About this tour
When Em from our team booked a private long-tail boat charter out of Krabi, we had options: Hong Islands, Phi Phi, or the Four Islands route. This is the move if you want to skip the cattle-car speedboat tours and anchor where you choose. Eight hours on the water with a local guide, snorkelling gear included, and the boat to yourself (or shared with your crew). Krabi's limestone karsts rise around you, the water's warm, and you'll actually swim in places without fifty other tourists. Pick your route based on what calls to you — each has different island combos and park fees.
Highlights
- Private long-tail boat means no schedules dictated by group departures
- Four snorkelling stops per route, gear and insurance both covered
- Chicken Island's dramatic limestone and calm turquoise shallows
- Hong Lagoon emerald water — paddling in feels genuinely remote
- VIP boats include snacks, water, fruit, and actual cushioned seating
- Local guide navigates tides and knows quieter anchorages
- Pickup from Aonang area removes the pre-dawn scramble elsewhere
What to expect
You'll meet your guide and driver at your hotel in Aonang in the early morning, then head to the pier. The long-tail boat — a traditional wooden craft with an outboard motor — gets going once you're aboard. Expect the journey to feel unhurried compared to packed tour boats; your guide will read the conditions and hit the best snorkel spots when they're clearest. You'll anchor at three or four islands depending on your route, wade or swim ashore, and have time to explore caves, beaches, or just float. The boat becomes a base — you return for shade, water, and regrouping.
Water temperature is warm year-round, but the boat rocks on open crossings, so anyone prone to motion sickness should take precautions. Lunch isn't included, but you can bring food or buy snacks near the pier. The pace feels relaxed rather than rushed, though eight hours does involve actual travel time between islands, not just swimming.
What travellers say
- Private boat, your pace — no group schedule herding
- Snorkelling gear and insurance included in base price
- Local guide knows tides, currents, quieter anchorages
- VIP option adds creature comforts and sustenance
- Pickup from Aonang area simplifies logistics
- Park entrance fees 200–400 baht per island, not included upfront
- Open-water bouncing may trigger motion sickness on rough days
- Early morning starts standard; late risers should brace for it
- Full sun exposure all day — sunburn risk without protection
Themes summarised by our team from public information about this tour. Verify specifics on the operator's page before booking.
Good to know
You're not herded with 50 other tourists. The guide steers; you explore. Snorkelling gear, life jackets, and insurance are baked in. If you pay extra for the English guide and VIP boat amenities (cushions, snacks, juice), the day feels posh without being stuffy. Pickup from Aonang saves faffing about with transport.
Park entrance fees aren't included — you'll pay 200–400 baht per island depending on which route you choose, and they add up. The boat ride itself can be bouncy on rough crossings if you're sensitive to motion. Not suitable if you have back issues, are pregnant, or have cardiovascular concerns. You'll need moderate fitness; beaches involve wading and some rock scrambling. Early starts are standard, and you're exposed to sun all day — reef-safe sunscreen and a hat are non-negotiable.
Pickup from Krabi town or other beaches costs an extra 500 baht. Packed lunches are 1,000 baht per six people if you want one. Check the weather — the best visibility and calmest water are October to April. Peak season (December–February) means more boats around, even on private charters.
Tour sold and operated by Viator via Viator. Descriptions on this page are original BugBitten summaries written by our team — not copied from the operator. Prices and availability are confirmed at checkout.