James Bond Island: To Go or Not To Go?

Skip James Bond Island, unless you are a die-hard fan and have an insatiable urge to see the unique upside-down bowling pin shaped karst.

The infamous James Bond Island symbol

The island is a natural reserve. Once you pay the park entrance fee, you can walk on a wooden path that leads you over some rocks to the viewpoint of the infamous karst pillar. Continuing on the path, you end up at the tourist enclave of trinket shops on the other side of the island, where your long tail boat to freedom awaits.

Paying the park entrance fee inside the cave

Oy! So many tourists!

Trinket shops

uh my gaw

I wondered later whether we could have just sailed past the large rock pillar on our catamaran to avoid the crowds. But then the Thai government would not get their park money. Hmmm… tourist racket? Not if it goes to conservation, I guess. This calls for more research…

Bye bye tourists

Is it really THAT impressive??

Check back tomorrow to get the scoop on some of our favorite spots in the Thai Andaman Sea, including a mangrove forests near a Gypsy Village. The landscape was reminiscent of the Amazon and also included fine caves and ancient rock paintings.

Thanks for reading!

xLindsay