Private Longtail Boat in Krabi: Is It Worth the Extra?
7 min read
The short answer. For most couples and groups of three or four who want the Hong Islands without sharing their boat, the private boat is worth considering: take the private longtail from Ao Nang, whose headline starting price is €98.43, and request a quote for your group on option 3. If you want an included picnic lunch and hotel pick-up in Ao Nang, Klong Muang or Tup Kaek, the luxury Hong Island longtail is the one; its amenities list also names a toilet on board. If you are travelling alone, or you prefer a shared day on the water, stay on the shared Four Islands trip at €29.72 a head.
The rest of this page is why, and what the price comparison leaves out.
What you are really paying for
A private longtail changes three things worth comparing. You choose from the available departure times, including early options intended to avoid the larger crowds. You can discuss how long to spend at each stop, within the booked duration and the captain’s decisions on weather and sea conditions. And you choose the route, within the options the operator offers.
It does not give you exclusive access to the islands. The shared Four Islands trip and a private Hong Islands itinerary visit different stops, so choose the route before comparing the price. What you buy is a different order of the day. The Ao Nang listing recommends its sunrise departure for avoiding crowds, but that is not a promise of empty islands.
The comparison is not like for like
| Tour | Duration | From | Rating | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private longtail island hopping from Ao Nang | 4 - 6 hours | €98.43; confirm group and route quote | 4.7 (1,483 reviews) | Couples and small groups who want to pick the hour |
| Hong Islands private longtail | 6 hours | €149.81/group up to 3; larger groups need a quote | 4.3 (65 reviews) | Larger groups, a fully custom day |
| Private luxury longtail to Hong Island | 4 - 7 hours | €346.22; confirm group quote | 4.7 (86 reviews) | A comfortable day with lunch included |
| Premium 4-Island day trip, shared | 6 hours | €29.72/person on the shared option | 4.6 (6,414 reviews) | Solo travellers and those who prefer a shared boat |
The private listings are priced per boat, the shared one per person. For four people, compare four tickets at €29.72 per person with a quote for four on the private boat. Its advertised €98.43 starting rate is not a confirmed four-person fare for the Hong itinerary; select your party size and route when requesting the quote. The boat accommodates up to twelve. Route, duration, food and park fees also affect the comparison.
The Ao Nang private boat, option by option
This listing has 1,483 reviews; compare those accounts alongside the route and departure options. You choose between four itineraries, with four- or six-hour options.
- Option 1 covers the three islands closest to Ao Nang: Ko Poda, Ko Tup and Chicken Island, with the Thale Waek sandbar if the tide allows.
- Option 2 adds Railay Beach and Phra Nang Cave Beach.
- Option 3 goes further out to the Hong group: Hong Island, Ko Lao Lading, Ko Pak Bia and the Hong Lagoon.
- Option 4 combines seven destinations from the nearby islands and Hong group, leaving out Railay and allowing less time at each stop.
You meet at Nopparat cafe, the named meeting point on the booking page. The boat comes with a local captain, snorkel masks, life jackets and a fruit set cut on board; check drinking-water provision on the booking page. The captain speaks very basic English. Arrange your own taxi to the meeting point, as the booking instructions require, and check meal arrangements before departure.
See availability and prices for the private longtail from Ao Nang
Park fees change with the route
On the Ao Nang listing the national park fee depends on which itinerary you pick: 200 THB per adult and 100 THB per child aged 5 to 11 for options 1 and 2, 300 THB and 150 THB for option 3 and 500 THB and 250 THB for option 4. Confirm whether these fees are charged separately for your selected booking. The other private Hong Island listings use the same 300 THB figure for adults. The luxury picnic boat explicitly requires cash payment at Hong Island and quotes 100 THB per child, while the customisable boat quotes 150 THB per child; confirm the applicable child tariff. Bring it in cash.
The shared Four Islands page lists a park fee of 200 THB per person; check whether your selected option includes it. For the route comparison, see Four Islands or Hong Islands.
Which private boat, if not the first
The Hong Islands private longtail is the most flexible on paper: the day is fully customisable, the boat takes up to 15 passengers, and a round-trip transfer from the Ao Nang area is included. Hotels in Krabi Town, Tubkaek or Klong Muang add 800 THB round trip. Its page lists a park fee of 300 THB per adult and 150 THB per child; check whether this is charged separately and whether lunch is included in your selected booking. Its rating is 4.3/5 from 65 reviews. The page lists an English- and Thai-speaking host, while one reviewer describes very limited English; confirm the level of commentary if that matters to your group.
The luxury Hong Island longtail includes hotel pick-up and drop-off in Ao Nang, Klong Muang or Tup Kaek, a picnic lunch and soft drinks. Its description names floating cushions and towels, and its amenities list names a toilet on board. The boat accommodates up to 10 people; check the quote for your actual party size and chosen half-day or full-day option before comparing. The luxury page describes island visits but labels stops as optional and extra-fee in its itinerary widget. Confirm the stops and charges included in your chosen option. It is the right pick for an occasion, and the wrong one if all you want is an empty beach.
Check the luxury Hong Island longtail
Who should not book a private boat
Solo travellers. You pay for a whole boat. Compare one shared ticket at €29.72 with a private quote for one person, including the different routes and any extra fees.
Anyone who wants the social side. A private boat keeps other travelling parties off your boat; some options also include a guide.
The Ao Nang charter’s participation restrictions. The Ao Nang listing excludes pregnant travellers and people with back problems, mobility impairments or a tendency to seasickness, as well as very young children. The age limit is on the booking page. The booking page excludes children under 3. The customisable Hong Islands boat excludes pregnant travellers and people with mobility impairments, and advises against joining with high blood pressure, heart disease or bone diseases. The luxury picnic boat and the shared Four Islands trip both exclude pregnant travellers.
Anyone expecting a quiet island at midday. Privacy is about the boat, not the beach. If you arrive at the same time as the day trips, you share the sand with them. That is why the early slot matters more than the boat does.
Free cancellation, and the weather
The Ao Nang listing offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start for a full refund. The Ao Nang tour can continue in rain when conditions are safe, without a refund for the rain. If conditions are unsafe and the operator cancels, you can reschedule or receive a full refund; the route and schedule may also change with sea conditions. Check current national park access notices for the islands on your chosen route before booking.
Our pick
Book the private longtail from Ao Nang with the earliest departure you can face, and choose option 3 if the Hong Lagoon is the reason you came. If you prefer paying for individual seats, compare the shared boat with a private quote for your whole party. Check the available departure times: the shared listing advertises early-morning and sunset choices specifically for its private option. All private departures are on the private tours page.
