A dreamy day trip to the stunning Hong Islands was the highlight of my month long trip to Krabi, Thailand.
This group of tiny islands in the Andaman sea near Krabi has dreamy white sandy beaches, clear turquoise waters, stunning limestone cliffs, and lush green jungle – a perfect Thai island paradise!
The Hong Islands must be among the most beautiful destinations in Thailand, while they are not as famous as the Phi Phi islands they are closer to Krabi, less crowded and just as spectacular.
If you’re looking for a blissful island hopping day trip from Krabi, the Hong Islands are ideal! So in this guide to the Hong Islands, Krabi I’ll include everything you need to know to visit this slice of tropical paradise for yourself!
Where are the Hong Islands
The Hong islands are part of the Than Bok Khorani National Park and are located in the Andaman Sea, just off the coast of Krabi in southern Thailand.
These beautiful islands are 6km from the mainland and it only takes about 30 mins to reach the Hong Islands from Ao Nang or Krabi Town so it’s an ideal day trip from Krabi.
Several small islands and islets make up the Hong Islands, but there are four islands that you can visit. These include;
- Koh Hong,
- Koh Lao Lading,
- Koh Pak Bia,
- and Koh Rai.
Koh Hong is the main island, but the others mentioned all have unique features and are also worth a short visit. The best island hopping tours will visit all four islands and include a snorkelling stop.
The islands are home to beautiful beaches, plants and animals, including a variety of birds, monkeys, reptiles, and marine life, including colorful fish, sea turtles, and even dolphins.
So make sure you respect the nature, wear reef safe sun screen, and take all your rubbish with you to help preserve the national park for the future.
Koh Hong Island
Koh Hong (or Hong Island) is the largest of the four islands and the one I spent the most time on. It’s a good idea to visit Hong island for your first stop as it has the most to offer including a beautiful beach, impressive 360 degree viewpoint and an other worldly lagoon.
Koh Hong is home to the most beautiful sheltered beach with silky soft white sand and turquoise water surrounded by towering limestone cliffs. It’s the perfect place to relax and soak up the paradise island vibes and is good for swimming and snorkelling when the tide is high.
There is also a nature trail, Thai restaurant, cute beach bar and juice stand, and toilet facilities on Hong island. As you’d expect for a tiny island in a national park, the prices are a little higher than on the mainland, but are still decent value.
Hong Island Viewpoint
Another highlight of Koh Hong is the impressive 360 degree viewpoint. It’s a steep but relatively short hike up 420 steps to get to the top but it’s totally worth it for the incredible panoramic views over the beautiful islands and the Andaman Sea. Even though it’s a short hike (15 – 20 mins) it can get pretty hot and sticky so take plenty of water.
There is also an easy, mostly flat, nature trail around Koh Hong which is a good way to explore the jungle if you’re not up for the steep hike to the top! There’s a floating jetty that makes access to the island easy.
Hong Lagoon
Koh Hong is also home to the stunning Hong Lagoon. This shallow pool of emerald water surrounded by mangroves and rainforest covered cliffs is only accessible by long tail boat through a narrow rock opening.
Once inside it feels like you’re in another world. Most longtail boat tours will include a quick stop in Hong Lagoon – whether you can swim depends on the tide.
Koh Lao Lading
The second largest island in the group also has a dreamy beach nestled in between limestone cliffs with clear blue waters suitable for swimming.
This island also has a jetty ensuring easy access and after a short walk between the limestone cliffs you are rewarded with a beautiful beach not that dissimilar from famous Maya Bay.
If conditions are right you can see a variety of fish in the waters just off the shore and there’s also a snack bar and toilets on the island.
Koh Pak Bia and Koh Rai
These small islands are located so close to each other you can see them both at once. It’s an incredibly scenic spot.
Koh Pak Bia has a small sand bar that connects it to a tiny islet, while Koh Rai features a dramatic limestone rock surrounded by jungle with a small white sand beach at it’s base. You can sunbathe, swim and snorkel here, depending on the tide.
There are no facilities or jetties on these small islands and it can a bit rocky underfoot where the boat drops you off so it’s a good idea to bring water shoes if you have them. A dry bag is another essential for any island hopping trips.
How to Get to the Hong Islands
The only way to reach the Hong islands is by boat – you can either hire a private boat or join a group tour. The islands are only 6km away from Krabi and it takes about 30 minutes to reach on a long tail boat.
Several tour companies offer day trips to the Hong islands from Krabi. These usually depart from Nopparat Thara Pier but many tour operators also include pick up from Ao Nang beach, Railay Beach, Klong Mueang Beach, Tubkaek Beach and Krabi Town. You can also find some Hong Islands tours from Phuket and Koh Yao Noi but these are not so frequent.
You can choose between speedboat or longtail boat tours and different island hopping itineraries. The speedboat tours are faster, more comfortable, and more expensive, while the traditional longtail boats are slower and cheaper and can be a bit noisy at times.
Some tours just visit the Hong islands whilst others also visit other places. Popular options are Phang Nga Bay and the famous James Bond island, or Railay, Koh Tup, Koh Poda and Chicken Island so check the itinerary carefully.
Prices start at about 1,250 Thai Baht (approx 35 USD) for group tours but can vary depending on the type of boat, group size, season, islands visited and activities included. Many tours also include pick up from your hotel, water, fruits and lunch, insurance, and snorkelling equipment so it’s pretty good value. Some also offer kayaking.
Be aware that entrance to the national park is usually not included in the tour price. The national park fees of 300 Thai Baht per person has to be paid in cash when you step onto Koh Hong. Don’t forget it!
If you prefer having a boat all yourself and more flexibility then you can also hire a private longtail boat from Ao Nang beach or Klong Mueang beach. Booking a private tour allows for a more exclusive experience, allowing you to create your own itinerary, explore the islands at your own pace, and start early to avoid the crowds.
If you want to get your Thailand itinerary organised in advance the best way to book your Hong islands tour online is on Get Your Guide or Viator. These platforms offer a variety of options for different budgets, real reviews from previous guests, and free cancellation.
Another platform that has become really popular in Asia is Klook – sometimes prices can be cheaper here but make sure to check the inclusions before booking. Tours are offered in English, Thai and Mandarin.
You could also book in person with local travel agents or with the boat drivers themselves but you may need to negotiate to get the best price.
If you’re visiting Thailand in high season (Dec – April) you’ll enjoy the best weather for island hopping adventures like this but it’s also the busiest time so I recommend booking in advance to avoid disappointment.
Be aware that even though there are four islands visited on Hong island tours, this is a different tour from the popular Krabi Four Islands tour which visits Koh Tup, Koh Poda, Chicken Island and Phra Nang Beach in Railay – although some tours can visit both in one day.
Also, there is another Hong Island in nearby Phang Nga Bay which is a popular kayaking stop on the Phang Nga Bay and James Bond Island tours. Make sure to check which islands you will be visiting before you book!
The Best Hong Island Tours from Krabi
There are several options for Hong Island tours, from budget friendly group tours on a modern speedboat to customisable private tours aboard a traditional long tail boat for a more romantic experience.
The best tours will include stops at all four of the main islands, a visit to Hong Lagoon, snorkelling or kayaking, lunch and refreshments. They should also include transfers from your hotel to the boat and an English speaking guide – just remember to bring cash for the national park fee.
The top Hong islands tours from Krabi include:
As we wanted to avoid the crowds and create our own itinerary we choose this private longtail boat tour. We arrived at Hong island in the early morning before any tour groups and enjoyed having this slice of paradise almost all to ourselves – it was so worth it!
With this private tour you can also choose your itinerary giving you the option to visit seven islands in total. This was the cheapest private tour I found but be aware that you have to bring/ buy your own lunch and make your own way to the meeting point at Nopparat Thara Pier.
Best Time to Visit The Hong Islands
The best time to visit the Hong Islands is between December and April, when the weather is sunny, dry, not too hot and the sea is calm. During this time, the weather is perfect for island hopping and visibility is also excellent for snorkeling and diving.
However, this is also the peak season, so expect more crowds and higher prices and make sure to book in advance. Be aware that as it can get very hot in April and May and there could also be jellyfish in the warm shallow waters at this time.
You can also visit the Hong Islands during the low/ rainy season between May to October. However, the weather can be unpredictable, sometimes heavy rain and rough seas can make island hopping impossible but sometimes the weather is beautiful and you can enjoy the islands with fewer tourists and lower prices.
Accommodation Options
As these beautiful islands are part of the Than Bok Khorani National Marine Park you can only visit the Hong islands on a day trip – there are restaurants and toilets on the larger islands but no resorts or accommodation options in the national park.
But don’t worry, there are plenty of options nearby and wherever you stay in Krabi you should be able to find an boat trip to the Hong islands.
The best places to stay in Krabi include:
- Ao Nang Beach – The most popular area to stay in Krabi with plenty of accommodation and eating options from the luxurious beachfront Centara Ao Nang Beach Resort to the budget friendly @Aonang Guesthouse
- Railay Beach – One of the most famous and picturesque beaches in Krabi nestled in between limestone cliffs and only accessible by boat. The secluded Rayavadee on Phra Nang Beach is my top pick.
- Klong Muang Beach – A peaceful, uncrowded, beach with laid back resorts like the beautiful Nakamanda Resort.
- Tubkaek Beach – Home to the best luxury resorts in Krabi, like the Phulay Bay Ritz Carlton Reserve, and offers stunning views of the Hong islands.
- Krabi Town – A small riverside Thai town offer a more authentic vibe and great value budget hotels including the Krabi SeaBass Hotel and lively backpacker hostels like Pak-Up Hostel.
- Koh Yao Noi and Koh Yao Yai – These large, less developed islands are actually the closest place to stay to the Hong Islands.
Krabi is a diverse province with many different beaches and islands so check out my comprehensive guide to where to stay in Krabi for more details. I was there for a month so I got to check out a lot of places!
You could also stay on the mostly undeveloped islands of Koh Yao Yai and Koh Yao Noi which are really close to the Hong islands. The incredible Six Senses Yao Noi has an amazing view of the islands, and there great budget friendly options too like Koh Yao Seaview Bungalows.
I hope this post has inspired you to visit the Hong islands and given you all the information you need to plan your trip.
In many ways the Hong islands are better than the Phi Phi islands – they are more pristine, less developed and less crowded and some parts don’t look so different from famous Maya Bay!
Plus, if you time your visit right, you can really feel like you are on your own slice of tropical paradise island – a Thailand bucket list dream come true!
If you’re planning a trip to Thailand check out my other blogs for more tips. You might like:
