✅ Updated on 05.11.2025
🗺️ Where Is James Bond Island?
James Bond Island is located in Phang Nga Province, north of Phuket, right in the heart of Ao Phang Nga National Park. It’s a postcard-perfect place: limestone cliffs rising from emerald-green water, surrounded by lush jungle.
🕵️ Which James Bond Movie Was Filmed Here?
James Bond Island became famous thanks to The Man with the Golden Gun, the ninth film in the 007 series, released in 1974. Roger Moore played Bond — it was his second appearance in the iconic franchise.
The main villain, Francisco Scaramanga, was portrayed by Christopher Lee. His signature weapon? A golden gun that fired a single bullet.
In classic 1970s style, the plot revolves around Scaramanga hunting Bond, while various factions chase a device that can harness solar energy — a nod to the energy crisis of the time.
The movie’s final duel between Bond and Scaramanga takes place right on this island, turning the dramatic cliffs and turquoise waters into cinematic history. After the film’s release, the location quickly became a top tourist attraction in Thailand.
📌 Fun fact: “James Bond Island” is actually a nickname. The official name is Khao Phing Kan. The tall, freestanding rock seen in all the photos? That’s Ko Tapu (also spelled Khao Tapu).
💸 James Bond Island Tour Price
James Bond Island is part of Ao Phang Nga National Park, and there’s a 300 baht (~$9) entrance fee for foreign visitors.
If you go independently, you’ll need to pay this fee separately — plus the cost of renting a boat. However, most group tours already include the park entrance fee in the total price.
🚫 I don’t recommend going on your own. The island itself is small, with not much to do beyond snapping a few photos of the iconic Ko Tapu rock. It’s much more worthwhile to join a guided tour that includes multiple locations in Phang Nga Bay.
I booked my trip for 1,400 baht. I’ll break down what was included in that tour below.
🏖️ Is There a Beach on James Bond Island?
Yes, there’s a small beach on James Bond Island, and technically you can swim there. But to be honest — the water is a bit murky, and the atmosphere feels more like a photo stop than a proper swimming spot.
That said, this very beach was the setting for the final duel between Bond and Scaramanga in The Man with the Golden Gun.
If you’ve been to the beaches on the Similan Islands, this one won’t impress you much.
⛰️ The Nail Rock — James Bond Island’s Iconic Landmark
If you’ve seen The Man with the Golden Gun, you’ll definitely remember the dramatic rock jutting out of the sea like a giant nail. In Thai, it’s called Khao Tapu, which translates to “nail” or “spike.” In the movie, this is where the solar-powered weapon dramatically rises from the sea.
Technically, Khao Tapu is also an island — it’s completely surrounded by water. So, if we’re being precise, “James Bond Islands” (plural) would be more accurate. Still, it’s hard to call this tiny rock an island: it’s only about 4 meters wide at the base and roughly 20 meters tall. It looks like it could topple over any minute.
This unusual shape is the result of erosion. Over centuries, waves and tides carved away the softer limestone at the base, leaving the harder rock above intact — forming this narrow, striking sea column.
🚤 James Bond Island Tours: Options and Prices
There are many ways to visit James Bond Island — it all depends on the route and the type of boat. Some tours include temples and glass bridges, others offer snorkeling and secluded beaches. Boats range from high-speed speedboats to laid-back two-deckers.
Here are a few popular James Bond Island tour options:
| Route | Boat Type | Price (THB) |
|---|---|---|
| Via Phanak Island | Speedboat | 1,400 |
| Via Phanak Island | Two-deck boat (you can jump from the 2nd floor) | 1,500 |
| Via Suwan Kuha Temple + Boat | Longtail boat | 1,300 |
| Via Glass Bridge + Boat | Longtail boat | 2,500 |
| Via Phanak Island + Snorkeling at Khai Island | Speedboat | 2,000 |
| Via Phanak Island + Yao Yai Island | Speedboat | 2,000 |
I chose the tour with Phuket Cheap Tour — a route via Phanak Island by speedboat for 1,400 baht. It was both affordable and action-packed.
My James Bond Island Tour Experience:
🕖 07:00 — Hotel Pickup
I was staying in Rawai, and they picked me up right at 7:00 AM. If you’re staying in Kata or Karon, transfers usually start a bit later — around 7:30 AM. Everything was well-organized, and I didn’t have to wait for the van.
🕘 09:00 — Check-In and Breakfast
We arrived at AA Marina, where they handed out wristbands and completed the paperwork. Breakfast was included: coffee, toast with jam, cookies, and juice.
Pro tip: Wear your swimwear from the start — it’s more convenient that way.
🕥 10:35 — Phanak Island
Our first stop was Phanak Island, where we explored sea caves and ventured into a hidden chamber inside the island. There are several caves here, including Bat Cave, Ice Cream Cave, and Diamond Cave.
Which cave you’ll visit depends entirely on the tides — during high tide, some of the passages are completely submerged and inaccessible. Cave trekking on Phanak is always a game of timing.
We landed at Diamond Cave and entered a narrow passage that led deep into the island, ending in a hidden lagoon. I’d read beforehand that the cave walls glitter with calcite crystals, but unfortunately, I didn’t see much “diamond sparkle.” Maybe it depends on the angle of light or how strong your flashlight is.
Inside the secret lagoon, we spotted some fascinating local wildlife:
🦀 Fiddler Crab
These quirky crabs are known for their lopsided claws — males have one massive claw shaped like a boomerang. They wave it like conductors to attract females, which is why they’re nicknamed “fiddlers.”
They’re nearly impossible to catch. As soon as you get close, they dive into tiny sand burrows. But if you’re quiet, you can watch them “talk” using claw gestures.
🐟 Mudskipper
A strange but fun little fish that breathes air, climbs rocks, and hops across sand like an amphibian. Its bulging frog-like eyes sit on top of its head. Mudskippers live in muddy mangroves, and during low tide, they crawl out of the water and use their fins to “walk” along the shore. If you’re lucky, you’ll catch one leaping a few feet through the air.
🕚 11:10 — James Bond Island
At last, we reached the star of the tour — James Bond Island, known locally as Khao Tapu. We had about an hour to explore the area.
Here’s what you can do during that time:
- Snap some iconic photos with the famous nail-shaped rock rising from the sea — the legendary backdrop from The Man with the Golden Gun.
- Take a quick swim in the warm ocean. The beach is small, but it’s enough to cool off.
- Check out the rock engravings of Thailand’s 10 kings — displayed in framed plaques hanging along the cliffside.
🕧 12:20 — Panyee Floating Village
Our next stop was Panyee Village, where we had a buffet lunch at the New Fern restaurant. The food was great, with plenty of variety — rice, pad thai, tom yum soup, chicken, stir-fried veggies, onion rings, and more.
We had about an hour here, which was enough to enjoy the meal and take a short walk around the village. And this isn’t your average fishing village — it’s also known as the Muslim Sea Gypsy village, and here’s why:
🕌 Why Muslim?
The people of Panyee aren’t ethnic Thais. They’re descendants of Malay and Indonesian migrants who came from Java over 200 years ago. Since Islam is the dominant religion in both Indonesia and Malaysia, the villagers have practiced Islam ever since.
🧳 Why “Sea Gypsies”?
They were once part of a nomadic seafaring group that moved between islands, following the fish and the seasons. That lifestyle has changed — today, the village is settled with a mosque, school, shops, cafes, and even a floating football field. Around 300–400 families live here, totaling about 1,500 people.
🌊 Why live on water?
Long ago, Thai law allowed only Thai citizens to own land. The migrants didn’t have those rights — so they built their homes on stilts over the sea. Two centuries later, many villagers now hold Thai passports, but the tradition of living above the water has remained.
🕒 13:45 — Hong Island
The word “Hong” means “room” in Thai — and it’s an accurate name. Hidden inside the island is a secluded lagoon surrounded by towering cliffs. From above, it looks like a volcanic crater, except instead of lava, there’s calm, emerald-green water.
The only way in is by canoe — motorboats can’t get through. Some cave ceilings are so low, you’ll need to duck down to the edge of the boat to avoid bumping your head. 😄
The lagoon is incredibly peaceful. The water is still, sounds are muffled by the stone walls, and it feels like a secret natural hideaway. The guides aren’t in a rush — they let you fully soak in the moment.
🕓 14:40 — Beach Time & Jet Skis
After all the cave exploration and paddling, we headed to a beach to relax, swim, and recharge. Here’s what you can do:
- Swim and sunbathe
- Grab drinks and snacks
- Rent a beach chair (50 baht)
- Ride a jet ski (1,000 baht for 20 minutes — discounted)
I couldn’t resist renting a jet ski — it was the perfect way to end the day after all the paddling and cave adventures.
🕕 16:10 — Back to the Pier
At the pier, you can rinse off and change clothes in the shower area.
🕡 16:30 — Return Transfer
The minivan dropped us back at our hotels. I stayed in Rawai and was home by 5:30 PM.
