Krabi is a boat ride. Pick the right one.
Speedboat or longtail to Phi Phi. Four islands, or the Hong lagoon. The temple stairs before the heat, the plankton after dark. Reviews of every tour that leaves a Krabi pier, priced and compared.
Four boats most people end up on
01The longtail classicPremium 4-Island Day Trip by Longtail Boat with LunchPhra Nang cave beach, Chicken Island, the Tup sandbar at low water. Back in Ao Nang by four.
02The long day outPhi Phi Islands Speedboat Day TourMaya Bay, Pileh lagoon and Monkey Beach in one run. Earlier boats beat the crowds to all three.
03The quieter waterHong Islands Day Trip by Speedboat with LunchNorth of Ao Nang to the lagoon inside Ko Hong. Fewer boats, greener water, more time to swim.
04The day on landTiger Cave Temple, Emerald Pool and Hot Springs TourEmerald Pool, the warm streams at Khlong Thom and the temple stairs, in that order for the shade.
Phi Phi, the four islands, Hong or James Bond: which Krabi boat day?
Every island trip from Krabi trades distance against time in the water. Here is what each run costs to board and what you get for the extra hour on the boat.
What else fills the Krabi piers every morning
Every Krabi tour review →Past the four classics above, these are the days the most travellers come back from talking about.
1
7 Islands Sunset Tour with Buffet Dinner & Snorkeling
Spend seven hours island-hopping by traditional longtail boat from Ao Nang, with stops for snorkeling, a low-tide sandbar walk and sunset dinner on Koh Poda. An English-speaking guide leads the trip; past guides have included Green Curry, Dora and Daisy. Finish with a night swim to look for bioluminescent plankton near Koh Raeng.
From · $39
Read our review →
2
Kayak Adventure through Ao Thalane Mangrove Forest
from $38
3
Elephant Bathing Session at Krabi Elephant Shelter
from $48
4
Krabi 4 Island Sunset Snorkeling Cruise + Bioluminescent Swim
from $130
5
From Phi Phi: Half-Day Longtail Boat Tour with Snorkeling
from $24
6
Phi Phi: Morning Speedboat Tour to Maya Bay with Snorkel
from $51
7
7 Island Tour by Luxury Longtail Boat with Snorkeling
from $37
8
4 Islands Tour by Longtail Boat & Thai Buffet Lunch
from $34
9
Elephant Sanctuary (near Ao Nang) Visit
from $22
Your hotel decides the pier. Start from your Krabi base.
Most boats leave from the beach at Ao Nang, the mainland tours collect from Krabi Town, and Phi Phi and Railay run their own short trips.
Inland Krabi: jade pools, warm streams and a temple on the karst
When the sea gets choppy or you need a day dry, the mainland has the answer. The Emerald Pool in the Thung Tieo forest, the hot streams at Khlong Thom, the Tiger Cave stairs, mangrove kayaking at Ao Thalane, elephants and ATV tracks in the rubber plantations.
- 1All day Krabi Jungle Tour (Hot Spring Water, Emerald Pool, Tiger Cave Temple)from $71
- 2Deep Mangrove and Canyon Kayak Tour in Krabifrom $42
- 3Elephant Care House Guided Tour with Hotel Transfersfrom $57
Sunset off the Krabi islands, then the water lights up
The late boats leave Ao Nang mid-afternoon, anchor off a beach for the sunset and finish with a swim in the plankton glow. Dinner is usually grilled on the sand.
What a day out in Krabi really costs
Three price bands, and the days travellers pick in each. A longtail day to the islands costs less than a hotel dinner in Ao Nang.
Longtail island hops, mangrove kayaking, cooking classes and the temple-and-pools loop.
Speedboat days to Phi Phi and Hong, sunset cruises with dinner, a morning on Railay rock.
Private longtails and speedboats chartered for your group alone.
Four Krabi bookings with a catch in the small print
Most days here can be booked from a beach stall the night before. These four depend on a calendar, the moon, a dress code or a cash fee at the pier.
- 01Phi Phi: Morning Speedboat Tour to Maya Bay with SnorkelMaya Bay closes to visitors for about two months every year, usually August and September, and swimming in the bay is banned all year. Check the dates first.
- 02Bioluminescent Plankton, Snorkeling & Sunset TourThe glow needs a dark sky. Near the full moon it fades to a faint shimmer, so aim for nights close to the new moon if the plankton is the point.
- 03Tiger Cave Temple, Emerald Pool and Hot Springs TourThe summit shrine sits at the top of well over a thousand steep steps. Go in the morning, carry water and cover shoulders and knees for the temple.
- 04Hong Islands Day Trip by Speedboat with LunchMany island tours price the boat but not the national park fee, which is collected in cash on the day. Read what is included before you compare.
When the Andaman swell shuts the Krabi piers
From May to October the southwest monsoon brings heavy showers and a rougher sea. Island boats get cancelled at short notice, sometimes on the morning itself. Keep a mainland day in reserve: a cooking class, the forest pools, the elephants.
By base: where the boat or the minibus collects you
Fresh off the Krabi boats: the newest reviews
All the recent Krabi reviews →
Krabi 4 Island One Day Tour by Speed boat or Longtail boat
Read our review →
Koh Phi Phi: Halfday Maya Bay Sunset & Plankton by Speedboat
Read our review →
From Phi Phi: Sunset & Plankton Swim Tour By Speedboat
Read our review →
From Phi Phi islands: Phi Phi, Maya Area by longtail Boat
Read our review →
From Phi Phi: Full Day Longtail Tour Maya Bay & Snorkeling
Read our review →
From Phi Phi: Full Day 7 Island Tour by Longtail with Sunset
Read our review →
Krabi Hong Island Day Trip by Speed boat or Longtail Boat
Read our review →
