- The 4 Islands (Poda, Chicken Island, the Talay Waek sandbar and Railay) lie a short way off Ao Nang and fit into a half day.
- Hong Island is a full day: the Power Catamaran 40ft does it in 8-9 hours for ฿32,000 per boat.
- Phi Phi is the longest day across open sea: the Lavezzi 40 does Phi Phi and Poda in 10-12 hours for ฿28,000.
- Long-tail boats start at ฿6,900 for a 4-hour half day and suit small groups on the near islands.
- National park fees on the island routes are not included in the boat price and are paid on the day.
Your first morning in Ao Nang, the beach is lined with boats and every island on the horizon looks reachable. It is not, at least not all in one day. The first decision of any Krabi island hopping private boat day is simple: which group of islands, and how many hours you want to spend getting there.
This guide goes through the island groups a private boat can reach in a day from Krabi, what each of them is really like, which boats fit and how to combine them over a longer stay.
Which islands can you visit in one day from Krabi by private boat?
From Krabi, a private boat covers one island group per day: the 4 Islands off Ao Nang, the Hong Islands in Phang Nga Bay, or the Phi Phi Islands out in the open Andaman Sea. Trying to squeeze two groups into one day mostly means spending it on the crossing.
The groups differ a lot in distance. The 4 Islands are close to the coast, so even a half day leaves time to swim. Hong Island lies further north-west of Ao Nang and is a full day. Phi Phi is the furthest and the most exposed to swell, a long day by any boat.
| Island group | What you see | Day length | Boats and prices per boat |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Islands | Koh Poda, Chicken Island, Talay Waek sandbar, Railay | Half day or full day | Long-tails from ฿6,900 for a half day; Lavezzi 40 ฿20,000; Power Catamaran 40ft ฿22,000 half day, ฿29,000 full day; Power Catamaran 72ft ฿55,000 |
| Hong Islands | Hong lagoon, Pak Bia, Lading | Full day | Lavezzi 40 ฿25,000; Power Catamaran 40ft ฿32,000; Power Catamaran 72ft ฿75,000 |
| Phi Phi | Maya Bay area, Loh Samah Bay, Viking Cave, Nui Bay | Long full day | Lavezzi 40 ฿28,000; Blue Atoll ฿70,000 |
Every price is for the whole boat, not per person, and each boat has its own base group size and extra-guest rate. National park fees on these routes are not included in the boat price.
The 4 Islands: the easy day off Ao Nang
The 4 Islands are the classic first trip from Krabi: Koh Poda, Chicken Island, the Talay Waek sandbar and Railay, all a short way off Ao Nang. They are close enough that a half day of about four hours works, which is why nearly every boat offers this route.
Koh Poda has a long white beach with clear, shallow water and a tall limestone rock just off the shore, the usual place for a swim and a beach lunch. Chicken Island gets its name from a rock tip that looks like a chicken's head, and the reef around it is good for snorkelling.
Talay Waek means "separated sea". At low tide a sandbar rises between Koh Tup, Koh Kai and Koh Mor and you can walk across the sea. The timing depends on the tide, so ask the crew to plan the order of stops around it. Railay is cut off from the mainland by cliffs and is reached only by boat; its beaches, including Phra Nang, sit right under the limestone walls.
The islands belong to the Hat Noppharat Thara - Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, so a park fee applies there. Shared tours crowd the same beaches in the middle of the day; on a private boat you can ask to go early or late and change the order. More on the route on the 4 Islands private boat page.
My honest view: this is the right first day for almost everyone. It is short, the sea between the islands is usually kind, and it tells you within a few hours whether your group loves a day at sea or prefers half of one.
Long-tail or catamaran for the near islands?
For the 4 Islands, a long-tail is the cheapest and most local way to go, while a catamaran gives you shade, space and a stable deck. The answer depends mostly on the size of your group and how much comfort you want on board.
The teak Long-tail Boat takes up to 8 guests and costs ฿8,900 for a morning (09:00-13:00) or afternoon (14:30-18:30) half day and ฿15,000 for a full 8-hour day. A captain and a butler come with it, plus soft drinks, infused water, local snacks and a beach picnic. It has a sun deck, a speaker, an outdoor shower and a toilet on board, which matters more than people expect on a full day.
The Luxury Long-tail is a hand-built boat in the style of the old Thai recreational boats, more of a slow cruise than a ride. It costs ฿6,900 for a 4-hour half day for 2 guests, plus ฿1,000 for each extra guest up to 6. For a couple it is the most charming half day on the water in Krabi, in my opinion.
Long-tails are open boats close to the water. They are fun on a calm morning, less so in a chop, and I would not choose one for Hong Island or Phi Phi unless the crew confirms the route and the sea for your date. The long-tail prices are for time, not for a fixed route, so confirm which of the near islands fit your hours when you book. You can compare both boats on the long-tail rental page.
A catamaran makes sense for families, groups above 8 and anyone who wants to spend the whole day on board rather than on the beach. The Power Catamaran 40ft does the 4 Islands as a half day (08:00-13:00 or 14:00-19:00) for ฿22,000 or a full 10:30-19:30 day for ฿29,000, for 1-10 guests, with ฿600 per extra adult and ฿300 per child aged 3-12, up to 25 guests.
Hong Islands: the lagoon day
Hong Island is a full-day trip into the edge of Phang Nga Bay, north-west of Ao Nang. The main reason to go is the lagoon inside Koh Hong: calm green water closed in by limestone walls, reached through a narrow gap in the cliffs.
"Hong" means "room" in Thai, and that is how the lagoon feels: an open-air room with no swell. On the outside of the island there is a white sand beach with clear water for swimming, and the small islands of Pak Bia and Lading are used as swim and snorkel stops on the way.
Three boats run fixed Hong Island routes. The Lavezzi 40 sailing catamaran does Hong Island and Poda with Railay, Daeng, Pak Bia and Lading in 10-12 hours for ฿25,000 (from 2 guests, ฿2,500 per extra guest up to 12). The Power Catamaran 40ft goes to Hong, Pak Bia, Lading and the lagoon in 8-9 hours for ฿32,000. The Power Catamaran 72ft spends a full 8-hour day at Koh Hong for ฿75,000, for groups of up to 70.
The islands are part of a national park, so a park fee may apply on the day. The lagoon also depends on the tide, which is one more reason a private boat helps: the crew can shift the order of stops instead of following a fixed group timetable. Details are on the Hong Island charter page.
Who should skip it? Families with very young children who tire of long days, and anyone who gets seasick easily and has not tried a shorter trip first. Do the 4 Islands first and decide after that.
Phi Phi: the long day across open sea
Phi Phi is the furthest island group from Krabi, south-west in the open Andaman Sea, and it takes a long full day. It is worth it for the clearest water around Krabi, but it is the route most affected by swell and weather.
The day takes in the bays of Phi Phi Leh, the uninhabited island, and Nui Bay on Phi Phi Don. Maya Bay, the bay from the film "The Beach", is protected by the national park: swimming there is not allowed, boats land at Loh Samah Bay on the other side, and the bay can close for restoration. The Viking Cave is seen from the boat.
Two boats run Phi Phi. The Lavezzi 40 does Phi Phi and Poda in 10-12 hours for ฿28,000 (from 2 guests, ฿2,500 per extra guest up to 12). Blue Atoll, a Lagoon 400 for up to 30 guests, does a full Phi Phi day from 10:30 to 18:30 for ฿70,000, with the price based on 10 guests and ฿1,000 for each extra guest.
A sailing catamaran is the right boat for this crossing: two hulls are steadier than one, and there is shade and room to lie down on the way. National park fees are not included. A deeper look at whether this day is worth it is in the Phi Phi private boat article.
My advice: keep Phi Phi for the middle of your stay, not the first or last day. That leaves room to move it if the sea is rough on the planned date.
What about Phang Nga Bay and James Bond Island?
From Krabi, Phang Nga Bay trips go to the Hong Island group. James Bond Island (Koh Tapu) and the stilt village of Koh Panyee lie in the north-west of the bay, closer to Phang Nga and Phuket, and are not on the fixed routes from Krabi.
That is not a loss. The Krabi side of the bay has the same limestone scenery, sheer cliffs and caves at the waterline, and the water inside the bay is usually calm because it is sheltered from the open sea.
If James Bond Island is the one thing you want to see, write on WhatsApp before booking and ask whether a different route is possible on your date. Otherwise the Hong Island day is the Phang Nga Bay day from Krabi, and the Phang Nga Bay charter page shows the boats that run it.
How to combine island days over a stay in Krabi
Plan one island group per day and leave a free day between long trips. Three boat days in a week is plenty for most families; more than that and the days start to blur.
A simple plan for a week that works for most groups:
- Day 1 or 2: the 4 Islands as a half day, on a long-tail or a catamaran. It is a test of how your group likes the sea.
- Mid-week: Hong Island as a full day, ideally on a catamaran for the shade.
- A beach or rest day in between.
- Later in the week: Phi Phi on the calmest-looking day, on a sailing catamaran.
- Last evening, if you still want the water: a short afternoon half day on the near islands.
Matching the boat to the group matters more than the route. Couples and small groups of up to 6 or 8 are happiest on a long-tail for the near islands. Groups of up to 12 who want sailing and a quiet deck suit the Lavezzi 40. Big groups and celebrations need the Power Catamaran 40ft (up to 25) or 72ft (up to 70), and a group of up to 30 that wants a sailing catamaran with cabins fits Blue Atoll.
The long-tail suits couples and small groups on the near islands, the Lavezzi 40 suits sailing days to Hong and Phi Phi for up to 12, and the power catamarans suit big groups that want space.
For larger groups wanting a sailing day, Blue Atoll covers half days, full days and Phi Phi, while the 72 ft catamaran is the only one for groups beyond 30.
Before you book: season, fees and timing
From about May to October the south-west monsoon brings swell to the Andaman Sea, and some routes, Phi Phi first of all, may change or be cancelled. The near islands are the most reliable choice in that season.
- Park fees: the island routes are in national parks, and the fees are not in the boat price.
- Group size: each boat has a base number of guests and an extra-guest rate, so check the boat page for your exact group.
- Start time: half days run in the morning or afternoon; full days often start around 10:30.
- Seasickness: if anyone in the group is unsure, start with the 4 Islands before booking a long day.
- Tide: the Talay Waek sandbar and the Hong lagoon depend on it, so let the crew set the order of stops.
The booking request is free and non-binding: a manager checks the boat is free on your date and confirms the final price. Send the date, the number of guests and the island group you have in mind.
Questions and answers
Can I visit the 4 Islands and Hong Island on the same day?
Not on the fixed routes. The Lavezzi 40 combines Hong Island with Poda and Railay in 10-12 hours, but otherwise each island group is its own day. Trying to do more mostly adds hours at sea.
Is the boat price per person?
No. Every price is for the whole boat with captain and crew. Each boat has a base group size, and some charge for extra guests, for example ฿2,500 per extra guest on the Lavezzi 40 or ฿600 per extra adult on the power catamarans.
Are national park fees included in a private charter?
No. The 4 Islands, Hong Island and Phi Phi are national park areas, and the park fee is paid separately on the day.
Can a long-tail boat go to Phi Phi?
The long-tail boats are priced by time, a half day or a full 8-hour day, not for a fixed Phi Phi route. The fixed Phi Phi routes run on sailing catamarans, which are steadier on the open sea and have shade and space for a long day.
Can we swim in Maya Bay?
No. Maya Bay has a no-swimming rule, boats land at Loh Samah Bay on the other side of Phi Phi Leh, and the bay can close for restoration. The crew follows the rules in force on the day.
What is included on a private catamaran?
On the Lavezzi 40 and the power catamarans the captain and crew, fuel surcharge, soft drinks, fruit and snacks, snorkelling gear, life jackets, a paddle board and a kayak are included. The Lavezzi 40 also includes standard food. Check each boat page for the full list.
What happens if the sea is too rough on the booked date?
From about May to October the monsoon can bring swell, and some routes may change or be cancelled. Booking the long trips mid-stay and keeping a near-island day as a backup gives you room to move.
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.
Updated 9 November 2026. Prices can change: the boat page always shows the current price.
