From Ao Nang you can see three groups of islands in a day: Phi Phi, out in the open sea, and the Hong Islands and the 4 Islands, both much closer to the Krabi coast. They are different days. Phi Phi is a long trip with a real sea crossing, built around Maya Bay and Pileh Lagoon. The other two are shorter hops between limestone islands near the mainland. This site covers the Phi Phi tours, and a typical one is the Maya Bay, Bamboo & Phi Phi Day Tour, an eight-hour speedboat day from Ao Nang.
Maya Bay, Bamboo & Phi Phi Day Tour
The three trips at a glance
| Phi Phi | Hong Islands | Krabi 4 Islands | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main stops | Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon, Viking Cave, Monkey Beach, Bamboo Island, lunch on Phi Phi Don | Hong lagoon, Hong Island, Pakbia | Ko Poda, Chicken Island, Tup Island, Phra Nang |
| Speedboat from Ao Nang | About 45 to 60 min | About 20 to 30 min | Short hops near Ao Nang |
| Length of the day | About 7 to 9 h | About 6 to 7 h | Shorter than Phi Phi |
| Park fee | 400 THB adult, cash, on most tours | Ask your operator | Ask your operator |
| Sold on this site | Yes | No | No, but combined with Phi Phi on several tours |
Hong Islands and 4 Islands tours from Ao Nang are widely sold, including on GetYourGuide. We do not list them or track their prices, so the price comparison below is for Phi Phi.
What Phi Phi gives you that the others do not
Phi Phi is the trip with the famous names. You walk in to Maya Bay from the Loh Samah side, swim off the boat in Pileh Lagoon between cliffs, pass Viking Cave and Monkey Beach, have lunch on Phi Phi Don and finish at Bamboo Island. The Maya Bay, Bamboo & Phi Phi Day Tour does exactly that, with about 45 minutes at Maya Bay, 30 at Pileh Lagoon and 45 on Bamboo Island.
The trade-off is the sea. The crossing from Ao Nang is about 42 km, around 45 to 60 minutes each way by speedboat, across water that is calmer from about December to April and choppy in the monsoon. If you are prone to seasickness, it is the part of the day to plan for.
Crowds and rules at Maya Bay
Maya Bay is the busiest stop on any of the three trips. The park lets visitors land in rounds of up to 375 people for up to an hour, and caps the day at about 4,125. It is closed every year from 1 August to 30 September, and when open you cannot swim at the front beach. Reviews of the standard tours describe Maya Bay as very busy at midday; one reviewer of the Bamboo & Phi Phi day put the crowd at over a thousand people.
There are two ways around that. An early-bird tour gets to Maya Bay early in its opening hours, and a small-group tour such as the Phi Phi Small Group Speedboat Tour runs the loop in reverse, starting at Bamboo Island. Our Maya Bay guide covers both.
We have no crowd figures for Hong or the 4 Islands, so we cannot tell you they are quieter. Expect the popular beaches there to be busy in high season as well.
What the shorter trips are like
The Hong Islands tour heads north from Ao Nang, about 20 to 30 minutes by speedboat, to the lagoon on Hong Island and nearby islands such as Pakbia. The whole day takes about six to seven hours.
The 4 Islands tour stays even closer, around Ko Poda, Chicken Island with its rock shaped like a chicken’s head, Tup Island with its sandbar to the neighbouring islets at low tide, and Phra Nang beach near Railay. The hops between them are short, so more of the day is spent on beaches and less on the boat.
Either one suits you if the open-sea crossing worries you, you have young children, or you want a slower day after a Phi Phi trip.
Tours that combine them
You do not have to choose between Phi Phi and the 4 Islands. Several Phi Phi tours from Krabi add the 4 Islands on the way home, because those islands are close to Ao Nang.
The Phi Phi Early Bird & 4 Islands by Speedboat starts with coffee on the Tup Island sandbar, does the Phi Phi stops with lunch on Bamboo Island, then passes Chicken Island and finishes with 50 minutes at Ko Poda. It costs $79 on the dates we checked in early November 2026 and rates 4.9 from 3,568 reviews. The Early Bird Maya Bay & 4 Islands is a similar day from $74. The sunset tours, such as the Phi Phi Sunset, BBQ & Plankton, end with dinner and sunset at Ko Poda.
Few tours combine Phi Phi and Hong in one day. The Phi Phi Speedboat, Shared or Private listing has a private option that covers both, at $395 per person for two adults on the dates we checked. That is a long day for a private boat, and not a cheap one.
What the Phi Phi day costs
On the dates we checked in early November 2026, the standard shared Phi Phi tours from Krabi cost from $47 per person, including the Maya Bay, Bamboo & Phi Phi Day Tour (4.4 from 626 reviews), the Phi Phi, Maya Bay & Bamboo Island and the Phi Phi Speedboat with Buffet Lunch. Lunch, snorkel masks and hotel pickup in Ao Nang are included. The park fee of 400 THB per adult is extra and paid in cash.
On the Bamboo & Phi Phi day, pickup from Krabi Town, Klong Muang or Tubkaek adds 100 THB per person. Our price guide sets out every tier.
Which should you choose?
If you have one day for an island trip and have not been to Phi Phi, I would go to Phi Phi. Maya Bay and Pileh Lagoon are the reason most people make the trip, and you only see them on a Phi Phi tour.
If you have two days, do Phi Phi on the calmer day and Hong or the 4 Islands on the other. If you want both in one go, an early-bird Phi Phi & 4 Islands tour covers a lot of ground. If you have small children or get seasick, Hong or the 4 Islands is the gentler choice; our guide to Phi Phi with kids helps you decide.
For choosing among the Phi Phi tours, see the best Phi Phi island tour from Krabi, our review → of the Bamboo & Phi Phi day, and the Phi Phi and Bamboo Island tours page.
Frequently asked questions
Is Phi Phi or Hong Island better?
For a first visit, most people choose Phi Phi for Maya Bay and Pileh Lagoon. Hong Islands is closer to Ao Nang, about 20 to 30 minutes by speedboat, with a shorter day, which suits young children and anyone who dislikes long boat rides.
Is the Krabi 4 Islands tour better than Phi Phi?
It is a shorter, gentler day near Ao Nang, around Ko Poda, Chicken Island, Tup Island and Phra Nang. Phi Phi is a longer day with a 45 to 60 minute crossing each way. Several Phi Phi tours add the 4 Islands on the way back.
Can you do Phi Phi and Hong Island in one day?
We found it only as a private option. One listing we track offers a private Phi Phi and Hong Island option at $395 per person for two adults in early November 2026.
How long is the boat ride to Phi Phi compared with Hong Island?
About 45 to 60 minutes to Phi Phi by speedboat from Ao Nang, against about 20 to 30 minutes to the Hong Islands.
Is Maya Bay on the Hong Islands tour?
No. Maya Bay is on Phi Phi Leh, part of the Phi Phi group. Only the Phi Phi tours go there, and it is closed every year in August and September.
Pick your Phi Phi day and check the boat
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on the tours we review. The national park fee (400 THB per adult) is usually paid in cash on the day.
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