.
What to see in Phang Nga Bay
- Ko Tapu — the trip's signature shot, from the shore of Khao Phing Kan.
- Khao Phing Kan — a beach, caves and leaning rocks.
- Kayaking in the hongs — caves and lagoons inside the islands.
- Ko Panyi stilt village — a Muslim fishing village on the water, often with lunch.
- Mangrove forests along the bay's shores.
- Dozens of limestone tower islands along the way.
How to get to James Bond Island
Step-by-step directions are below; the map shows where you arrive.
Where are you starting from?
We’ll draw it on the map on foot and by taxi; metro and buses open in your maps app. Your location isn’t stored.
More tips
- On a tour from Phuket — hotel pick-up, then a speedboat, longtail or big boat from piers on Phuket's east coast; about an hour on the water each way.
- By speedboat — faster, with more stops in a day.
- By big boat — slower but calmer, often with kayaking and lunch on board.
- Via the mainland — by car to Phang Nga town, then longtails across the bay.
- Pay the national park fee on arrival if it isn't in your tour price.
How long do you need?
A James Bond Island trip from Phuket takes a full day: departure around 7:00–8:00, back by 17:00–18:00. The stop on Khao Phing Kan itself lasts 30–60 minutes; the rest is kayaking, Ko Panyi and travel.
Bring sunscreen, a hat, a waterproof phone pouch and a change of clothes — kayaking is wet.
Is James Bond Island worth it?
Yes: Phang Nga Bay, with hundreds of sheer limestone islands, is one of Thailand's most striking landscapes, and kayaking in the caves plus the stilt village make for a varied day.
The YesGo take: the island itself is small and crowded with groups in high season, and you can't get close to Ko Tapu. The trip is about the bay as a whole, not one photo. Choose a tour with an early start and kayaking.
Before you go: checklist
Ready: 0 of 5Tick what is ready — your ticks stay in this browser.
You are ready for the visit
Phuket's sea and islands: compare and choose
Beaches, islands and bays rated by YesGo. Tap a column heading to sort.
| Phi Phi Islands | 29 | 4 h | park fee ≈ 400 baht, children ≈ 200 | 66.4 km |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karon Beach | 25 | 3 h | Free | 53.2 km |
| James Bond Islandyou are here | 24 | 4 h | park fee ≈ 300 baht | — |
| Bang Tao Beach | 24 | 3 h | Free | 37.5 km |
| Kamala Beach | 24 | 3 h | Free | 42.7 km |
Islands from Phuket in two days
Day one: the Phi Phi Islands. Day two: James Bond Island in Phang Nga Bay, then Phuket Old Town in the evening. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers.
- Phi Phi Islands4 h · park fee ≈ 400 baht, children ≈ 200
- 1151 min walk from the previous stopJames Bond Islandyou are here4 h · park fee ≈ 300 baht
- 780 min walk from the previous stopPhuket Old Town2 h · free
3 places · about 42 h 11 min with walks · 1931 min on foot in total
How to do it right
- The best shot of Ko Tapu is from Khao Phing Kan's little beach.
- An early start means fewer groups on the island.
- In the hongs, follow your guide — the caves are entered only at low tide.
- In Ko Panyi, respect local customs: dress modestly.
- First sea day: the Phi Phi Islands.
Questions
How much does it cost to visit James Bond Island?
The national park fee is about 300 baht for foreign adults; tours often include it.
Can you land on Ko Tapu?
No — it's seen from the water and from the shore of Khao Phing Kan.
Which film was shot on the island?
The Man with the Golden Gun (1974).
How long is the trip from Phuket?
A full day, leaving around 7:00–8:00.
What else is on the tour?
Usually kayaking in the hongs and the Ko Panyi stilt village.
When is the best time to go?
November to April; the bay is sheltered and tours run all year.
How tall is Ko Tapu?
About 20 m.
Is it worth going?
Yes — for Phang Nga Bay as a whole, not just one island.
Have you been? Was it worth your time?
1 — no, 5 — absolutely
Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.
Sources and fact-check
- English Wikipedia — Khao Phing Kan, Ko Panyi, Ao Phang Nga National Park: Ko Tapu's height and name, the 1974 film, the park's founding and area, mangroves, the stilt village
- Thai National Parks (2022 data) and 2026 travel guides — 300 baht fee, park hours (unofficial)
- Wikidata Q1195730 — coordinates
Top YesGo picks: Phuket
Wat Chalong
Phuket, Thailand
Big Buddha
Phuket, Thailand
Bangla Road
Phuket, Thailand
Promthep Cape
Phuket, Thailand
Phi Phi Islands
Phuket, Thailand
Karon Beach
Phuket, Thailand
Bang Tao Beach
Phuket, Thailand