The top 10 Krabi islands in 2026 split across four piers reachable on a 110-125cc scooter from Ao Nang or Krabi Town: Ao Nang Pier (2 km from any Ao Nang shop) launches longtails to Poda, Chicken, Tup, and Bamboo for 600-1,500 THB; Klong Jilad Pier (1 km from Krabi Town) runs the cheaper Phi Phi passenger ferry at roughly 400 THB; Nopparat Thara Pier covers Hong Islands and Railay; the Hua Hin Pier on Highway 4206 (75 km south) carries the car ferry to Koh Lanta. Rent the bike, ride to the matched pier, then board a longtail or speedboat. Dry season runs November to April.
Key Takeaways
- Four piers, ten islands: Ao Nang Pier (longtails to Poda, Chicken, Tup, Bamboo, Phi Phi speedboats), Klong Jilad Pier in Krabi Town (Phi Phi passenger ferry roughly 400 THB), Nopparat Thara Pier (Hong, Railay), and Hua Hin Pier on Highway 4206 (Koh Lanta car ferry).
- Scooter rate to reach piers: Honda Click 125 runs 200-300 THB/day in Ao Nang and 150-200 THB/day in Krabi Town per the Motorbike Rental Krabi Guide; pier-side parking adds 50-100 THB on tour days.
- Longtail vs speedboat: Four Islands group longtail 600-1,200 THB, Hong group 800-1,500 THB, Phi Phi group speedboat 1,200-1,800 THB, James Bond / Phang Nga Bay 1,500-2,500 THB. Private longtails run 1,800-9,000 THB depending on island.
- Maya Bay capacity rule: Phi Phi Leh's Maya Bay reopened in 2022 under a 375-people-per-hour cap, no swimming inside the bay, advance permit booking through speedboat operators only.
- Best season: November to April for calm Andaman seas; May to October cancels roughly one ferry day in three on the longer routes (Phi Phi, Koh Rok, Koh Lanta speedboats).
- Day vs overnight: Six islands are day-trip-only (Phi Phi Leh, Poda, Chicken, Tup, Bamboo, Koh Pak Bia); four take overnight stays (Phi Phi Don, Koh Lanta Yai, Koh Jum, Koh Yao Noi).
How to reach Krabi's islands by scooter and longtail
Every Krabi island day starts the same way: rent a 110-125cc Honda Click in Krabi Town or Ao Nang, ride to the matched pier, park, and board. The four practical departure points are Ao Nang Pier and Nopparat Thara Pier on the Highway 4203 strip, Klong Jilad Pier on the Krabi Town riverside, and Hua Hin Pier 75 km south on Highway 4 plus 4206 for the Koh Lanta car ferry. A typical scooter day is 14-32 km return mainland distance, 60-150 THB in petrol, and 50-100 THB pier-side parking on tour days.
The booking calculus splits two ways. Group longtails and group speedboats sell same-day at every Ao Nang storefront and at the pier kiosks, with hotel pickup typically rolled into the price; the Klong Jilad passenger ferry to Phi Phi sells at the pier counter for cash. Private longtails (1,500-9,000 THB depending on island and group size) book 24-48 hours ahead and let you skip the standard tour stops. The full operator and inclusion comparison sits in the sister Krabi Island Hopping Tour Guide; this post ranks the islands themselves.
The Phi Phi cluster: Phi Phi Don, Phi Phi Leh, and Bamboo
The Phi Phi archipelago is Krabi's marquee day or overnight, accessed by a 45-minute speedboat from Ao Nang Pier or a 90-minute passenger ferry from Klong Jilad Pier in Krabi Town. The cluster contains three of the top 10: Phi Phi Don (the developed island where you can sleep), Phi Phi Leh (Maya Bay, day-only and capacity-capped), and Bamboo Island (the quieter half-day add-on). All three sit roughly 42 km west of Krabi Town in open Andaman water.
1. Phi Phi Leh (Maya Bay)
Pier of departure: Ao Nang Pier (2 km from any Ao Nang scooter shop). Phi Phi Leh is a day-only marine park island; sleeping is prohibited. The 2022 Maya Bay reopening introduced a 375-people-per-hour cap, a no-swimming-in-the-bay rule, and a fixed boardwalk approach from the back of the island. Most tours combine Maya Bay with Pileh Lagoon, Viking Cave, and Loh Samah Bay snorkeling; a Bamboo Island add-on rounds out the day. Group speedboat day-tour 1,200-1,800 THB; private longtail charters from Phi Phi Don 2,500-4,500 THB.
2. Phi Phi Don
Pier of departure: Ao Nang Pier (speedboat) or Klong Jilad Pier (passenger ferry). Phi Phi Don is the only inhabited Phi Phi island and the overnight base for anyone wanting Loh Dalum Bay after the day-tripper boats leave at 16:00. Tonsai Village is a 5-minute walk between the two main beaches (Tonsai Bay and Loh Dalum Bay); the Phi Phi Viewpoint hike climbs 186 steps to the iconic twin-bay shot. Day-trip group rate 1,200-1,800 THB; passenger ferry from Klong Jilad 400-600 THB pp one-way; overnight room 1,200-4,000 THB depending on tier. Climbers and divers tend to overnight here for the post-day-tripper quiet.
3. Bamboo Island (Ko Mai Phai)
Pier of departure: Ao Nang Pier or Klong Jilad Pier, typically as a Phi Phi day-tour add-on. Bamboo Island is a flat, casuarina-covered sand island roughly 5 km north of Phi Phi Don, with a single 800 m white-sand beach ringing the south side and a fringing reef offshore. Despite the name there are very few bamboo trees. National park entry 400 THB pp on top of the tour fee. Best timed before 11:00 to beat the speedboat clusters. Add-on cost 200-400 THB on a Phi Phi tour, or 1,500-2,500 THB pp on a Bamboo-only longtail charter from Phi Phi Don.
The Four Islands and Hong cluster from Ao Nang and Nopparat Thara
The Four Islands tour is Krabi's budget-classic half-day from Nopparat Thara or Ao Nang Pier, hitting Poda, Chicken, Tup, and Mor in a single longtail loop with the Talay Waek sandbar at low tide. The Hong Islands sit further north of Ao Nang and require a 30-minute longtail or 20-minute speedboat. All four islands plus Mor and Pak Bia are 8-15 km offshore; the longest leg is 25 minutes by longtail.
4. Koh Hong (Hong Islands)
Pier of departure: Nopparat Thara Pier (4 km from Ao Nang on Highway 4203) or Ao Thalane Pier on Highway 4 north. Koh Hong is the photogenic centerpiece of the Mu Ko Hong Marine National Park: a hidden lagoon ("hong" means "room" in Thai) accessed through a narrow cliff entrance by kayak, plus a long swimming beach on the south side. The 2026 national park entry fee is 300 THB pp on top of any boat charter. Group longtail half-day 800-1,200 THB; group speedboat full-day 1,500-2,200 THB; private longtail 2,500-4,500 THB. Best ridden as a half-day because the lagoon empties at low tide. Most island visits also support a kayak add-on; the per-island launch logistics are in Kayaking in Krabi.
5. Koh Poda
Pier of departure: Ao Nang Pier (2 km, 5 minutes by scooter) or Nopparat Thara Pier (4 km, 8 minutes). Koh Poda sits 8 km offshore from Ao Nang and is the postcard pick of the Four Islands tour: powdery white sand, calm shallow swimming, an offshore limestone stack ("Chicken Head Rock" further out), and minimal current. Plan 60-90 minutes for swimming and lunch; the tour stops here mid-loop. Group longtail half-day 600-1,200 THB; private longtail charter 1,800-3,000 THB. National park fee 200 THB pp.
6. Koh Gai (Chicken Island)
Pier of departure: Ao Nang Pier or Nopparat Thara Pier. Koh Gai is the rock-spire island 2 km north of Poda, named for the limestone tower that resembles a chicken's head from certain angles. The island itself has limited beach but the offshore coral is among the better Four Islands snorkeling: visibility 8-15 m in dry season, parrotfish and clownfish dense on the south reef. Combined with Tup and Mor on the same loop. Group longtail tour 600-1,200 THB; standalone visits are rare.
7. Koh Tup and Koh Mor (Talay Waek sandbar)
Pier of departure: Ao Nang Pier or Nopparat Thara Pier. Koh Tup and Koh Mor are two tiny islands connected to Chicken Island at low tide by the Talay Waek sandbar (the "Separated Sea"), a 200-300 m white-sand strip you can walk between the three islands. Tide windows shift roughly 50 minutes a day; check the operator's tide chart before booking. Quick photo stop on most Four Islands itineraries. Group longtail tour 600-1,200 THB; private with tide-timing 2,200-3,500 THB.
8. Koh Pak Bia
Pier of departure: Ao Thalane Pier or Nopparat Thara Pier. Koh Pak Bia is a small islet inside the same Mu Ko Hong Marine National Park as Koh Hong, often visited on the Hong full-day tour as a quieter alternative to the lagoon's tour-day crowds. Soft white sand, calm shallows, and significantly fewer boats than the main Hong stop. Add-on cost on a Hong day-tour 200-400 THB; standalone private longtail 2,000-3,500 THB. National park fee 300 THB pp.
Koh Lanta cluster and the southern islands
The Koh Lanta cluster sits at the southern end of Krabi Province and rewards multi-day stays more than day trips. Lanta Yai is the developed long island (the standard Lanta base), Lanta Noi is the smaller island you cross on the car ferry, and Koh Jum sits offshore between Krabi Town and Lanta as a quieter alternative. From Krabi Town the Hua Hin Pier on Highway 4 plus 4206 is 75 km / 1 h 45 min by scooter; the Klong Jilad Pier passenger ferry runs more direct in dry season.
9. Koh Lanta Yai
Pier of departure: Hua Hin Pier on the Krabi mainland (75 km / 1 h 45 min from Krabi Town) for the car ferry to Saladan, or Klong Jilad Pier for the dry-season passenger ferry direct from Krabi Town. Koh Lanta Yai is 25 km long and rewards a 2-3 night stay: laid-back west-coast beaches (Long Beach, Klong Khong, Klong Nin, Bamboo Bay), the Mu Ko Lanta National Park lighthouse at the southern tip, and Old Lanta Town on the east coast. The island is itself a scooter destination: rent a fresh Honda Click on Saladan at 200-300 THB/day per the Best Motorbike Rental Koh Lanta. One of two Krabi islands you ride more than you boat. The full per-base breakdown lives in How to Get to Koh Lanta.
10. Koh Jum
Pier of departure: Klong Jilad Pier (Krabi Town) or any Lanta-bound passenger ferry that flags Koh Jum (most do; longtails meet the ferry mid-route to ferry passengers ashore). Koh Jum is the off-the-radar island between Krabi Town and Koh Lanta: rustic bungalows on Long Beach and Golden Pearl Beach, almost no nightlife, a single sealed road across the island, and a backpacker culture that closes most accommodation between May and October. The 30-40 minute ferry from Klong Jilad runs at 11:00 and 13:00 in high season. Ferry 400-500 THB pp one-way; private longtail charter from Lanta 1,500-2,500 THB. Best for travelers wanting a quieter Lanta-style stay without the Lanta development.
Bonus pick: Koh Rok and the Phang Nga add-ons
The classic top-10 list typically reserves a slot for Koh Rok, the protected marine park 47 km southwest of Koh Lanta with the best snorkeling visibility in the entire Krabi-area cluster. Koh Rok is technically within Mu Ko Lanta Marine National Park but is most-easily reached as a speedboat day-tour from Saladan on Koh Lanta itself, not from the Krabi mainland. Speedboat day-tour 1,800-2,800 THB; closes May 16 to October 31 every year for the southwest monsoon. Worth pairing with a Lanta overnight rather than chasing as a standalone day from Krabi Town.
The Phang Nga Bay islands (James Bond Island / Khao Phing Kan, Koh Tapu, Koh Panyee floating village) sit north of Krabi and are reachable by speedboat day-tour from Ao Nang Pier in 2-2.5 hours. Group tour 1,500-2,500 THB. Most riders treat Phang Nga as an extension of the Krabi island week rather than a substitute for the Phi Phi or Hong day. The full mainland day-trip catalogue including the Phang Nga corridor by scooter is in Day Trips from Krabi Mainland.
Reach by motorbike: routes from Krabi Town and Ao Nang to the four piers
Every Krabi island day finishes with a longtail or speedboat, but it starts with a 1-75 km scooter ride to the matched pier. The Highway 4203 strip handles Ao Nang and Nopparat Thara piers (4-5 km, 8-10 minutes); the Krabi Town riverside puts you 1 km from Klong Jilad Pier; Highway 4 plus 4206 carries the longer Koh Lanta Hua Hin Pier run at 75 km / 1 h 45 min. A 110-125cc Honda Click handles every one of these on light traffic; pay the 100-150 THB/day premium for a Honda PCX 160 only on the Lanta day for two-up Highway 4 comfort.
The fuel and parking math is friendly. A Honda Click 125 returns roughly 50 km/L on these mostly-sealed roads, and a 4 L tank fills for 150-200 THB at any PTT or Bangchak station along Highway 4203 or Highway 4. Pier-side parking on tour days runs 50-100 THB at Ao Nang Pier, free at Klong Jilad, free at Nopparat Thara on weekdays. Round-trip mileage from Ao Nang to any of the three nearby piers stays under 12 km; the Lanta Hua Hin Pier run is the single long ride and is best treated as a multi-day departure rather than a same-day return. The full route catalogue with viewpoint coordinates lives in Top 10 Krabi Motorbike Rides.
Best time to visit Krabi's islands
Krabi's island season is bimodal. The dry-season window from November to April runs every island ferry every day; calm Andaman seas, 8-15 m underwater visibility, and the full Maya Bay capacity sells out 1-2 days ahead in December-February peak. The southwest monsoon from mid-May to late October cancels one ferry day in three on the longer Phi Phi and Hong speedboat routes, closes Koh Rok entirely (May 16 to October 31 per Department of National Parks rule), and drops accommodation prices on Phi Phi Don, Lanta, and Koh Jum by 30-50%. Mid-shoulder months (April, May, October) are the value sweet spot.
The riding implications track the season. The Highway 4203 strip to Ao Nang Pier and Nopparat Thara Pier is fine in light rain; the Highway 4 plus 4206 corridor to the Lanta Hua Hin Pier turns slick in the first 10 minutes of a wet-season squall and the ferry itself can suspend in heavy weather. Plan island days for the morning departure window in shoulder season to beat afternoon thunderheads. The full month-by-month seasonal table sits in Best Time to Visit Krabi, and the Krabi Travel Guide sequences a five-day plan that brackets longtail days with scooter days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Krabi islands are reachable on a single rental day?
The Four Islands cluster (Poda, Chicken, Tup, Mor) plus Bamboo or Hong fits in a single day from Ao Nang. Park at Nopparat Thara or Ao Nang Pier (50-100 THB), board a 06:30 or 09:00 longtail, and return by 16:00. Phi Phi Leh's Maya Bay is also a same-day speedboat tour from Ao Nang Pier at 1,200-1,800 THB. Koh Lanta and Koh Jum are not realistic same-day round trips; treat them as overnights.
Do I need a separate ticket for the Maya Bay capacity cap?
The 375-people-per-hour Maya Bay cap is enforced by licensed speedboat operators, who hold pre-booked permit slots. You don't buy the permit separately; it's bundled into any Phi Phi day-tour or Maya-specific tour. Walk-up access to Maya Bay from Phi Phi Don longtails is no longer permitted; the bay closes between 17:00 and 09:00 daily and entry is via a fixed boardwalk at the back of the island.
How do Phi Phi tours from Ao Nang differ from the Klong Jilad ferry?
Ao Nang Pier speedboat tours (1,200-1,800 THB) are full-day group tours with hotel pickup, lunch, snorkel gear, and 4-6 stops including Maya Bay. The Klong Jilad Pier passenger ferry (400-600 THB pp one-way) is unguided transport: it takes you to Phi Phi Don, leaves you there, and you arrange your own day or overnight on-island. The ferry is cheaper for overnighters; the speedboat tour is matched to day-trippers.
Can I rent a scooter on the islands themselves?
Yes on Koh Lanta Yai (200-300 THB/day Honda Click) and a small fleet on Phi Phi Don (mostly bicycles and electric scooters; the island's main strip is mostly pedestrian). Koh Jum, Koh Yao Noi, and the smaller national-park islands have no rental fleets. The full Lanta breakdown is in Best Motorbike Rental Koh Lanta; for the Phi Phi side the islands are walkable in 30-45 minutes end to end.
What is the cheapest way to see five Krabi islands in one day?
The Four Islands group longtail from Nopparat Thara Pier (600-1,200 THB pp) covers Poda, Chicken, Tup, Mor, and the Phra Nang Cave Beach for under 1,500 THB including pier-side lunch. Add a Hong-plus-Pak Bia afternoon longtail for another 800-1,200 THB and you have six islands seen for under 2,500 THB. Scooter mileage from any Ao Nang shop to the pier is 4 km, fuel 30 THB, parking 50 THB.
Is the Koh Rok day-trip worth it from Krabi mainland?
Koh Rok has the best snorkeling visibility (15-25 m in dry season) of any Krabi-area island and pristine coral, but the day-trip launches from Saladan on Koh Lanta, not the Krabi mainland. From Ao Nang the realistic plan is a Lanta overnight first, then a Koh Rok speedboat day-tour at 1,800-2,800 THB. The marine park closes May 16 to October 31 annually per the Department of National Parks rule, so peak-season booking only.
How early should I book Krabi island tours in high season?
December to February peak books out 1-3 days ahead for Phi Phi speedboat tours and the most-photographed Hong tours; the Four Islands group longtail and Koh Pak Bia extension are usually same-day available even in peak. Storefront kiosks on Soi Ao Nang and the pier counters typically run 10-20% lower than hotel-concierge rates if you compare three or four operators. The full booking process and operator-by-operator inclusions are in Krabi Island Hopping Tour Guide.
Plan your Krabi island week from a scooter base
Krabi's islands sit 1-75 km offshore from four piers, and the cheapest, fastest way to chain them is to anchor a 200-300 THB/day Honda Click in Ao Nang or 150-200 THB/day in Krabi Town and ride to whichever pier matches the day's island. Park at Nopparat Thara Pier (8 minutes from Ao Nang) for the Four Islands and Hong morning longtails, at Ao Nang Pier (5 minutes) for the Phi Phi speedboat day, at Klong Jilad Pier (1 km from Krabi Town) for the cheaper Phi Phi passenger ferry to Phi Phi Don, and bracket Lanta nights with the 75 km Highway 4 + 4206 ride to Hua Hin Pier. Compare verified Krabi Town and Ao Nang shops, see real renter reviews, and book before you fly at Byklo. Free hotel delivery in both bases plus Krabi International Airport (KBV) pickup, cash deposits 1,000-2,000 THB, and your passport stays in your hand. Pair the rental with the Krabi 5-Day Itinerary and the Best Beaches in Krabi Guide for the longtail-and-scooter sequence that covers eight of the top 10 in five days.
For Wikipedia's full Krabi Province island catalogue including geological context and the Mu Ko Lanta and Mu Ko Hong national park boundaries, see the Krabi Province article.
Marine-park fees, opening hours, and the closed-season schedule that govern Maya Bay, Hong Islands, and the broader Krabi reef are published by the Thai Department of National Parks; confirm before any boat-day booking.
