Island tours from Ao Nang: Four Islands, Hong and Phi Phi compared

Four boat days dominate the tour desks along the beach road: the Four Islands trip, the Hong Islands, Phi Phi and a private longtail you design yourself. They differ in length, crowds and how much time you spend on the water versus in the sand. The Ao Nang travel guide lists the other things to do, and this page settles the boat day, as part of a Thailand trip that includes more than one coast.

The short answer: take the Four Islands day for a first visit, the Hong Islands if you want a lagoon and calmer coves, Phi Phi only if you are happy with a long day, and a private longtail if you are a small group that wants to choose. No tour is the best in every way, so the sections below show what each one trades.

Before choosing, decide where you will sleep. Pick-ups differ by area, and the where to stay in Ao Nang guide shows which bases collect easily. Staying north at Noppharat Thara or Klong Muang can add time to a day tour if the boat leaves from a pier in the center.

The Four Islands day is the classic first trip from Ao Nang. It usually links a group of small islands and coves near the coast, including Ko Poda, Chicken Island (Ko Kai) and Tup Island (Ko Thap), with snorkeling stops and beach time. The Tourism Authority of Thailand describes a sandbar called Thale Waek that links Ko Kai, Ko Thap and Ko Mo at the lowest tide, visible for about five days either side of the 15th day of the waxing moon, with a visiting season from November to early May. The exact stops depend on the operator and the day, so do not book on the promise of a sandbar walk without asking about the tide.

It is popular because the boat rides are short and the stops are varied. You swim, snorkel and walk on a beach in the same day without a long crossing. That also means crowds: a typical day shares each beach with several other boats, and the best photographs are early or late.

Ask for the itinerary line by line. Some operators visit all four islands, others cut stops to save time, and the lunch stop can be a beach barbecue or a packed meal. Check whether the tour starts with the busiest stop or ends with it, because the order changes how crowded each place feels.

Fit matters too: the day suits first-time visitors, families and anyone who wants a mix of snorkeling and beach time. It suits less well if you hate sharing a beach or want a quiet lagoon, in which case the Hong Islands do better.

The Hong Islands are a small group inside Than Bok Khorani National Park, north of Ao Nang, known for a lagoon enclosed by limestone cliffs and for clear shallow water. The Tourism Authority of Thailand singles out Ko Hong for swimming and snorkeling, and the lagoon is the main stop. Because the islands are small, the day is calmer than Phi Phi, but boats from several operators arrive at similar times.

A good Hong day is early. Many small-group and longtail trips aim to reach the lagoon before the larger tour boats, which gives you quiet water for a swim or a kayak paddle. Ask the operator when the boat reaches the lagoon, and whether the plan changes if the tide or wind is wrong.

This is the day to choose if you want less boat time than Phi Phi and a more natural setting than the Four Islands. It is less suited to travelers who prefer many beach stops, since the focus is a few places rather than many.

Phi Phi is the best-known island group, with the limestone cliffs of Phi Phi Leh, snorkeling bays and the port town on Phi Phi Don. Day trips from Ao Nang use a fast boat, and the crossing is the longest of the four options, so the day is long. If you want to spend more time on the islands, consider staying on Phi Phi rather than doing it as a day trip; the Ko Phi-Phi guide covers that choice.

Maya Bay on Phi Phi Leh is a special case. It sits inside Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, which closed it for years to let the reef recover. When it reopened, the Tourism Authority of Thailand said daily visitor numbers would be controlled, and that boats would use a jetty at Loh Samah Bay on the opposite side of the island. A TAT newsroom listing of national park closures also shows Maya Bay, Loh Samah Bay and Loko Bay closed from 1 August to 30 September. Rules can change, so check the current status with the operator and the national park, and do not plan a tour around a swim you may not be able to take.

The trade-offs are length and crowds. Speedboats are fast but loud, and sea conditions matter more on a long crossing, so Phi Phi tours are the first to cancel when the swell rises. If you are prone to seasickness, take a medication and sit toward the middle of the boat.

For most travelers the Four Islands day is the best value. Move to the Hong Islands or a private longtail if crowds bother you, and take Phi Phi only if you have a long day to spare.

The differences between operators matter more than the name of the tour. Ask the same questions of each desk and compare the answers.

Start with fees. National park or marine park entry is commonly charged per person and often listed separately from the tour price. Ask whether it is included, how much it is, and whether it is collected before you board or on the way. Get the answer in writing, and carry enough baht to cover it.

Then ask about the boat and the group. How many people will be on board? Is it a longtail, a speedboat or a larger boat? Are life jackets provided, and is there shade? Does the price include snorkel gear, fruit, water and lunch? A smaller group at the same price is almost always the better offer.

Finally, ask how the operator handles a weather cancellation. A good one will refund or rebook without a fee. If you book through a hotel or a desk, check the refund rule in writing, and do not assume a cancelled tour is refundable.

The dry season, roughly November to early May, is the calmest, with clear water and the most departures. The Thai Meteorological Department dates the start of the rainy season from the middle of May, when the southwest monsoon sets in over the Andaman Sea. From about May to October, swell and rain mean island tours run less often. Phi Phi and other longer crossings stop first, and operators may swap a stop for a shorter one on a bad day. The best time to visit Thailand page shows how the Andaman and Gulf coasts differ.

The UK government warns that people have drowned in strong riptides off Thai coasts, especially in monsoon season, that jellyfish come closer to shore in the rainy season from May to October, and that Thailand uses a flag system at designated beaches, so follow the warning flags. Plan your tour early in the stay, and leave a spare day before your flight so a cancellation does not leave you with nothing. If seas are rough, ask about an inland alternative: the Railay beaches by a short crossing, or an inland day to the Emerald Pool and the Khlong Thom hot springs, both listed by the Tourism Authority of Thailand among the things to do in Krabi. The Ao Nang or Railay page explains how to cross.

Choose the Four Islands day if you are traveling with children or older relatives, because the stops are close together and the hardest thing you will do is climb onto a beach. Choose the Hong Islands if the lagoon is the picture in your head and you can be at the pier early. Choose Phi Phi only if you have already seen the other two or you are staying nearby, and accept that part of the day is spent crossing open water.

Skip the long-crossing options if you are prone to seasickness, if you are traveling in the wet season, or if you have a flight the next morning. A cancelled boat is annoying on day two of a week and a real problem on the last day. If you are unsure, book the shorter day first and add a second tour only after you have seen how the sea behaves.

Compare cover in the travel insurance guides, get a plan in the connectivity guide, and browse other bookable days in the tours and tickets guide. If you want a bigger boat day to the karst bay north, the Ao Phang-Nga Marine Park page covers it.