Krabi 7 Islands tours: sunset, BBQ and glowing plankton compared
Boat tours from Ao Nang, Railay and Krabi Town to Chicken, Tup, Mor and Koh Poda, with sunset dinner on the beach. Below: which tours include a plankton stop, which boat they use and where they pick you up.
Island tours from Krabi side by side
Sunset tours, private longtails and the 4 Islands and Hong day trips. "Not stated" means the product page leaves the point open. Sorted by number of reviews; tap a column header to re-sort.
| Photo | Tour | Boat | Time of day | Plankton stop | Pickup area | Duration | Reviews ↕ | Price ↕ | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Hong Islands by speedboat with lunch Sea Eagle Tour | Speedboat | Day | No | Hotel; Railay East by speedboat | 7 h | ★ 4.6 (4,834) | €37 per person | Book now |
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7 Islands sunset tour with buffet dinner Krabi Sunset Tours | Longtail | Afternoon to evening | Yes, Koh Raeng | Hotel, not Railay | 7 h | ★ 4.3 (3,787) | €39 per person | Book now |
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4 Islands day trip Aonang Orchid Tour | Longtail or speedboat | Day, from 9:00 | No | Hotel; Railay by speedboat | 6 h | ★ 4.6 (2,261) | €29 per person | Book now |
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Private longtail from Ao Nang Discover Thailand | Private longtail | Not stated | No | None, start Ao Nang | 4 or 6 h | ★ 4.7 (1,474) | €98 per person | Book now |
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4 Island tour by luxury longtail One Asia Corporation | Luxury longtail with toilet | Morning or sunset | No | Hotel as option, or pier | 5 h | ★ 4.7 (1,251) | €29 per person | Book now |
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7 Islands sunset cruise with BBQ Anda Krabi Seatour | Not stated | From 12:00 into the evening | Yes, spot varies | Ao Nang, Klong Muang, Tubkaek | 6 h | ★ 4.4 (288) | €49 per person | Book now |
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Private longtail from Railay Discover Thailand | Private longtail | Not stated | No | None, start Railay West | 4 or 6 h | ★ 4.7 (107) | €118 per person | Book now |
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7 Islands sunset tour with BBQ Operator not named on the listing | Longtail or speedboat | Sunset into the evening | Yes, Koh Raeng | Hotel, Krabi area | 8 h | ★ 4.6 (8) | €46 per person | Book now |
Prices and reviews are loaded daily from GetYourGuide and Headout; the national park fee is usually not in the price and is paid in cash on the boat or at the pier.
Many listings carry the words sunset, BBQ and plankton. The product pages show where they differ.
- A plankton swim is in the programme of the 8-hour sunset tour by longtail or speedboat and of the Krabi Sunset Tours trip, both at Koh Raeng, and of the Anda Krabi Seatour cruise, where the spot changes. The luxury longtail and the private boats have no plankton stop.
- The national park fee is usually extra and paid in cash. Have Thai baht with you.
- All boats meet at much the same spot for the sunset, and clouds can hide it. Guests describe the sunset point as crowded.
- Railay has no road. If you stay there, you meet the boat on the beach, at Railay West or Railay East depending on the waves.
How a 7 Islands sunset tour runs
The order is much the same on the sunset tours here. Which islands count as stops depends on the operator.
- Pickup around midday Minivans collect guests in Krabi Town, Klong Muang, Tubkaek and Ao Nang. Operators give pickup times roughly between 12:00 and 14:00, with Krabi Town, Klong Muang and Tubkaek collected before Ao Nang.
- Snorkelling The first stops are for swimming and snorkelling, at Koh Yawasam or Koh Ma Tang Ming on the tours that name them. The water is shallow over coral in places, so watch your feet.
- Chicken, Tup and the sandbank The boat stops at or passes Chicken Island and lands on Tup. At low tide the Thale Waek sandbank links Tup with Koh Mor and you can walk across.
- Sunset and dinner on Koh Poda The boats land on Koh Poda for the sunset. Dinner is a BBQ or a buffet, depending on the operator; reviews mention that bad weather can cut the BBQ short.
- Plankton after dark On tours with a plankton stop, the boat heads for the plankton spot once it is fully dark (Koh Raeng on two of the tours here), and you swim to see the water light up around you.
- Back in the dark The ride back to the pier happens after nightfall, and the minivan takes you to your hotel.
Which islands each tour names: islands and stops.
"7 Islands" is a route name
The name stands for the group of islands about 8 km off Ao Nang, in Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park. Every version takes in Chicken Island (also called Koh Poda Nok), Tup, Koh Mor and Koh Poda; Phra Nang Cave Beach and Railay often join, though both are on the mainland. Some operators add Koh Ma Tang Ming, Koh Yawasam or Koh Raeng. The 8-hour sunset tour by longtail or speedboat and the Krabi Sunset Tours trip each name seven places, the Anda Krabi Seatour cruise six, and the luxury longtail is now sold as a 4 Island tour.
The 4 Islands tour covers the same core by day. The Hong Islands are a separate group further north, in Than Bok Khorani National Park. More on the choice: 4 Islands, Hong or 7 Islands.
Three ways to see the islands
Before you book a boat from Ao Nang
Longtail, speedboat or big boat
Which tours offer a speedboat, which longtail has a toilet, and what the listings say about larger boats.
Islands and stops
Chicken, Tup and the Thale Waek sandbank, Koh Poda, the snorkelling stops and Koh Raeng.
Glowing plankton
Why the water lights up only when you move in it, and what the moon does to it.
Best time and monsoon
The 2026 rainy season, rough sea and Railay East in westerly waves.
Pickup and practical tips
Pickup areas and times, the park fee in cash, packing list and children.
Prices and park fee
Starting prices from the platforms and the costs you pay on the day.
Pickup, park fee and the monsoon
The shared tours pick up in Ao Nang, Krabi Town, Klong Muang and Tubkaek; the 4 Islands trip leaves from the pier in Ao Nang. Guests staying on Railay meet the boat on the beach or at the floating pier on Railay East. The private longtail from Railay starts at Railay Beach Cafe, usually on Railay West; when the waves are high, the meeting point moves.
Keep cash for the national park fee. The operators on this site name between 200 and 300 THB per adult for the islands off Ao Nang (product pages, November 2026); the Hong Islands are a different park with a different fee. Bring swimwear, a towel, reef-safe sunscreen, a hat and a waterproof bag, and seasickness tablets if you need them: the Andaman Sea can be rough.
The Thai Meteorological Department dated the start of the 2026 rainy season to 15 May; it lasts until about mid-October, with the southwest monsoon bringing rain and waves to the west coast. Tours keep running in rain and are called off for rough sea. All details: pickup and practical tips.
What guests write after the island tours
Quotes from several of the tours in the table, the mixed ones included. The criticism comes back to the same points: crowded stops on the shared boats, fewer landings than the route name suggests, a BBQ that fell through or was eaten on the boat, and a day that felt rushed.
“Well organised. Picked up on time. A short wait in the beautiful national park beach then into the boat. Lovely stop off pints with scuba diving. A good lunch on Poda-another stunning island. The sunset was amazing but every single other boat trip converged on the smallest space to view it so view points were limited. The boat staff took the time to ensure everyone had a good time. Great value for money. Not a trip for people who have any physical disability as the ladder to get on and off the boat would not be easy for them. When swimming in the sea it was difficult to access the ladder to get out of the water . Overall I would definitely recommend 👍”
“We had an excellent time. Each spot is more beautiful than the next. The whole day was unhurried, we had plenty of time to explore each place. Well organised and enjoyable. The food was really very good and the glowing plankton was a real highlight!”
“This is actually a snorkelling tour. Do not expect to spend much time on the islands, apart from the island where dinner is served. The stops are overcrowded, really packed. Mass tourism. Bad. Really bad”
“[…] The transfer began with a completely overcrowded pick-up truck. Ten people sat in the back, and my 14-year-old son and I had to share the passenger seat. The 200 baht national park fee had to be paid in cash. Despite asking, I got no receipt, only the suggestion that I could photograph the handover of the money. Before we even set off, the guide explained that one island had been closed for some time for nature protection. Even so, the tour is still sold as a 7-island tour. In fact we could only go ashore on Koh Tup (Thale Waek) and Koh Poda; Chicken Island was just a photo stop. There were 32 people on the longtail boat. The ride was so rough that several guests got seasick, and two had to throw up. The guides then handed out sick bags. The snorkelling spots were disappointing. Overall pure mass processing and, in our view, clearly misleadingly described. Not recommended.”
“Nina was an excellent guide, very knowledgeable and informed us of all health and safety rules, especially during the snorkeling. […] The longtail boat drivers were highly skilled, we had a smooth sail even in the choppy sea and during the night. They offered us snacks during the trip and had plenty of cold mineral water on board. We also had sufficient time at each location and it was paced correctly. Although the natural phenomenon of the bioluminescent planktons was hard to see in the current conditions, Nina made a significant effort to show us. […]”
“The trip was quite rushed in places. Also it’s not really 7 islands…more like 3. The ‘BBQ’ isn’t really a bbq as the boat heads off back to the mainland, leaves everyone on Poda island and returns with a cold buffet. This cold buffet then has to be eaten on the boat whilst it’s chugging away from the island back to the mainland, another element that’s rushed and not particularly enjoyable.”
“We were collected from our hotel Ananta Burin Resort promptly around 07:00 for the 7 island tour. Once at the harbour we were offered light refreshments and small snacks which was a nice touch. […] The islands were unreal, beautiful and something you would only see in brochures. On route were we’re given the opportunity to take two snorkelling stops one of which was at Poda island […] After rejoining the boat we were offered fresh fruit and coconut juice from the coconut, a great morning.”
“A great trip but felt rushed given crammed in 7 stops.”
“Our guide C was the best! He was so friendly and takes great photos. He gave us a little explanation of each stop and what we could do there and stopped the boat during our journey between islands to take photos without us even having to ask. The timing of the tour was perfect. The sunrise was beautiful and by the time our tour ended and we were heading back to our hotel, all the stops were fullllll of boats and big groups so we got the beaches mostly to ourselves. 1000% worth waking up early!”
“It was the highlight of our trip. We went for the 8am slot 4 hours and our guide found us at the pick up spot and took us to our boat. It was so cute, had water on ice ready for us. Took us to the last island first so we could walk across the island during the low tide. We were the only people on the island, very cool. Gave us fruit at the second stop with snorkelling equipment. Overall a great trip and would book again!”
“We’ve just got home following a great day out with SeaEagle, visiting the Hong Islands. Everything about the day was well organised, from a being picked up at our hotel to the lovely lunch we were served. We were taken to the lagoon at Hong Island first due to the tides, given plenty of time for pics. The snorkelling at Koh Hong was brilliant as were the views from the High View point. We opted for the kayaks and headed for the lagoon entrance along the coast under the stunning cliffs and beaching on a beautiful bay. Great fun, and well worth it. A little kayaking experience helps, but definitely not essential. […]”
Reviews by guests of the boat tours, quoted from Headout and GetYourGuide.
Boat, plankton and park fee in one table
Krabi island tours are sold under near-identical titles, often by several agents for the same boat. We read the product pages of the 7 Islands, private, 4 Islands and Hong tours on GetYourGuide and Headout and list what each one includes. When the same tour is sold on both platforms, only the better-reviewed offer appears here. Bookings through these links earn us a commission from the platform; your price stays the same.
FAQ about the Krabi 7 Islands tour
Does a 7 Islands tour really stop at seven islands?
Not necessarily. "7 Islands" is the name of the route, not a promise of seven stops. Almost every version includes Chicken Island, Tup Island with the sandbank to Koh Mor, Koh Poda and often Phra Nang Cave Beach; some add snorkelling at Koh Ma Tang Ming or Koh Yawasam and a plankton stop at Koh Raeng. The luxury longtail tour is sold as a 4 Island tour, though its route lists more places, and guests on one sunset cruise write that the boat landed on two or three islands and passed the rest. Railay and Phra Nang Cave Beach are on the mainland, reachable only by boat.
Will I see the glowing plankton?
Maybe. The plankton only lights up in full darkness, when the water moves around it, so you see it while swimming after sunset. Sources on Krabi agree that a bright moon weakens the effect and that nights around the new moon are better; clouds, wind and waves also make it harder to see. No operator guarantees it, and "no plankton" is the most common disappointment in reviews. Check that the tour has a plankton stop at all: not every sunset tour does.
Is the national park fee included in the tour price?
Usually not. The islands of the 7 Islands route lie in Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, and the fee is paid in cash in Thai baht on the boat or at the pier. The operators of the tours on this site list between 200 and 300 THB per adult and half that for children (product pages, November 2026). We found no official table to confirm one figure. The Hong Islands belong to a different park with its own fee.
Where are you picked up?
The shared tours list hotel pickup in Ao Nang, Krabi Town, Klong Muang and Tubkaek. Railay has no road, so there is no minivan pickup there; you meet the boat at Railay West or Railay East. The private longtail tours include no transfer at all: you go to the start in Ao Nang or Railay yourself.
When does a sunset tour get back?
In the evening, after dark. The sunset tours on this site take 5 to 8 hours in total, with dinner at sunset, mostly on Koh Poda and, on tours that include it, a plankton swim afterwards. The boat ride back to the pier happens in the dark.
Do the boat tours run in the rainy season?
Most of the time. The Thai Meteorological Department declared the start of the 2026 rainy season on 15 May, lasting until about mid-October. Tours are cancelled for rough sea, not for rain alone: the private longtail from Ao Nang, for example, gives no refund for rain as long as the sea is safe. Book the island tour early in your stay so a spare day is left.
Longtail or speedboat?
Most 7 Islands tours use longtail boats. The luxury longtail on this site has a toilet on board. The 8-hour sunset tour with BBQ on Koh Poda can be booked either way, and so can the 4 Islands day trip; the Hong Islands trip runs by speedboat. For the Anda Krabi Seatour cruise the listing names no boat type. For the Hong Islands, travel sites give about 20 to 30 minutes by speedboat from Ao Nang and 40 to 45 minutes by longtail.
Can children join?
It depends on the tour. The 8-hour sunset tour by longtail or speedboat, the Krabi Sunset Tours trip and the 4 Islands day trip do not take children under 2, the private longtails and the Hong Islands trip none under 3, and the luxury longtail none under 4. Most of the tours are not open to pregnant women or wheelchair users. The evening part makes a 7 Islands sunset tour long for small children; a 4 Islands day trip ends before dark.
What is the difference between 4 Islands and 7 Islands?
The area is the same. A 4 Islands tour is a day trip to Phra Nang Cave Beach, Chicken, Tup and Koh Poda, usually with lunch on Poda and no sunset. A 7 Islands tour runs from the afternoon into the evening, adds snorkelling stops, the sunset and dinner on Koh Poda and, depending on the tour, a plankton swim.
Sunset on Koh Poda, by longtail or speedboat
All 8 island tours with boat, plankton stop and pickup area.
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