Krabi and Ao Nang day trips: which ones to pick?

The 8 best day trips from Krabi

From Ao Nang most trips leave from the beach itself, so the price rarely hides a long transfer.

4 Islands tour: longtail or speedboat?

Ao Nang's signature trip, and the one where the choice of boat changes everything.

The route never varies: Phra Nang beach beneath the Railay cliffs, Chicken Island and its rock shaped like a chicken's head, Koh Tub joined to Koh Mor by a sandbar at low tide, then Koh Poda for lunch. The islands are close together, so no leg by longtail takes more than 20 minutes.

A longtail is slower and wetter, but it costs two to three times less and gives the trip its real charm. A speedboat buys you one thing: an earlier start or a Hong Islands add-on. Either way, ask for a departure before 9 am so you reach Tub before high tide and the big groups.

The same islands can also be done late in the day: the sunset trip leaves Ao Nang in the early afternoon, mixes snorkelling and beach time, serves dinner on board and ends with a night swim, when the plankton glows with every stroke. It is the best option if you hate early starts, but it only runs in the dry season.

Hong Islands: why they are worth the extra distance

45 minutes by longtail north of Ao Nang, in a different national park with a different pace.

Koh Hong hides a lagoon enclosed by cliffs, entered by kayak or, at high tide, by boat. The standard tour adds Koh Lao Lading, a small beach made for snorkelling, and Koh Pakbia. The park fee is 300 THB per adult, paid in cash at the park jetty.

This is our favourite trip from Krabi, because it offers Phang Nga-style scenery without the James Bond Island crowds. By speedboat many tours combine Hong and the 4 Islands on the same day: good value if you only have one day for the sea.

Phi Phi and Phang Nga from Krabi: worth the journey?

Two famous trips that work from Krabi, one closer than from Phuket and one further.

Phi Phi is 45 minutes to an hour by speedboat from Ao Nang, less than from Phuket. A typical tour takes in Maya Bay, Pileh, Viking Cave, Bamboo Island and a snorkelling stop. If you can, spend a night on Koh Phi Phi instead: Maya Bay at dawn is nothing like Maya Bay at noon. The bay's rules are in our Maya Bay guide.

Phang Nga Bay is further: about 1.5 hours by road to the pier before you board. It is worth it if you are not passing through Phuket; otherwise do it from there. Everything is covered in James Bond Island.

Railay, Emerald Pool and the jungle: trips on land

Great days out that do not depend on the sea.

Railay is reachable only by boat, but the longtail from Ao Nang beach costs about 100 THB per person and leaves once it is full. Go on your own: Phra Nang beach, the offerings cave, the viewpoint and lagoon for the nimble, and sport climbing for climbers. See also Krabi and Railay.

An hour's drive southeast, Emerald Pool is a turquoise pool in the middle of the forest, and the nearby hot waterfall forms natural tubs at around 40 °C. Entry to Emerald Pool is 400 THB; the hot waterfall, a short drive away, is paid separately. Arrive before 10 am: in the afternoon the pools fill with tour groups.

Tiger Cave Temple (Wat Tham Suea) near Krabi Town has to be earned: 1,260 steps to the top for a view across the whole province. Climb at opening time with two litres of water, and cover shoulders and knees.

What to skip

The most common traps along the Ao Nang promenade.

• Buying a tour just to reach Railay: the public longtail is enough.
• 'Phi Phi + 4 Islands' in one day: too much boat, too little beach.
• Elephant camps offering rides or bathing around Krabi: we never recommend them.
• Longtail trips between June and September when the red flag is up: the agency will refund you, do not push it.
• 'Jungle tours' that include chained monkeys or photos with animals.

How to choose for your trip

The golden rule in Krabi: alternate a sea day and a land day.

1. 1Three days: the 4 Islands, Railay on your own, then Hong.
2. 2One week: add Emerald Pool and Tiger Cave, then a night on Phi Phi or Koh Lanta.
3. 3May to October: Emerald Pool, kayaking at Ao Thalane and sheltered Phang Nga; open sea only when it is calm.
4. 4With children: the 4 Islands by speedboat, short and varied, and Emerald Pool.

To cut journey times, see where to stay in Krabi: Ao Nang is closest to the boats, Krabi Town to the land trips.

Booking day trips in Krabi

Every Ao Nang agency sells the same tours; the difference lies in the departure time and group size.

For longtail trips, the booth on Ao Nang beach has fixed, posted prices and is often the simplest option. For speedboats and land trips with transfers, booking online lets you compare reviews, choose a small group and cancel free of charge if the weather turns.

Responsible day trips in Krabi

Our recommendations follow three rules, no exceptions.

• No elephant riding and no elephant bathing.
• No animal shows and no photos with monkeys or slow lorises.
• No Maya Bay during its closure, no standing on coral, no feeding the fish.
• Mineral sunscreen, and take your rubbish home.