In addition to the Phi Phi Island day trip by private speedboat, we would absolutely recommend the Phang Nga Bay & James Bond Sea Canoe Tour, also by private speedboat!

Andaman Leisure Phuket (ALP) is the company we selected when booking Phi Phi Island through our hotel tour desk during our stay at the Thavorn Palm Beach Resort. We were so impressed with the tour that we booked them again for the following day to visit James Bond Island.

Where is Phang Nga Bay & James Bond Island

Phang Nga Bay is located north east of Phuket. It is famous for the remarkable limestone cliffs that seem to emerge from the water. Khao Phing Kan (also known as James Bond Island by the tourists) is where the famous James Bond movie was filmed and is a very popular tourist attraction.

The journey from Phuket typically takes 1 hour by speedboat (or slightly longer depending on the weather) to reach James Bond Island.

Private speedboat or group tour?

We were holidaying with another family so were a total of 8, consisting of 4 adults and 4 children. When we were looking at the tour options, we chose the private speedboat tour option and we split the cost between the two families.

Is a Private speedboat worth the extra money?

In short – YES! And these are our main reasons why we found the private tour much more enjoyable:

• We didn’t have to squish into the boat, sliding up against someone else’s sunscreened, sweaty body!
• There was ample opportunity to relax and sit at the front of the boat, rather than taking turns to enjoy the fresh air.
• So much space to spread out and relax, especially with the hour-long journey to and from the mainland.
• We were able to dictate how long we stayed at each location – no set timing!

We saw many group tours, and the crowded boats didn’t look super enjoyable! We’ve done this before, but travelling with a child has changed how we travel, and having that extra space is essential for us.

All entry to national parks was included in our booking, so that is something to consider when reviewing pricing, as some group tours add entry fees to the price.

Itinerary

Limestone cliffs: Relax and enjoy the beauty of the limestone cliffs on your way to the first canoe stop.

Hong Island: This is the first canoe stop. It is absolutely breathtaking and so incredibly peaceful as you canoe through some beautiful caves.

James Bond Island: Enjoy time at the famous James Bond Island at your own leisure.

Lunch: A short boat ride over to Panyee Island (Sea Gypsy Village) for a lunch fit for a king! They were accommodating for the kids and brought out some hot chips to go with the Thai feast. After lunch, you can explore the stalls there and purchase souvenirs. The benefit of a private tour is that we finished about 45 minutes early, so we could get back on the boat and head to the next stop.

Mangrove Cave & Diamond Cave at Panak: The second canoe stop of the tour! This stop includes a beautiful ‘heart’ shape from the trees above, which makes for a lovely photo!

Swim: We stopped at a secluded island for a swim before heading back to Phuket. Our swim was cut short due to a member of our group being stung by a stingray (do not recommend this part!).

What is included

It is important to understand what is included in your package and any additional costs you may incur (e.g., entry to national parks).

For us, the following was included in our tour price

• Certified Tour Guide (who was amazing!!)
• Transfers to and from our hotel (at a time that we chose, again, that is a benefit of a private tour)
• Lunch
• Snorkeling gear
• Canoes
• Drinks (soft drinks and water), snacks and a fresh fruit platter
• Travel Insurance (very important this is included regardless of the tour you choose!) A member of our group was stung by a stingray and required hospital treatment. ALP were fantastic and covered all associated costs.
• National Park Fees

What to bring

• Wear your swimwear!
• Towel
• Sunscreen (you’ll want to be reapplying throughout the day)
• Sunglasses
• Hat
• Local currency
• Ensure the company has a copy of your passport for travel insurance purposes
• Dry your clothes if you plan to change at the port before heading back to the hotel. They have showers available if you want to clean up before departing (this may only be possible if you have booked a private tour and you’re not keeping others waiting)

Overall recommendation

We thoroughly enjoyed our day trip with ALP and would highly recommend! Take a look at our review of the Phi Phi Island day trip with the same company.

Planning a trip to Thailand?

If you want to get ideas on other amazing things to do in Thailand, or options on where to stay, take a look at all of our Thailand posts here.