“The Man with a Golden gun” – the film by the most famous spy James Bond, one scene of which was shot on a beautiful island in Thailand – Khao Phing Khan, which was nicknamed James Bond Island after the film.

James Bond Island is a famous iconic landmark in Phang Nga Bay, Phuket. It first found its place on the international tourist map thanks to its starring role in the James Bond film, The Man with a Golden Gun. A distinctive feature of this famous bay is the number of sheer limestone cliffs jutting vertically out of the emerald-green water.

The bizarre outline of James Bond Island, or Koh Tapu (“nail island” in Thai), lies next to the equally popular Khao Phing Khan. The whole area surrounding this island is indeed spectacular, but it can be crowded with tourist boats during high season.

⇒ The scene at Khao Ping Khan – James Bond Island in the film

James Bond Island before James Bond

Before the 1974 Bond film The Man with the Golden Gun starring Roger Moore and Christopher Lee, few travelers knew about the island. The film was not good, with a 45% satisfaction score on Rotten Tomatoes. To this day, we’d wager that most young visitors haven’t bothered to watch the film, but it’s possible that the bus that takes you from your hotel to the pier is playing on board.

Of course, before James Bond Island, the island had a local name: Koh Tapu, meaning “Nail Island” for the pointed rock, and Khao Phing Khan for the island surrounding it, meaning “Hills leaning against each other.”

James Bond Island highlights

Covering an area of 400 km², Phang Nga Bay is home to around 100 islands, many with distinctive shapes. James Bond Island, with its distinctive rocky pinnacle, has been a major attraction since it was featured in the 1974 Bond film.

It is a marine protected area of the Ao Phang Nga Marine National Park, so boats are not allowed to get too close to the island. Its precarious position is large at the top and relatively thin at the bottom. You can see James Bond Island from a boat or from a small beach on Koh Ping Ghan.

Koh Tapu is a high, leaning rock with several small caves inside. It’s quite incredible and fun to check them all out. On its crowded beach, there are stalls and stands selling souvenirs made mainly from shells and wood.

What to see on Khao Phing Khan – James Bond Island

• The location is exceptional! The island lies in Phang Nga Bay, and even the cruise from Phuket Island through the fantastic limestone cliffs is breathtaking.
• The island itself is very picturesque. The place is a natural curiosity and an excellent photo opportunity, which is why film producers have chosen the island.
• It’s always fun to see the real thing in a film, even an old one, and realize that there’s no door to the secret lair and no radar coming out of the rock!
• This is part of a beautiful day trip to fabulous Phang Nga Bay and usually includes lunch in the surprising floating village of Koh Panyi.
• You can buy and eat delicious dried squid dishes.

More about James Bond Island

James Bond Island is a popular sailing and kayaking destination. Most organized tours also drop in on other popular islands in the Andaman Sea, including the charming Koh Panyee, a Muslim fishing village built on stilts, where you can enjoy a delicious seafood lunch. Although tour operators usually provide plastic bags to protect your camera, it’s best to bring your own waterproof quick-lock bag.

If you prefer more freedom, you can hire a long-tail boat from Surakul pier in Phang Nga, for around 3,200 baht (for 3-4 hours). These boats can accommodate up to 10 people, making them practical and economical for groups.