James Bond Island in Phang Nga Bay is a popular tour when coming to Phuket.
James Bond Island Phuket: Northeast of Phuket in Phang Nga Bay is the Thai island of Khao Phing Kan, also known as Ko Khao Phing Kan.
A 20-meter (66-foot) tall islet known as Ko Ta Pu or Ko Tapu is located around 40 metres (130 feet) off the coasts of Khao Phing Kan.
The islands are a component of Ao Phang Nga National Park and are limestone karst towers.
Khao Phing Kan and Ko Ta Pu, both individually and jointly, have been known as James Bond Island since 1974, when they appeared in the James Bond film The Man with the Golden Gun.
The name Khao Phing Kan, which reflects the interconnectedness of the islands, is Thai for “hills leaning on each other.”
Ko Tapu and Khao Ta Pu, which refer to the shape of the islands respectively, are literally translated as “nail” and “spike,” respectively.
The names ko, khao, and Ko Khao are frequently used interchangeably in the naming of the islands since koh means “island” and khao means “hill.”
Following their inclusion in the 1974 James Bond film The Man with the Golden Gun, Ko Ta Pu and Khao Phing Kan are frequently referred to as James Bond Islands, especially in travel literature, and locals seldom ever use their real names.
Kan Khao Phing
Two rocky islands with dense forests and steep shorelines make up Khao Phing Kan.
They are situated among a dozen other islands in the north-west of Phang Nga Bay, 6 kilometres (3.7 miles) off the mainland.
Its eastern portion is stretched northward and is about 240 metres (790 feet) long and 140 metres (460 feet) wide, while its western portion has a diameter of about 130 metres (430 feet).
The south-west of the island and the area in between the twin islands both include two sandy beaches and a few caves.
Every tourist must pay a tax at the government office located in the former.
The latter serves as the harbour for tourist boats arriving from the mainland and contains a number of gift shops offering souvenirs like coral and shells as well as butterflies, scorpions, and spiders that have been wrapped in plastic.
Some caverns may only be accessed during low tide since beaches and caves are frequently flooded by the tides, which have an amplitude of 2-3 metres (6.6-9.8 ft).
The island’s unique shape, which resembles a flat limestone cliff that has fallen sideways and leant against a similar rock in the middle of the island, is reflected in the name of the place in Thai.
The waters surrounding the island are pale green in colour and barely a few metres deep. The Phang Nga Bay’s bottom is coated in silt that has been transported there by various northern rivers.
Historical Background
The island was a sparsely populated native area before to 1974. However, it served as Francisco Scaramanga’s lair in the 1974 James Bond movie The Man with the Golden Gun and was one of the film’s locales.
After the film’s premiere, it became a well-liked tourist destination. Popularity and growing tourists have resulted in significant rubbish at Khao Phing Kan.
The island rose to fame as the most well-known feature of the recently created Ao Phang Nga Marine National Park in 1981.
Tourist boats are not permitted to approach Ko Ta Pu as of 1998. With this action, the erosion of the limestone rocks on and around the islet will be stopped, which should prevent the eventual collapse of the island.
KoTaPu
Ko Ta Pu is a limestone formation that stands about 20 metres (66 feet) tall, with a diameter that varies from 4 to 8 metres (13 to 26 feet) along the water’s edge.
It is located around 40 metres (130 feet) to the west of Khao Phing Kan’s northern region.
According to a local mythology, Ko Ta Pu was formed as follows. A fisherman who used to bring home a large number of fish after each trip to the sea once lived there.
He made numerous attempts, but one day he was unsuccessful and only managed to haul up a nail with his nett.
He repeatedly caught the nail after throwing it into the water. He grabbed his sword in rage and used all his might to sever the nail in half.
After colliding, one of the nail’s halves rose and threw a spear into the water, creating Ko Ta Pu.
Why Go?
Kayaking and sailing are popular activities on James Bond Island.
The majority of organised tours include stops at other well-known Andaman Sea islands, such as a seafood lunch at picturesque Koh Panyee, a Muslim fishing community perched above the water.
Although most tour operators provide plastic bags to protect your camera, it’s recommended to bring your own waterproof bag that snaps close.
Advantages of James Bond Island
The setting is fantastic! Even the voyage from Phuket Island over the spectacular limestone cliffs is breathtaking. The island is in Phang Nga Bay.
The Island is beautiful in and of itself. The film’s creators chose the Island because it is a natural curiosity and fantastic photo location.
It’s always entertaining to visit a movie location in real life and discover that the radar in the rock and the door to the hidden lair don’t exist.
Lunch is frequently included at the surprise floating town of Koh Panyi as part of a lovely day trip to the magnificent Phang Nga Bay.
Cons
James Bond Island is a popular tourist destination, and like everywhere else in the world, it is crowded with sellers offering a wide variety of items.
High season brings a large number of long-tail boats and speedboat tours, and people posing in front of the rock, making the area busy.