from 1 900 THB
James Bond Island & Phang Nga Bay by sea canoe
Day in Phang Nga Bay: Koh Tapu (James Bond Island), caves and secret hongs by canoe, floating Muslim village of Koh Panyee, lunch on stilts.
8hfamily · couple · group · solo
45 metres of marble above the island…
Big Buddha jungle trail
The steep jungle shortcut from Kata up to Phuket's white giant
Distance · one way
0.0 km
Duration
45-75 min
Elevation gain
+0 m
Moderate
Phuket's favourite mini-adventure: instead of driving up, climb to the 45-metre white marble Buddha through the jungle of Nakkerd Hill. The trail starts on a quiet soi off Kata's Patak Road and gains 350 m in only 1.3 km — short, sweaty and steep, then suddenly you step out of the trees below the great white silhouette. From the platform: the full sweep of Chalong Bay, Kata and the Andaman. Entry is free; shoulders and knees must be covered (sarongs lent on site).
GPS track recorded on the ground by our team — updated August 22, 2026. The GPX is free to reuse (blog, forum, app) with a link back to this page.
Stage by stage
- 1
Kata trailhead
The path leaves a small soi off Patak Road, past the last houses of Kata. A faded 'Big Buddha' sign marks the entrance to the trees.
- 2
Jungle climb
Straight up under the canopy: packed-earth switchbacks, roots for steps, glimpses of Kata's bay opening behind you as you gain height fast.
- 3
Joining the road
Near the ridge the trail pops out onto the paved summit road for the final ten minutes — coffee shacks and viewpoints line the way.
- 4
The Big Buddha
The 45 m Buddha in white Burmese marble, prayer flags, bells and a 360° platform over the island. Free entry; cover shoulders and knees — sarongs are lent at the gate.
In pictures
🎒 What to bring
- ✓Go early morning or from 4pm — the climb is airless at midday
- ✓One big bottle of water each; cafés only appear at the road
- ✓Dress code at the top: shoulders and knees covered (free sarongs)
- ✓Sunset from the platform is superb — bring a headlamp for the way down
⚠️ Safety
- !The path is steep and slick after rain — trail shoes recommended
- !Stray dogs nap along the trail: calm and harmless, just walk past
- !On the road section, walk on the left facing the scooter traffic
Frequently asked questions
The boat ride back? We handle it
Taxi-boat from the arrival beach or a private long-tail at the exact time you want — our boats complete the hike.
from 31 000 THB
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9hfamily · couple · group
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45 metres of marble above the island…
The boat ride back? We handle it
Taxi-boat from the arrival beach or a private long-tail at the exact time you want — our boats complete the hike.