In the event you’re touring to Krabi, Thailand, odds are you’ll be seeking to e book a number of Krabi island excursions whilst you’re there. And rightfully so – this entire area is simply begging to be explored by boat with 200 or so islands round.
There are 3 essential forms of Krabi island excursions:
Having visited Krabi twice now and sampled all 3 forms of Krabi island excursions, I can inform you that they’re ALL incredible and worthwhile. Do all 3 in the event you can. And in the event you can’t, then learn on and see which appeals to you extra
In the event you’re quickly to be Krabi-bound, I’ve a couple of essential ideas for you:
I’m all for being spontaneous and ready til the final attainable minute to decide to a plan, however I really feel very strongly that it’s greatest to e book your Krabi island excursions earlier than you arrive there. That method you possibly can learn the critiques, verify the itineraries, and be sure that you’re really reserving a high quality tour.
And fortunate for you, I’ve completed all of the analysis and testing for you! That’s proper, the perfect Krabi island excursions are highlighted beneath on this weblog publish. They’re all very extremely rated and certain to ensure you a wonderful trip across the islands.
In the event you can solely e book one Krabi island tour whereas visiting Ao Nang, Krabi, or Railay, let it’s the 4 Islands Tour.
Why? As a result of most different Krabi island excursions you are able to do from Phuket, as these islands are nearer to it. However the 4 islands are additional away from Phuket, they usually’re a lot simpler to entry from Ao Nang or Railay (all inside a 20-30 minute boat journey).
To not point out, the 4 islands are flippin’ beautiful!
The Krabi 4 Islands Excursions cease at:
Although all the 4 Islands Excursions from Krabi cease on the similar islands in various order, the most typical itinerary has an early afternoon begin and finally ends up with sundown on Phra Nang Seashore in Railay, adopted by a swim with the bio luminescence (phosphorescent plankton) close by as soon as it begins getting darkish. A handful of excursions could choose to start out early to keep away from the crowds, and end earlier with out the sundown or plankton swim.
Listed below are one of the best 4 Islands Excursions from Krabi:
The Thalassa 4 Islands Tour stops on the aforementioned 4 islands, plus Koh Sii: an island barely farther from the Krabi coast that provides glorious snorkeling. It ends with sundown at Railay and evening snorkeling, as many related excursions do.
That is supposedly the one Krabi 4 Islands Tour completed by speedboat (most use a standard longtail boat as a substitute, which is slower and fewer snug). Which means much less time spent in transit and extra time spent on the islands! (And it’s how they’re in a position to cease at Koh Sii as properly, which might be too far-off for a longtail boat tour to slot in).
Thalassa excursions are marketed as “semi-private”, which primarily implies that they’ve smaller teams on board and supply a excessive contact expertise to visitors which makes it FEEL like a semi-private tour.
It’s additionally value noting that Thalassa additionally gives a unique model of this tour with an eco focus (although as of June 2023, it’s not being supplied). I’m unsure if or when their 4 Islands Eco Tour will return, but it surely runs from 9am-5pm, swaps out the sundown and evening snorkeling for a seaside cleanup as a substitute, and is half the value of the common 4 Islands Tour.
Sure, you learn that proper – it’s 5 islands as a substitute of 4!
This sundown cruise skips Koh Tup and stops as a substitute at two small islands simply off the coast of Railay (together with Poda Island, Hen Island, and Railay). Although technically, this tour doesn’t really cease *at* the islands however quite, near them – so if with the ability to step onto every island and take plenty of images there’s necessary to you, this is probably not the Krabi 4 Islands tour for you.
As an alternative, Krabi Sunset Cruises makes use of an previous junk (aka a pirate ship) with large sails for its excursions. This tour facilities extra across the epic boat than the islands: it’s all about enjoyable on the deck with a drink, leaping off the highest degree, and paddling across the islands with a kayak or stand-up paddleboard (in the event you really feel prefer it). It’s much less of a tour, and extra of an expertise.
Like most of the different Krabi 4 Islands Excursions, this one ends with sundown at Railay and a bio luminescence swim after darkish.
The Phi Phi islands are an absolute must-do for anybody visiting Phuket… however do you know that you would be able to e book Phi Phi island excursions from Krabi as properly?
Yup it’s true! Koh Phi Phi is definitely about midway between Phuket and Krabi, which implies journey time is almost the identical regardless of which location you depart from.
So in the event you’re planning a visit to Krabi, it is best to positively think about Phi Phi as one in every of your Krabi island excursions to e book!
The Phi Phi islands want no introduction, as a result of odds are you’ve seen the images or watched The Seashore. Maya Bay is the runaway star of the islands, dwelling to a seaside so stunning that its picture can be eternally seared in your thoughts. You’re not allowed to swim right here anymore, however you possibly can stroll in as much as your knees.
And there are a number of different worthwhile locations to see across the islands, from beautiful lagoons to epic snorkeling spots to picturesque seashores (the place you CAN swim). Simply know that regardless of when and the place you go round Koh Phi Phi, there WILL be different folks round – it’s a extremely popular space, with little that’s off the overwhelmed observe – however for good motive!
Most Phi Phi island excursions cease at:
Listed below are one of the best Phi Phi Islands Excursions from Krabi:
Thalassa additionally runs a semi-private (small group) tour to the Phi Phi islands (I consider the max is 16 visitors?). There’s extra of a deal with snorkeling with this explicit tour, and relying on circumstances, there can be a number of alternatives to snorkel.
The Koh Phi Phi Tour is their hottest tour and it’s extraordinarily extremely rated on TripAdvisor, so you actually can’t go flawed with this one. Word that there’s an additional cost in the event you’re not staying in Ao Nang and have to be picked up/dropped off at Railay or Krabi city.
One glorious motive to e book a Phi Phi Island tour from Krabi as a substitute of Phuket is that there are some excursions that add on extra island stops on the best way there and again, which supplies you extra bang in your buck.
Krabi Ezy Trails gives a combo Phi Phi + 4 Islands Tour, splendid for anybody who may not have time or cash to e book the 2 separate excursions, or for these susceptible to seasickness who need to restrict the period of time they spend on boats. The latter is unquestionably me, which was my essential motive for reserving this tour.
I’m very proud of that call and I completely LOVED this expertise! Additionally completely satisfied to report that not as soon as did I really feel rushed, regardless of having so many stops to cowl on this tour. It felt like simply sufficient time to get pleasure from every location. And I didn’t get seasick!
It’s additionally value mentioning that this isn’t a small group tour like Thalassa’s. Our group had ~25 folks in it, which didn’t really feel like an excessive amount of.
This Phi Phi island tour is marketed as an “Early Chook – Keep away from The Crowds” tour, but it surely’s necessary to set applicable expectations for what precisely this implies.
Sure, this tour begins sooner than most (if not all) different excursions to Phi Phi islands, but it surely doesn’t go straight to Maya Bay. The boat stops at one other island on the best way (Koh Tup) for breakfast, then arrives at Maya Bay simply earlier than 9am when loads of others are already there. Nevertheless it ended up being effective as a result of the sooner you get there, the extra water can be lined in shadows and never trying electrical blue such as you see in images. And the later you get there, the extra crowded it will get. Maya Bay at 9am appeared to be one of the best steadiness between the 2 variables.
And sure, Krabi Ezy Trails does its greatest to keep away from the crowds… however c’mon, that is Phi Phi, a particularly standard vacationer spot. There’s actually no *avoiding* the crowds, simply minimizing them, which this tour did as a lot as attainable.
Since there are extra stops on this tour vs. an everyday Phi Phi island tour from Krabi, be prepared for a LONG day of aquatic adventuring! The boat leaves Ao Nang at 7am, which implies you’ll get picked up out of your lodge even sooner than that. We returned round 5pm (although it says 4pm on their web site), making it a stable 10 hours within the Thai warmth. In the event you’re somebody who’s delicate to scorching climate and the solar, you might need to go for a shorter tour as a substitute of this one (although there’s loads of undercover seating on the boat and shady spots on among the islands).
A ship journey round Phang Nga Bay is an absolute MUST-DO in the event you’re in Phuket or Krabi.
James Bond Island (Koh Tapu) is essentially the most well-known of the various picturesque islands within the bay; it simply occurs to be essentially the most well-known, due to showing in a James Bond film. Consequently, many Phang Nga Bay excursions can be marketed as James Bond Island excursions.
On James Bond Island there’s a man-made seaside that swarms with vacationers, so if large crowds don’t attraction to you, you would possibly need to search for James Bond Island excursions that don’t really cease on the island. Each of the excursions I like to recommend beneath don’t cease at James Bond Island, however you’ll have the ability to see it and take images as your boat passes by.
Additionally notice that Phang Nga Bay is way additional afield, which is why you received’t discover too many excursions to this space working out of Krabi. There are a lot of extra choices for James Bond Island excursions from Phuket, which cruise round Phang Nga Bay by speedboat, catamaran, or bigger boat, relying on the operator.
Hong Island is one other landmark in Phang Nga Bay. It really deserves its personal devoted tour, that’s how unimaginable it’s – but it surely’s typically an included cease on the James Bond Island excursions, so it’s like a 2-for-1 particular in the event you e book it.
Hong Island is blessed with a beautiful lagoon, one of the vital stunning seashores in Thailand, and a ridiculously spectacular viewpoint some 200+ steps above. It’s understandably very busy through the day, and fewer so early morning or late afternoon. It’s possible {that a} James Bond Island tour received’t cease in any respect of those areas round Hong Island, so pay shut consideration to the tour itinerary and ensure no matter tour you e book contains the areas you need to see.
View from Hong Island viewpoint.
There are dozens (lots of?) of different islands round Phang Nga Bay, a few of which you’ll cruise previous, swim off of, or land on. There are limestone cliffs and rock formations all over the place you look out right here: actually, the journey is one of the best a part of any James Bond Island tour.
Many James Bond Island excursions embrace an possibility for canoeing or kayaking, and there are a couple of the place paddling is the principle focus of the tour. I like to recommend reserving a tour the place you at the least have the choice to attempt it even when it’s not the main target, as a result of it’s a particularly cool expertise paddling into the hongs (Thai for “rooms”; on this case, the hongs are extra like enclosed swimming pools) round Phang Nga Bay. Hong Island is just one of them!
James Bond Island / Phang Nga Bay excursions typically cease at:
Listed below are one of the best Phang Nga Bay / James Bond Island Excursions:
The James Bond Island Tour was the tour I elected to do with Thalassa on my current journey to Krabi. In contrast to the 4 Islands Excursions and Phi Phi Excursions, this one has a unique itinerary, visiting areas that no different excursions cease at. You’ll be dropped off on islands with utterly empty seashores, and keep away from the crowds on the extra standard stops. It’s Robinson Crusoe vibes to the MAX.
Only a few excursions to James Bond Island run from Krabi as a result of it’s fairly a distance to cowl. Thalassa makes it definitely worth the journey by incorporating a number of stops alongside the best way, plus they’re in a position to journey sooner with a speedboat. It didn’t really feel like an excessive amount of time in transit in any respect, so don’t fear about it taking too lengthy to get there.
They cease the boat near James Bond Island and permit loads of time for images (full with James Bond film music + photograph props!). We additionally had lunch at a secluded spot on Koh Yao Noi, snorkelled off of a random island with crimson rock, and swam off of one other island with unimaginable views and lovely white sand. Like the opposite Thalassa excursions, this one can be semi-private: our group felt small and personalised with about 15 visitors, and we had loads of room to unfold out across the boat.
Later within the day, as soon as the crowds dissipated, we cruised round Hong Island lagoon, then went round to its beautiful seaside for one remaining swim. You’ll be able to choose to hike as much as the Hong Island viewpoint right now, which I strongly counsel doing even when the humidity + the lots of of stairs sound like a nightmare. The view of Phang Nga Bay and Hong Island seaside from up right here is PHENOMENAL.
View from Hong Island viewpoint.
It could be unusual to incorporate a tour that doesn’t run from Krabi, and should or could not embrace James Bond Island, on this weblog publish – however I did this Hong by Starlight Tour 8 years in the past and it nonetheless stands as one in every of my favourite journey experiences ever, so how might I not?
So sure, John Grey’s Hong by Starlight tour departs from Phuket, not Krabi. It doesn’t cease at James Bond Island, and there’s no point out of it within the tour itinerary; nonetheless, on my tour we positively paddled close to it (shut sufficient to take photos), and a few current TripAdvisor critiques point out seeing James Bond Island (although some additionally point out NOT seeing it). I think that relying on circumstances, you might or could not get to paddle near James Bond Island, so it’s not a promoting level of this tour.
However belief me after I say that it doesn’t matter! James Bond Island could get all of the glory, but it surely’s simply one in every of many fairly islands in Phang Nga Bay. Irrespective of the place you find yourself occurring this tour, you’re gonna see some epic landscapes and luxuriate in some memorable adventures.
If you’re useless set on seeing James Bond Island, you possibly can e book one in every of John Grey’s James Bond Island excursions – they run one within the morning and one later within the day. Nevertheless, I HIGHLY advise reserving the the Hong by Starlight Tour as a substitute.
With this Phang Nga Bay tour, you get a full day of adventuring on a giant boat, that includes a couple of kayaking excursions across the hongs and islands in “sea canoes”, that are primarily inflatable kayaks. You study simply how essential the inflatable facet is if you’re paddling by means of some very tight caves that require you to deflate the kayak a bit, lean again, and get as little as you possibly can. Fortunately for these paddle classes, you’ll be paired with a information who will care for all of it for you. It’s a VERY cool and distinctive expertise, one thing you’re unlikely to expertise anyplace else in your travels.
Then later within the day, you’ll make a “kratong” out of flowers and banana leaves and launch it out into the ocean after sundown, and paddle by means of phosphorescent plankton that seem as glowing blue dots underwater.
READ MORE IN THIS POST: Kayaking Thailand: Phang Nga Bay Kayak Journey With John Grey
There are 3 essential forms of Krabi island excursions:
- 4 Islands (very near Ao Nang, Krabi City, Railay)
- Phi Phi Islands (midway between Ao Nang/Krabi City/Railay and Phuket)
- James Bond Island / Phang Nga Bay (near Phuket)
Having visited Krabi twice now and sampled all 3 forms of Krabi island excursions, I can inform you that they’re ALL incredible and worthwhile. Do all 3 in the event you can. And in the event you can’t, then learn on and see which appeals to you extra
In the event you’re quickly to be Krabi-bound, I’ve a couple of essential ideas for you:
- Base your self in Ao Nang. Is it the nicest place to remain in Krabi, no – but it surely’s essentially the most handy in the event you’re doing boat journeys round Krabi. Just about all excursions decide up and drop off in Ao Nang. In the event you’re staying in Railay or Krabi City, you’ll possible must make your personal method to Ao Nang (whether or not it’s by bus or taxi from Krabi City, or lengthy tail boat from Railay). Some Krabi island excursions could embrace pick-up from Railay, but it surely’s typically a further cost.
- In case your Krabi journey is quite a lot of days: keep in Ao Nang for the primary a part of your Krabi journey whilst you do your boat excursions, then keep in Railay for the final a part of your journey and chill. That is what I did on my most up-to-date journey to Krabi and it was 1000000% the proper transfer.
- E book your Krabi island excursions forward of time on-line. Positive, you possibly can wing it and simply e book the most affordable choices on the town if you get there. However don’t be stunned when you find yourself in an enormous group with guides that hardly communicate English and make no efforts to keep away from the crowds.
I’m all for being spontaneous and ready til the final attainable minute to decide to a plan, however I really feel very strongly that it’s greatest to e book your Krabi island excursions earlier than you arrive there. That method you possibly can learn the critiques, verify the itineraries, and be sure that you’re really reserving a high quality tour.
And fortunate for you, I’ve completed all of the analysis and testing for you! That’s proper, the perfect Krabi island excursions are highlighted beneath on this weblog publish. They’re all very extremely rated and certain to ensure you a wonderful trip across the islands.
Krabi 4 Islands Tour
In the event you can solely e book one Krabi island tour whereas visiting Ao Nang, Krabi, or Railay, let it’s the 4 Islands Tour.
Why? As a result of most different Krabi island excursions you are able to do from Phuket, as these islands are nearer to it. However the 4 islands are additional away from Phuket, they usually’re a lot simpler to entry from Ao Nang or Railay (all inside a 20-30 minute boat journey).
To not point out, the 4 islands are flippin’ beautiful!
The Krabi 4 Islands Excursions cease at:
- Hen Island (Koh Gai) – An island with a limestone rock formation formed like a hen head (it’s simply seen from the water, so doesn’t essentially require a devoted cease)
- Tup Island (Koh Tup) – An island linked to 2 others by sandbar at low tide. It’s obtained stunning crystal clear water for swimming.
- Poda Island (Koh Poda) – Has a stupendous and expansive white sand seaside with picturesque views of limestone rock formations protruding from the water. The most effective spot for sunbathing.
- Railay – Technically not an island, however is barely accessible by boat so looks like one Usually stops at Phra Nang Seashore (one of the vital stunning seashores in all of Thailand!) and cave.
Although all the 4 Islands Excursions from Krabi cease on the similar islands in various order, the most typical itinerary has an early afternoon begin and finally ends up with sundown on Phra Nang Seashore in Railay, adopted by a swim with the bio luminescence (phosphorescent plankton) close by as soon as it begins getting darkish. A handful of excursions could choose to start out early to keep away from the crowds, and end earlier with out the sundown or plankton swim.
Listed below are one of the best 4 Islands Excursions from Krabi:
4 Islands Tour with Thalassa
The Thalassa 4 Islands Tour stops on the aforementioned 4 islands, plus Koh Sii: an island barely farther from the Krabi coast that provides glorious snorkeling. It ends with sundown at Railay and evening snorkeling, as many related excursions do.
That is supposedly the one Krabi 4 Islands Tour completed by speedboat (most use a standard longtail boat as a substitute, which is slower and fewer snug). Which means much less time spent in transit and extra time spent on the islands! (And it’s how they’re in a position to cease at Koh Sii as properly, which might be too far-off for a longtail boat tour to slot in).
Thalassa excursions are marketed as “semi-private”, which primarily implies that they’ve smaller teams on board and supply a excessive contact expertise to visitors which makes it FEEL like a semi-private tour.
It’s additionally value noting that Thalassa additionally gives a unique model of this tour with an eco focus (although as of June 2023, it’s not being supplied). I’m unsure if or when their 4 Islands Eco Tour will return, but it surely runs from 9am-5pm, swaps out the sundown and evening snorkeling for a seaside cleanup as a substitute, and is half the value of the common 4 Islands Tour.
5 Island Sundown Cocktail Cruise with Krabi Sundown Cruises
Sure, you learn that proper – it’s 5 islands as a substitute of 4!
This sundown cruise skips Koh Tup and stops as a substitute at two small islands simply off the coast of Railay (together with Poda Island, Hen Island, and Railay). Although technically, this tour doesn’t really cease *at* the islands however quite, near them – so if with the ability to step onto every island and take plenty of images there’s necessary to you, this is probably not the Krabi 4 Islands tour for you.
As an alternative, Krabi Sunset Cruises makes use of an previous junk (aka a pirate ship) with large sails for its excursions. This tour facilities extra across the epic boat than the islands: it’s all about enjoyable on the deck with a drink, leaping off the highest degree, and paddling across the islands with a kayak or stand-up paddleboard (in the event you really feel prefer it). It’s much less of a tour, and extra of an expertise.
Like most of the different Krabi 4 Islands Excursions, this one ends with sundown at Railay and a bio luminescence swim after darkish.
Phi Phi Island Tour
The Phi Phi islands are an absolute must-do for anybody visiting Phuket… however do you know that you would be able to e book Phi Phi island excursions from Krabi as properly?
Yup it’s true! Koh Phi Phi is definitely about midway between Phuket and Krabi, which implies journey time is almost the identical regardless of which location you depart from.
So in the event you’re planning a visit to Krabi, it is best to positively think about Phi Phi as one in every of your Krabi island excursions to e book!
The Phi Phi islands want no introduction, as a result of odds are you’ve seen the images or watched The Seashore. Maya Bay is the runaway star of the islands, dwelling to a seaside so stunning that its picture can be eternally seared in your thoughts. You’re not allowed to swim right here anymore, however you possibly can stroll in as much as your knees.
And there are a number of different worthwhile locations to see across the islands, from beautiful lagoons to epic snorkeling spots to picturesque seashores (the place you CAN swim). Simply know that regardless of when and the place you go round Koh Phi Phi, there WILL be different folks round – it’s a extremely popular space, with little that’s off the overwhelmed observe – however for good motive!
Most Phi Phi island excursions cease at:
- Maya Bay – A shocking white sand seaside encircled by limestone cliffs, made well-known by The Seashore.
- Pi Leh Bay (Lagoon) – A deep blue-colored lagoon typically stuffed with boats. There’s probably not anyplace to land within the lagoon, so guests are inclined to both celebration on their boat or swim simply off of it.
- Monkey Seashore – If you wish to see wild monkeys, that is the place (although they’re recognized to steal issues from guests, and may get aggressive). The seaside is a brief stroll from the bay the place your boat will cease, however you possibly can normally spot monkeys climbing the rocks across the bay with out having to go away the boat.
- Viking Cave – A really cool-looking cave you possibly can peek into whereas passing by on the boat. Across the nook is a wonderful snorkeling spot.
- Bamboo Island – A extremely popular place the place you possibly can hang around on the white sand seaside and swim. It’s simple to keep away from the crowds simply by strolling additional down the seaside, away from the place the boats anchor. It’s additionally a great spot to have lunch (many tour teams do after they cease right here).
Listed below are one of the best Phi Phi Islands Excursions from Krabi:
Koh Phi Phi Tour with Thalassa
Thalassa additionally runs a semi-private (small group) tour to the Phi Phi islands (I consider the max is 16 visitors?). There’s extra of a deal with snorkeling with this explicit tour, and relying on circumstances, there can be a number of alternatives to snorkel.
The Koh Phi Phi Tour is their hottest tour and it’s extraordinarily extremely rated on TripAdvisor, so you actually can’t go flawed with this one. Word that there’s an additional cost in the event you’re not staying in Ao Nang and have to be picked up/dropped off at Railay or Krabi city.
Phi Phi + 4 Islands Tour with Krabi Ezy Trails
One glorious motive to e book a Phi Phi Island tour from Krabi as a substitute of Phuket is that there are some excursions that add on extra island stops on the best way there and again, which supplies you extra bang in your buck.
Krabi Ezy Trails gives a combo Phi Phi + 4 Islands Tour, splendid for anybody who may not have time or cash to e book the 2 separate excursions, or for these susceptible to seasickness who need to restrict the period of time they spend on boats. The latter is unquestionably me, which was my essential motive for reserving this tour.
I’m very proud of that call and I completely LOVED this expertise! Additionally completely satisfied to report that not as soon as did I really feel rushed, regardless of having so many stops to cowl on this tour. It felt like simply sufficient time to get pleasure from every location. And I didn’t get seasick!
It’s additionally value mentioning that this isn’t a small group tour like Thalassa’s. Our group had ~25 folks in it, which didn’t really feel like an excessive amount of.
This Phi Phi island tour is marketed as an “Early Chook – Keep away from The Crowds” tour, but it surely’s necessary to set applicable expectations for what precisely this implies.
Sure, this tour begins sooner than most (if not all) different excursions to Phi Phi islands, but it surely doesn’t go straight to Maya Bay. The boat stops at one other island on the best way (Koh Tup) for breakfast, then arrives at Maya Bay simply earlier than 9am when loads of others are already there. Nevertheless it ended up being effective as a result of the sooner you get there, the extra water can be lined in shadows and never trying electrical blue such as you see in images. And the later you get there, the extra crowded it will get. Maya Bay at 9am appeared to be one of the best steadiness between the 2 variables.
And sure, Krabi Ezy Trails does its greatest to keep away from the crowds… however c’mon, that is Phi Phi, a particularly standard vacationer spot. There’s actually no *avoiding* the crowds, simply minimizing them, which this tour did as a lot as attainable.
Since there are extra stops on this tour vs. an everyday Phi Phi island tour from Krabi, be prepared for a LONG day of aquatic adventuring! The boat leaves Ao Nang at 7am, which implies you’ll get picked up out of your lodge even sooner than that. We returned round 5pm (although it says 4pm on their web site), making it a stable 10 hours within the Thai warmth. In the event you’re somebody who’s delicate to scorching climate and the solar, you might need to go for a shorter tour as a substitute of this one (although there’s loads of undercover seating on the boat and shady spots on among the islands).
Phang Nga Bay / James Bond Island Tour
A ship journey round Phang Nga Bay is an absolute MUST-DO in the event you’re in Phuket or Krabi.
James Bond Island (Koh Tapu) is essentially the most well-known of the various picturesque islands within the bay; it simply occurs to be essentially the most well-known, due to showing in a James Bond film. Consequently, many Phang Nga Bay excursions can be marketed as James Bond Island excursions.
On James Bond Island there’s a man-made seaside that swarms with vacationers, so if large crowds don’t attraction to you, you would possibly need to search for James Bond Island excursions that don’t really cease on the island. Each of the excursions I like to recommend beneath don’t cease at James Bond Island, however you’ll have the ability to see it and take images as your boat passes by.
Additionally notice that Phang Nga Bay is way additional afield, which is why you received’t discover too many excursions to this space working out of Krabi. There are a lot of extra choices for James Bond Island excursions from Phuket, which cruise round Phang Nga Bay by speedboat, catamaran, or bigger boat, relying on the operator.
Hong Island is one other landmark in Phang Nga Bay. It really deserves its personal devoted tour, that’s how unimaginable it’s – but it surely’s typically an included cease on the James Bond Island excursions, so it’s like a 2-for-1 particular in the event you e book it.
Hong Island is blessed with a beautiful lagoon, one of the vital stunning seashores in Thailand, and a ridiculously spectacular viewpoint some 200+ steps above. It’s understandably very busy through the day, and fewer so early morning or late afternoon. It’s possible {that a} James Bond Island tour received’t cease in any respect of those areas round Hong Island, so pay shut consideration to the tour itinerary and ensure no matter tour you e book contains the areas you need to see.
View from Hong Island viewpoint.
There are dozens (lots of?) of different islands round Phang Nga Bay, a few of which you’ll cruise previous, swim off of, or land on. There are limestone cliffs and rock formations all over the place you look out right here: actually, the journey is one of the best a part of any James Bond Island tour.
Many James Bond Island excursions embrace an possibility for canoeing or kayaking, and there are a couple of the place paddling is the principle focus of the tour. I like to recommend reserving a tour the place you at the least have the choice to attempt it even when it’s not the main target, as a result of it’s a particularly cool expertise paddling into the hongs (Thai for “rooms”; on this case, the hongs are extra like enclosed swimming pools) round Phang Nga Bay. Hong Island is just one of them!
James Bond Island / Phang Nga Bay excursions typically cease at:
- James Bond Island
- Hong Island
- Panak Island
- Koh Panyi floating village
Listed below are one of the best Phang Nga Bay / James Bond Island Excursions:
James Bond Island Tour with Thalassa
The James Bond Island Tour was the tour I elected to do with Thalassa on my current journey to Krabi. In contrast to the 4 Islands Excursions and Phi Phi Excursions, this one has a unique itinerary, visiting areas that no different excursions cease at. You’ll be dropped off on islands with utterly empty seashores, and keep away from the crowds on the extra standard stops. It’s Robinson Crusoe vibes to the MAX.
Only a few excursions to James Bond Island run from Krabi as a result of it’s fairly a distance to cowl. Thalassa makes it definitely worth the journey by incorporating a number of stops alongside the best way, plus they’re in a position to journey sooner with a speedboat. It didn’t really feel like an excessive amount of time in transit in any respect, so don’t fear about it taking too lengthy to get there.
They cease the boat near James Bond Island and permit loads of time for images (full with James Bond film music + photograph props!). We additionally had lunch at a secluded spot on Koh Yao Noi, snorkelled off of a random island with crimson rock, and swam off of one other island with unimaginable views and lovely white sand. Like the opposite Thalassa excursions, this one can be semi-private: our group felt small and personalised with about 15 visitors, and we had loads of room to unfold out across the boat.
Later within the day, as soon as the crowds dissipated, we cruised round Hong Island lagoon, then went round to its beautiful seaside for one remaining swim. You’ll be able to choose to hike as much as the Hong Island viewpoint right now, which I strongly counsel doing even when the humidity + the lots of of stairs sound like a nightmare. The view of Phang Nga Bay and Hong Island seaside from up right here is PHENOMENAL.
View from Hong Island viewpoint.
Hong by Starlight Tour with John Grey’s Sea Canoe
It could be unusual to incorporate a tour that doesn’t run from Krabi, and should or could not embrace James Bond Island, on this weblog publish – however I did this Hong by Starlight Tour 8 years in the past and it nonetheless stands as one in every of my favourite journey experiences ever, so how might I not?
So sure, John Grey’s Hong by Starlight tour departs from Phuket, not Krabi. It doesn’t cease at James Bond Island, and there’s no point out of it within the tour itinerary; nonetheless, on my tour we positively paddled close to it (shut sufficient to take photos), and a few current TripAdvisor critiques point out seeing James Bond Island (although some additionally point out NOT seeing it). I think that relying on circumstances, you might or could not get to paddle near James Bond Island, so it’s not a promoting level of this tour.
However belief me after I say that it doesn’t matter! James Bond Island could get all of the glory, but it surely’s simply one in every of many fairly islands in Phang Nga Bay. Irrespective of the place you find yourself occurring this tour, you’re gonna see some epic landscapes and luxuriate in some memorable adventures.
If you’re useless set on seeing James Bond Island, you possibly can e book one in every of John Grey’s James Bond Island excursions – they run one within the morning and one later within the day. Nevertheless, I HIGHLY advise reserving the the Hong by Starlight Tour as a substitute.
With this Phang Nga Bay tour, you get a full day of adventuring on a giant boat, that includes a couple of kayaking excursions across the hongs and islands in “sea canoes”, that are primarily inflatable kayaks. You study simply how essential the inflatable facet is if you’re paddling by means of some very tight caves that require you to deflate the kayak a bit, lean again, and get as little as you possibly can. Fortunately for these paddle classes, you’ll be paired with a information who will care for all of it for you. It’s a VERY cool and distinctive expertise, one thing you’re unlikely to expertise anyplace else in your travels.
Then later within the day, you’ll make a “kratong” out of flowers and banana leaves and launch it out into the ocean after sundown, and paddle by means of phosphorescent plankton that seem as glowing blue dots underwater.
READ MORE IN THIS POST: Kayaking Thailand: Phang Nga Bay Kayak Journey With John Grey
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