4 Islands Private Boat from Krabi: How the Day Really Works

It is ten in the morning at Koh Poda, and a line of long-tails and speedboats is pulling up on the same strip of white sand at once. The 4 islands private boat Krabi trip exists for exactly this moment: with the whole boat for your group, you can be on that beach an hour before them, or long after they have gone.

This guide explains how the day actually runs: the order of the stops, why the tide matters more than the timetable, when a half day is enough and which boats do the route at what price. It is written for people who have already decided on the 4 Islands and now want to do them well.

What is the 4 Islands trip in Krabi?

The 4 Islands trip is the classic day out from Ao Nang: Railay with Phra Nang beach, Chicken Island, the Talay Waek sandbar by Tup Island and Koh Poda. All four stops lie a short ride off the coast, so you spend most of the day swimming, not sitting on a boat.

That short distance is the reason this route works so well for families and first-timers. You never cross open sea for long, the water inside the islands is usually calmer than further out, and if someone feels unwell you are never far from land.

Each stop has its own character. Phra Nang beach on the Railay peninsula sits under huge limestone cliffs, with a small cave shrine at one end where local fishermen leave offerings. Railay itself is cut off from the mainland by cliffs, so it is reached only by boat.

Chicken Island (Koh Kai) is named after its rock tip, which really does look like the head of a chicken once someone points it out. The reef around it is the best snorkelling of the day. Tup Island and its neighbours are joined by the Talay Waek sandbar, and Koh Poda has a long white beach with a tall limestone rock standing in the water just offshore.

For a full overview of the islands and the boats that serve them, see the 4 Islands private boat page.

How does the tide change a 4 Islands day?

The tide decides when the Talay Waek sandbar appears, and that is the one stop you cannot move around freely. The sandbar between Koh Tup, Koh Kai and Koh Mor rises only at low tide, so the captain plans the order of the day around it.

Talay Waek means "separated sea". At low tide a strip of sand comes out of the water and you can walk from one island to the next with the sea on both sides. At high tide it is under water, and you only see a pale line where it should be.

Tides in the Andaman Sea shift by roughly an hour each day, so there is no fixed "sandbar time". On one date the low tide falls in the morning, a week later it falls in the afternoon. This is a real advantage of a private charter: the crew can put the sandbar where the tide is right and fit the other stops around it.

A few practical points about the tide:

• Ask the captain or the manager which way round the day will go once your date is fixed. The order may change from what you read online, and that is a good sign.
• Low tide also means shallow water at some beaches. The boat may anchor further out, and you wade in over sand or rocks, so water shoes help.
• Snorkelling at Chicken Island is often clearer when the water is calm and the tide is not running hard. The crew knows which side of the island is better that day.
• If you only care about one thing, tell them. "We really want to walk the sandbar" is easy to plan for; it is hard to fix once the day has started.

Do not expect perfection on every date. Sometimes the low tide sits at an awkward hour for a half day, and you have to choose between the sandbar and an early start. In that case a full day solves it.

How does a private boat avoid the crowds?

A private boat avoids the crowds mainly by changing the timing: it goes earlier, later, or in a different order from the shared tours. Most group tours leave Ao Nang in the mid-morning and follow the same loop, so the busiest hours at Poda and Railay are predictable.

The shared boats tend to bunch up. They arrive at the same beach within minutes of each other, unload dozens of people, and move on together. If you start earlier, or simply reverse the loop, you meet them coming the other way instead of standing in the same patch of sand.

Be honest with yourself about what "avoiding the crowds" means here. The 4 Islands are the most popular trip in Krabi, and in the high season you will not have Phra Nang beach empty at midday. What you can have is the quiet first hour at a beach, a snorkel stop without forty people in the water, and the freedom to leave when it gets busy.

The afternoon is underrated. Many tours are heading home by mid-afternoon, and the light on the cliffs gets softer and warmer. The Power Catamaran 40ft runs an afternoon half day from 14:00 to 19:00, and the long-tail afternoon slot runs from 14:30 to 18:30, which puts you on the water for the best light of the day.

One more tip: ask the crew to anchor a little away from the main landing spot. You swim a few metres more, but you skip the noise of engines starting and stopping right next to you.

Half day or full day: which 4 Islands trip should you book?

A half day of four to five hours is enough to see the four stops with a swim at each one, and it suits families with small children, people who burn easily and anyone unsure about boats. A full day is worth it if you want a long snorkel, a proper lunch on the beach and time to fit the sandbar to the tide.

On a half day the rhythm is steady: a short ride, a swim, back on board, the next island. It works, and many people are happy with it. The downside is that you watch the clock, and one long stop means another gets cut short.

A full day changes the mood. You can sit through the midday heat in the shade of the boat, let the shared tours pass, and go back to a beach when it is quieter. For a group that wants to relax rather than tick off stops, the full day is the better deal in comfort, even if it costs more.

My honest view: with children under about seven, take the half day in the morning. The sea is often calmer early, the sun is gentler, and everyone is back for lunch and a nap. With teenagers or adults who love the water, take the full day.

Here are the 4 Islands options that appear in the boat prices, all per boat, not per person:

The long-tail trips are priced as half and full days rather than as a named route, so confirm with the manager that your day covers the four stops and in what order. The Lavezzi 40 sailing catamaran also does a Railay and Poda day of 6-8 hours for ฿20,000, which covers part of the same water at a slower, sailing pace.

Long-tail or catamaran for the 4 Islands?

For a couple or a small group up to six or eight people, a private long-tail is the most natural way to do the 4 Islands. For a bigger group, for small children or for anyone who wants shade, a toilet and room to move, the Power Catamaran 40ft is the more comfortable choice.

The long-tail is the boat of this coast, and the 4 Islands are its home water. It is narrow, it can pull right up near the beach, and the short hops between islands suit it well. You feel the sea more, which is fun on a calm day and less fun on a choppy one.

The Long-tail Boat is a teak boat of 11.5 m for up to 8 guests, finished for comfort: a sun deck, an outdoor shower, a toilet on board and a JBL speaker. A captain and a butler look after you, with soft drinks, infused water, local snacks and a picnic on the beach in the price. That toilet matters more than people expect on a full day.

The Luxury Long-tail Boat is a different idea. It was hand-made by craftsmen after the Thai recreational boats of the 19th century, more of a slow, elegant cruise than a beach taxi. The half day of 4 hours costs ฿6,900 for 2 guests, and each extra guest from 3 to 6 adds ฿1,000. Snorkelling masks, soft drinks, seasonal fruits, towels and insurance are included.

It is the one I would pick for a couple, a proposal or a quiet anniversary morning. It is not the one for a group that wants to spend hours snorkelling, because the trip is only a half day.

The Power Catamaran 40ft is a custom-built motor catamaran with four double cabins and a mesh net at the bow for lying above the water. It takes up to 25 guests, and a stand-up paddle board, a kayak and snorkelling gear are on board. Two hulls mean it rolls far less than a long-tail when there is a little swell.

Here are the boats I would look at first for this route: the two long-tails for small groups and couples, and the power catamaran for families and bigger groups.

Long-tail Max 8 persons Long-tail Boat From฿8,900 Long-tail Max 6 persons Luxury Long-tail Boat From฿6,900 Power catamaran Max 25 persons Power Catamaran 40ft From฿22,000

What does a private 4 Islands day look like hour by hour?

A typical full day starts with a pick-up from the beach or a pier, a short ride to the first island, and then a loop of swim stops with lunch on the way. The exact order changes with the tide and the crowds, and that flexibility is what you pay for.

Here is how a full day on the Power Catamaran 40ft might run, starting at 10:30. Treat it as an example, not a schedule.

1. Morning departure. You board, the crew goes through life jackets and the plan for the day, and you head out among the limestone islands.
2. Railay and Phra Nang. A swim under the cliffs and time to walk along the beach to the cave shrine. If the shared tours are already there, the captain may switch this stop to later.
3. Chicken Island. The snorkel stop. Masks are on board, and on the catamaran you can take the kayak or the paddle board out along the rocks.
4. Talay Waek. Timed for low tide if possible, so you can walk the sandbar between the islands.
5. Koh Poda. A long swim and lunch, ideally late in the afternoon when the beach is calmer.
6. Return. Back toward the coast in the late afternoon light, with the cliffs turning gold.

On a half day the same stops are squeezed into four to five hours, so each one is shorter. If you have a favourite, say so at the start, and the crew can give it more time.

Food on the boats is simple and fresh: fruit, snacks and drinks are part of the price on every boat in the table above, and the long-tails add a beach picnic. If you want a bigger meal or a special cake, ask when you book rather than on the day.

What does the 4 Islands trip cost beyond the boat?

The boat price covers the boat, the captain and crew and what is listed as included on the boat page. The islands sit inside the Hat Noppharat Thara - Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, so a park fee may be collected, and it is usually not part of the boat price.

The park fee is paid per person and the amount is set by the park, not by the boat. Bring some cash in Thai baht on the day and keep it in a dry bag. The manager can tell you what to expect for your date.

Also check what your boat includes. On the Power Catamaran 40ft, the price is for 1-10 guests, each extra adult costs ฿600 and each child aged 3-12 costs ฿300. On the Luxury Long-tail Boat, the price is for 2 guests and each extra guest from 3 to 6 costs ฿1,000. The Long-tail Boat price is for the whole boat up to 8 guests.

Transport to the departure point is a separate matter. Depending on where you stay, it may be a short walk to the beach or a taxi ride, so ask about the meeting point when you book. If you want to compare boats on price before deciding, the article on private boat charter prices in Krabi goes through what you get for the money.

How to book a 4 Islands private boat in Krabi

Choose the boat by group size first, then by the kind of day you want. Send the date, the number of adults and children and your choice of a half or a full day, and a manager confirms the boat and the final price.

A short checklist before you send the request:

• Count every guest, including children, because the extra-guest prices depend on it.
• Say if you want the sandbar or a long snorkel, so the plan can be built around the tide.
• Mention any birthday, proposal or special meal.
• Ask about the meeting point and pick-up so the morning starts calmly.

The request is free and non-binding, with no payment at the moment you send it. You can write on WhatsApp or use the booking request form, and the manager checks that the boat is free on your date.

On the day, bring swimwear, a hat, reef-friendly sunscreen, water shoes, a dry bag for phones and cash for the park fee. Then let the crew read the tide and the crowds for you: that is the whole point of having the boat to yourselves.

Ready to choose your boat?

Every boat page shows the routes, prices and what is included. The booking request is free: a manager checks the boat is free on your date and confirms the price.

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Updated 24 October 2026. Prices can change: the boat page always shows the current price.