Krabi Adventure Tours: Guided or Go It Alone
Some of the adventure tours sold in Ao Nang are outings you could manage yourself for the cost of transport, and others genuinely need a boat, a guide or both. Knowing which is which saves money and gets you the better day.
Book a tour: the Hong Islands
You cannot reach the Hong archipelago without a boat, so this is a tour by definition. Full-day speedboat trips run about ฿1,400 to ฿2,000 per person with snorkel gear and a buffet lunch. The adventure comes in two parts. First the boat noses through a narrow cleft in a cliff into the enclosed lagoon of Koh Hong, ringed by limestone walls. Then you climb a steel stairway of roughly 400 steps to a deck high above the bay. The islands sit in Than Bok Khorani National Park, and a park fee is collected on the day, reported at ฿300 to ฿400, so ask your operator for the current amount. Compare Hong Islands speedboat trips on GetYourGuide and check what the lunch and the stops include.
Book a tour: Phang Nga Bay sea canoeing
North of Krabi in neighbouring Phang Nga province, sea canoes slip through cave tunnels into hongs, the roofless limestone chambers hidden inside the islands. Trips usually add Ko Tapu, the James Bond rock, and the Muslim stilt village of Koh Panyee. The catch is the transfer, because this is a different province, so ask how many hours you will spend on the road before you pay. You can browse Phang Nga sea canoe tours on Viator .
Go it alone: Khao Phanom Bencha
The highest mountain reserve in the province needs no guide for the main walk. Entry to Khao Phanom Bencha National Park costs ฿100 for adults and ฿50 for children, plus ฿30 for a vehicle. The trail leads to Huai To, a waterfall that steps down five tiers of granite, with cold pools to swim in. A car with a driver for the day, or a scooter if you hold the right licence, usually costs less than a packaged trek.
Go it alone, with care: the Dragon Crest climb
Tab Kak Hang Nak, also called Dragon Crest, is a hard jungle hike that starts near Tubkaek Beach and ends on a rock ledge jutting over the karst. It is steep, slippery after rain and takes a few hours, so start early, carry plenty of water and tell someone at your hotel where you are going. A local guide is worth hiring if you are hiking alone.
Phi Phi: a tour, but pick the season
The Phi Phi speedboat day is the most popular adventure tour of all, with a deck jump into Pileh Lagoon and snorkelling at Viking Cave. Maya Bay closes to visitors every year from 1 August to 30 September under a national parks order; the Thai national parks guide lists the dates. Outside those dates, landing is by boardwalk only and swimming in the bay is banned.
Safety on any tour
Monsoon swells from May to October cancel boat tours at short notice. Every passenger should have a life jacket, and an overcrowded boat is a good reason to wait for the next one. The UK government safety advice for Thailand lists boat accidents among the main risks on this coast.
Read more: Krabi day trips compared sets the Hong, Four Islands and Phi Phi boat days side by side.
Tip: before you pay for a Hong Islands trip, ask whether the viewpoint stop comes in the morning, because the stairs are far easier before the midday heat.