Day trips to the Four Islands, Hong Islands, Phi Phi, Railay Beach and Koh Rok & Koh Ha - what each trip is like, boat types, costs in THB, the best season to go and how to book.
Krabi's stretch of the Andaman coast is Thailand's other great island-hopping base alongside Phuket - within an hour or two of Ao Nang you can reach the postcard beaches of the Four Islands, Hong Islands' hidden lagoon, the limestone cliffs of Phi Phi, the boat-only peninsula of Railay, or the far-flung reefs of Koh Rok and Koh Ha. Here is how island-hopping tours from Krabi actually work: what each destination offers, the boat types on offer, what a day trip really costs in Thai baht, the best season to go, and how to book.
Krabi's signature day trip links four spots in one loop: Koh Poda's long white beach, Chicken Island (Koh Kai) named for its beak-shaped limestone rock, the sandbar at Tup Island (Koh Tup) that connects to neighbouring Koh Mor at low tide, and Phra Nang Cave Beach on the Railay peninsula, framed by dramatic limestone cliffs and home to a shrine believed to bring fishermen luck. Runs by speedboat (about 3-4hrs) or the more traditional longtail boat (a longer, slower half- or full-day trip) from Ao Nang.
A cluster of islands inside Than Bok Khorani National Park, centred on Koh Hong's hidden emerald lagoon (reachable by kayak or on foot at low tide) and a steep viewpoint climb overlooking the bay. Quieter and less crowded than the Four Islands, typically combined with a stop at Lao Lading or Pakbia island in the same tour. Reached from Ao Nang or Nopparat Thara pier in around 45-60 minutes by speedboat.
Krabi/Ao Nang is a genuine alternative base to Phuket for visiting Phi Phi: Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon, Monkey Beach and Viking Cave on Koh Phi Phi Leh, plus the busier Koh Phi Phi Don. About 1 hour each way by speedboat from Ao Nang, or a longer ferry transfer from Krabi Town's Khlong Chilat pier. Maya Bay enforces visitor-number and time-slot controls introduced after its 2018 closure for ecological recovery, so an early tour departure means thinner crowds.
Technically a peninsula, not an island, but cut off from the mainland road network by sheer limestone cliffs - the only way in is by longtail boat from Ao Nang or Krabi Town (about 10-15 minutes). World-famous for rock climbing on its karst walls, plus Phra Nang Cave Beach, the Sa Phra Nang lagoon viewpoint hike, and a quieter, more scenic stretch of sand than central Ao Nang.
A full-day trip south toward Koh Lanta to two marine park clusters rated among the clearest water and best coral in the Krabi area: Koh Rok's twin islands and white sand, and Koh Ha's swim-throughs and dive sites. About 1.5 hours by speedboat from Ao Nang or Krabi piers. The national park is officially open only from around 16 October to 15 May each year, closing over the southwest monsoon for safety and reef recovery - always confirm current dates before booking.
The default for most shared-group day tours to the Four Islands, Hong Islands, Phi Phi or Koh Rok/Koh Ha - cuts travel time significantly versus a longtail or big boat, but a rougher, wetter ride in open swell with smaller groups (roughly 15-40 passengers) and less shade.
Thailand's iconic wooden boat with its distinctive long propeller shaft is still the default way to reach Railay and a common budget option for the Four Islands Tour. Slower and closer to the water than a speedboat, and the standard choice for the short 10-15 minute hop between Ao Nang and Railay.
Larger, slower and more stable than a speedboat, with more deck space and shade - used for some Phi Phi ferry transfers and combined multi-stop tours. Takes longer but suits anyone prone to seasickness or travelling with young kids or older relatives.
Speedboats and longtails available for private full- or half-day charter, letting you set your own route and pace - for example combining the Four Islands with an extra stop, or a private Hong Islands run without a group schedule. Priced per boat, so cost-effective for groups of 6-10+ splitting the cost.
Group tours run about 900-1,200 THB per person by speedboat, or from roughly 895 THB by longtail boat - among Krabi's cheapest full-day options. National park entrance fees (see below) are typically charged separately in cash.
Similar to the Four Islands at roughly 900-1,300 THB per person for a group speedboat tour, usually including hotel pickup, lunch and snorkel gear. The Than Bok Khorani National Park fee is charged once and covers every island in that park group visited the same day.
Day tours from Ao Nang typically run about 1,000-2,200 THB per person for a shared speedboat trip with lunch and hotel transfer, with premium/small-group options priced higher. The Hat Nopparat Thara-Mu Koh Phi Phi National Park entrance fee is usually extra.
A full-day speedboat trip typically costs about 1,900-3,600 THB per person depending on boat standard and group size - pricier than the Four Islands given the longer distance and marine-park fees, and only bookable within the roughly 16 October-15 May open season.
Group tours commonly quote roughly 400 THB for foreign adults and 200 THB for foreign children for the Hat Nopparat Thara-Mu Koh Phi Phi National Park (covering the Four Islands and Phi Phi), and around 300 THB for foreign adults and 100 THB for children at Than Bok Khorani National Park (Hong Islands) - usually collected in cash on arrival, not always bundled into the advertised tour price, so confirm what's included when booking.
A one-way longtail boat transfer between Ao Nang and Railay is a short, inexpensive hop (typically in the range of 100-150 THB per person, more after dark or in rough weather) rather than a full tour - useful for a half-day visit to Railay's beaches and climbing walls without joining a group tour.
A private longtail or speedboat charter for a half or full day commonly runs from roughly 8,000-20,000+ THB per boat depending on boat size, destination and duration, which becomes competitive per person for a group of 6-10 splitting the cost.
November to April (Andaman dry season) brings the calmest seas, clearest visibility and the lowest chance of a tour being cancelled or rerouted. May to October is the southwest monsoon: seas get choppier and some routes run smaller boats or adjusted itineraries. The Koh Rok/Koh Ha marine park closes entirely outside its roughly 16 October-15 May open season.
Ao Nang Pier (Ao Nang beach town) is the main hub for the Four Islands, Hong Islands, Phi Phi and Koh Rok/Koh Ha speedboat tours; Nopparat Thara Pier (just north of Ao Nang) handles many of the same routes plus some Hong Islands departures; Khlong Chilat/Khlong Jilad Pier in Krabi Town is the ferry hub for Phi Phi and Koh Lanta. Confirm your pier when booking, since hotel transfer times vary by pier location relative to where you're staying.
Book through your hotel's tour desk, a local Ao Nang travel agent, or online platforms (Klook, GetYourGuide, Viator and similar) that let you compare operators, boat type and reviews before paying. Online booking usually locks in a fixed price with hotel pickup included; a pier-side agent can be cheaper with less certainty about boat quality and departure time.
Reef-safe sunscreen (some parks restrict standard sunscreen to protect coral), a rash guard or light cover-up, a dry bag for phones and cameras, cash in small denominations for park fees and extras, and motion-sickness tablets if you're prone to seasickness - speedboats can be a rough ride in swell, especially on the longer Koh Rok/Koh Ha and Phi Phi runs.
Don't stand on or touch coral, don't feed fish, and take litter back with you. Popular sites including Maya Bay on Phi Phi Leh enforce visitor caps, timed entry or no-swim zones as part of ongoing ecological recovery plans - your guide will brief you on current rules, which can change season to season.
The Four Islands Tour (Poda, Chicken, Tup and Phra Nang Cave Beach) is the classic first-timer choice and slightly cheaper. Hong Islands is quieter, with a striking hidden lagoon and viewpoint hike, and suits a second trip or anyone wanting fewer crowds. Both run about 900-1,300 THB per person and can sometimes be combined with an extra island in a longer charter.
Shared group tours typically run about 900-2,200 THB per person depending on destination and boat type, with the Four Islands and Hong Islands the cheapest (roughly 900-1,300 THB) and Koh Rok/Koh Ha the most expensive (roughly 1,900-3,600 THB) given the longer distance. National park entrance fees (roughly 300-400 THB for foreign adults) are usually paid separately in cash.
No. The marine park is officially open to visitors only from around 16 October to 15 May each year, closing over the southwest monsoon for safety and coral recovery. Always confirm the current season's exact dates with an operator before booking, since they can shift slightly year to year.
No - Railay is a peninsula, but sheer limestone cliffs cut it off from the mainland road network, so the only way in or out is by longtail boat from Ao Nang or Krabi Town (about 10-15 minutes). It's a popular half-day add-on for rock climbing, beaches and a lagoon viewpoint hike, separate from the main island-hopping tours.
Speedboats are faster and standard for most shared-group day tours (Four Islands, Hong Islands, Phi Phi, Koh Rok/Koh Ha), but give a rougher, wetter ride in open swell. Longtail boats are slower and closer to the water - a traditional, budget-friendly choice for the Four Islands or the short Ao Nang-Railay hop, less suited to longer open-water routes like Phi Phi or Koh Rok.
Not always. Many operators quote a tour price that excludes the marine national park entrance fee - commonly around 400 THB for foreign adults at Hat Nopparat Thara-Mu Koh Phi Phi National Park (Four Islands, Phi Phi) or around 300 THB at Than Bok Khorani National Park (Hong Islands) - collected separately in cash on arrival. Always check what's included when comparing tour prices.
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Browse Krabi areas near Ao Nang and Nopparat Thara - the main departure points for island-hopping tours.
Hero photo by Siarhei Nester on Pexels. General information only; confirm current schedules, prices, park fees and seasonal closures with tour operators before booking. Prices in Thai baht (THB) and are indicative.