Like I said in my last post about activities in Krabi, island hopping is a MUST in this region of Thailand!
Not only are the islands insanely gorgeous with their white sand beaches, crystal waters, and amazing snorkeling, they’re insanely affordable to access on any budget!
Skip the pricey tours, which tend to be sardine-packed “puke-cruises” (DON’T ASK- it was not a pretty sight to witness đł), and hire a private longtail for a day, or even a half day! Prices range anywhere from $5-$60, depending on how many people are in your party, in which you’ll have access to devising your own itinerary, privacy away from the crowds, and your own personal Thai tour guide, all while saving money!
The ads for package tours that you’re practically bombarded with at every tourism stand (which is almost every other shop in Ao Nang) may appear fancy and pristine, but I promise longtails are the answer to high-quality, smooth sailing âľď¸đ
Here’s a list of the best islands to visit, as well as the average prices & distance to travel to each from Ao Nang (the most common and accessible longtail port when staying in Krabi)!
RAILAY BEACH
Price: ~ $5/person (more or less depending on how many people are in your boat)
Time: ~5-7 minutes
Railay isn’t technically an island, but it can only be accessed by longtail, so it made it on the list. Plus, it’s necessary you visit this popular beach, because it’s one of the most beautiful in Krabi!
To imagine the landscape, picture a small-sized beach bordered by towering limestone cliffs, with water lined by longtail boats, and a stretch of sand dotted with cute, beachy restaurants and bars. It’s definitely one of my favorite beaches in Thailand!
Tip: Bring your own lunch or walk inland on Railay’s “walking street” to ensure a pleasant lunch/dinner experience. It’s rumored that the beachside restaurants are overpriced and not worth the money.
PODA ISLAND
Price: ~$16 overall (only $8 when split with my BF!)
Time: 15 minutes
Poda Island is another popular attraction among tourists, mainly due to its close proximity to the mainland, but also because it’s debatably one of the most beautiful islands in Krabi!
It has everything from floating rock formations, water so aqua-colored you won’t believe your eyes, and a rugged jungle if you keep walking inland…crazy crazy beautiful đ
Tip: Because this island is so popular, the beach gets very crowded. If you keep walking to what looks like the end of the beach, and keep making your way through the brush, you’ll reach a secluded beach with a 99% chance that NO ONE else will be on it. I discovered this beach after sailing away on our longtail and was so disappointed I didn’t get to experience it! That being said, someone do it for me, and let me live vicariously through you!!
TUP ISLAND
Price: ~Same as Poda
Time: 20 minutes
Tup is famous for it’s small-sized islands, which are all connected by a massive sandbar. The water is SO clear that it appears as if the sandbar stretches on for miles.
There’s not as big of a crowd on Tup compared to the others on the list, probably because of it’s limited sunbathing space, but in my book, that was a plus! It was really peaceful to visit, even just for an hour, walking along the sandbar and sipping on smoothies at their only bamboo hut on the island đ
Tip: Combine your visit to Tup Island with your visit to Poda, since they’re only 5 minutes away from each other, and charged at no extra cost!
CHICKEN ISLAND
Price: ~Same as Poda
Time: 25-30 minutes
As you can see from the photo, this island is named after its chicken-like appearanceđ There may not be a great beach to hang out on here, but the snorkeling is some of the best in Krabi!
Have your guide take you here and to the surrounding rock formations with your snorkel gear and some watermelon for feeding, and you will be surrounded by hundreds of neon fish!
Tip: If you’re looking for a 5-star snorkel tour around Chicken Island and several others, I strongly recommend booking with Krabi Sunset Cruises– probably the only luxury, high-priced tour that’s actually worth your money in Krabi!
HONG LAGOON/HONG ISLAND
Price: ~$60 (so traveling in pairs or groups is a plus on this visit!)
Time: ~40 minutes
Hong Lagoon and its islands may be the farthest away, but the long boat ride is SO worth it! The way there is very scenic and once you get there, you won’t even remember how much time you just spent on a boat because the sights are INCREDIBLE!
To get to the lagoon, you sail through a narrow passageway between humongous limestone cliffs, and then you’re greeted with the most unbelievable-colored emerald pool. Like I said on my Instagram, it was one of the craziest bodies of water I’d ever witnessed!
After swimming in the lagoon, head to Hong Island, which is basically a vast and curvy bay decorated with different-sized rock formations, a white sand beach lined with hammocks, and aquamarine water with schools of fish swimming by your feet!
In my opinion, it’s almost as stunning as Koh Phi Phi’s famous Maya Bay.
Tip: Don’t visit here until around 1:30! By 2, almost all the crowds leave, and you’ll have the entire beach to yourself. This was my personal experience of the lagoon and the island, and it was MAGICAL because it’s an experience that’s so rare on popular Thai beaches! Looking back, it’s definitely up there with one of my top Thailand moments.
OTHER SIGHTS TO CHECK OUT:
I can’t speak from personal opinion about these, since I didn’t have the chance to visit myself, but these were some other popular spots I researched!
- Phra Nang Beach and Cave– Similar-looking beach to Railay, but the limestone mountains are more rugged and other-worldly. The cave here is decorated with hundreds of wooden statues of….penises LOL. Yup, very strange, but it’s believed to be a sacred cave with fertility-inducing powers.
- Koh Lanta Islands and Beaches– These are very far from Krabi, but the reviews of the beaches and snorkeling are superb!
- Phang Nga Bay– Also known as “James Bond Island.” This place looks unreal and as if it doesn’t even belong on this earth, but it’s FAR and PACKED. The idea of an organized tour here didn’t seem worth it to me, due to the crowds, price, and distance, but it’s definitely still at the top of a lot of tourists’ bucket lists.
There’s my complete luxe-budget guide to island hopping in Krabi! Stay tuned for a YouTube video guide to accompany it, which is right now in the works đ
Hello, I have a few questions, Did you leave ao nang at 1:30 pm? How long didn’t the whole trip take you and how much time did you spend at each location? Finally, did you arrange with the long boat guy about visiting all the spots, or did you take a different boat to each location? Sorry for the questions but I’m planning a similar trip. Thanks in advance for your reply.
Hi Drea!
Don’t apologize, I’m happy to help!!
First let me point out I did Poda and Tup Islands on one day and Hong Island another day because Hong Island is too far to combine it with the others I believe. But you can do Poda, Tup, Chicken, and even Railay beach all in one action-packed full day. And yes, you’ll have the same boat/boat driver for every island! You can pay to reserve a driver for a half or whole day and the price will depend on how many islands you want to visit. I did half days for each trip and thought it was a perfect amount of time, but a full day would be fun too! Just note you can only reserve the boat til aroun 4-5 PM latest, so plan your half day accordingly!
I left Ao Nang at 1:30 for Hong Island which was perfect, and around noon when I went to Poda, which ended up being crowded, so usually the later the better in terms of crowds! Poda is the most popular so you can expect more crowds there unless you manage to find the hidden beach on that island that’s completely secluded at all times of the day!!
I hope that helps đ You’re going to love Krabi and the islands!!
Hello and thanks for the notes. I just booked a trip to Thailand for December of this year – into Jan 2018. (Ways away but I’ve started to map out my agenda). Seems we may have similar taste in wanting to get to those quiet and secluded (beautiful!) beaches – some of those you listed are at the top of my list.
My question is this – being I will be in the West Island area around NYE – where would you recommend staying over night? I am confused as to if my friends and I should get a hotel or villa either in Phuket (NOT Patong beach), one of the islands, or Krabi. I don’t mind being somewhere that offers SOME type of atmosphere, however I want to stay far away from the spring break party type places aka Patong and Full Moon. Do you know of anywhere that may be fun for celebrating?
Also, have you done any of the over night boat tours to the islands? Where was your base/hotel when you traveled to the islands? Any advice would be great!
*EDIT not boat tour, I meant private charted boat with our group (over night).
Hi Jeanna!
I’m not familiar with the Phuket area, because I only visited Patong (which I really do not recommend haha), but I hear some of the resort areas are great.
I personally stayed in Ao Nang in Krabi and LOVED it! It was my home base for everything and so convenient. Plus, there were a lot of great restaurants and bars too, and it’s closer to the island hopping than Phuket is.
I hope that answers all your questions đ Have the best time!! You will love it there!
These are the best places to visit around incredible beaches and Islands. if you are in Krabi, you must visit here!