Private Long-Tail Boat Island-Hopping Tour Krabi

Koh Poda

Koh Poda is the best-loved of the near islands off Ao Nang, reached in about half an hour by long-tail boat. A curve of fine white sand lies below tall limestone cliffs, with shallow turquoise water and coral patches that make it ideal for easy swimming and snorkelling. Early in the day it is quiet, and in the middle of the day many boats arrive, which is a good reason to choose the first departure of your private tour.

Travellers often ask what to expect at Koh Poda. Expect a classic postcard beach, shade under the trees at the back and clear water with small fish close to shore. Your captain anchors where the water is calmest and you can swim as long as you like. If you are searching for a private Krabi island-hopping tour that includes the most beautiful beaches, this stop shows you why the islands are so popular.

Tub Island and Chicken Island

Tub Island is a small island whose sand spit curves out to sea. At low tide a ribbon of white sand emerges and links it with its neighbour, so that you can walk between the two across a sandbar surrounded by shallow water. The scene changes with the tide, which is why your captain times the visit carefully, and why this stop is a favourite for photographs.

Chicken Island lies close by and takes its name from a limestone rock whose silhouette looks like a chicken's head. Boats circle it slowly while you take pictures, and the water around it is clear enough for easy snorkelling. Many people search for the best islands to visit near Krabi, and these two together offer a walk on a sandbar, a snorkel and a good story within a few minutes by boat.

Hong Island and the Hong Lagoon

The Hong group of islands lies farther out and is known for its dramatic limestone walls and calm, jade-coloured water. Hong Island has a beach for swimming and a trail to a viewpoint above the islands, and the Hong Lagoon is a sheltered inner lagoon reached by a narrow channel, where the cliffs rise around you and the water is very still. In Thai the word hong means room, and that is exactly how the lagoon feels.

Visiting these islands needs a longer boat ride, which is why this tour runs for six hours. A private boat makes it easy to arrive before the main crowds and to enjoy the lagoon peacefully. Wear shoes if you plan the short viewpoint walk, as the path can be steep and slippery. The sea here can be rough in the rainy season, so your captain decides on the day whether the lagoon is safe to enter.

Koh Lao Lading

Koh Lao Lading is a pair of limestone islands with a hidden character, often described as a quiet gem. A small, shallow lagoon lies between the two, ringed by cliffs and a thin line of sand, and the water has a deep green colour that photographs beautifully. Few boats stop here for long, so you can often enjoy it in near silence.

This stop is for swimming, floating and photographs, as well as for watching the rock formations from the boat. If you wonder whether Koh Lao Lading is worth the longer trip, many guests say it is among the most peaceful moments of the day. Your captain takes the boat slowly through the channels and chooses the safest place to anchor according to the tide and wind.

Pakbia Island

Pakbia Island, or Koh Pak Bia, is a small island of the Hong group with soft white sand and clear, calm water. It is a pleasant place for the final swim of the day, with room to spread a towel on the beach and a shallow slope into the sea where small fish gather. The island is a good place to eat the fresh fruit that comes with your tour, which makes it a natural lunch-time stop.

The beach is also a good place to rest after a morning of swimming and snorkelling. Children can paddle in the shallows while adults relax in the shade, and your captain waits close by. When the sea is calm, the return journey along the coast gives you a different view of the same limestone islands, with the light changing in the afternoon.

The boat, the route and the best time to go

A long-tail boat is the traditional way to travel around the Krabi islands, and a private one gives you the whole boat to yourselves. The boat leaves from the Ao Nang area, and our team sends the exact pier with your confirmation. The captain chooses the order of the stops according to the tides, wind and crowds, so the route can vary a little from day to day.

The best time to visit the Krabi islands is the dry season from about November to April, when the sea is calm and the skies are clear. Between May and October the weather is wetter and some stops can be rough or closed, so the captain adapts the route. Bring sunscreen, a hat, swimwear and a towel, and note that national park fees are paid on the day.