Krabi Island Hopping Guide: Best Islands & Itineraries
From a budget-friendly day trip to a full-day Phi Phi excursion
Krabi's island scene spans a budget-friendly Four Islands day trip 30 minutes offshore to a full-day Phi Phi excursion covering Maya Bay, with genuinely different islands suited to different paces and budgets. Here's a real guide to where to go and how to plan it.
The best islands near Krabi
A narrow cliff entrance reached by kayak
Koh Hong (Hong Island). Part of Than Bok Khorani National Park, known for powdery white sand, dramatic limestone cliffs, and a postcard turquoise lagoon reached through a narrow cliff entrance by kayak. Tours run gentler and shorter than Phi Phi, 4 to 6 hours.
The Four Islands (Koh Poda, Koh Gai/Chicken Island, Koh Tup, Koh Mor). The budget classic, just 30 to 45 minutes by boat from Ao Nang. Koh Tup and Koh Mor connect via a natural sandbar, Talay Waek, visible at low tide, and the route includes Phra Nang Cave Beach.
Phi Phi Islands. Home to Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon, Viking Cave, and Monkey Beach. Best done either as a single long day trip or an overnight stay on Phi Phi Don for the evening atmosphere on Loh Dalum Bay after the day-trippers leave.
Koh Jum (Koh Pu). A quieter, more secluded island for travellers wanting to step away from the busier tourist routes.
Koh Lanta. Offers a genuine fishing-village atmosphere alongside its own island-hopping opportunities, a good pick for a slower-paced extension to your trip.
Koh Yao Yai and Koh Yao Noi. A less crowded island cluster further afield, worth considering if you want a genuinely different pace from the main Krabi island circuit.
Real prices and boat times
Only visible at low tide
| Island trip | Departs | Group tour cost | Private longtail cost | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phi Phi day trip | Ao Nang Pier, 9am/11am | 1,200–1,800 THB | 6,000–9,000 THB | Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon, Viking Cave |
| Hong Islands tour | Ao Nang/Nopparat Thara | 800–1,500 THB | 2,500–4,500 THB | Hong Lagoon, Pelay Beach |
| Four Islands tour | Ao Nang Pier | Bundled in day tour | Bundled in day tour | Sandbar, Phra Nang Cave Beach |
An honest note on when to go
Sourced from thailandhighlights.com's how to plan a trip to Krabi 2026 guide, byklo.rent's Krabi travel guide 2026, hoponworld.com's Krabi island hopping 10 stunning islands guide, chaseforadventure.com's discover the best islands in Krabi guide, agoda.com's island hopping in Krabi travel tips guide, and holidaydeals.my's Thailand island hopping itinerary 2026.
Sample itineraries by trip length
Once the day-tripper crowds have left
3 to 4 days (the highlights): Day 1, arrive and settle in. Day 2, Four Islands day trip. Day 3, Railay Beach and rock climbing or a relaxed beach day. Day 4, one inland activity, Tiger Cave Temple or the Emerald Pool.
5 to 7 days (Krabi plus Koh Lanta loop): Add 2 to 3 days on Koh Lanta after your Krabi island days, giving you both the main Krabi circuit and Lanta's quieter fishing-village pace.
7 to 10 days (add a Phi Phi overnight): Extend with an overnight stay on Phi Phi Don rather than a rushed single-day trip, letting you experience Loh Dalum Bay's evening atmosphere once the day-tripper crowds have left.
Practical tips
Book the Four Islands tour if you're short on time or travelling with kids, it's the shortest, gentlest route and consistently described as the budget classic for a reason.
Choose an overnight Phi Phi stay over a single-day trip if your schedule allows, the evening on Loh Dalum Bay is specifically named as a highlight once day-trippers depart.
Travel between November and March for the most reliable island hopping conditions, and confirm ferry schedules directly if travelling in the May to October window.
Check the tide timing for Talay Waek sandbar between Koh Tup and Koh Mor, it's only visible at low tide, worth timing your visit around this if it's a priority.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Booking island tours for the May to October low season without checking current conditions, ferries can be cancelled outright during this period, not just discounted.
- Trying to fit Phi Phi, Hong Islands, and the Four Islands into a single rushed day, each route has its own character and is better experienced without stacking too many into one trip.
- Assuming Koh Hong and the Four Islands offer the same experience, Koh Hong's lagoon requires a kayak entry through a cliff passage, a distinctly different, slower-paced visit than the sandbar-hopping Four Islands route.
- Skipping an overnight on Phi Phi Don in favour of only a day trip if you have the extra time, the island's atmosphere shifts noticeably once the day-tripper boats leave.