The James Bond Island, Phuket

You must have watched The Man with the Golden Gun-James Bond famous movie and may have desired to take a trip of that mesmerizing island where it was picturized. Get ready for visiting Khao Phing Kan or the James Bond Island by taking cheap flights to Phuket where you will definitely feel as the part of this best film. Khao Phing Kan or ‘Hills leaning against each other’ is a couple of islands located on the western side in Phang Nga Bay-a bay of the Andaman sea located between the Phuket island and covers an area of about 400-kilometre square. The bay is also very famous for its caves, archaeological areas and limestone hills.

Before 1974, this area was infrequently visited and was unknown to the people. The area gained its fame when it was chosen as an ideal location for the movie and after the release; it became the most popular and widely appreciated spot by the tourists. In 1981 it was included in the territory of Ao Phang Nga Marine National Park. Lying among the centre of dozen of islands Khao Phing Kan is 430 feet in diameter from its western side and 790 feet long and 460 feet extended. It also owns few caves and serene sandy beaches in its southwestern side. You will also be able to find various souvenir shops which sell shells, corals and plastic sheathed spiders, scorpions and butterflies. The water at the island is not very deep and has a yellowish green colour because the base is covered with granular materials brought here from numerous rivers.

In the western side of Khao Phing Kan lies the rocky limestone formation is known as Ko Tapu which has a height of about 66 feet and its diameter ranges between 13-16 feet. The local says that once there was a fisherman who one day, in spite of constant efforts was unable to catch the fish so he furiously cut the nail of the net with his sword whose half side descanted into the sea and formed Ko Tapu but the science says that it was formed in the geological period of land vertebrates this area consisted of a coral reef. Then on the earth crust’s movement it was broken and scattered and waves, water tides and wind scoured the island forming the eccentric shape of Ko Tapu.

The island is also a home for an abundance of floras and faunas. Various plants such as euphorbs, cycads, pandanus and prickly pear cactus are found near the surface which grow into the holes and survives on rainfall. Also, many marine life species like 24 breeds of reptiles and fish, 15 breeds of crabs, 14 breeds of shrimps and 16 breeds of game fish, manta rays and sharks are found in the water. The characteristic fish of coral reefs which is the butterfly fish exists here in large number. Besides, there are a swimming crab, blue crab, mudskipper, mud lobster, humpback shrimp, sole, mackerel, moray eel, rock cod, scads, puffer fish, brain coral and many others. Also, there are approximately 100 breeds of birds such as Pacific Reef Heron, Striated Heron and Little Egret.

Khao Phing Kan is truly an amazing place and worth a visit. The climate of Phuket is tropical with heavy rainfalls between May and October and a dry season between November and April. The best time to visit the place is between December and March because the weather is not humid and is comfortable with cool breezes. So this time you must plan your holiday break for the enchanting Khao Phing Kan.