📝 Written 3 Jul 2026 · ✅ Fact-checked 3 Jul 2026 · prices and schedules can change — check with the operator before booking
If you're coming to Krabi and want a sea trip that "covers all the famous islands in one go," the 4 Islands tour is practically the first name everyone thinks of. The four islands are Chicken Island (Koh Kai, with a rock at the tip of the island shaped like a chicken's head), Koh Tup and Koh Mor (a pair of islands connected by a sandbar at low tide, known as Talay Waek, or the "split sea"), and Koh Poda, a fine sand beach with a limestone karst rising out of the sea that's become one of Krabi's most iconic images.
The standard trip departs from Ao Nang pier or a pier in town in the morning, loops through each island, stops for snorkeling among the coral, and on many rounds adds Railay's Phra Nang Cave Beach before heading back to shore in the afternoon. On this page we review the trip in depth — both the parts that make people fall in love with it and the parts you should prepare for before you go.
Krabi 4 Islands Tour (Chicken Island · Koh Tup · Koh Mor · Koh Poda)
The day usually starts with the team picking you up at your hotel or meeting you at Ao Nang pier in the morning. You'll get a safety briefing, be handed a life jacket and snorkel mask, and then the boat heads to the first stop, usually Chicken Island (Koh Kai), where a rock at the tip of the island juts out in the shape of a chicken's head, perfect for photos. The water here is clear with coral and schools of fish for snorkeling. Next is Koh Tup and Koh Mor, the highlight — if you time it right at low tide, a white sandbar emerges to connect the two islands so you can walk across — locals call this sight Talay Waek. The trip wraps up at Koh Poda, a fine white sand beach with clear water and a limestone karst rising from the sea, one of Krabi's most iconic images. Many programs stop at Phra Nang Cave Beach before heading back, with lunch served buffet-style or in boxes, plus drinking water throughout the trip.
Based on real reviews across several platforms (on GetYourGuide, this group of tours scores around 4.2 out of 5), the things travelers consistently mention are that the guides and boat crew are friendly, happy to help and take photos, the sea is clearer and has more fish than expected, and the moment walking on the sandbar in the middle of the sea is what many people say they enjoyed most. The price is considered good value for everything you get in a single trip, especially the longtail boat option, which costs noticeably less than the speedboat.
As for what to know before booking: Talay Waek and Koh Poda get very crowded around midday — on some days dozens of boats moor at once, making it hard to find an empty spot for photos. And the sandbar only appears at low tide — pick the wrong day or time slot and you might miss out on walking across, so ask the operator about the tide schedule beforehand. Another thing: longtail boats are slower, leave you fully exposed to the sun, and get you wetter with spray between islands, while speedboats are faster but pound through waves harder — on rough-water days this can make people seasick — and the ฿400 national park fee usually has to be paid in cash at the pier, on top of the tour price.
- Covers all 4 famous Krabi islands in one trip — Chicken Island, Koh Tup, Koh Mor, and Koh Poda
- You get to walk the Talay Waek sandbar in the middle of the sea, which many reviews say is the most memorable part
- Clear water with good snorkeling visibility for fish and coral; guides and boat crew are friendly and attentive
- You can choose between an affordable longtail boat or a faster speedboat, depending on your budget and style
- Talay Waek and Koh Poda get very crowded around midday, with dozens of boats sometimes mooring at once
- The Talay Waek sandbar only appears at low tide — pick the wrong time slot and you might miss walking across
- Longtail boats are slow and leave you more exposed to sun and spray, while speedboats pound through waves harder; you'll also need to pay a ฿400 national park fee in cash at the pier
💡 Know before you go: Krabi 4 Islands tour
An early morning departure gets you to Talay Waek and Koh Poda before the later boats — far fewer people, calmer water, and noticeably better photos. By midday, dozens of boats moor there at once.
The Talay Waek sandbar connecting Koh Tup and Koh Mor only appears at low tide. If you want the full sandbar walk, ask the operator about the tide timing for your travel date before booking.
Koh Poda and Talay Waek fall within Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, which charges an additional entry fee of around ฿400 per adult, usually paid in cash at the pier. Check before booking whether it's included in the tour price.
You'll be in the sun for nearly the whole day, so bring a hat, sunglasses, and reef-safe sunscreen free of oxybenzone/octinoxate to avoid harming the coral. Water shoes are also worth wearing to protect your feet from rocks and shells when wading ashore.
Book a Krabi 4 Islands tour or sea trip
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