James Bond Island Longtail Boat & Sea Canoe Tour with Lunch Phuket

Wat Suwan Kuha, the Monkey Cave Temple

Wat Suwan Kuha lies in the Takua Thung district of Phang Nga province, about two and a half hours' drive from the beaches of Phuket. The temple is built into a limestone hill riddled with interconnected caves. The main chamber holds a long golden reclining Buddha surrounded by smaller seated figures, while side chambers lead up and down stairways into cooler caves hung with stalactites.

Outside, troops of macaques roam the temple grounds, which is why travellers call it the Monkey Cave. They are wild and quick, so keep sunglasses, bags and snacks out of reach and do not feed them. You have about 45 minutes here. This is an active temple, so cover your shoulders and knees and move quietly inside the caves.

Longtail Boat through the Mangroves

From the pier, a traditional longtail boat with its long propeller shaft carries you into the mangrove forests of Ao Phang Nga National Park, created in 1981 to protect one of the largest areas of mangrove left in Thailand. The channels wind between tangled roots and towering limestone cliffs, and herons, kingfishers and monitor lizards often appear along the banks.

The longtail boat is lower and slower than a speedboat, which makes this the best way to feel the scale of the cliffs and the quiet of the forest. Between stops the boat crosses open stretches of the bay, where the islands rise straight from the jade-green water. It is a highlight of any Phang Nga Bay day trip with lunch.

Koh Panyee Fishing Village

Koh Panyee is a Muslim fishing village built on stilts in the shadow of a huge limestone rock. It was founded in the late 18th century by fishing families from Java, and today its wooden walkways link houses, a school, small shops and a mosque with a golden dome. Seafood remains the heart of local life, and you see racks of drying fish and squid along the lanes.

Lunch is served in a village restaurant, with fruit and drinking water, and a vegetarian or vegan option is available if you tell us in advance. Afterwards you can explore the narrow alleys, browse for batik, shells and dried seafood, and visit the floating football pitch the villagers built from planks. The stop lasts about an hour and a half.

Sea Canoeing around Talu Island

Talu Island is a dramatic limestone block in the middle of the bay, known for a sea cave and tunnel that pass beneath its cliffs. Here you transfer to an inflatable sea canoe, and your guide does the paddling, because currents in this area can be difficult. All you need to do is sit back, take photos and enjoy the view.

The canoe slips beneath overhanging rock, past stalactites and into calm, sheltered water where you can see the cliffs rising above you. The ride lasts about 30 minutes, life jackets are provided and it is suitable for children. Keep your phone in a waterproof pouch, as drips from the rock are common.

Khao Phing Kan

Khao Phing Kan is the most photographed island in Phang Nga Bay: two great limestone hills leaning against each other, divided by a slanting cleft, with a small beach and paths between them. Offshore stands Koh Tapu, the needle rock, a slender pillar about 20 metres tall that narrows at its base where the tides have worn it away.

You have around an hour to walk through the leaning rock, climb to the viewpoints and take the classic photo of Koh Tapu, which boats are not allowed to approach. Small stalls sell shells and souvenirs. After this last stop the longtail boat returns to the pier, and our van drives you back to your hotel in the early evening.