From Ao Nang you have three classic island days: the short 4 Islands trip, the Hong Islands lagoon in Phang Nga Bay, and a longer run out to Phi Phi. Each one sits in a different national park with a different fee (200, 300 or 400 baht for a foreign adult as of October 2026), and all of them depend on the sea, which is calmest from December to April.
Almost every hotel and tour desk in Ao Nang sells the same three trips, so the real choices are which islands, which boat and which day. This page compares them so you can pick one, or two, without paying for a speedboat you did not need. For the background on Krabi itself, its beaches and the cliffs at Railay, start with our Krabi guide.
Krabi island day trips in brief
- 4 Islands
- Phra Nang Cave Beach, Koh Poda, Koh Tup and Koh Kai (Chicken Island) or a variation; Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, 200 baht foreign adult
- Hong Islands
- Koh Hong's enclosed lagoon plus nearby islets; Than Bok Khorani National Park, 300 baht foreign adult
- Phi Phi
- Phi Phi Le (Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon), Phi Phi Don, sometimes Bamboo Island; 400 baht special zone, foreign adult
- Children
- Half price (age 3–14 or up to 140 cm); under 3 free
- Calmest sea
- December to April; October is Krabi's wettest month on average
- Maya Bay
- Closed every year 1 August–30 September; no swimming at any time
The 4 Islands tour: short, cheap and close
The 4 Islands trip is the one most first-time visitors take, and for good reason. The islands lie just off Ao Nang and Railay, so the boat ride is short and you spend most of the day on sand or in the water rather than in transit. It works well for families, for nervous sea travelers and for anyone with only one free day.
The exact four stops vary between operators. Most programs combine Phra Nang Cave Beach on the Railay peninsula with Koh Poda, Koh Tup and Koh Kai, which locals call Chicken Island because of the rock on its tip. Some swap in Koh Mor, which sits in the same cluster. Our Krabi guide already describes the beaches and the sandbar at low tide, so the practical point here is simply to read the stop list before you pay, because two tours with the same name can differ.
The 4 Islands belong to Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park. Outside its special zones this is a Category 2 park under the Department of National Parks (DNP) fee schedule, which means 200 baht for a foreign adult and 100 baht for a child. That is half of what the same park charges on Phi Phi, which surprises many people because it is the same park name on the ticket.
Hong Islands: the lagoon trip in Phang Nga Bay
The Hong Islands lie north of Ao Nang in the Krabi part of Phang Nga Bay. The main reason to go is Koh Hong itself: a ring of limestone with a shallow lagoon inside, reached through a narrow gap. Boats usually wait outside while visitors go in by kayak or on foot at the right tide, and tours fill the rest of the day with a beach stop and snorkeling at one or two smaller islands.
This trip feels different from the 4 Islands. There is less beach time and more scenery, with tall cliffs, quiet water and fewer people on the sand once the morning boats leave. If you have already seen Railay and want something that looks like the postcards of Phang Nga Bay, this is the better second day.
The Hong Islands are part of Than Bok Khorani National Park, which is in Category 3: 300 baht for a foreign adult and 150 baht for a child. The trip is longer by longtail than by speedboat, so check the boat type before you compare prices.
Phi Phi from Krabi: a long day, a higher fee
Phi Phi is the trip people already know by name. From Krabi it is a full day with the longest sea crossing of the three, usually by speedboat, and it combines Phi Phi Le (Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon, Viking Cave) with a stop at Phi Phi Don and often Bamboo Island. Our Phi Phi guide covers the islands, the viewpoints and whether it is worth staying overnight; this section is only about doing it as a day trip from Krabi.
The fee is higher here. Phi Phi Don, Phi Phi Le and Bamboo Island (Koh Mai Phai) are a special zone of the park, charged at 400 baht for a foreign adult and 200 baht for a child. It is one ticket per park per day, not a fee at each stop.
Maya Bay is closed to visitors every year from 1 August to 30 September so the reef and the young blacktip reef sharks in the bay can recover. It reopened on 1 October 2026. Swimming in the bay is not allowed even in season; you land on the far side of the island and walk in on a boardwalk. The page on visiting Maya Bay covers the rules in detail. If you would rather spend two nights on Phi Phi than one long day, see the guide to ferries to Phi Phi from Krabi and Phuket.
Which tour suits you
| Trip | Sea time | Park fee (foreign adult) | Best for | Skip it if |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Islands | Short | ฿200 | Families, first day, beach and swimming | You have seen Railay and want something new |
| Hong Islands | Medium | ฿300 | Scenery, kayaking, a calmer lagoon | You mainly want a long beach stop |
| Phi Phi | Long | ฿400 | Seeing Maya Bay and Pileh Lagoon in one day | You get seasick, travel August–September, or plan to stay on Phi Phi anyway |
If you have two days, our suggestion is 4 Islands first and Hong Islands second. Phi Phi makes more sense as an overnight stay than as a crowded day trip, unless your time in Krabi is very short.
Longtail, speedboat or big boat
Each tour is sold in more than one version, and the boat changes the day more than the islands do.
Longtail boats
- Leave from the beach at Ao Nang or Nopparat Thara, no transfer needed
- Can be chartered privately, so you choose the stops and the timing
- Slower, so you see the coast; good for the nearby 4 Islands
- Open to sun and spray; slow and tiring for Hong or Phi Phi
Speedboats
- Fast enough to make Phi Phi a day trip
- Usually arrive at each stop with many other speedboats at the same time
- Hard landings on waves; not suitable for people with back problems or in pregnancy
- Often include pick-up from your hotel and lunch
Larger ferry-style boats also run a Phi Phi day trip from the piers. They are slower but more stable, which matters if you or your children get seasick. Whichever you choose, ask how many passengers the boat carries, whether there are life jackets in sizes for children, and what happens if the sea is too rough to go.
Paying the park fee: included, cash or e-ticket
The national park fee is separate from the tour price, and you will meet three ways of handling it. Some tours include it and say so. Some collect it from you on the boat. Some leave you to pay at the park's checkpoint or ranger station. Ask which applies before you hand over any money, and get the answer in writing on the voucher.
Carry enough baht for the park fee even on a "fee included" tour. Plans change on the day, and a boat that has to switch islands because of the weather may land you in a different park. There are no ATMs on the outer islands, so take cash with you from Ao Nang; our article on using ATMs in Thailand explains the withdrawal fees.
The DNP is moving marine parks to electronic tickets. Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park reported in March 2026 that it now uses its e-ticket system "in full", and it enforces a ban on single-use plastic and foam inside the park. In practice the tour operator usually handles the e-ticket, which is one more reason to ask whether the fee is included. Leave plastic water bottles and foam food boxes at your hotel if you can.
Season, weather and cancelled boats
Krabi's sea is at its best from December to April. According to Thai Meteorological Department climate normals for Krabi (1991–2020), February is the driest month at about 36 mm of rain, while August to October each average 270–290 mm, with October the wettest. From May to October the southwest monsoon brings wind and swell to the whole Andaman coast.
Tours run in the rainy season too, and many days are fine. But this is when trips are cut short, moved to a sheltered island or cancelled on the morning, especially Phi Phi and other longer crossings. Book for the start of your stay, not the last day, so a cancelled trip can be moved. A reputable operator will offer a new date or a refund when it cancels for weather; ask about the policy before you pay. Our guide to the best time for the Thai islands compares the Andaman and Gulf seasons.
A cancelled boat is the safe answer, not a scam. If the sea is too rough, do not look for a smaller operator who will go anyway. Small boats in a southwest swell are the main risk on this coast, and travel insurance may not pay out if you ignore local warnings.
Jellyfish, including dangerous box jellyfish, are reported on the Andaman coast. Swim where the crew tells you and see our page on box jellyfish in Thailand for first aid.
Booking and what to check on the voucher
Tour desks in Ao Nang sell largely the same trips, so prices are close. A much cheaper offer usually means a different boat, a shorter day or a fee that is not included. Before you book, check:
- the exact list of islands, and whether Maya Bay is on it (not in August and September)
- boat type and maximum number of passengers
- whether the park fee, lunch, drinking water and snorkel gear are included
- pick-up time and whether your hotel area is covered
- the weather cancellation and refund policy
If you have not yet chosen where to stay, it affects these trips more than you might think: longtails leave from the beach at Ao Nang and Railay, while other areas need a transfer. Our comparison of where to stay in Krabi explains the trade-offs, and the guides to Ao Nang and Railay go into each base.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, the 4 Islands or the Hong Islands tour?
The 4 Islands tour is better for beach time, swimming and short boat rides, and suits families. The Hong Islands tour is better for scenery, with the enclosed lagoon on Koh Hong and the cliffs of Phang Nga Bay. If you have two days, do both, starting with the 4 Islands.
How much is the national park fee on Krabi island tours?
As of October 2026 a foreign adult pays 200 baht on the 4 Islands, 300 baht in the Hong Islands (Than Bok Khorani National Park) and 400 baht for Phi Phi Don, Phi Phi Le and Bamboo Island. Children aged 3 to 14 pay half. Ask whether your tour price already includes it.
Can you do a Phi Phi day trip from Krabi?
Yes. Speedboat and larger-boat day trips leave from Ao Nang and the Krabi piers. It is a long day with the longest sea crossing of the Krabi tours, and Maya Bay is closed from 1 August to 30 September each year. If you can, stay a night on Phi Phi instead.
Do Krabi island tours run in the rainy season?
Most do, but between May and October trips are more often shortened, rerouted to sheltered islands or cancelled on the morning because of wind and waves. October is the wettest month on average. Book early in your stay so there is time to rebook.
Is a longtail or a speedboat better for the 4 Islands?
A longtail is enough for the 4 Islands because they are close to Ao Nang, and a private longtail lets you pick the order of the stops and avoid the busiest times. A speedboat saves little time on this route and is less comfortable in waves.
Sources
- Kapook Travel – National park entry fees by park group (citing DNP) (checked October 2026)
- Department of National Parks – New park fee structure from 7 June 2022 (checked October 2026)
- The Nation – New national park fees take effect (checked October 2026)
- Department of National Parks – Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi: e-ticket and zero-waste measures (checked October 2026)
- Department of National Parks – Maya Bay closure 1 August–30 September 2026 (checked October 2026)
- Time Out Bangkok – Maya Bay reopens, swimming still banned (checked October 2026)
- Thai Meteorological Department – Climate normals 1991–2020 (Krabi station) (checked October 2026)