The canoe is the part people remember: a local paddler steers you under the cliffs into the hollow lagoon of Hong Island, so you just sit, duck at the low cave and look up. James Bond Island itself is a short stop and busy around midday; the guide times it around the tide. This guide covers the James Bond Island & Phang Nga Bay with Canoeing from the pickup to the last stop — the mood, the route and the tips guides mention in passing.
By SB Excursions · Published 24 October 2026 · Updated 24 October 2026
Tour on this route: James Bond Island & Phang Nga Bay with Canoeing — From $85 per person, about 8.5 hours.
Do I have to paddle the canoe myself?
No. A professional paddler steers the canoe and takes you through the caves; you sit and enjoy the scenery.
This guide also answers:
- Why is it called James Bond Island?
- What time is the hotel pickup?
What makes the James Bond Island & Phang Nga Bay with Canoeing worth your time
Pickup from your hotel is between about 7:00 and 8:00 am. At Laem Nga pier on Koh Siray there is coffee and snacks while you check in, and the speedboat leaves at about 9:00 for Phang Nga Bay. You visit the caves and lagoons of Panak Island, James Bond Island, a mangrove and ancient rock paintings, lunch at Koh Panyee, canoeing at Hong Island and snorkeling at Khai Nai. You are back at the pier at about 5:00 pm.
Route highlights at a glance
The standout moments of the James Bond Island & Phang Nga Bay with Canoeing.
- James Bond Island — Walk on Khao Phing Kan and see Ko Tapu, the limestone pinnacle from the 1974 Bond film, rising straight out of the sea.
- Sea canoe at Hong — A local paddler takes you through the sea caves of Hong Island into a lagoon closed off by cliffs.
- Koh Panyee lunch — Lunch at the floating restaurant of a Muslim fishing village built on stilts, with time to walk around.
- Khai Island swim — The last stop is a white-sand beach for swimming and snorkeling before the ride back to Phuket.
How the day unfolds, step by step
The route in order; exact pickup times and what shifts by season are in the schedule.
- Hotel pickup — Pickup from your hotel in Phuket, about 7:00-8:00 am.
- Laem Nga pier — Coffee, snacks and check-in on Koh Siray; the speedboat leaves at about 9:00 am.
- Panak Island and James Bond Island — Limestone caves and lagoons at Panak, then James Bond Island with Ko Tapu.
- Mangroves and Koh Panyee — A cruise past mangroves and ancient paintings, then lunch at the floating village.
- Hong Island canoeing — Sea canoe with a professional paddler through the caves and the lagoon.
- Khai Island and return — Swimming and snorkeling, then back to the pier at about 5:00 pm and your hotel.
Insider tips
The details a guide mentions on the day — worth knowing before it.
- The national park fee is included in this tour, so there is nothing to pay on the day.
- You do not paddle yourself: a professional paddler takes the canoe through the caves.
- Low tide can shorten the canoe route or change the order of the stops.
- Bring a dry bag for your phone in the canoe and wear clothes that can get wet.
- Koh Panyee is a Muslim village: dress modestly when you walk around after lunch.
- Not suitable for pregnant women, infants under 1 or guests over 70.
Best time of year
November to April has the calmest water in Phang Nga Bay; the bay is sheltered, so the tour runs on more days in the wet season than open-sea trips, but rain and wind can still move it.
Whether it is worth the money and what the price covers is in why book it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to paddle the canoe myself?
No. A professional paddler steers the canoe and takes you through the caves; you sit and enjoy the scenery.
Why is it called James Bond Island?
Khao Phing Kan and the Ko Tapu pinnacle in front of it were a location of the 1974 film The Man with the Golden Gun.
Is the national park fee included?
Yes, the Phang Nga Bay national park fee is included in this tour.
What time is the hotel pickup?
Between about 7:00 and 8:00 am, depending on your hotel. We confirm the exact time the day before.