The shuttle to pick us up was completely overcrowded and if we knew it would take so long to get to the tour spot, we would have just taken a cab there ourselves. We did not stop at a couple of islands listed in the tour itinerary. When we got to Muslim Village, we were stranded in one area of the restaurant and were told we could not visit the shops behind (as we have been there before on a different tour which let us explore the entire village). This was a major tourist trap if you ask me. The lunch was garbage and 2 of of 3 of us got sick from it. Once we got to James Bond, it was EXTREMELY overcrowded. There was no space to enjoy To ourselves, it seemed as if every tour company arrived there at the same time. We couldn't get a decent picture without getting photobombed by randoms. After a painfully exhausting day, all we wanted to do was go home and our bus driver was too busy applying a sticker to his van for 30min and had the entire bus (over)full of people waiting int he heat. The tour goes way later than expected because you are driving for so long. We had to cancel our later commitments. Bummer.
Sometimes movies change the landscape to produce an illusion; some other times they use it exactly as it is, because there’s no need to add or change anything.
That’s what happened with this island in James Bond film. Only building some paths and a small harbor, changing the angles, they created in the film the sensation of a world that… it’s not there. But all the outdoors elements are.
It’s a common island with a magnificent and strange rock at the entrance of the bay, but it’s always crowded with people trying to relate the sights with the film memories. And it is an interesting stop in a good small trip.
Tito went there again, and it seems that the crowds are moving elsewhere
of course you're going to check it out if you come, but it can get crowded (relative, but still). We wanted to do our own thing so hired a private tour with Lux Travel Vietnam and had a guide show us around the lesser known areas outside. Pricier than a group tour or doing it on your own, but a LOT easier. Good to get off the beaten path, but swimming around Christopher Lee's evil lair was still the highlight.
We booked our day trip to Phang Nga Bay and James Bond Island through my lovely lady called Apple from South Smile, with a company called Phuket Panwa Canoe. This was probably the highlight of our trip (apart from some rather annoying people who were constantly late and rude and who I ended up having an argument with on the bus journey back home!!!)
Our day consisted of a 1 1/2 hour trip to get to James Bond Island, then canoeing around 2 different islands, lunch on board the boat and then some free time at Lawa Island. It was a long day, about 10 hours in total, but certainly one that I would urge fellow travellers to do.
We only paid 1000bt each for this trip, which worked out to about $36AUD each which I thought was super amazing value, especially as the trip is listed in their brochure as costing 2900 bt per adult!!! But we were there in low season and Im sure that my friend Apple gave me a nice cheap price too!!!
This tip is about James Bond Island itself, there will be another tip about the rest of the trip. This small unusual shaped island is called James Bond Island, as in one of the JB films, its actually blown up!!! Which film was that???
James Bond island was very interesting, most people has seen this shot in the James Bond movie from the 70's. The tour included feeding wild monkeys and that was so good, their little hands were so cute taking the bananas from us. It was pretty crowed, we went in March, but you can't begrudge all the other tourists because thats what we were! : )
Total disappointment. We took a daily tour kanoing and James Bond Island. Kanoing was very nice but Island I think waste of time. Very difficult disembark through a small wharf -kind a-.
Full of outside vendors for souvenirs -do not forget to bargain you can get 1/3 price.
Only to see a famous upright rock nothing else.
You can took half day kanoing etc instead of 007.
'James Bond Island' was the locale for some filiming for Man With the Golden Gun and is a popular stop on a lot of tours from the area. I visited James Bond Island on a tour which also took us through Phang Nga Bay, the muslim floating village, James Bond Island, snorkeling and lounging on a beach. It was a full day tour and was a lot of fun!! James Bond Island however wasn't the high point, primarily because I'm not really into James Bond and have never seen the Man With the Golden Gun. So it was just another limestone crag popping out from the ocean.
You are dropped off at the island near the famous rock and allowed to cruise around. Of course there are souvenir shops set up that sell overpriced cheap items which you probably would be ill advised to purchase. Overall it is worth visiting but won't make your day, however they other stops on this popular day trip are all a blast.
I visited this island during my one day tour to Phang Nga Bay. The island is famous beacuse the 1974 Bond film "The Man with the golden gun was filmed here. The island is located within the Ao Phang Nga National Park, the place is beautiful and the entire surrounding area is spectacular . The approach to the island is crowded with long-tailed boats, and the there are lots of stalls and vendors hawking souvenirs, but when you walk inside the island you forgot that, the island is great and the views are stunning.
Very popular landscape, especially the "nail island". Clean beach and beautiful and strange rock formations. Most tours would only allow a short stop of about half an hour on this island. Nothing much to do except to take a few pics of the surrounding and pic of Nail Island is a must. This island is not inhabited, except for a rows of stall selling souvenirs.
In Phuket we went to Phang Nga Bay with Tour East. The island is well known for James Bond movie, ‘The Man with the Golden Gun’ was shot here. Thus the island is also better known as James Bond Island.
Phang Nga Bay is an island made up of limestone cliffs and small caves surrounded by mangroves. You can explore the Island. The Sea Gypsy from nearby Panyi Island has many stores selling souvenir for the tourist.
Tour East Cost: 2200 baht p/p - Duration 8hrs - including lunch
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