Krabi or Phang Nga from Phuket: Which Day Trip Fits

By boat: James Bond island or the Krabi islands?

Depends what you want to look at. The James Bond island day drives about an hour and a half to Phang Nga, then goes by longtail through the limestone towers, lands at Ko Tapu, paddles into sea caves with a guide and eats in the stilt village of Koh Panyi. Pickup 07:30–08:00, home around 18:00. Cliffs and calm water. James Bond island is also a stop on the eleven-islands speedboat day; speedboat or longtail weighs the two. Our verdict on that day is on is the James Bond island tour worth it. Torn between Phi Phi and the four Krabi islands for a single day? Phi Phi or Krabi islands from Phuket compares the start times, the swimming and the park fees.

Krabi tropical paradise is sand and swimming. Pier at 09:00 — no dark start — then Naka Yai, Pakbia with its tidal sand spit, Hong island (viewpoint and a snorkel), Lao Lading, and the sunset from a sandbar at 17:50. Pier at 18:30. The full itinerary, and who should skip it, is on Krabi four islands tour from Phuket. This Hong is not the one near James Bond island; the two Hong islands are a common mix-up.

Either way, bring a hat. Coming to either after a Phi Phi day? Day trips after Phi Phi sets them beside the Similans and Racha Yai.

By road: Samet Nangshe or the Krabi lakes?

The Phang Nga land day picks up at 06:30. Viewpoint over the bay, Suwan Kuha cave temple, a longtail through the mangroves, seafood in the floating village, the full elephant spa with a ride, a waterfall, and the airplane beach before you head back at 17:30. Every stop and time is on the Phang Nga and Samet Nangshe skywalk card. Which of those viewpoints and glass bridges is which is untangled on Samet Nangshe or Beyond Skywalk. None of the Samet Nangshe days lands on James Bond island; how to see both is on Samet Nangshe and James Bond island in one day. The hour each trip reaches the viewpoint is on Samet Nangshe at sunrise or in the afternoon. Choosing between the two long jungle days? Khao Lak safari or Avatar world compares the elephants, the rafting and how each day ends.

Secrets of Krabi starts earlier, between five and six, and goes green: old forest at Bang Khram, a swim in the warm Emerald lake, the turquoise Blue lake (look, do not touch), a hot waterfall and thermal baths, lunch, then the Tiger Cave temple and its 1,260 steps — optional, thankfully. Back around 17:40. For the case for and against the Avatar world day, see Avatar world tour from Phuket: is it worth it.

Which one is more tiring?

Phang Nga is the province just north of Phuket, and every Phang Nga day starts with a shorter drive. Secrets of Krabi has the earliest pickup of the land days and the longest road, and the card calls the day long. Krabi tropical paradise is the exception: a late start with the day spent on the boat.

Temples on both inland days require shoulders and knees covered. The Tiger Cave climb is optional; the cave monastery at the bottom is the alternative.

Secrets of Krabi finishes at the Klong singing cave, where the stalactites hold a note, and back at the hotel around 17:40. The Phang Nga land day ends later, at Mai Khao beach at 17:00, where you watch aircraft land before the drive back.

• →Cliffs and calm water — James Bond island, Phang Nga
• →Beaches, snorkelling and a sunset — Krabi tropical paradise
• →Elephants and the viewpoint — Phang Nga and Samet Nangshe
• →Warm lakes and a temple climb — Secrets of Krabi
• →Both provinces in one day — Eleven islands

Can I see Krabi and Phang Nga in one trip?

The eleven-islands day starts in Phang Nga Bay with James Bond island and kayaks at Talu, then crosses to Krabi for Lao Lading and Hong island, and ends at Phi Phi. Four pearls and Five pearls do the same over two days with a night on Phi Phi Don; Four pearls adds Railay beach and Chicken island.

If you have one day and want a single province properly, pick one; if you want to see how the two coasts differ, the combined routes do that at the cost of shorter stops. Which of our trips reach the Krabi islands by boat from Phuket is listed on Krabi islands by speedboat.

What does each day include?

Krabi tropical paradise includes transfer by coach and boat, national park fees, soft drinks, a cocktail in a coconut, fruit, lunch, insurance, a guide and snorkelling gear, for a group of 24 to 38. Secrets of Krabi includes transfer, a guide, insurance, park and cave tickets, access to the thermal springs, a traditional Thai lunch, drinking water and towels for swimming; the elephant feeding and a temple offering are paid on the spot. The Cheow Lan lake day, with its sunrise at Samet Nangshe and lunch on a floating restaurant, is weighed up on Cheow Lan lake day trip: is it worth it.

The James Bond island day includes transfer, longtail trips, kayaking with a guide, a seafood lunch, drinks, fruit and park fees. The Phang Nga and Samet Nangshe day includes coach transfer, a seafood lunch, the full elephant programme, the longtail trip, the viewpoint, the temple and every stop on the route. The gentler elephant day, with lunch at Samet Nangshe and an afternoon at Mantra Spa, is weighed on this worth-it page. Getting to the rock is always road first, then a longtail from a pier near Phang Nga; how to get to James Bond island from Phuket covers that leg if you want to do it yourself.

How do I book?

Children aged 4 to 9 pay the child price. Every tour in our catalogue runs with an English-speaking guide. On the James Bond island day children under four travel free.

Booking happens in the chat: send the date and your hotel, and say whether you want sea or land, so we point you to the right day. For the Krabi island day specifically, see how to book the Krabi four islands tour.

Questions people ask