A trip to the islands is one of the most popular activities for travelers in Phuket. Some vacationers head to the famous Phi Phi Island, others go to the islands of Krabi Province, but we chose one of the simplest options and went to see the so-called James Bond Island.
How to get to the island
Travelers can book a fully organized island tour with hotel transfer or plan the trip independently. We decided to drive to the pier and find a boatman there. The car trip from the southern part of Phuket to the starting point of the water route took us about two hours. The pier is located roughly five kilometers from Bond Island itself (you can find it on Google Maps).
As for the cost, it varies greatly depending on whether you go on your own or use the services of tour agencies and guides. The first tour I found online cost $59 per person. I’ve also read stories of tourists paying up to $100 per person.
There were four of us, and the boat ride cost 2,000 baht. Along the way, we met a couple from Germany and decided to rent the boat for six people. The final cost of this trip was 2,800 baht (about $14 per person). You can also pay extra for a beach visit near Bond Island and a kayaking tour, each costing 300 baht ($9) per person. Drinking water is available on the boat, and snacks are sold at the pier.
The advantage of planning the trip independently is the complete freedom of movement — you can ask the boatman to take you wherever you like or choose a secluded beach. However, be cautious: not all spots are suitable for comfortable swimming.
Island trip
Our route included several stops. First, we went to one of the nearby islands to explore a small cave. The boatman had a couple of flashlights, so the walk was quite comfortable.
We skipped kayaking and the beach visit and went straight to James Bond Island. According to online maps, this small island is called Tapu. It’s easy to guess that the island’s popular nickname comes from its appearance in a well-known spy film. Tapu can be seen in The Man with the Golden Gun, released in 1974. The island became a tourist attraction a few years after the movie’s release.
After visiting the island, we stopped by a small bat cave and asked the boatman to drop us off at one of the islands so we could rest a bit. We approached a small beach; the water was quite murky, but our new German friends still decided to go for a swim.
That marked the end of our sea trip to the islands, and we returned to the pier where our journey began.
As I mentioned in my overview of this trip, I found very mixed information about the cost of vacationing in Phuket while planning. Next time, I’ll tell you more about prices on the island.
Have a nice trip!
