The 4 Islands Tour is Krabi’s best-known excursion, and that’s no coincidence: in a single day you see four of the most beautiful spots on the coast, with the highlight being the sandbank that emerges at low tide and connects the little islands. In this guide, you’ll find out exactly what to expect from the tour, which version suits you best, and what to watch out for.
Tip: This article is part of our larger guide to the best excursions in Krabi. Read that guide too for the other top excursions and practical tips!
Check out the 4 Islands excursionsAt a Glance
Price: from ± 650 THB p.p. (longtail) / ± 1,100 THB p.p. (speedboat), excl. park fee (± 400 THB)
Duration: full day, approx. 9:00–16:00 (half day also possible)
Departure: Ao Nang or Noppharat Thara pier
Best for: a first introduction to the islands of Krabi
What Is the 4 Islands Tour?
The tour combines four spots off the coast of Ao Nang, all within Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park:
- Koh Poda: Krabi’s best-known little island, with a broad white beach and the classic view of the limestone cliff just offshore. This is usually where lunch is served.
- Koh Gai (Chicken Island): named after the rock formation that juts out of the sea like a chicken’s head. This is the best snorkelling stop on the tour, with plenty of fish in shallow water.
- Koh Tup & Koh Mor with Thale Waek: the highlight. At low tide, a sandbank emerges here that connects the little islands, so you can walk from one island to the other dry (or with the sea up to your ankles).
- Phra Nang Cave Beach: technically not an island but the tip of the Railay peninsula, and one of the most beautiful beaches in Thailand, with the well-known princess cave in the cliffs.
Longtail Boat or Speedboat?
Both options make the same four stops; the difference is in pace and atmosphere. The traditional longtail boat is cheaper and more atmospheric (this is where you get the photos with the colourful ribbons on the bow), but slower and without shade on some boats. The speedboat is faster between stops, which gives you more time at the islands themselves, for a higher price. Given the short distances on this tour, the longtail is the most enjoyable choice for most travellers; anyone who gets seasick easily or is travelling with young children is often more comfortable on a speedboat.
Besides the standard day tour, there’s also a sunset version: it departs in the afternoon, combines the islands with a barbecue at sunset, and ends with a swim among bioluminescent plankton in the dark.
Practical Tips
- Check the tide. The Thale Waek sandbank is only fully visible around low tide. Good tour operators plan their route around it.
- Go early or choose the sunset tour. Koh Poda and Phra Nang Cave Beach are at their busiest in the middle of the day. The earliest departure times and the sunset version avoid the peak.
- Bring cash for the park fee. The national park fee (about 400 THB per adult, half price for children) is almost never included in the tour price and is collected in cash.
- Water shoes and a dry bag make it more comfortable. You’ll step in and out of the boat through shallow water several times.
Prices and Duration
A group tour by longtail boat costs around 650 to 1,000 THB per person, by speedboat 1,100 to 1,500 THB, usually including lunch, fruit, drinking water and hotel pickup in Ao Nang. The National Park entrance fee comes on top of that separately. A full-day tour runs roughly from 9:00 to 16:00; half-day versions are also available. Private longtails can be chartered by the boat and are surprisingly affordable with a small group.
The tour departs from Ao Nang or the pier at Noppharat Thara; if you’re staying there, you’ll be closest to the departure point. Check out our guide to hotels in Ao Nang if you still need to choose your home base.
Frequently Asked Questions about the 4 Islands Tour
Is the 4 Islands Tour suitable for children?
Yes, this is one of the most child-friendly island tours in Thailand: short boat rides, shallow swimming water and the sandbank as a natural playground. Consider choosing a speedboat for a bit more comfort.
Can you visit the 4 Islands without a tour?
Partly: at Ao Nang beach, you can charter a private longtail and set your own route. With 4 or more people, that’s often not much pricier than a group tour, and you avoid the fixed stop times. A simple private longtail boat costs around 4,000-5,000 THB for up to 6 people. Luxury boats cost more. Note: lunch, fruit and drinking water are not included when you rent a private longtail boat.
When is the Thale Waek sandbank visible?
Around low tide, which falls at a different time each day. At spring tide (around full and new moon), the sandbank is at its widest. Tour operators factor this into their planning.
Can you do the tour all year round?
In the dry season (November through April), everything runs daily. In the rainy season, the tours mostly go ahead as normal, but in rough seas (especially September and October), they can be adjusted or cancelled.
Conclusion
The 4 Islands Tour isn’t Krabi’s classic for nothing: nowhere else do you see so many highlights of this coast in one relaxed day. Choose the longtail for the atmosphere or the speedboat for comfort, plan around low tide for the sandbank, and keep cash on hand for the National Park entrance fee.
Check out the 4 Islands excursions
