What you will see on the Hong Islands
The Hong Islands (Mu Ko Hong) are a group of limestone islands off the Krabi coast in Than Bok Khorani National Park. The DNP park page names Mu Ko Hong (Ko Bi Le) and Ko Lao Bi Le (Ko Hong), with ranger station No. 1 on Ko Hong. OpenStreetMap places Ko Lao Lading, Ko Lao Riam, Ko Pak Bia and other islands nearby. By coordinates it is 2.8 km in a straight line from Ko Hong to Ko Lao Lading and 4.7 km to Ko Pak Bia. Tours make several stops.
Ko Hong. An island with a beach and a lagoon. On the Phuket Tour Krabi PRO catamaran program there is a lagoon cruise among the cliffs at 08:15, then at 08:30 the beach, swimming and a climb to a viewpoint with a panorama of the sea side of Krabi. On the speedboat program, Ko Hong has snorkelling, a viewpoint and filming locations from the film “The Jungle”.
Ko Lao Lading. An island with a sandy beach between cliffs. On the speedboat program there is snorkelling and beach time at 16:20, and on the early catamaran beach time at 07:20.
Ko Pak Bia. An island with a sea maze at low tide. On the speedboat program it is the 12:40 stop.
Ko Naka Yai, Ko Nok and the Lam Haad sandbar. Stops outside the main group: Naka Yai, with a beach and water activities, on the speedboat program, and Ko Nok and the Lam Haad sandbar on the catamaran. Phuket Tour names them in its programs, and the DNP park page does not mention them.
Kayaking and lagoons. In its Hong Islands overview Phuket Tour describes kayaking and canoeing through lagoons and mangrove caves. For programs with kayaking, check whether it is included in the price.
The programs step by step
Times are from the Phuket Tour programs on 18 October 2026. Operators change the order to suit tides and weather.
The speedboat.
- 08:00 hotel transfer
- 09:00 arrival at the pier, briefing, tea and coffee
- 10:00 departure for the islands
- 10:30 beach time on Ko Naka Yai, water activities, volleyball, badminton
- 12:40 Ko Pak Bia, the sea maze at low tide
- 13:30 Ko Hong: snorkelling, a viewpoint, filming locations from “The Jungle”
- 14:00 lunch
- 16:20 Ko Lao Lading: snorkelling and beach time
- 17:50 sunset on the sandbar
- 18:30 departure for Phuket and transfer to your hotel
The early catamaran, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
- 05:30 hotel transfer, meet the guide, tea and snacks at the port
- 06:30 departure on a fast catamaran
- 07:20 beach time on Ko Lao Lading
- 08:15 the Ko Hong lagoon by catamaran
- 08:30 Ko Hong: beach, swimming, a jungle trail, a viewpoint
- 10:30 lunch at a beach restaurant
- 11:45 beach time on Ko Nok
- 12:45 landing on the Lam Haad sandbar
- 14:45 return to the port and transfer to your hotel
How long it takes and when to go
The early catamaran fits into 9 hours with transfer (05:30-14:45), and the speedboat from 08:00 to 18:30 takes about 10.5 hours. The programs do not name the pier, and the Phuket Tour overview mentions piers near Chalong or Rawai.
DNP splits the park’s climate into two seasons: summer from mid-January to April, with April the hottest and February the driest, and rain from late April to December, with September the wettest.
| Period | What to expect |
|---|---|
| January-March | dry, the calmest sea |
| April | hot, the sea is still calm, the first storms are possible |
| May-October | rain and waves, September is the wettest month |
| November-December | rain eases, the sea is still uneven |
More in Phuket’s climate by month. On 18 October 2026 the DNP status page does not list the Hong Islands among closed places. Since 28 February 2026 the Chalermphrakiat nature trail through the mangroves and Khao Chang Mop in Than Bok Khorani has been closed, and it is not in the operators’ programs.
How to get there and how far it is
Chalong Pier on the south-east coast of Phuket is about 46 km in a straight line from Ko Hong, and Rassada Pier about 37 km (calculated from OpenStreetMap coordinates), with the sea route longer. Phuket Tour says the speedboat trip takes about 1 hour. The hotel transfer to the pier takes about an hour on the programs: you leave the hotel at 08:00 and are at the pier at 09:00. From the mainland the same archipelago is closer to Ao Nang: it is about 14 km in a straight line from Nopparat Thara Pier to Ko Hong, and that tour is described on the page on Hong from Ao Nang.
Park fee and what it covers
The DNP table (revision of 2 June 2023) lists THB 300 for a foreign adult and THB 150 for a child at Than Bok Khorani National Park. Phuket Tour lists national park entrance tickets as included in the price of both programs. Keep your receipt with you, because DNP asks visitors on its park page to present it on inspection. At other Krabi operators the fee can be a separate line: Trazy and Thai Holiday Guide say entrance fees are not included. Check this before you pay.
Options: speedboat, catamaran, private boat
| Option | Time | Best for | Downside |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phuket Tour speedboat | 08:00-18:30, 10-11 hours | Anyone who wants the whole day and the sunset | A late return |
| Phuket Tour early catamaran | 05:30-14:45, 9 hours | Anyone who wants to arrive before the crowds | A 5 am start, only Tue, Thu, Sat |
| From Ao Nang | depends on the operator | Anyone staying in Krabi | You must move to Krabi |
| Private boat | by agreement | A group or family | Confirm the Krabi route |
Do not confuse Hong in Krabi with Ko Hong in Phang Nga Bay: they are different islands, and the second is described on the page on Hong in Phang Nga.
What to do in rain and rough seas
- A speedboat in big waves. The order of stops is changed, so ask about rescheduling or a refund before you pay
- Rainy season. May to October are the roughest months, so check the forecast and the DNP park status close to your date
- A backup plan. If the sea is closed, take the mainland tour in Krabi: a forest park, a hot waterfall and a temple do not depend on the sea
Safety
- Life jackets. Wear one on the boat and while snorkelling if you are not a confident swimmer
- Pregnancy. Tisland and Trazy do not take pregnant travellers on Krabi speedboats, so ask Phuket Tour about the early catamaran
- Kayaking. Agree with the operator on life jackets and a guide accompanying you
- Corals and fish. Do not stand on corals or feed the fish
- Insurance. Make sure your policy covers boat trips
Who it suits and who should skip it
- Suits couples and friends. Cliffs, lagoons and beaches with kayaking and snorkelling
- Suits children. Phuket Tour has a child tariff, and the programs do not state an age, so ask
- Not for pregnant travellers. Krabi operators do not take them on speedboats
- Not for anyone prone to seasickness. About an hour on a speedboat each way
- Not for anyone who wants quiet. In season the beaches at Ko Lao Lading and Ko Hong have many boats
FAQ
Where are the Hong Islands and which national park are they in?
The Hong Islands (Mu Ko Hong) lie off the coast of Krabi province and are part of Than Bok Khorani National Park. The DNP park page names Mu Ko Hong (Ko Bi Le) and Ko Lao Bi Le (Ko Hong), with ranger station No. 1 on Ko Hong. By OpenStreetMap coordinates the island is about 46 km in a straight line from Chalong Pier.
Is Ko Hong in Krabi the same as Ko Hong in Phang Nga Bay?
No. They are different islands. The Krabi Hong is in Than Bok Khorani National Park, and Ko Hong in Phang Nga Bay has its own page in our guide, [Hong in Phang Nga](/en/travel/phuket/excursions/hong-island-phang-nga/). When you book, ask the seller which island is in the program.
How long is the boat ride to the Hong Islands from Phuket?
Phuket Tour says in its tour overview that the speedboat trip takes about 1 hour. The programs show different times: the catamaran leaves at 06:30 and is at Ko Lao Lading at 07:20, while the speedboat leaves at 10:00 and reaches Ko Naka Yai at 10:30. The straight-line distance is about 46 km from Chalong Pier.
How much is the entrance fee for the Hong Islands?
The islands are in Than Bok Khorani National Park: the DNP table lists THB 300 for a foreign adult and THB 150 for a child. Phuket Tour lists national park tickets as included in the price of both programs. Confirm this with your operator before you pay.
When is the best time to go to the Hong Islands?
DNP splits the park's climate into two seasons: summer from mid-January to April, with February the driest, and rain from late April to December, with September the wettest. In the rainy months waves and rescheduling are more likely. Close to your date, check the park status on the DNP portal.
Can you kayak at Hong?
In its Hong Islands overview, Phuket Tour describes kayaking and canoeing through lagoons and mangrove caves. The Krabi islands speedboat and Krabi PRO catamaran programs do not list kayaking as a separate item, so ask the operator. The photos on this page show kayakers near Ko Hong.
Is it suitable for children and pregnant travellers?
Phuket Tour uses a child tariff, and the programs do not state an age. Most Krabi operators advise pregnant travellers against speedboats (Tisland, Trazy). For the early catamaran, ask Phuket Tour whether pregnant guests are taken on board.
Should you choose Hong from Phuket or from Ao Nang?
From Phuket you keep your own hotel but spend about an hour at sea each way. From Ao Nang to Ko Hong it is about 14 km in a straight line, which is closer. If you are staying in Krabi, see the page on [Hong from Ao Nang](/en/travel/krabi/excursions/hong-islands-from-ao-nang/).
Sources
- DNP. Than Bok Khorani National Park (park page)
- DNP. National park entrance fees for individuals, revision of 2 June 2023 (dataset)
- DNP. Opening and closure status of national parks (ข้อมูลท่องเที่ยวอุทยานแห่งชาติ)
- Phuket Tour. Krabi islands by speedboat: program (in Russian) (in Russian)
- Phuket Tour. Krabi PRO catamaran with an early start: program (in Russian) (in Russian)
- Phuket Tour. Hong Islands: tour overview (in Russian)
- OpenStreetMap. Ko Hong (relation 5 805 205), Ko Lao Lading (way 57 840 313), Ko Pak Bia (way 57 840 157), Chalong Pier (node 270986823)
- Tisland. 4 Islands from Krabi: restrictions for pregnant travellers
- Trazy. Krabi Four Islands Tour: restrictions for pregnant travellers
- TMD. Climatological Data of Thailand for 30 Year Period (1991-2020), Phuket station
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