After our trips to Phuket, Koh Phangan, Koh Samui, Koh Yao Noi, Koh Lanta and Chiang Mai, we also went to Krabi / Ao Nang. We had an apartment here and worked a lot on our laptops at that time. At some point, we needed some action, so we booked tickets for the almost legendary “4 Island Tour Krabi.” You can find out how the day went, what we experienced, and what we think of this tour in the following post.

Tickets for the 4 Island Tour

We finally wanted to take a closer look at the beautiful area around Krabi. Tickets for a variety of tours were being sold everywhere on the streets. Since we didn’t have enough money to rent a private boat, we booked a half-day tour, the 4 Island Tour in Krabi (Tub, Poda, Chicken, and Phra Nang Beach). This tour only cost us 400 baht (just under €10).

The sellers always try to convince you that the tour actually costs 1200 baht per person—but because it’s YOU, you get a discount. We went to several We always got different prices from the stands. This is how it works with all tours. If you want to travel faster, you can also take the tour by speedboat – which, of course, costs more.

Included in the price:

• Transfer from and to the hotel
• Snorkeling set
• 1 lunch (rice, chicken, etc.)
• 1 bottle of water
• Tour of the 4 islands by longtail boat

We were a little nervous about this tour beforehand. We’re generally individualists and don’t book tourist tours; we prefer to do everything on our own. It didn’t surprise us that on the day of the tour, it seemed like a thousand other people wanted to do the tour too. But okay, it’s high season here right now, and everyone can afford the tour. Somehow, we already suspected that booking this cheap tour wasn’t a good idea.

Start of the 4 Island Tour in Krabi

We were picked up from our accommodation promptly at 9:00 a.m. After other participants were picked up, we continued on to Ao Nang Beach. Many other vacationers were already waiting there, and it was chaotic. We had to sign up on a list and pay the entrance fee (200 baht per person) for the national park – which everyone tried to do at the same time for fear of not being picked up.

Apparently, the money is used to clean up trash, etc. Is that true? Who knows. The tour guides there were always loud, hectic, and somewhat exhausting – everyone was just trying to keep their group together. Anyway, we were divided into groups and given colorful stickers on our shirts. The first boats and groups departed, and we were still waiting for the starting signal. Around 10:30 a.m., we finally set off.

Our tour guide was fortunately very relaxed and casual, but you still don’t get any information about the islands. The guides are only there to tell you when to continue and where to go next. Together with about 18 other people, we headed towards Tub Island. The boat sped through the waves, water splashed into the longtail boat here and there; the whole thing was quite adventurous.

Suddenly, a small wave came from from the side and slapped directly onto us and the cameras. First, we rescued the cameras and tried to dry everything, then we took care of our clothes. No big deal, nothing happened. Given the hot temperatures, the cooling off came in very handy. From a distance, we could already see the island – like something out of a picture book. If it weren’t for the endless number of boats and people. Every 5 minutes, boats with more groups arrived. Our guide then said: “We’ll be leaving in 40 minutes.” So we quickly hopped off the boat to look at the island.

1st Stop: Tub Island

Everywhere, but really everywhere, there were Chinese and Japanese people in life jackets and with selfie sticks in hand. The boats’ engines rattled incessantly. We hadn’t imagined an idyll or even an oasis to be anything but. We marched straight ahead, past all the people, and looked for a quiet spot a little way off. Then it was all a matter of time: take off your clothes, put on your swimsuit, and jump into the water. The water was crystal clear, turquoise-blue, and simply heavenly.

The dark stones in the water, the palm trees all around – it was truly dreamy. Nevertheless, neither of us felt entirely comfortable. It was a shame that so many tourists were brought to the islands. Couldn’t this be limited or regulated differently? But anyway, we tried to capture the moment and enjoy it. Of course, time was also on our side. Then we headed back to our boat. Fortunately, everyone was on time, so the tour could continue.

2nd Stop: Chicken Island

Next stop: Chicken Island. This island was named so because it’s apparently shaped like a chicken. Well, okay… you can probably see something there. The boat sailed to the exact spot where this photo could be taken. Then it sailed back to the snorkeling spot. Here, the anchor was dropped into the water, and we could now snorkel for a full 30 minutes—WOW! We grabbed our goggles and jumped in. We also saw a beach somewhere in the distance – but we didn’t want to waste any time. While snorkeling, you had to be careful not to crash into other boats – it was quite crowded.

The underwater world was relatively unspectacular! Only the colorful fish that were lured to the surface were worth seeing and somehow gave us fun and joy. We swam in the water and were surrounded by hundreds of small fish. You could occasionally feel them on your skin. There were no colorful corals or other animals to be seen here. Here, anchors are simply thrown in somewhere, and people then stand on rocks that are (were) covered with plants and coral to take a selfie – sad, all very sad!

3rd Stop: Poda Island

After 30 minutes, it was all over again. We continued on to Poda Island. Here we planned a short break. We had rice with chicken and some vegetables in small tuppa containers. On the island, there was a stand with food and drinks, and there were restrooms here too. There were also abandoned buildings! Since the island was larger, the number of tourists wasn’t so bad – it was actually quite quiet, and you could relax quite well.

We lay further away from the crowds, enjoying the view of the sea and the steep cliffs that jutted out. Every now and then, a single boulder stood in the water. It had a certain mystical quality – you’d only seen these images on TV or the internet. We lay down on the soft, white sand and gazed at the scenery. Before we could completely unwind, we moved on.

4th Stop: Phra Nang Beach

The last stop was Phra Nang Beach. It’s not an island, but more of a bay next to Railay Beach. We were dropped off here for an hour. The beach was very expansive, and we were surrounded by the typical Krabi scenery. We didn’t wait long and jumped straight into the water. As always, it was very hot that day.

A little later, Marco went to the Pha Nang Cave, also called “Princess Cave. It’s a small grotto in the rock where the locals leave “fertility offerings” when they’re having trouble conceiving. In this case, there were hundreds of penis sculptures lying around. It was a strange, albeit funny, sight! Then we got back on the boat and headed back to Ao Nang Beach. The tour ended around 3 p.m., and we were pretty exhausted. After a delicious dinner, we just fell into bed.

Conclusion of the 4 Island Tour in Krabi

Tours aren’t really our thing; we prefer individual or somewhat more expensive and private tours. Above all, we prefer tours where we can be sure that nature and the environment won’t be damaged. We were right in the middle of mass tourism, and it was a bit annoying. Too many boats, too many (inconsiderate) people! Nevertheless, it must be said that the islands are a true dream.

The scenery really had a lot to offer, and you always felt like you were in a swimwear commercial. We’ll see what the islands will look like in 10 years – we’re excited. For anyone who wants to quickly explore the area, a tour like this is a good option (Costs between 400-500 baht by longtail boat). You can book it at any tour desk – no matter where. The tours always start between 9 and 10 a.m.

Book a 4 Island Tour

Book your 4 Island Tour in Krabi here. On the GetYourGuide website, you’ll find a huge selection of tours, including private boat tours, snorkeling excursions, food, and more. But be aware that there will be many other tourists out and about. Set a good example and don’t leave any trash behind, and don’t touch the fish or coral.

The best travel guides

Want to learn more about Thailand so you’re well prepared for backpacking in Thailand? Then get Stefan Loose’s excellent Thailand travel guide. It contains almost 900 pages of information. Also recommended is Ferndurst’s book: 105 Reasons to Love Thailand. It’s a travel guide with heart-pounding moments and insider tips. We also contributed a chapter. Therefore, we’d be delighted if you got this book (e-book and print) for your Thailand trip.

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