Looking for the best islands in Krabi? This Krabi Island hopping guide is exactly what you need!
Crystal-clear waters home to a colorful underwater world, glistening white-sand beaches and soaring karst cliffs are what entice travelers to this part of Thailand.
From the most popular islands like Koh Hong, Koh Poda, or Phuket to underrated ones like Koh Yao Noi or Koh Talabeng, there’s an island in Krabi for every type of traveler.
So, whether you’re spending 4 days in Krabi or even a week, this guide will show you a list of the best islands to add to your Krabi Island hopping list! You’ll also find information on how to get to the islands and all the best things to do in each.
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Read more about Krabi:
- 20 best places to visit in Krabi
- How to spend 4 days in Krabi Thailand?
- 15 best beaches in Krabi to visit
- Ultimate Krabi neighborhood guide: Best places to stay
- 8 Best Krabi excursions and day trips
- Krabi Town: 8 best things to do
- Best beaches in Ao Nang Krabi
Krabi Island Hopping Guide
Koh Lanta
If you’re looking for a non-touristy island in Krabi far from the crowds, Koh Lanta is perfect for you. The entire west coast is lined with deserted beaches boasting some of the most epic sunset views. The best beaches in Koh Lanta include Nui Bay, Bamboo Bay, and Ba Kantiang beach.
Some of the top activities in Koh Lanta include hiking to Klong Chak waterfall (best during the rainy season), visiting Mu Koh Lanta National Park to see the lighthouse and hike the jungle trail, watching fire shows on the beach, listening to live music at the beach bars or just driving around the island on a motorbike to uncover its hidden gems.
To get to Koh Lanta, you can take a shared minivan from Krabi Airport, Ao Nang, or Krabi Town which costs around 500 baht. Alternatively, you can get there by speedboat or ferry.
CLICK HERE TO BOOK A TRANSFER TO KOH LANTA
Where to stay in Koh Lanta: Oasis Yoga Bungalow is located just a few minutes walk from Klong Dao Beach. There are several restaurants nearby or you can eat at their onisite restaurant. They also offer yoga classes at a discounted rate for guests. Click here for the latest price and availability
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HOTELS IN KOH LANTA
Related post: 18 best things to do on Koh Lanta Thailand
Hong Island
For one of the best islands in Krabi, look no further than Hong Island (or Koh Hong), home to one of the best beaches in Krabi. If you’re visiting as part of a tour from Krabi, you’ll also be able to visit Lading Island, Pak Bia Island, and Hong Lagoon for swimming and snorkeling.
Hong Lagoon can be accessed through a small opening in the limestone cliffs. The crystal-clear water and the tall limestone cliffs surrounding the lagoon definitely make it one of the most magical places in all of Thailand.
Once on Hong Island, you can relax on the beach, go for a swim or snorkel in the lagoon. You can also walk along the small jungle trail that goes around the island or visit Hong Island viewpoint which can be accessed by climbing a set of stairs consisting of over 400 steps. Don’t be put off by the number of steps as the 360-degree view is absolutely worth it.
To get to Hong Island, you can either join a guided tour, take a public boat from Ao Nang for around 500 baht or rent a private longtail boat for about 2,500 baht. Note that you need to pay a national park fee of 300 baht for adults and 100 baht for children.
CLICK HERE TO BOOK A TOUR OF HONG ISLAND (INCL. LUNCH)
Related post: Guide to visiting Hong Island in Krabi
Koh Yao Noi and Koh Yao Yai
Koh Yao Noi is a small secluded island located between Phuket and Krabi. It’s fairly underdeveloped compared to other islands near Krabi making it the perfect place to go if you want to skip the crowds. There are still enough facilities like hotels and resorts, restaurants, ATMs, and a 7/11.
One of the best things to do there is to hop on a motorbike and explore the island in search of empty beaches like Klong Jark and Pasai Beach. You can also take a day trip to Koh Yao Yai to visit the beautiful sandbar on Laem Had beach.
It’s also recommended to visit the small island of Koh Nok. During low tide, you can walk across the sandbar that connects Koh Yao Noi to Koh Nok and swim in its crystal clear waters.
The fastest way to get to Koh Yao Noi is to take a speedboat from Ao Nang. For more convenience, I recommend booking your speedboat to Koh Yao Noi in advance (it also includes hotel pickup).
CLICK HERE TO BOOK A TRANSFER TO KOH YAO NOI
Alternatively, you can take a taxi to Thalane Pier (40 minutes from Ao Nang). The boat leaves every hour and the ride lasts about 40 minutes. Tickets for longtail boats cost about 150 baht.
Where to stay in Koh Yao Noi: Sabai Corner Bungalow is one of the few budget options on the island. It’s located right on the beach and features treehouse-like bungalows equipped with a private bathroom. Click here for the latest price and availability
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HOTELS IN KOH YAO NOI
Related post: Koh Yao Noi Travel Guide
Koh Poda
Thanks to its stunning limestone cliffs, crystal clear water, and powdery white sand beach, Koh Poda is without a doubt one of the most beautiful islands in Krabi.
For this reason, it tends to attract hordes of tourists. If you want to enjoy the island with minimal crowds, plan on getting there super early or head further away from the main drop-off point.
To get there, you need to take a longtail boat from Ao Nang. Tickets cost about 300 baht and the boat runs daily from 8 a.m to 4 p.m.
Alternatively, you can also rent a private longtail boat for about 2,500 baht or book a Krabi 4 island tour including a visit to Koh Poda for a cheaper alternative. Note that you’ll need to pay a national park fee to visit Koh Poda.
CLICK HERE TO BOOK A KRABI 4 ISLAND TOUR (INCL. LUNCH)
Related post: 10 day Thailand Itinerary guide
Chicken Island
Another stop worth adding to your Krabi Island hopping list is Chicken Island, also known as Ko Kai. The best part about Chicken Island is the sandbar that connects the island to Koh Tub and Koh Mor. During low tide, you can wade through the water and explore the neighboring islands.
Chicken Island is also a great snorkeling spot. If you’re taking a Krabi four island tour, the boat will usually stop here for snorkeling and you’ll be able to spot lots of colorful fish. Apart from swimming, you can hike to the viewpoint overlooking the sandbar, Koh Tub, and Koh Mor.
To get from Ao Nang Krabi to Chicken Island, you can take a longtail boat (about 300 baht, join a guided tour or rent a private longtail boat.
Similar to Koh Poda, access to Chicken Island requires a national park fee. If you’re visiting as part of a four island tour, you’ll only pay for the park fee once.
CLICK HERE TO BOOK A KRABI 4 ISLAND TOUR (INCL. LUNCH)
Related post: 15 most beautiful beaches in the Krabi province
Koh Talabeng
Koh Talabeng is a small uninhabited island located on the east coast of Koh Lanta. Known for its secluded beaches and cave formations, Koh Talabeng is best visited as a day trip from Koh Lanta.
The best way to explore the island is to join a guided kayaking tour available as a half-day or full-day tour from Koh Lanta.
You’ll be taken on a longtail boat to Koh Phee (Ghost Island) first before jumping on a kayak to paddle to Koh Talabeng where you’ll have the opportunity to visit a secluded beach and some caves as well.
Related post: Top things to do in Krabi in 4 days
Koh Phi Phi
Koh Phi Phi is by far the most popular island in Krabi, if not the whole of Thailand. It features crystal clear waters, fine white sand, and loads of things to do. It’s also home to Maya Bay made famous by The Beach movie.
Until recently, the beach was closed to the public to help restore the ecosystem but was reopened at the beginning of 2022 and now a 400 baht national park fee is required to enter.
While on Koh Phi Phi, hike up to the viewpoint (there are three viewpoints on the island and my guide to the Phi Phi Island viewpoints will show you how to find them). You can also go snorkeling, hire a longtail boat to explore the nearby islands, go beach hopping, and explore Ton Sai village.
If you’re short on time, you can take a Koh Phi Phi tour from Krabi or if you plan on spending a few days on the island, you can take a speedboat from Ao Nang to Koh Phi Phi.
Make sure to read my Krabi to Koh Phi Phi transport guide for more details!
CLICK HERE TO BOOK A KOH PHI PHI DAY TOUR (INCL. LUNCH)
Where to stay in Koh Phi Phi: U Rip Resort is a beachfront property situated about a 15-minute walk from Ton Sai pier. It features modern and spacious rooms with a private bathroom as well as a massive outdoor pool. Click here for the latest price and availability
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HOTELS IN KOH PHI PHI
Related post: 7 Best beaches on Phi Phi Islands
Koh Tub and Koh Mor
Koh Tub and Koh Mor are two small islands located about a 30-minute boat ride from Ao Nang. At low tide, these two islands are connected to the more famous Chicken Island by a beautiful sandbar. There isn’t much to do here apart from relaxing, sunbathing, or snorkeling.
The islands can be visited as part of a 4 island tour or you can take the public boat from Ao Nang.
Phuket
There’s no doubt that Phuket is the most popular island near Krabi. Between the busy Bangla Street filled with rows of bars and restaurants, the white-sand beaches like Freedom beach, Kata beach, and Surin beach or the colorful Phuket Old Town with its colorful Chinese shophouses, there’s a huge number of things to do in Phuket.
Don’t miss a visit to the iconic Big Buddha statue perched at the top of Nakkerd Hills which offers a breathtaking 360-degree view of the whole island.
Kayaking around the karst cliffs of Phang Nga Bay, eating your weight in street food at the night markets, hiking the 2.5-km trail to Ton Chong Fa waterfall, or seeking out the magnificent vistas at Karon viewpoint, Promthep Cape viewpoint or Laem Sing viewpoint are also some of the must-dos while in Phuket.
You can get from Bangkok to Phuket by plane, train, or bus. There are also direct international flights to Phuket from the UK, France, Germany, or Singapore.
Alternatively, you can take a ferry if you’re coming from other nearby islands like Koh Phi Phi or Koh Yao Noi.
Lading Island
When taking a tour of Hong Island, you’ll make a stop at a small sandy beach on Lading Island. The island is surrounded by huge limestone cliffs and dense vegetation. The water is filled with an abundance of colorful fish making it a great place for snorkeling.
CLICK HERE TO BOOK A TOUR OF HONG ISLAND AND LADING ISLAND
Koh Lipe
If you’re looking for the ultimate paradise island near Krabi, Koh Lipe should definitely be on your bucket list. Part of the Tarutao National Park, this small island is located near the Malaysian border and is home to some of the most gorgeous beaches.
The most popular thing to do on Koh Lipe is snorkeling since the lagoon is filled with an abundance of colorful marine life. You can also head in for a dip at one of the three main beaches – Sunrise beach, Sunset beach, and Pattaya beach.
Another great thing to do is to take a day trip to Koh Adang. The island can be reached in 10-15 minutes by longtail boat. Once on the island, hike to Chado Cliff viewpoint for the best view of Koh Lipe, swim at one of the empty beaches or visit Pirate waterfall.
Where to stay in Koh Lipe: Sangchan Hostel is a great option for budget travelers. It features both private and dorm rooms. The location is perfect as it’s situated in the middle of the walking street where you’ll find a great selection of restaurants and bars. Click here for the latest price and availability
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HOTELS IN KOH LIPE
Related post: Guide to visiting Koh Lipe
As you can see, Krabi is home to so many gorgeous islands. I hope you found this Krabi Island hopping guide helpful. Let me know in the comment section below if you have any questions.
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- Koh Lipe Thailand: Top things to do
- 18 best activities to do in Koh Lanta
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