Which islands are in the Krabi 4 Islands tour
“4 Islands” (Krabi 4 Islands) is the common name for a tour of a group of islands off Ao Nang, not a list of four fixed names. The islands lie close together: by OpenStreetMap coordinates it is 1.2 km in a straight line from Ko Poda to Ko Tup, 1.0 km from Ko Tup to Ko Kai, and about 8.5 km from Nopparat Thara Pier in Ao Nang to Ko Poda. All of them are in Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park. The set differs by operator.
| Operator | What is included | Departure |
|---|---|---|
| Phuket Tour | Ko Tup (Tab), Chicken Island, Ko Poda | ferry from Rassada Pier, change at Ao Nang |
| Thai Holiday Guide | Ko Tup, Chicken Island, Ko Poda | ferry from Rassada Pier, Ao Nang Travel & Tour |
| Tisland | Phra Nang, the Thalaivak sandbar, Chicken Island, Ko Poda | Ao Nang and Krabi |
| Trazy | Phra Nang, Tup and Mor, Poda, Chicken Island | Ao Nang |
Ko Poda. The island where tours stop for lunch and beach time. On the Phuket Tour program it is lunch and beach time from 12:00 to 15:00.
Ko Tup (Tub, Thap). A small island from which a sandbar runs to its neighbours at low tide. Tisland calls it Thalaivak (Divided Sea), and Trazy describes the sandbank between Tup and Mor. Phuket Tour writes about a “vanishing beach on the sandbar”. The DNP park page mentions Thale Waek among the park’s places, but Ko Tup has no separate row in the fee table.
Chicken Island (Ko Kai). An island that appears in every program in the table above. Per Trazy and Thai Holiday Guide there is snorkelling here, and per Thai Holiday Guide lunch at a restaurant on the island too. Diving off the west side of Ko Kai has been closed since 16 May 2026 (DNP status on 18 October 2026), but operators keep snorkelling in their programs, so ask your guide.
Ko Mor. Next to Ko Tup, included in the Trazy tour and in the name of the sandbar. Other programs do not name Mor as a separate stop.
Phra Nang cave. This is not an island but a beach and shrine cave at Railay. Some operators count it as the fourth stop. More in our guide to Railay from Phuket.
How long it takes and when to go
The whole day is 9-10 hours: Thai Holiday Guide says 9 hours, and on the Phuket Tour program 07:00 to 17:00 makes 10. Tours from Ao Nang are shorter: 6 hours 45 minutes with Trazy and 7 hours with Tisland.
DNP splits the park’s climate into two seasons: dry from January to April, rainy from May to December, with the most rain in July and the least in February. The sandbar at Ko Tup depends on the tide, not on the season.
| Period | What to expect |
|---|---|
| January-March | dry, a calm sea for the ferry and speedboat |
| April | hot, the first storms are possible |
| May-October | rain and waves, the program is more often changed |
| November-December | rainfall eases, the sea is still uneven |
More in Phuket’s climate by month.
How to get there and how far it is
For tours from Phuket you get to Rassada Pier on the east coast, and the ferry then crosses to Ao Nang. Rassada Pier is about 46.5 km in a straight line from Nopparat Thara Pier (calculated from OpenStreetMap), and the sea route is longer. The ferry takes about 2 hours: on the Phuket Tour program it leaves at 08:30 and arrives at 10:30. Thai Holiday Guide says the speedboat from Ao Nang to Ko Tup takes about 15 minutes. For an independent trip see the Railay page, which has a table of ways to reach Ao Nang.
Park fee and what it covers
Ko Poda, Ko Kai, Ko Tup, Ko Mor and Phra Nang are inside Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park. The DNP table (revision of 2 June 2023) lists THB 200 for a foreign adult and THB 100 for a child for the general park territory. What the price covers differs: Tisland includes it, Phuket Tour lists it separately, Trazy collects cash on site, and Thai Holiday Guide does not include entrance fees. Keep your receipt with you, because DNP asks visitors to show it on inspection.
Options: where to start and what to ride
| Option | Time | Best for | Downside |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ferry and speedboat from Phuket | 9-10 hours with transfer | Anyone living in Phuket | About 4 hours on the ferry |
| Speedboat from Ao Nang | 6 h 45 min (Trazy), 7 h (Tisland) | Anyone staying in Krabi | You must move to Krabi first |
| Longtail from Ao Nang | depends on the operator | Anyone who wants a calmer ride | Fewer stops in a day |
| Private boat | by agreement | A group or family | Confirm the Krabi route with the operator |
A speedboat is faster than a longtail but rougher in waves. The ferry to Ao Nang takes about 2 hours and is the longest part of the day.
What to do in rain and rough seas
- The program changes. Tisland and Trazy say the route may change because of weather, and the operator decides the order and any skipped islands
- The Ko Tup sandbar depends on the tide. At full tide it goes under water, so check the tide table for your day
- Rough seas. The operator decides on the order of stops and skipped islands, so ask about rescheduling or a refund before you pay
- Rainy season. For bad weather plan the mainland tour in Krabi, which depends less on the sea
Safety
- Life jackets. Tisland and Trazy supply them, so wear one on board and while snorkelling if you are not a confident swimmer
- Pregnancy and backs. Tisland does not take pregnant travellers or people with back or neck problems, and Thai Holiday Guide does not recommend the trip with a spinal injury or heart problems
- Snorkelling. Diving off the west side of Ko Kai has been closed by DNP since 16 May 2026, so follow your guide
- Babies. Tisland does not take children under 1 year and Trazy under 2, and at Thai Holiday Guide babies sit on an adult’s lap
- Corals and fish. Do not stand on corals or feed the fish
Who it suits and who should skip it
- Suits couples and friends. Three or four stops with a beach, a sandbar and snorkelling per the operators’ programs
- Suits children from 4. Tisland sells a child ticket from age 4, but the day is long
- Not for pregnant travellers. All the operators above advise against it
- Not for anyone with a bad back. A speedboat in waves jolts the spine
- Not for anyone who wants quiet. In the season there are many boats at Ko Poda and the Tup sandbar
FAQ
Which islands are in the Krabi 4 Islands tour?
The name is not tied to one set. Phuket Tour goes to Ko Tup, Chicken Island and Ko Poda, Tisland names Phra Nang, the Thalaivak sandbar (Tup and Mor), Chicken Island and Poda, and Trazy lists Phra Nang, Tup and Mor, Poda and Chicken Island. Check the stops one by one before you book.
How long is the Krabi 4 Islands tour from Phuket?
Thai Holiday Guide gives 9 hours, and on the Phuket Tour program the span from the 07:00 hotel pickup to the 17:00 arrival in Phuket is 10 hours. The ferry takes about 2 hours each way, and Thai Holiday Guide says 90 minutes in its FAQ. From Ao Nang the tour takes 6 hours 45 minutes with Trazy and 7 hours with Tisland.
How much is the entrance fee for the Krabi islands?
The islands are inside Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, where the DNP table lists THB 200 for a foreign adult and THB 100 for a child. Phuket Tour lists it separately, Tisland includes it in the ticket, and Trazy and Thai Holiday Guide do not. Ask before you pay.
When is the sandbar at Ko Tup visible?
The sandbar shows at low tide: Tisland says it is accessible at low tide, and Trazy calls it visible at low tide. Tides change every day, so the tour schedule follows the tide table. If the tide is full on your day, the sandbar may be underwater.
Can you snorkel at Chicken Island?
DNP closed diving off the west side of Ko Kai on 16 May 2026, and the ban was still in force on 18 October 2026. Operator programs still list snorkelling at Chicken Island, usually on another side, so ask your guide on site. Phuket Tour includes masks and snorkels.
Is the tour suitable for children and pregnant travellers?
Operators do not recommend it for pregnant travellers: Tisland and Trazy do not take them, and Thai Holiday Guide advises against it with spinal or heart problems. For children, Tisland sells a child ticket from age 4, under 3 without a separate seat and not under 1, while Trazy does not take children under 2. Operators supply life jackets.
Should you pick 4 Islands from Phuket or from Ao Nang?
From Phuket you keep your own hotel but spend about 4 hours on the ferry. From Ao Nang the tour takes 6 hours 45 minutes or 7 hours, but you have to stay in Krabi. If you have only one Krabi day, also look at the [Railay trip](/en/travel/phuket/excursions/railay-from-phuket/).
What happens in rough seas?
Tisland and Trazy say the program may change because of weather, and Thai Holiday Guide gives a full refund for cancellation at least 24 hours before departure. Ask your operator before you pay what happens if a sailing is cancelled because of waves.
Sources
- DNP. Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi 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 (ferry + speedboat): program (in Russian) (in Russian)
- Thai Holiday Guide. Day tour from Phuket to 4 islands in Krabi by ferry and speedboat
- Tisland. 4 Islands from Krabi: program and age restrictions
- Trazy. Krabi Four Islands Tour: program
- Rassada Pier (rassadapier.net). Timetable: ferries Phuket, Ao Nang, Railay
- OpenStreetMap. Ko Poda (relation 6 736 886), Ko Tup (relation 5 843 326), Ko Kai (relation 20 416 606), Rassada Pier (node 260742667), Nopparat Thara Pier (node 2495732193)
- TMD. Climatological Data of Thailand for 30 Year Period (1991-2020), Phuket station
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