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What are the 4 Islands in Krabi? Although this question sounds straightforward and easy to answer, it is actually a little bit more complicated than it might first seem. If you are planning a trip to Krabi, you will probably hear a lot about the 4 Islands in Krabi.
In fact, taking a visit to the 4 Islands in Krabi is probably one of the best things to do in the area. If you are interested in the island-hopping trip, we have produced a full and in-depth guide to Island hopping in Krabi. In this article, we are just going to focus specifically on 4 Islands in Krabi. What are these four Islands, where are they located, and are they worth visiting?
EXPLORE THE ISLANDS – Full & in-depth guide to Island Hopping in Krabi AND The Best boat tours in Krabi
One of the BEST ways to book your 4 island trip in Krabi is to use Klook. If you book a 4 island trip on Klook you can actually find prices that are lower than booking with some of the local tour operators. You also get the security of making your booking through a fantastic tour platform. So if you like to get your ducks in a row, get your tour booked on Klook…
What is confusing about the 4 Islands in Krabi?
Here is Princess Cave on Phra Nang Beach – this is not technically an island near Krabi because it is part of the mainland…
This may sound pretty straightforward so far; however, there is a lot of confusion over the 4 Islands in Krabi. If you take the 4-island tour in Krabi, you will notice that there are, in fact, four stops. However, the first stop is normally on Railay East beach or Phra Nang Beach. Neither of these beaches counts as an island because they are both part of mainland Thailand. After stopping on one of these beaches, there are only 3 more stops on the tour at the islands.
So, although you have paid for a four Island trip, you may feel disappointed and frustrated when you discover that there are only three island stops. Although this sounds a bit like false advertising, the tour name is technically correct. Why? Because the boat stops at Tub island, and you can also walk to Koh Mor along a sandbar. So, the tour visits two of the islands in one stop and there is a total of 4 islands to see.
What is it like to visit the 4 Islands in Krabi?
These islands are extremely beautiful and unique. If you have ever dreamed of visiting Paradise Islands with turquoise water, lush green jungles, beautiful coral reef, you will probably love the 4 islands. The area is extremely photogenic, and if you enjoy photography or videography, we recommend bringing along some cameras. However, it is important to recognize that these islands are very popular, and many people visit these Islands every day, even during low season and periods of bad weather, so you are extremely unlikely to have these Paradise Islands to yourself.
If you are hoping to escape the crowds and have a more tranquil experience, you can find some secret secluded beaches in the area, and there are also some small islands which are rarely frequented by boats or tourists. In order to reach some of these secret spots, you will need to take a private boat tour in the area. We will discuss more about private boat tours at the end of this article, so keep reading for more information.
What are the 4 Islands in Krabi?
The 4 Islands in Krabi are the four most visited islands situated in the Krabi bay belonging to the Krabi archipelago. These islands are regularly visited but uninhabited. There are actually around 14 islands and islets in the area.
1 Koh Tub (also called Koh Tup)
Tub island is probably one of the most beautiful islands in the area. The small beautiful island has a jungle-covered hill and it is only around 50 meters in length. This beautiful little island is connected by a sandbar to a second slightly larger island called Koh Mor. There is also a sandbar leading to Koh Kai (chicken island). At low tide, you can walk across the sandbar. Be careful at high tide; currents and waves can make the sandbar dangerous. There are lifeguards based in this area. Tub Island also has a small snack shop selling snacks and drinks. Price range: 150 baht – 200 baht (£3 – £4 or $4 – $5).
2 Koh Mor (also called Koh Thap)
This island is connected to Tub Island and is slightly larger. You can’t walk around this island as easily due to the rocks. However, there is some nice reef in the area for snorkeling. Be aware of boats if you are snorkeling around these islands. Strictly speaking, snorkeling in this area is quite limited.
3 Koh Kai (also called Chicken Island)
Koh Kai is the largest island in the area, but it is also uninhabited. This is probably one of the most interesting and iconic islands in the area. Chicken Island is named after the chicken head shape of the rocks. If you are doing an island-hopping trip in the area, the boats are unlikely to dock on Chicken Island. There is a very beautiful section of the reef where you can swim and snorkel near Chicken Island. The snorkeling depth in the region is around 2 – 6m depending on the tide and specific location.
4 Koh Poda
Koh Poda is one of the biggest and most developed islands in the area. This island has a lifeguard station, toilet, a changing room cubicle, a picnic area, and a small cafe selling snacks and drinks. Koh Poda has a relatively large beach area. There is a section of water roped off for safe swimming and snorkeling. Many of the island-stopping tours stop at this island last and have lunch here. From Koh Poda, you can see an impressive Karst hill in the center of the island. You can also see the remarkable Ko Ma Tang Ming, a unique and beautiful Karst island. The roped snorkeling area ranges in depth from 1m – 10m depending on tide and specific location.
What is the best way to see the 4 Islands in Krabi?
The most affordable way to see the 4 Islands in Krabi is to take a shared Island-hopping trip. If you are really traveling on a budget and looking for the lowest possible prices, we recommend booking your trip locally with a travel agent in Ao Nang or Krabi. There are plenty of small travel agents around, and they can help you arrange tours and transport.
To get the best prices, you will need to be willing and able to barter. It is possible to find 4 Island tours for as little as 800 baht per person, including national park fees, hotel pick up, drop off, and lunch. Another way to arrange a shared tour is to book online in advance. Klook offers some very competitive prices for their 4 island tours – this is actually cheaper than booking with some local travel agents in the area.
Can you take a private trip to the 4 islands?
Private tour prices
YES – arranging a private tour is a great way to see these islands. You can have a customizable itinerary and go at your own pace. Most boats are able to take a maximum of 5 – 10 people. If you are booking a private boat trip, it is important to agree on the number of people who will be taking the trip, the destinations that you hope to see, and your desired length of the trip. Private boat tours in this area generally range in price from 2,500 baht – 7,000 baht (£50 – £140 or $60 – $160). There are several ways to book a private boat trip in the area; you can speak to one of the tour operators located in Krabi or Ao Nang. Alternatively, you can go directly to the pier in Ao Nang and book a private boat trip there.
Suggested private tour itinerary
If you do take a private boat trip, we recommend starting nice and early in the morning before the shared tours reach the island. Most of the shared tours go to the islands in the following order: 1 Koh Tub, 2 Chicken island, 3 Poda island; they generally reach Koh Tub by 10.30 am. If you are planning to take a private tour, we recommend reaching Koh Tub as early as 8 am to experience this area at its best. However, if you have had a late start (10 am onwards), we recommend heading to Poda island first because this is the final island visited on the shared tours.
If you have taken a private tour, you can also visit some of the quieter and less-frequented islands in the area. This is a great way to escape the crowds and have a more unique and personal experience. Your boat driver is likely to know some beautiful secluded spots; here are a few ideas of quieter spots that you can visit near the 4 islands:
- Small secret beach on the southwest of Koh Poda
- Koh Ya Wa Sam is a small quiet island around 2.6 km west of Chicken island – There is some nice shallow reef here.
- Koh Lao Pe is around 2.1 km south of Chicken island – there are some steep impressive islands with some deeper reef.
Is it worth visiting the 4 Islands in Krabi?
If you are planning to visit Krabi, then we strongly recommend taking a trip to the 4 islands. In fact, if you have more time and a bigger budget, you can actually visit more islands in the area (e.g., the 7 islands trip). This particular part of the world has some of the most unique, beautiful, and distinct Islands we have ever seen; it is extremely photogenic.
When you visit this area, it is important not to expect to have a paradise tropical island all to yourself. Krabi is a relatively popular tourist destination in South Thailand; this area is busy throughout the year, and it is generally quite difficult to escape the crowds. What’s more, the water quality in the area is pretty good, with visibility for snorkeling; you can generally see at least two or three meters, which is enough to enjoy the coral reef and fish around the islands.
However, if you are very keen on snorkeling or diving, you may find this area a little bit disappointing, especially if you are comparing it to other diving destinations in Southeast Asia (such as the Gili islands in Bali, the Perhentian islands in Malaysia, or Marbul in Borneo). Many years of long-term travel have taught us to see the beauty in each experience. This area may not have the world’s best diving, but it does have some of the most impressive and unique islands in the world.
