James Bond CANEO – Yao Yai Island by Speedboat – SeaStar

The James Bond CANEO with SeaStar is a full-day speedboat tour from Phuket that combines Phang Nga Bay — Panak Island caves, James Bond Island (Khao Phing Kan), mangrove canoeing at Hong Island and lunch on Koh Panyee floating village — with a beach-club afternoon on Yao Yai Island, running roughly 10:00 to 18:00 and arranged by Chang Thai Tour & Travel, a TAT-licensed local agency in Chalong, Phuket.

What makes this James Bond tour different?

Most James Bond Island day trips give you the bay in the morning and send you home after lunch. The SeaStar CANEO is the version we recommend to families and groups who want a proper full day: all the classic Phang Nga Bay sights before lunch, then a relaxed beach-club afternoon on Yao Yai Island with a floating water park, paddle boards and clear kayaks.

One thing guests are often surprised by: Phang Nga Bay is sheltered water. Unlike the open crossing to Phi Phi, the limestone islands block the swell, so seasickness is rarely an issue here even for guests who normally struggle on boats. It is one of the reasons we send so many families on this route.

What will you actually see?

The day follows this itinerary (times are approximate — tides and traffic in the bay shift things slightly):

• 10:00 — Welcome at SeaStar pier, Laem Nga, Phuket, with snacks and a variety of drinks.
• 10:30 — Depart by speedboat into Phang Nga Bay.
• 11:20 — Panak Island: stalactite caves and a hidden lagoon.
• 12:00 — Khao Phing Kan and Khao Tapu, the famous James Bond Island where The Man with the Golden Gun (1974) was filmed.
• 12:40 — Into the mangrove forest to see Poodle Rock and ancient cliff paintings.
• 13:00 — Buffet lunch on Koh Panyee, the Muslim floating village built on stilts.
• 14:00 — Canoeing through the mangroves at Hong Island — a guide paddles, you sit back and look up.
• 15:00 — Laem Haad “Dragon Spine” sandbar beach on Koh Yao: paddle boards and clear kayaks.
• 16:00 — Private beach club on Yao Yai: floating water park, beach time, optional extra activities (extras not included).
• 17:30 — Speedboat back to Phuket; around 18:00 you are back at Laem Nga pier for your hotel transfer.

Is the Koh Panyee lunch actually good?

Honest answer from our shop: Koh Panyee lunch is a group buffet, not a food-tour experience — expect simple Thai dishes done at scale. The reason to love the stop is the village itself. Take ten minutes after eating to walk the boardwalks past the mosque and the famous floating football pitch. Guests tell us that walk is often their favourite memory of the day.

Is this tour right for you?

We send guests on this trip when they want maximum variety in one day: caves, the movie island, canoeing, a stilt village and real beach time. It suits families with kids (the water park and clear kayaks are a hit) and groups with mixed interests.

It is not the right pick if you want a slow, quiet bay experience — for that, look at a longtail boat James Bond tour or an afternoon sea-canoe trip like Hong by Starlight, which reach the caves after the morning crowds have gone.

What should you bring?

Swimwear worn under clothes, a towel, sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, and a dry bag or zip-lock for your phone. Koh Panyee is a Muslim village, so bring a cover-up for the lunch stop. National park entry to Ao Phang Nga is normally collected separately in cash — ask us on WhatsApp for the current fee so you arrive prepared.

Booking through a local shop instead of an app also means someone answers when plans change — we compared this honestly in our Klook vs local agency guide. You can browse every route on our James Bond Island tours page.

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Frequently asked questions

How long is the James Bond CANEO tour with SeaStar?

It is a full day: welcome at SeaStar pier around 10:00 and back at Laem Nga, Phuket around 18:00, including hotel transfer connections.

Will I get seasick on this tour?

Rarely. Phang Nga Bay is sheltered by hundreds of limestone islands, so the water stays calm most of the year — much gentler than the open-sea crossing to Phi Phi. If you are very sensitive, take a travel-sickness tablet before departure to be safe.

Do I need canoeing experience for the Hong Island part?

No. A professional guide paddles each canoe through the mangrove channels at Hong Island — you just sit, relax and take photos.

Is lunch included, and what if I don’t eat certain foods?

Yes, a buffet lunch on Koh Panyee floating village is included. Tell us about vegetarian, halal or allergy needs when you book on WhatsApp and we pass it to the operator in advance.

How much does the tour cost?

Boat prices in Phuket change daily with season and demand, so we don’t publish fixed prices. Message us on WhatsApp for today’s price — a real person from our Chalong shop replies in minutes.