Phuket: Phang Nga Bay Trip to Hong, Panak+James Bond Island

Get picked up in the early morning from your hotel in Phuket by Andaman Leisure and meet the boat crew at Phuket Boat Lagoon including a quick health screening and a short briefing about the trip. Then cruise on a comfortable speedboat with 2 or 3 engines (with 20 resp. 30 seats) into the sheer limestone karsts of Phang Nga Bay that jut vertically out of the emerald-green water. Make a stop at Koh Hong, and explore the hongs ('rooms' in Thai) that lie inside the island. These microcosms, hidden realms rich in unspoiled flora and fauna, are collapsed cave systems open to the sky and surrounded by towering limestone walls. Continue to James Bond Island, also called Koh Ta-pu ('Nail Island' in Thai), first found its way onto the international map through its starring role in the James Bond movie, The Man with the Golden Gun (1974). With its signature rocky pinnacle, the entire area surrounding this island is indeed spectacular. Enjoy a Thai style lunch on Koh Panyee, a remarkable village - it's built out over the water, with a giant rock monolith guarding its rear. The hundreds of huts, shacks, restaurants and houses where the villagers live are built on stilts over the surrounding shallow sea. After sightseeing of the unique mangrove forest by speedboat, try sea-kayaking, where you paddle sturdy fiberglass boats through Mangrove and Diamond Cave into the mysterious heart of Koh Panak Island. The last stop will be on Koh Rang Yai, a peaceful island about 5 km off the east coast of Phuket with a 1-km-long beach that's perfect to relax and swim in very warm waters - usually between 25°C to 35°C.