- Sun protection matters more than anything else: reef-safe sunscreen, a hat that stays on in the wind, sunglasses and a light long-sleeve top.
- Bring cash for national park fees on Hong Island, Phi Phi and the 4 Islands routes, because they are not part of the boat price.
- Water shoes help on Railay, Koh Poda and the Talay Waek sandbar, where landings are often in the water and the sand hides shells and coral.
- Towels are listed on Blue Atoll, the Long-tail Boat and the Luxury Long-tail Boat, but not on the Lavezzi 40 or the power catamarans, so pack your own for those.
- The Long-tail Boat at ฿8,900 for a half day includes a toilet, an outdoor shower and a beach picnic, but snorkelling gear is not on its list.
The long-tail is already waiting at the edge of Ao Nang beach, the engine ticking over, and someone in the group is running back to the hotel for sunglasses. Ten minutes later, at Koh Poda, a second person realises the phone has no waterproof pouch. Knowing what to bring on a boat trip in Krabi is not complicated, but the things you forget are exactly the ones you miss once the boat leaves the shore.
This checklist comes from years of watching guests step on and off boats around Railay, the 4 Islands and Hong Island. It covers what to pack, what the boat already carries, and what you can safely leave in the room.
What to bring on a boat trip in Krabi: the short list
For a private day charter in Krabi you need sun protection, swimwear, a dry bag, some cash for park fees, shoes that handle wet sand and rock, and any medication you use. Drinks, fruit and in most cases snorkelling equipment are already on board, so you do not need to carry them.
Here is the list I send friends the evening before:
- Reef-safe sunscreen, a hat with a strap or a tight fit, and sunglasses.
- A light long-sleeve top or a rash guard for the middle of the day.
- Swimwear worn under your clothes, plus one dry set for the ride home.
- A towel, unless the boat you book lists towels in what is included.
- A small dry bag or a waterproof phone pouch.
- Cash in small notes for park fees and drinks on the beach.
- Water shoes or sandals with a strap.
- Seasickness tablets if you or the children are prone to it, especially for Phi Phi.
- A camera or phone with a charged battery, and a power bank.
- Your own medication, plus plasters for small cuts.
The single item guests regret forgetting most is a proper hat, because the sun on the water in Krabi is much stronger than it feels on the beach. Everything else on the list can be improvised. A burnt neck at eleven in the morning cannot.
Pack light. A private boat has more room than a shared tour, but a catamaran deck covered in bags is not a nice place to lie down. One soft bag per couple is enough for a full day.
How do you protect yourself from the sun on a Krabi boat day?
Use reef-safe sunscreen before you leave the hotel, wear a hat and sunglasses, and cover your shoulders during the middle of the day. The water reflects light back up at you, so you burn faster on deck than on land.
The breeze is the trap. On a moving boat you feel cool, so you forget to reapply, and by the time you reach Hong Island the backs of your legs are red. Put sunscreen on again after every swim, even if the label says water resistant.
Choose a reef-safe formula. The coral around Chicken Island, Koh Poda and the Hong group is part of a national park, and ordinary sunscreens with certain filters are widely considered harmful to reefs. Some national parks in Thailand have restricted these products, and rules can change, so a mineral sunscreen is the simple choice. Buy it before the trip: shops near the piers often sell only standard brands, and the reef-safe options sell out.
A long-sleeve rash guard does more than any bottle. It protects your back while you snorkel face down, which is where most guests get their worst burn. Add a light cotton shirt for the ride home, when your skin has had enough.
Sunglasses with a strap are worth it on a long-tail or a speedy catamaran crossing. Hats blow off too: one with a chin cord or a tight cap stays on, a wide straw hat usually ends up in the Andaman Sea.
What is already on board, and what do you still need?
Every private boat in Krabi comes with the captain and crew, soft drinks and ice, and some kind of snack or fruit. What changes from boat to boat is towels, snorkelling gear and food, and that decides what goes in your bag.
Here is what the boat pages list for each boat, in plain terms:
| Boat | Towels | Snorkelling gear | Food on the list | Bring yourself |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Atoll (Lagoon 400) | Yes | Snorkelling mask | Tea snacks, beach picnic, afternoon tea, fruit | Fins if you like them, sun care |
| Lavezzi 40 | Not listed | Yes | Standard food, fruit and snacks, coffee and tea | Towels, sun care |
| Power Catamaran 40ft | Not listed | Yes | Fruit and snacks, coffee and tea | Towels, ask about lunch |
| Power Catamaran 72ft | Not listed | Yes | Fruit and snacks, coffee and tea | Towels, ask about lunch |
| Long-tail Boat | Yes | Not listed | Local snack, beach picnic, infused water | Your own mask, sun care |
| Luxury Long-tail Boat | Yes | Snorkelling mask | Seasonal fruits | Snacks if you get hungry |
A few details are worth knowing. The Long-tail Boat has a toilet on board and an outdoor shower, which is rare for a long-tail and makes a full day of ฿15,000 much easier with children. The Luxury Long-tail Boat at ฿6,900 for 4 hours does not list a toilet, so plan the morning around beach stops. The Lavezzi 40 and both power catamarans include a stand-up paddle board and a kayak, so you do not need to bring any water toys.
If your group is small and wants an easy, local day, the long-tails suit best; for more shade, food and space for kids, the catamarans are the safer bet.
On the power catamarans the list mentions snacks and fruit but not a full lunch. If you expect a proper meal on a long Hong Island day, ask the manager when you send the request, or bring something from a bakery in Ao Nang. You are on a private boat, so nobody minds a bag of sandwiches. If you are still choosing between the two styles of boat, this comparison of a long-tail or a catamaran in Krabi goes through it in detail.
Why do you need cash on a boat trip in Krabi?
You need cash mainly for national park fees, which are not included in the boat price on routes into the parks. Hong Island, Phi Phi and the islands of the 4 Islands trip all lie inside national park areas, and the fee is usually paid on the day.
The amount depends on the park and can change, so I will not quote a figure here. Ask the manager when you book how much to bring for your group, then add a little extra. Rangers at park checkpoints do not take cards, and there is no ATM on Koh Hong.
Bring small notes, not a single large one: change is often short on the islands. Keep the cash in the dry bag with your phone, not in a shorts pocket that goes into the sea.
The other uses for cash are small but real:
- A cold coconut or a drink from a beach stall on Railay or Koh Poda.
- A toilet on some beaches, which can charge a small fee.
- A tip for the crew at the end of the day, if you were happy. It is never required, but it is appreciated.
- A taxi or songthaew back from the pier if your hotel transfer is not part of the plan.
If you are planning the private 4 Islands trip, the park fee is the one cost guests most often forget, simply because the islands feel so close to the beach in Ao Nang.
Which shoes should you wear for Railay, Poda and the sandbar?
Wear water shoes or sport sandals with a heel strap. Many landings in Krabi are in the water, Railay is reached only by boat, and the Talay Waek sandbar is covered in broken shells and bits of coral.
A long-tail often runs right up to the beach and you jump down from the bow. A catamaran usually anchors further out, and the dinghy takes you in. Either way, your feet hit wet sand and sometimes rock before they hit dry beach.
The sandbar at Talay Waek is the place where bare feet suffer. It appears at low tide between Koh Tup, Chicken Island and Koh Mor, and you can walk across the sea from one island to another. The walk is the highlight of the 4 Islands route, and it is much more fun in shoes that grip on wet shell and coral.
Flip-flops are the worst choice. They slip off in the water, float away, or break on the first rock. If you only have flip-flops, carry them and walk barefoot, slowly, looking where you step.
On Railay the beaches are soft, but the paths behind them, towards the viewpoint and the lagoon, are steep, muddy and rocky. If someone in your group wants to try them, closed shoes or good sandals are the minimum. Most guests skip the climb on a boat day, and I think that is the right call: the time is better spent in the water.
How do you keep a phone and camera safe on the boat?
Put everything you cannot replace in a small dry bag and keep the phone in a waterproof pouch on a lanyard. Spray, wet hands and the step down into the sea are the three ways phones are lost on boat days.
A dry bag of a few litres is enough for a phone, cash, a power bank and car keys. Roll the top at least three times before you clip it. On a catamaran you can leave it inside out of the spray; on a long-tail, keep it under the seat, away from the open side.
A waterproof pouch lets you take photos while snorkelling or standing in the water at Koh Poda. Test it in the hotel sink first with a tissue inside, not your phone. Cheap pouches leak at the seal more often than you would expect, and the test takes two minutes.
An action camera is worth packing if you snorkel. The reef at Chicken Island and the clear water off Koh Hong are good for it, and the crew can help you film from the boat. A drone is a different matter: national parks have rules on flying, they can change, so check before you take one and ask the crew on the day.
Charge everything the night before. Most boats do not list charging points, and a dead phone at Hong lagoon is a sad thing. A power bank in the dry bag solves it.
Do you need seasickness tablets in Krabi?
For short trips to Railay and the 4 Islands, most people do not need them. For Phi Phi, for long days towards Hong Island, and for any trip from about May to October, when the south-west monsoon brings swell to the Andaman Sea, it is wise to take them.
The islands of the 4 Islands route are close to the coast, and the water between them is usually calm in the dry season. Phi Phi is a different crossing: it lies in the open sea, and even on a good day the boat moves more. If you are joining the Phi Phi charter from Krabi, I would take a tablet before boarding, not after the first wave.
Tablets work only if you take them before you feel sick, usually some time before departure, so read the instructions on the pack. Some make you sleepy, which on a catamaran deck is not the worst outcome. Ask a pharmacist in Ao Nang or Krabi town which one suits you, especially for children.
A few habits help as much as any tablet:
- Eat a light breakfast, not a heavy one and not nothing.
- Sit in the middle of the boat and look at the horizon, not at your phone.
- Drink water through the day, and go easy on beer during the crossing.
- On a long-tail, sit towards the back, where the motion is gentler.
The boat type matters too. Catamarans are more stable than single-hull boats, which is one reason families choose them. If someone in your group gets sick easily, a catamaran to the 4 Islands is a kinder plan than a long crossing to Phi Phi.
What should you leave at the hotel, and how should you pack?
Leave jewellery, expensive watches, large amounts of cash and anything that does not like salt water. A boat day is wet, sandy and active, and small valuables are easy to lose overboard or on a beach.
Rings are the classic loss. Cold water and sunscreen make fingers slippery, and a ring that comes off while snorkelling is gone. Earrings and necklaces catch on masks and life vests. Take them off in the morning and lock them in the room.
Also leave behind glass bottles, which break on deck, and big speakers: the Long-tail Boat already has a JBL speaker on board. Heavy beach bags with books, laptops and spare outfits only take space you want for lying down. One change of clothes is enough.
A word about drones, inflatables and fishing rods: check first. Blue Atoll lists fishing equipment and a fancy float already, and the Lavezzi 40 carries a paddle board and a kayak, so packing your own is usually pointless.
The night before: a quick plan
Pack the bag in the evening, not at the pier. Check the boat page for what is included, ask the manager about park fees and lunch, and set the alarm early enough for a real breakfast.
My routine for guests looks like this. Put on swimwear and sunscreen at the hotel. Charge the phone and power bank. Put cash, phone and keys in the dry bag. Fill a reusable bottle; most boats list soft drinks and water, but a bottle of your own is handy on the beach.
If you are not sure whether your route involves a park fee, a wet landing or a long crossing, write on WhatsApp or send a free request through the contact page with the date and the size of your group. A manager confirms the boat, the route and the final price, and tells you exactly what is on board for that day.
Then leave the rest to the crew. On a private boat in Krabi, the best preparation is a light bag, good sunscreen and an early start.
Questions and answers
Can I bring my own food and drinks on a private boat in Krabi?
On a private charter the boat is for your group only, so bringing your own snacks or a cake is usually no problem. Mention it when you send the request, especially if you need space in a fridge. Avoid glass where you can, because it breaks easily on deck.
Do I need to bring a life jacket for children?
The Lavezzi 40, the power catamarans, the Long-tail Boat and the Luxury Long-tail Boat list life jackets or a life vest on board. If you have a very small child, ask the manager in advance whether a child size is available on that boat, or bring your own if the child already has one that fits.
Is it worth bringing my own snorkelling mask?
If you snorkel often, a mask that fits your face is always more comfortable than a shared one. It is most useful on the standard Long-tail Boat, which does not list snorkelling gear. On the catamarans masks are provided, so it is a matter of comfort rather than need.
What should I wear on the boat?
Swimwear under light, quick-drying clothes is ideal. Add a long-sleeve top for the sun and a dry set for the ride home. Dress codes do not apply on a private boat, but cover up a little when you walk to a beach restaurant or a village.
Do I need a towel if the boat provides towels?
Blue Atoll, the Long-tail Boat and the Luxury Long-tail Boat list towels, so you can leave yours. On the Lavezzi 40 and the power catamarans towels are not on the list, so bring one per person. A light travel towel dries quickly and takes little space.
Can I pay park fees by card?
Plan to pay in cash. Park checkpoints on the islands rarely take cards, and there is no ATM on places like Koh Hong. Ask the manager how much to bring for your group when you book.
What happens to my bag when I go snorkelling?
Your bag stays on the boat with the crew, and on a private charter there are no other passengers, so it is safe. Still, keep valuables in a dry bag and away from the open sides, where spray and rain can reach them.
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 8 November 2026. Prices can change: the boat page always shows the current price.
