James Bond Island & Phang Nga Bay – the classic from Krabi

Khao Phing Kan is a pair of rocks leaning against each other with a small beach where boats land. In front of it Koh Tapu rises from the water – the slender rock needle that is thinner at the bottom than at the top. To protect the needle, boats are not allowed to approach it; you see it from the beach and from the water.

The island belongs to Ao Phang Nga National Park, and an entrance fee is usually charged. There are souvenir stalls and paths to various viewpoints on the island.

James Bond Island is one of the most visited places in the region, mainly because of day tours from Phuket. Around midday the small beach can be very crowded. As so often, timing helps: early in the morning or later in the afternoon there are far fewer people.

With a private boat you can plan the order so that James Bond Island is visited before or after the peak, not during it.

Koh Panyee is a Muslim fishing village built largely on stilts over the water in front of a tall rock. The village has a mosque, schools and restaurants where many day visitors have lunch. It is also known for its floating football pitch.

Please remember that people live here. Dress respectfully, especially near the mosque, and ask before photographing people.

Between the bay’s rocks lie extensive mangrove forests. Cruising through the channels you may, with a little luck, spot monkeys, monitor lizards or kingfishers. Many rocks have caves and passages that small boats can navigate depending on the tide.

Plan James Bond Island as the first or last stop and you avoid the midday wave of Phuket tours. In between, fit in the mangroves, Koh Panyee for lunch and a quiet lagoon such as Koh Roi or Koh Kudu.

Besides Koh Tapu, the passages between the karst towers and the view of Koh Panyee from the water are well worth it. In the morning, haze often hangs over the bay, giving the rocks an almost mystical mood.

There is little swimming at James Bond Island itself – the beach is small and full of boats. For a swim break, quieter islands in the bay such as Koh Nok work better, or an anchorage between the karst towers where you jump straight off the boat into warm, calm water.

Snorkelling in Phang Nga Bay is less spectacular than in the open sea because of mangrove sediment. If you want reefs, combine the bay with another day at Chicken Island or Koh Rok. For relaxing, the boat has shade and Koh Panyee has covered restaurants.

Because Phang Nga Bay is sheltered, the trip there is often possible even in the rainy season when the open sea is too rough. Walks on land are short, and there is shade and food – which makes the tour pleasant for families with children and older travellers too.