The Four Islands tour is the classic Krabi day out, and the one trip most first-timers should book. It loops four limestone islands just off Ao Nang — snorkelling, swimming, and a sandbar you can walk across at low tide — and it’s cheap, easy and reliably good in the dry season. Here’s how to pick the right version and what actually happens on the day.
The short version
- The four: Koh Poda, Chicken Island (Koh Kai), Tup Island and Phra Nang Cave beach.
- Group price: from about ฿900 (US$26) per adult by longtail; speedboats around ฿950 and up.
- On top: a ฿400 national park fee (฿200 child), paid in cash at the pier — not included in the tour price.
- Longtail or speedboat? Longtail is cheaper and more relaxed; speedboat is faster and covers more water.
- Best moment: the low-tide sandbar linking Tup and its neighbours — time your trip for it if you can.
- Book through activities; base in Ao Nang for easy pickups.
The four islands
Koh Poda. The headline stop — a broad white-sand beach, shallow clear water, and the distinctive Poda pinnacle rock offshore. Good swimming and snorkelling, and usually where lunch is served.
Chicken Island (Koh Kai). Named for a limestone spur that really does look like a chicken’s head. The snorkelling around it is some of the best on the loop.
Tup Island (Koh Tup) and neighbours. At low tide a sandbar surfaces and joins Tup to Chicken Island and Koh Mor, so you can walk between islands in ankle-deep water. It’s the trip’s signature moment and the shot everyone wants.
Phra Nang Cave beach. The same stunning beach on the Railay peninsula covered in the Railay guide — clear water under a giant cliff, with the cave shrine at one end.
Longtail vs speedboat
Longtail. The traditional wooden boats. Cheaper (from about ฿900), slower, breezier and more relaxed, with smaller groups on the classic version. You feel closer to the water. The trade-off is time — you spend more of the day travelling and cover less ground, and a rougher sea is felt more.
Speedboat. Faster and drier, so you get more time on the islands and can be paired with farther stops. Prices start around ฿950 and climb with inclusions. Groups tend to be larger. Better if you want to maximise island time or the sea is up.
For a first Four Islands trip in calm weather, the longtail is the more characterful choice and the better value. Take the speedboat if you’re short on time or want a combined itinerary.
Group vs private
Group / join-in tours are what the prices above refer to — you share the boat with others on a set route and timetable. Cheapest and perfectly good.
Private charter puts a whole longtail at your disposal for a set number of hours, so you set the route, skip stops you don’t want and dodge the crowds by going early or late. It costs several times a group seat but splits well across a family or group, and the freedom is real. Worth it if crowds are your main worry.
What it costs, all in
- Tour seat: from ฿900 (longtail) or ฿950+ (speedboat) per adult.
- National park fee: ฿400 adult, ฿200 child, paid in cash at the pier. Budget for it — it’s not in the headline price.
- Longtail pickup surcharge: some operators add about ฿100 per person for hotels up at Klong Muang, Tubkaek and Krabi Town.
- Extras: most tours include a mask and snorkel, lunch and water. Check before booking so you’re not double-paying.
So a realistic all-in for a group longtail trip is roughly ฿1,300–1,500 (US$38–44) per adult once the park fee is in.
What the day looks like
Pickups from Ao Nang hotels are usually 8–9am (later for afternoon tours). You board at the pier, pay the park fee, and start the loop with snorkelling and swimming stops, lunch on Koh Poda or a beach, and time on the sandbar if the tide plays along. Group longtail trips are back by mid-to-late afternoon; speedboats often a touch earlier. It’s an easy, family-friendly day — just bring sun protection and cash.
Tips to make it better
- Go early or private to beat the crowds. The islands are busiest late morning; the first and last boats get the best of them.
- Check the tide for the sandbar. It only appears at low tide. If walking between islands is the dream, book a date and time that lines up.
- Weather rules. In green season the sea can be rough and trips cancelled — build a spare day into your plans.
- Reef-safe sunscreen, and reapply. You’ll be in and out of the water for hours.
- Carry small cash for the park fee, drinks and vendors.
What to bring
Pack light but right. Reef-safe sunscreen and a hat are non-negotiable — you’ll be exposed for hours. Bring a dry bag for your phone and valuables (longtails and speedboats both get wet), sandals you can wade in, a towel, and a light layer for the breeze on the water. Carry cash in small notes for the national park fee, drinks and any vendor. If you burn easily, a rash vest beats reapplying sunscreen all day. Leave anything you’d hate to lose at the hotel; boats are cramped and things get wet or dropped.
Sunset and combined versions
Beyond the standard day loop, two variations are worth knowing. A sunset or late-afternoon tour runs the same islands but times you onto the beaches as the crowds thin and the light softens — quieter and cheaper, though with less time in the water. And combined tours pair a couple of the Four Islands with farther stops (some fold in parts of the Hong group or extra snorkelling sites) on a speedboat, packing more into a day if you’d rather not do two separate island trips. For a first, unhurried taste of Krabi’s islands, the classic morning longtail loop is still the pick; the variations suit repeat visitors or tight schedules.
Common questions
Is it good for kids? Yes — it’s a gentle, shallow-water day, and the sandbar is a hit with children. Life jackets are provided.
Can I do it in green season? Sometimes. The sea decides, and operators cancel when it’s unsafe, so keep a spare day and don’t pre-book non-refundable in the wettest months. See best time to visit.
Four Islands or Hong Islands? Do the Four Islands first for the classic loop and the sandbar; add the quieter Hong Islands as a second, arguably prettier island day.
Is snorkelling gear included? Usually a mask and snorkel are, but confirm when you book so you’re not caught out or double-paying.
How it fits your trip
The Four Islands is the day to do first — see the 3-day itinerary, which builds around it. If you want a second, quieter island day, the Hong Islands are the pick; if you’ll trade crowds for the famous scenery, add Phi Phi. Base in Ao Nang for the simplest pickups, sort your room on the hotels list, and book the boat a day ahead through activities.
