More Than James Bond Island - Phang Nga Bay Facts in Thailand

Phang Nga Bay, located 75 kilometers northeast of Phuket, has a beautiful landscape with more than 40 limestone islands of various shapes and sizes dotting the charming waters of the bay, creating the best backdrop for photos. The amazingly-shaped James Bond Island, Koh Panyee with a floating village, the Samet Nangshe Viewpoint overlooking the whole Phang Nga Bay, and the paradise Ko Yao Noi, Ko Yao Yai and Hong Island have attracted countless tourists. Here you will find detailed information, as well as the answers to frequently asked questions about Phang Nga Bay, including the best time to visit Phang Nga Bay, what you should bring, how to get there, and how many days it takes to visit Phang Nga Bay.

What are the Highlights to See in Phang Nga Bay?

1. James Bond Island

James Bond Island, originally named Ko Tapu, is located at the northern end of Phang Nga Bay. The James Bond Movie "The Man with the Golden Gun" was filmed there, making the island famous, and people started calling it James Bond Island or 007 Island. Today this island has become the most famous attraction in Phang Nga Bay and is a must-see landmark for tourists from home and abroad.

James Bond Island

James Bond Island is a 20-meter-high limestone karst standing alone in the sea. It has been eroded by the sea and is broad at the top and narrow at the bottom, sticking to the sea like a huge nail. Visitors can view James Bond Island by boat or from the beach beside. The many steep limestone cliffs rising out of the emerald green water around James Bond Island are also spectacular, making the area popular for kayaking, swimming, and watching the sunset. Note that James Bond Island is the first destination for most tours after arriving in Phang Nga Bay, so it is usually crowded in the morning. You can visit it in the afternoon to get a quieter experience.

2. Samet Nangshe Viewpoint

Samet Nangshe Viewpoint spans about 1.6 km and overlooks more than 40 wonderful limestone islands in Phang Nga Bay. It is at the top of a mountain, which takes about 15 minutes to climb. Please wear non-slip sneakers for easier climbing. Once you reach the platform at the top, you will see tourists there posing for pictures with the panoramic view of Phang Nga Bay. The sunrise and sunset there are breathtaking, and Phang Nga Bay looks fantastic under the soft and colorful light. Many photographers from all over the world will spend several days there just to get better photos of sunrise and sunset. From the Viewpoint, an elevated area far from the city and free from light pollution, the amazing Milky Way can sometimes be seen at night.

Samet Nangshe Viewpoint is open daily from 4 am to 12 pm. If you're worried about missing the sunrise or don't want to take more rides after waiting for the Milky Way at night, you can stay in Samet Nangshe Boutique. The hotel is a 10-minute walk from the Viewpoint, offering comfortable accommodations, and you can stay there for one night to quickly travel between the hotel and the Viewpoint.

3. Koh Panyee

Koh Panyee consists of a huge limestone karst and a village. The village is home to some 1,600 people, whose hundreds of houses appear to be floating on the sea from a distance, and no one knows exactly how many wooden and concrete piles support this remarkable maritime community. The village has a school, souvenir stores, restaurants, a police station, and in addition to that, a football field floating on the sea, which has witnessed the growth of the best football club in Southern Thailand, Panyee Football Club, selected by the British newspaper The Sun in the list of the 11 most attractive small football fields in the world. You can experience playing football on the sea or leisurely paddling like a villager. If you are coming from James Bond Island, Koh Panyee is about 15 minutes away by long-tail boat, and if you are coming from Surakul Pier, it takes about 20 minutes by long-tail boat.

4. Ko Yao Noi and Ko Yao Yai

Ko Yao Noi and Ko Yao Yai are both quiet, less touristy islands with crystal clear waters and wide beaches, good for swimming, snorkeling and sunbathing. The two islands have large mangrove forests, and a kayak ride through the mangroves is like entering a dream. Besides, Ko Yao Noi is a perfect place to observe the endangered oriental pied hornbill, a black-and-white hornbill with a yellow "helmet". Ko Yao Noi is richly wooded and hardly ever deforested, making it a paradise for oriental pied hornbills. Ko Yao Yai is a popular walking and biking destination with large lush green rice fields that form an idyllic painting with the surrounding stretching mountains. You can take a boat from Dan Sulkakorn Pier in Koh Panyee to Ko Yao Noi in about 30 minutes and from Ko Yao Noi to Ko Yao Yai in about 10 minutes.

5. Hong Island

Hong Island has the calmest water for kayaking and the best beach for snorkeling. Its name comes from its structure, Hong means room in Thai and Hong Island is surrounded by limestone hills like a giant room. Even with strong wind and waves outside, the island is as quiet as a room. Thus, with its calm water, Hong Island is perfect for kayaking. Hong Island also boasts Pelay Beach, which offers you the best snorkeling experience. The beach has crystal clear water and soft white sand, and you can see the bottom of the sea while snorkeling, with beautiful fish swimming around you. Besides, you don't have to worry about having nowhere to hide from the sun at this beach, as there are dense shade trees along the beach. You can take a speed boat or a long-tail boat to get to Hong Island.

When Is the Best Time to Visit Phang Nga Bay?

The best time to visit Phang Nga Bay is from November to March, when it rarely rains, the water is clear and calm, and the weather is not very hot, making it suitable for kayaking, snorkeling, swimming, sunbathing, biking and other outdoor activities. April and May are the hottest and off-season for Phang Nga Bay, when you can share the beach and the island with fewer tourists, and you can enjoy hotel discounts. Although most of the islands in Phang Nga Bay are usually closed from June to October due to waves in the sea, Hong Island, because of its natural structure, remains calm all year round and is still suitable for touring. During this period, you can enjoy the quiet atmosphere of Hong Island, with much fewer tourists there.

How to Get to Phang Nga Bay?

If you are coming to Phang Nga Bay from abroad, you can take a flight to Phuket International Airport, which is the closest airport to Phang Nga Bay, and then take about 1 hour from the airport to Surakul Pier by car. From Surakul Pier, you can take a speedboat or long-tail boat to various beaches and islands in Phang Nga Bay. If you are coming to Phang Nga Bay from other parts of Thailand, you can choose to take a flight or a private car, depending on the distance. Although there are ferries to Phang Nga Bay from some places in Thailand, the punctuality of the ferries is affected more by the weather and it is recommended to give preference to air and car in order not to delay your trip.

How Long Does It Take in Phang Nga Bay?

There are many one-day tours to Phang Nga Bay, but one day is really too short. Phang Nga Bay is worth your stay for 2 to 3 days, you won't want to miss the sunrise, sunset and the Milky Way at night at Samet Nangshe Viewpoint, the mangroves and hornbills at Ko Yao Noi and Ko Yao Yai, taking photos in front of James Bond Island, snorkeling at Hong Island, playing football at Koh Panyee floating village, and much more.

What to Bring When Visiting Phang Nga Bay?

Bring along sunscreen, sunglasses, and hats to protect your skin and eyes while enjoying the beach and sunshine.

Bring some sets of swimsuits. In addition, it is recommended to prepare a few more clothes and shoes when traveling to land destinations because your clothes will inevitably get wet when traveling to islands and beaches.

Be sure to bring a waterproof backpack to put your cell phone, camera and other items that cannot get wet.

Don't forget to carry energy drinks with you, you need to replenish energy and water after swimming, kayaking, snorkeling, etc.

Come to Phang Nga Bay, one of the most stunning destinations in southern Thailand! Enjoy the magical maritime karst, the fantastic beach and crystal-clear water, explore the floating village, mangroves and precious hornbills, and watch the most beautiful sunrise, sunset and Milky Way. Let Odynovo create travel plans and handle possible hassles for you, so you can enjoy your Thailand tour to the fullest.