Krabi to James Bond and Hong Islands Offbeat Speedboat Tour

Most James Bond Island tours run out of Phuket, which means a three-hour round-trip drive to Phang Nga before you even see water. This speedboat tour from Krabi flips the route — you go directly by sea, cover James Bond Island plus the Hong Islands and Koh Yao Noi in a single loop, and are capped at 17 people specifically to dodge the peak-hour crowds at the main stops.

The day begins at Nopparat Thara Pier, where there’s a free meeting point for Grand Centara Resort guests at 8:55am (private pickups from Ao Nang, Railay, Krabi Town, Klong Muang, and Tub Kaek are available at extra cost). From there the speedboat runs first to James Bond Island, timed to arrive before the Phuket boats, then to the Hong Islands for their enclosed lagoons and swim stops, and across to Koh Yao Noi for a beach buffet lunch with a vegetarian option on request. Snorkelling stops come in the back half of the day, with a fish ID briefing before you get in the water. Multilingual certified guides lead the commentary on board, and the national park fees are included in the base price (which they often aren’t on cheaper tours).

Eight hours, moderate difficulty, capped at 17. The speedboat stretches from Krabi to Phang Nga are long and can be choppy — if you’re prone to motion sickness, take something before boarding. The cap is the real selling point: most James Bond tours run 30+ passengers, and 17 is a meaningful difference at the photo stops. Drop-off is back in Ao Nang. Railway and outer-hotel transfers are extra.

Dry season (November to April) is the window. In the shoulder months some of the snorkel stops get swapped out if swells make them unsafe.