Hong Islands from Krabi: Speedboat, Longtail, Early Bird or Sunset?
Updated October 7, 2026 · 7 min read
The short answer. For most people, the Hong Islands day trip by speedboat with lunch is the one to book: €30.49, 4.6 stars from 4,748 reviews, six hours, and two and a half of them on Hong Island itself. The cheapest way to the same place is the Hong Islands longtail day tour from €24.65. If you would rather be on the beach before the crowds, the early bird tour with breakfast from €44.81 is the one built for it.
All of them add the national park fee in cash on the day, and on every Hong listing it is the same: 300 THB per adult and 150 THB per child.
What is out there
Hong is a group of limestone islands further out than the Four Islands, about half an hour from the coast by speedboat. The main island is a half-moon of white sand that is uninhabited except for birds, white-faced gibbons and giant monitor lizards, which the speedboat listing says are often spotted on the beach. Behind it is a lagoon you enter through a narrow cliff passage, and Ko Lao Lading and Ko Pak Bia are the usual swim and snorkel stops. If you are still choosing between this group and the Four Islands, that comparison comes first.
The islands are the same whichever you book. What changes is the boat, the hour you arrive and what you eat.
The four versions side by side
| Tour | Duration | From | Rating | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hong Islands day trip by speedboat with lunch | 6 hours | €30.49 | 4.6 (4,748 reviews) | Most people |
| Hong Islands day tour by longtail boat | 7 hours | €24.65 | 4.2 (589 reviews) | The lowest price |
| Hong Islands early bird tour | 7 hours | €44.81 | 4.8 (43 reviews) | Beating the crowds |
| Hong Island and Ko Pak Bia tour with sunset dinner | 6 - 7 hours | €44.68 | 4.5 (674 reviews) | An evening on the water |
The speedboat day
The benchmark listing runs like this: a half-hour speedboat crossing, two and a half hours of free time on Hong Island, a 30-minute lunch on the island, 20 minutes on the water at the Hong Lagoon, 35 minutes at Ko Pak Bia and 40 minutes of swimming and snorkelling at Ko Lao Lading, then home by speedboat. Pick-up is by minivan from five areas including Ao Nang, Krabi Town and Klong Muang.
Two things on it are optional and not automatic. The 360° viewpoint on Hong Island is a climb, and the kayaking carries an extra fee. A separate listing counts the viewpoint trail at 419 steps, which is a good measure of the commitment. Lunch is a Thai lunch box with fruit, and you should say in advance if you have allergies or need a vegetarian meal.
Not suitable for children under 3, pregnant travellers, people with back or heart problems and wheelchair users, according to the booking page.
See availability and prices for the Hong Islands speedboat day
The longtail day, and why it is cheaper
The longtail listing runs seven hours on a traditional fishing boat with a strong motor, and it includes lunch on Hong Beach, a snorkel mask and life jacket, a first aid kit and accident insurance. Free hotel pick-up covers the Ao Nang area, and the pick-up window is estimated at 8:30 am to 9:00 am. From Krabi Town, Klong Muang, Ao Nam Mao or Tubkaek the transfer costs 100 THB more per person, round trip.
The rating of 4.2 is lower than the speedboat’s 4.6, and I would not read that as a verdict on the islands. It is a slower, louder ride, and a longer day for less money. If you have children or a tight budget and you are not in a hurry, it makes sense. If you have six hours to spare and want the longest time on the island, the speedboat does more with them. There is also a longtail version with a kayak option and a buffet lunch at a similar price, and the same logic applies to it.
The early bird: the one that changes the day
The early bird is the same group of islands at a different time of day. The day starts with a beach breakfast on Hong Island, under the casuarina trees, of tropical fruit and pastries, and the listing’s own pitch is a quiet start before the crowds arrive. The rest of the day covers the lagoon, snorkelling, a sandbar walk at Ko Pak Bia and lunch.
The honest caveat is the number of reviews: 43, against thousands for the speedboat. The 4.8 is promising and thin. It is also priced about €14 above the speedboat. The listing excludes non-swimmers and people prone to seasickness, and lists dry bags and fins as not included.
The sunset version
The Hong Island and Ko Pak Bia sunset tour runs from about 1:00 pm to 7:30 pm, by speedboat or longtail depending on your preference. You swim and snorkel at the lagoon and at Ko Lao Lading, eat a barbecue dinner on the beach there, and watch the sunset from Ko Pak Bia. The plankton swim at the end is described as a possibility, not a promise: the listing says sightings depend on tide and moon phase. It also says snorkelling stops may be cancelled in unsafe sea conditions, and that if the marine park or the authorities stop departures for dangerous weather, you get a full refund or a free reschedule.
Kayaking is an optional extra, paid on Hong Island at 500 THB per person. The park fee is 300 THB per adult and 150 THB per child. If the evening is what you want, our guide to the 7 Islands sunset tour explains what to check about the moon first. A late finish after dark is a poor fit for small children who tire early.
Which one to book
Book the speedboat day. It has by far the most reviews, a sensible 6 hours and the most time on the island itself. Take the longtail only if the saving of about €6 matters more to you than the extra hour and the slower ride. Take the early bird if you are the kind of traveller who ranks an empty beach above everything else, and accept that it rests on fewer reviews.
Whichever you pick, read the “not suitable for” line for the listing you are buying, and bring the park fee in baht. The rest of the boat day range is on the island tours page, from €12.88.
