The beautiful seaside town of Ao Nang, Krabi, is an excellent location for a tropical holiday. Apart from its expansive beach, it’s also conveniently located near limestone karsts and lush, foliage-covered islands in Phang Nga Bay that are well worth a visit. Some of these islands can be reached within a half-hour or so, making them suitable to visit aboard a long-tail boat from Ao Nang, while others that are located further away are best visited via speedboat.
Booking a hotel in Ao Nang puts you on the doorstep of Phang Nga Bay. You’ll be able to catch your choice of boats conveniently from the beachfront of Ao Nang, close to your hotel.
Popular Islands of Phang Nga Bay
There are many islands in and around Krabi worth visiting for many different reasons. Some of them are large, like Koh Lanta, Koh Yao Yai, and Koh Yao Noi, and almost require a few nights’ stay to soak up the island lifestyle and see all the islands have to offer.
Some islands are remote and offer incredible snorkelling and diving in the waters around them, like the relatively distant Bamboo Island. Some of them are famous and have become major tourist attractions in the region, like James Bond Island and Maya Bay in the Phi Phi Islands.
There are so many islands worth exploring that we’ve broken them up into the closest and best islands to visit near Krabi by long-tail boat and the islands that are not so near Krabi and are more suited for visiting by speedboat.
Best Islands to Visit Near Krabi by Long-tail Boat
The region owes its still-growing popularity as much to its beautiful tropical islands and abundant coral and sea life as it does to the breathtaking, soaring cliffs that rise above the many tourists visiting Krabi each year.
Koh Gai (Chicken Island), Koh Poda, Koh Tup, and Koh Mor offer vast expanses of sand connecting the islands, and Chicken Island always delights its visitors with the other-worldly limestone outcropping resembling a chicken head that looms over the island. These are just a few of the stunningly beautiful Islands lying just offshore of Ao Nang that are easily accessible by a traditional long-tail boat.
Walk down to Ao Nang Beach in the morning and witness the boats picking up their passengers for a day’s cruise around the islands near Ao Nang, Krabi, aboard a long-tail boat. The boat drivers will happily quote you a very reasonable price for a morning’s tour of paradise. Then, all you need is a swimsuit, snorkelling gear, sunscreen, and some drinks and snacks before hopping aboard and setting off on your own adventure in Krabi.
If you still need to learn how to snorkel, getting a glimpse of the sea life and corals from the boat should be all the prompting you need. The soft limestone composition of the islands means there are many hollows and caves to explore. These caves are filled with beautiful soft corals and colourful sea life. You’ll lose track of time once you strap a mask to your face and see all there is to see in the waters off Krabi.
Hire a Speedboat for the Day
Hire a speedboat for the day to explore some of the more distant islands without feeling hurried. The staff at your hotel will be happy to arrange it. Your speedboat will pick you up on Ao Nang Beach in the morning and whisk you away to visit the more distant islands at your leisure, like Koh Hong, Koh Lanta, or the famous Phi Phi Islands.
Besides getting you to your destination faster, the speedboat makes snorkelling easier. The boats have a small aft deck beside the engines that makes it easy to get in and out of the water. It’s preferable to clambering over the rails of the long-tail boats. Your speed boat may also provide a cooler with lunch, drinks and snacks you can order when booking. It’s a more comfortable way to travel overall.
Stay at Sugar Marina Hotel – CLIFFHANGER in Ao Nang, Krabi
Book your stay at our hotel in Ao Nang, Krabi and explore the islands of Phang Nga Bay. Sugar Marina Hotel – CLIFFHANGER offers a variety of pool view rooms, pool access rooms, cliff view rooms and VIP suites in Ao Nang, Krabi.
Make the most of your trip to Krabi by island-hopping around Phang Nga Bay and visiting the pristine beaches and islands nearby. Book a stay at Sugar Marina Hotel – CLIFFHANGER today.
