James Bond in Thailand
Thanks in part to the film industry Thailand become known as a tourist destination. Images of beautiful virgin beaches thrilled the cinema audience. For example, you can book a trip to the 'James Bond Island'. Unfortunately, you won't find him there with a beautiful Bond girl by his side.
The islet Phang Nga Bay in Thailand is famous for the 1974 James Bond film 'The Man With The Golden Gun'. After a chase through Hong Kong and Bangkok, Bond ends up on the beautiful island. The island is located in Phang Nga Bay, a picturesque area with numerous limestone cliffs rising from the emerald green waters.
In “The Man with the Golden Gun,” starring Roger Moore as James Bond, James Bond Island serves as the hideout of the main villain, Francisco Scaramanga, played by Christopher Lee. The film shows the island with its distinctive narrow peak rising perpendicularly from the sea, an image that has since become synonymous with the island and is a popular tourist attraction.
Following the film's release, the island saw a significant increase in visitors and became a must-see destination for Bond fans and tourists traveling to Thailand. It offers breathtaking views and a chance to experience a piece of film history. Although the island itself is relatively small and consists mainly of the striking rock formation, it adds to the overall charm and mystery of Phang Nga Bay.
The whole area around this island is quite characteristic because of the rocky cliffs. The island is known to the locals as 'Koh Tapu' or 'Spijker Island'. This refers to the distinctive rock in the shape of a nail that symbolizes the filming location. Phang Nga Bay, until then relatively unknown, suddenly turned into an important tourist attraction in the south of Thailand.
Today, busloads of tourists leave Phuket for a day trip to Phang Nga Bay, where they are taken to James Bond Island by 'Longtail Boat'. The island is full of stalls selling shells and other trinkets. Oddly enough, almost no James Bond fan material, which you would actually expect.
Also popular with tourists are the romantic cruises at an enchanting sunset in this beautiful natural area.
I have been there a very long time ago, but there is not much to experience.
Just a rock in the water, with a tiny beach.
The tourists only go there because the island is known from the movie. It is nothing more and less than a tourist trap where you pay your blues for a drink or a rubbish souvenir. Other islands are just as beautiful, if not much nicer and cheaper to reach.
I swam all alone from the beach to “under the rock”, which overhangs a bit. Spectacular. The other tourists just stay on the small beach. Highly recommended!