Private Long Tail Boat Krabi: The Classic Way to the Islands

Early morning on the beach at Ao Nang, the long-tails sit nose to the sand, engines ticking over, and the captains wave at anyone who looks undecided. You can squeeze onto a shared boat with strangers, or you can book a private long tail boat in Krabi and have the whole wooden hull, the captain and the timing to yourselves. This guide is about the second choice: what it costs, what it feels like on board, and when you should honestly pick a catamaran instead.

I like long-tails a lot. They are the boat this coast was built around, and nothing else gets you as close to the water and the cliffs. But they are not the right boat for every group or every route, and it is better to know that before you book.

What is a private long tail boat in Krabi?

A private long-tail is a traditional Thai wooden boat chartered for your group only, with a captain who drives and helps you plan the day. The price is for the whole boat, not per person, so you are not sharing the deck with anyone you did not bring.

The name comes from the engine. It sits on the stern on a long shaft with the propeller at the end, and the captain steers by swinging the whole shaft. It lets the boat run in very shallow water and pull right up to a beach, which is exactly what you want among the islands off Ao Nang and Railay.

The boats on the long-tail page of Charter Krabi are not the bare fishing-style long-tails you see on the beach. Both are built of teak and finished for a comfortable day: cushions, shade, cold drinks and a butler on board. They still feel like a long-tail, though, and that is the point.

Think of it as the small, personal option. You trade the space and stability of a big boat for a simple, close-to-the-water day that moves at your pace.

How much does a private long-tail cost in Krabi?

The teak Long-tail Boat costs ฿8,900 for a half day and ฿15,000 for a full day, and the Luxury Long-tail Boat costs ฿6,900 for a half day for 2 guests. These are the lowest prices for a private boat on Charter Krabi, which is a big part of why long-tails are popular with couples and small groups.

Here are the two boats side by side, using the prices and details listed on their pages.

The pricing logic is different on each boat. The Long-tail Boat has one price for the boat whether you are two or eight. The luxury boat starts lower for a couple and adds a fee for each extra guest, so it is the cheaper choice for two and becomes closer in price as the group grows.

One small but real detail: snorkelling masks are listed on the luxury boat, but not on the standard Long-tail Boat. If snorkelling matters to you on the standard boat, bring your own mask or ask when you book.

What does a day on a private long-tail look like?

A half day is four hours on the water, usually two or three stops for swimming, a beach and photos, and a slow ride back. A full day on the Long-tail Boat gives you eight hours, which means longer stops, a picnic on the beach and no watching the clock.

On the standard Long-tail Boat you have a choice of morning, 09:00 to 13:00, or afternoon, 14:30 to 18:30. The morning slot usually gets the calmest water and the softest light, and you reach the beaches before most of the day boats. The afternoon slot is better for late risers and gives you the low golden light on the way home.

The rhythm of the day is simple. You board, the captain asks what you want, and you head for the first island. At each stop you swim off the boat or walk onto the sand, the butler hands round cold drinks and snacks, and you move on when you feel like it, not when a guide blows a whistle.

That freedom is the real value of going private. On a shared long-tail the group decides; on your own boat you can stay an extra half hour on a quiet beach, skip the busy one, or go back early because the kids are tired.

For a full day, I would plan one longer stop around midday with the beach picnic, and keep the busiest beaches for early or late. The middle of the day is when the most popular spots fill up.

Where can a long-tail take you from Krabi?

Long-tails are at their best on short hops among the islands close to Ao Nang and Railay, such as the 4 Islands area and the beaches under the Railay cliffs. The exact route is agreed with the manager when you book, based on the boat, your time and the sea on the day.

The classic short route is the one on the 4 Islands by private boat page: Koh Poda with its long white beach, Chicken Island with the rock shaped like a chicken's head, the Talay Waek sandbar that appears at low tide, and Railay. These islands sit close to the coast, which is why even a half day leaves real time in the water.

Railay deserves a special mention. It is cut off from the mainland by limestone cliffs and is reached only by boat, so arriving there on a long-tail feels like the natural way to do it. A good half day can be Railay and one or two nearby beaches, done slowly.

Further routes are a different story. Hong Island lies farther out to the north-west and Phi Phi sits out in the open Andaman Sea. A narrow wooden boat on a long open crossing means more spray, more noise and more time sitting still. For those, I would look at a catamaran, and you can ask the manager whether a long-tail route there makes sense on your date.

Also keep the season in mind. From about May to October the south-west monsoon brings swell to the Andaman Sea, and some routes may change or be cancelled on rough days. A long-tail feels the swell more than a big boat, so stay flexible in those months.

How loud, wet and sunny is a long-tail trip?

Honestly: it is loud when moving, it can be splashy when the sea is choppy, and the sun is strong out there. None of this spoils the day if you pick your seat and pack for it, but it is good to know in advance.

The noise comes from the long-tail engine at the back. When the boat is moving, conversation means leaning in and raising your voice, and small children sometimes do not love it. Once the engine stops at anchor, it is quiet again, and that contrast is part of the charm.

Spray depends on the wind and your seat. In a light chop, the front of the boat gets a bit of salt water now and then. The good news is that the hops between islands are short, so you are not wet for long.

Here is what I tell friends before a long-tail day:

• Sit near the front for less noise, sit in the middle for less spray and less movement.
• Put your phone and camera in a dry bag or a zip bag, not loose on the cushions.
• Use reef-safe sunscreen and reapply after every swim: the reflection off the water burns faster than you expect.
• Wear a hat that will not fly off, or a cap you can tuck away while the boat is moving.
• If you get seasick easily, choose the morning and sit low in the middle of the boat.
• Bring a light long-sleeved shirt for the ride back, when the sun has been on you for hours.

Shade is better than on a basic beach boat. The teak boats have covered areas, and the standard Long-tail Boat has a sun deck for those who want the opposite. Still, a long-tail is an open boat, and heat is the thing people underestimate most.

How many guests fit comfortably on a long-tail?

The Long-tail Boat takes up to 8 guests and the Luxury Long-tail Boat up to 6. Comfortable is usually a few people fewer than the maximum, especially on a full day when people want to stretch out.

A long-tail is long but narrow, only about 2 m wide. That shape is lovely for sitting by the water, but it means people sit in a line rather than around a table. With the full eight on board, you will be friendly; with five or six, everyone gets a cushion and room to lie down.

For couples, the luxury boat is hard to beat. The base price covers two guests, the boat is built for a slow cruise, and with just the two of you the deck feels like your own little terrace on the water.

For a family of four or five, the standard Long-tail Boat works well, particularly because it has a toilet and an outdoor shower on board. That toilet is a bigger deal than it sounds when you have children or a full day planned.

For groups above eight, a long-tail is simply not the right boat. You would need two boats, and then you lose the point of being together. That is where a catamaran comes in.

Long-tail or catamaran: who should choose which?

Choose a long-tail if you are two to eight people, want a short, simple trip close to Ao Nang and Railay, and like the idea of a traditional boat. Choose a catamaran if you want shade and space, are a bigger group, are bringing small children, or plan a long route such as Hong Island or Phi Phi.

The two long-tails suit slightly different people. The Long-tail Boat is the one for small groups and families who want a full day, a beach picnic and a toilet on board. The Luxury Long-tail Boat is the one for couples and small groups who want a stylish half day in a classic Thai boat, with snorkelling masks and fruit included.

Long-tail Max 8 persons Long-tail Boat From฿8,900 Long-tail Max 6 persons Luxury Long-tail Boat From฿6,900

Now the honest part. A catamaran is more stable, quieter and roomier, and it has proper shade, a place to sit at a table and nets at the bow to lie on above the water. It costs more per boat, but in a larger group the difference per person can shrink a lot.

For families with toddlers, guests who get seasick, or anyone who wants to go far, I would look at renting a catamaran in Krabi before deciding. The Lavezzi 40 sailing catamaran runs Railay and Poda for ฿20,000 from 2 guests, and the Power Catamaran 40ft does a 4 Islands half day for ฿22,000 for up to 10 guests.

Sailing catamaran Max 12 persons Lavezzi 40 From฿20,000 Power catamaran Max 25 persons Power Catamaran 40ft From฿22,000

If you are still torn between the two kinds of boat, there is a full comparison in long-tail or catamaran in Krabi. My short version: long-tail for character and small groups, catamaran for comfort and distance.

How to book a private long-tail in Krabi

Pick the boat, pick morning, afternoon or full day, and send a free, non-binding request from the boat page or on WhatsApp. A manager checks that the boat is free on your date and confirms the final price before anything is paid.

When you write, include the date, the number of guests, the age of any children and what you want from the day: beaches, snorkelling, photos or just a slow cruise. That helps match the route to the boat and the sea conditions.

1. Compare the two boats on the Long-tail Boat page and the Luxury Long-tail page.
2. Decide on a half day or a full day, and morning or afternoon.
3. Send the request with your date, group size and wishes.
4. Wait for the manager to confirm availability and price.
5. On the day, bring swimwear, sunscreen, a hat, cash for any park fee and a dry bag.

Book a couple of days ahead in the busy months, and keep a spare day in your plans if you travel between May and October, when the sea can decide for you.

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 3 November 2026. Prices can change: the boat page always shows the current price.