Krabi Island Hopping: Four Islands, Hong Islands, and Phi Phi Day Trips

The islands around Krabi are among the best snorkelling and sea-kayaking terrain in Thailand. Three main tour routes cover the most visited destinations: the Four Islands longtail tour (close-in, budget-friendly), the Hong Islands speedboat tour (cleaner water, fewer crowds), and the Phi Phi day trip (longer, higher-cost, iconic scenery). A smaller number of tours cover the James Bond Island route via Phang Nga Bay — technically accessed from Krabi but usually sold as a Phuket day trip.

All of these depart from Ao Nang Beach or Railay Beach. Book directly with operators on Ao Nang beachfront or through your guesthouse — prices are broadly the same, and guesthouse bookings save the negotiation.

Four Islands Tour

The most popular and accessible island day trip from Krabi. A shared longtail visits four islands in a roughly 8-hour loop, departing around 9–10am from Ao Nang or Railay.

The four islands:

• Koh Mor — small island with a reef snorkel stop, good for beginners
• Koh Gai (Chicken Island) — named for a rock outcrop shaped like a chicken head; shallow reef suitable for casual snorkelling
• Koh Tub — the highlight at low tide: a long sandbar connects Koh Tub to Koh Mor, walkable through ankle-deep water with karst rock formations on either side
• Koh Daeng — a beach lunch stop; basic facilities, no reef

The tour is unhurried — stops average 45–60 minutes at each island. Snorkel gear is included in most packages. Longtail boat (open-sided, no shade except a canopy) — sunscreen and a hat are essential.

Cost: Approximately THB 600–900 per person as of 2026 for the shared longtail tour. Private longtail charters for groups of 8–10: approximately THB 4,000–5,000 per boat for the full circuit.

Operators: Any tour desk or longtail captain on Ao Nang Beach runs the Four Islands. It is a standardised route. Look for licensed longtail operators with orange-and-white safety vests on the boats. The Ao Nang Long Tail Boat Club (beachfront, near Ao Nang Princess Resort) is the most organised departure point.

Best for: First-time visitors, budget travellers, those wanting a social group-tour atmosphere. Not ideal if you prioritise snorkel quality — the reefs here are shallow and partially degraded from boat traffic.

Hong Islands (Koh Hong)

The Hong Islands group lies 25km north of Ao Nang, near the mouth of Phang Nga Bay. The defining feature is the hong — an enclosed sea lagoon inside a hollow limestone formation, accessible by kayak at the right tide through a low cave passage. The water is typically clearer than the Four Islands area because the site is further from the main boat traffic zones.

What the tour covers:

• Snorkelling at Hong Island reef (coral in better condition than Four Islands)
• Sea kayaking into the hong lagoon (tide-dependent; guide will advise)
• Beach stop at Hat Laem Thong on Koh Hong
• Often includes a stop at Pak Bia Island for snorkelling

Tour format: Speedboat tours run by operators from Ao Nang (70–90 minutes transit each way). The faster transit is worth it — longtail tours to Hong Islands exist but the 90-minute longtail crossing is very slow. Speedboat tours: approximately THB 1,400–1,800 per person as of 2026, including kayak rental, snorkel gear, and lunch.

Recommended operators:

• Ao Nang Speedboat Club — long-established, departs 8:30am from Ao Nang pier, returns 4:30–5pm
• Krabi Happy Tour — operates small speedboats (8–10 people max), known for not being oversized
• Koh Hong Speed Boat — competitive prices, straightforward booking

Book at least a day ahead in November–February; the Hong Islands tours fill faster than Four Islands due to smaller group sizes.

Best for: Snorkellers, sea-kayaking enthusiasts, those who have already done the Four Islands and want something quieter. The hong lagoon experience is unlike anything on the Four Islands route.

Phi Phi Day Trip from Krabi

Koh Phi Phi is 45km southwest of Ao Nang — about 90 minutes by speedboat. Day trips from Krabi cover Phi Phi Le (Maya Bay and Viking Cave) and Phi Phi Don (Tonsai Bay beach stop), typically with 2–3 snorkel stops in the turquoise channel between the two islands.

The itinerary on most Phi Phi day trips:

• 8:30–9am: Depart Ao Nang
• 10:30–11am: Arrive Phi Phi Le — snorkel at Loh Samah Bay or Pileh Lagoon
• 11:30am–12pm: Maya Bay stop (15–30 minutes on or near the beach)
• 12:30pm: Lunch at Tonsai Bay, Phi Phi Don (floating lunch platform or beachside restaurant)
• 1:30–3pm: Beach time on Phi Phi Don, optional snorkel at Monkey Beach
• 3pm: Depart for Ao Nang
• 4:30–5pm: Arrive back

Maya Bay note: The beach was closed for rehabilitation 2018–2022. It reopened with a daily visitor limit — current policy as of 2026 restricts the number of boats permitted at any one time. Tours are timed to avoid the peak 11am–1pm window where possible, but some operators still crowd the site.

Cost: Approximately THB 1,500–2,200 per person for a shared speedboat tour as of 2026, including snorkel gear, insurance, and national park entry (Phi Phi Le is inside the national park — THB 400 day fee, usually included in tour price). Private speedboat charter: approximately THB 9,000–14,000 per boat (8–10 persons).

Operators:

• Phi Phi Cruiser (Ao Nang beachfront) — one of the larger operations, daily departures guaranteed in high season
• Kon-Tiki — small group speedboats, maximum 8–10 people, higher quality guides
• Speed Boat Ao Nang — good value, straightforward, no-frills

Also bookable via Klook or the Phuket–Phi Phi–Krabi ferry if you want to travel between islands rather than return to Ao Nang — prices are typically comparable to walking up on the day.

Ferry alternative: A slow ferry runs from Ao Nang/Krabi Town to Phi Phi (Tigerline, Phaselis Speed Ferry) — approximately THB 450 one-way, 1.5–2 hours. Useful if you’re staying overnight on Phi Phi rather than doing a day trip. For a day trip, the speedboat’s time saving is worth the extra cost.

Best for: Those prioritising the Phi Phi scenery and Maya Bay, people who want a full-day immersive experience rather than a half-day hop. The transit time means you spend roughly equal time travelling and at the destination — this is a long day.

James Bond Island (Phang Nga Bay)

Technically 90 minutes north of Ao Nang, James Bond Island (Koh Tapu) in Phang Nga Bay is sold as both a Krabi and Phuket day trip. The bay’s landscape of mangrove-lined inlets and vertical karst islands is exceptional and distinct from the open-ocean Andaman scenery around Railay and Phi Phi.

Cost from Ao Nang: Approximately THB 1,500–2,000 per person for a shared speedboat tour as of 2026 (includes sea canoe, national park fee, lunch). Half-day tours cost around THB 900–1,200 but are usually only possible in good weather.

The main James Bond Island (used in The Man with the Golden Gun) is heavily visited — the site itself is unremarkable up close, but the sea canoeing through the hongs in the wider bay is outstanding. If you’ve done the Hong Islands near Ao Nang and want more sea-cave kayaking on a larger scale, Phang Nga Bay delivers.

Choosing Between Tours

Tour	Price (approx, 2026)	Duration	Best for
Four Islands (longtail)	THB 600–900 pp	7–8 hrs	Budget, first-timers
Hong Islands (speedboat)	THB 1,400–1,800 pp	8 hrs	Snorkelling, kayaking
Phi Phi (speedboat)	THB 1,500–2,200 pp	8–9 hrs	Iconic scenery
Phang Nga Bay (speedboat)	THB 1,500–2,000 pp	8 hrs	Sea caves, kayaking

If you have two days: Phi Phi on day one (the scenery is worth the time), Hong Islands on day two (quieter, better water quality). If you have one day and want snorkelling: Hong Islands over Four Islands.

Practical Notes

Seasickness: The speedboat transit can be rough in any swell, especially April–May before the monsoon fully arrives. Take medication before departure if you’re susceptible. Longtail tours are slower and lower — less rolling.

What to bring: Swimwear, rash guard (sun exposure on open boats is significant), reef-safe sunscreen, cash (some lunch stops are not card-enabled), a dry bag for electronics.

Marine park fees: Koh Phi Phi Le is inside the Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park — THB 400/day entry fee as of 2026, almost always included in packaged tour prices. Koh Hong is inside the Mu Ko Lanta/Ao Thalane area — verify whether entry fees apply with your operator.

Booking window: In high season (December–February), the Hong Islands and Phi Phi speedboat tours fill up 2–3 days ahead. Book the day before at minimum. Four Islands longtail tours rarely sell out — morning walk-up booking is fine.

For the broader range of activities in the area, see our Krabi things to do guide and the Ao Nang guide for departure logistics from the main beach.