James Bond Island is the name usually given to Ko Khao Phing Kan in Phang Nga Bay, with the thin rock needle of Ko Tapu standing in the water beside it. From a boat you see it from sea level. From a helicopter you see it among the other limestone towers of the bay, with the channels and shallows around them. One route on the Phuket hub flies there.
That route is the Phuket Phang Nga Bay 40-Minute Helicopter Tour. In about 40 minutes, the route crosses open water into Phang Nga Bay, passes James Bond Island, follows the waterways around the Koh Panyee floating village and returns over mangroves, channels and shallows. A seat costs from THB 25,900.
If you would like to see the bay’s karsts on a shorter flight, the Phuket Samet Nangshe 30-Minute Helicopter Tour reaches Samet Nangshe Viewpoint on the mainland, with the karst islands of the bay beyond, in about 30 minutes and from THB 18,900 per seat. It does not fly as far as James Bond Island.
The route is fixed, but weather or air traffic control can change it, and the pilot makes the final call on weather and safety, with a final weather check 2 to 3 hours before departure. The island is one of many limestone towers in the bay, so the line the helicopter takes and the light on the day decide how it appears from your seat.
Every tour starts and ends at the helipad near Phuket airport, where guests can use the helipad lounge, and your check-in time is confirmed after booking. Arrive at least 20 minutes before that time for the mandatory safety briefing. Hotel transfers are included only if listed in your booking confirmation. Tours allow no luggage beyond small personal items such as a handbag, and only bottled water is allowed on board; phones and cameras are welcome.
Each tour is sold by the seat, in a six-passenger helicopter with emergency floats and noise-cancelling headsets. On a shared flight you may fly with other guests, and the crew assigns the seats. To fly private, you book all 6 seats, and the whole helicopter is yours.
No minimum age is stated; children under 2 sit on a parent’s lap, children under 12 must fly with an adult, and pregnant passengers need a medical certificate. There is no free cancellation: cancelling more than 3 days before departure costs 25% of the fare, from 3 days to 3 hours before costs 50%, and later cancellations or no-shows pay the full fare. Rebooking is free more than 24 hours before departure. If the flight is cancelled for weather or safety, you can rebook free of charge or get a full refund (bank fees may be deducted).
Flights run all year, during daylight hours. In the rainy green season from about May, showers usually come in short bursts in the late afternoon, so morning flights are best, and the rain clears the haze for sharp views. To see the island and the heart of the bay, book the 40-minute Phang Nga Bay tour.
See James Bond Island 直升机上空 over Phuket. Book the Phuket Phang Nga Bay 40-Minute Helicopter Tour.