# Krabi or Phang Nga from Phuket: Which Day Trip Fits

Phang Nga is closer and calmer: James Bond island, the Samet Nangshe viewpoint, elephant camps — the day spent inside a sheltered bay or in the jungle. Krabi is farther and more varied: an island day ending on a sandbar at sunset, or an inland day of warm lakes and the Tiger Cave temple.

## Tours and prices in Thai baht

- [James Bond island and Phang Nga Bay](https://phukeo.com/en/tours/james-bond-island-phang-nga) · [md](https://phukeo.com/en/tours/james-bond-island-phang-nga.md) — Eight to nine hours · Adult 2,000 THB · Child 4–9 1,800 THB
- [Krabi tropical paradise: four islands in one day](https://phukeo.com/en/tours/krabi-tropical-paradise) · [md](https://phukeo.com/en/tours/krabi-tropical-paradise.md) — One day, 09:00–18:30 · Adult 2,300 THB · Child 4–9 2,000 THB
- [Phang Nga and Samet Nangshe: viewpoint, mangroves and an elephant spa](https://phukeo.com/en/tours/phang-nga-samet) · [md](https://phukeo.com/en/tours/phang-nga-samet.md) — One day, 06:30–17:30 · Adult 2,050 THB · Child 4–9 1,650 THB
- [Secrets of Krabi: hot springs, jungle lakes and the Tiger Cave temple](https://phukeo.com/en/tours/krabi-secrets) · [md](https://phukeo.com/en/tours/krabi-secrets.md) — One day, 05:00–17:40 · Adult 2,500 THB · Child 4–9 2,300 THB
- [Eleven islands in one day: Phang Nga, Hong and Phi Phi](https://phukeo.com/en/tours/eleven-islands-mega) · [md](https://phukeo.com/en/tours/eleven-islands-mega.md) — One day, twelve hours or more · Adult 4,200 THB · Child 4–9 3,800 THB
- [Four pearls of the Andaman Sea: two days, one night](https://phukeo.com/en/tours/pearls-andaman-sea) · [md](https://phukeo.com/en/tours/pearls-andaman-sea.md) — Two days, one night · Adult 5,000 THB · Child 4–9 4,500 THB

Prices come straight from our booking system. Children under four join free on most trips — each tour page says so.

## 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](https://phukeo.com/en/excursions/james-bond-island-speedboat-or-longtail) weighs the two. Our verdict on that day is on [is the James Bond island tour worth it](https://phukeo.com/en/excursions/james-bond-island-worth-it). Torn between Phi Phi and the four Krabi islands for a single day? [Phi Phi or Krabi islands from Phuket](https://phukeo.com/en/excursions/phi-phi-or-krabi-islands) compares the start times, the swimming and the park fees.

[Krabi tropical paradise](https://phukeo.com/en/tours/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](https://phukeo.com/en/excursions/krabi-four-islands-from-phuket-worth-it). This Hong is not the one near James Bond island; [the two Hong islands](https://phukeo.com/en/faq/hong-island-james-bond-tour) are a common mix-up.

Either way, bring a hat. Coming to either after a Phi Phi day? [Day trips after Phi Phi](https://phukeo.com/en/excursions/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](https://phukeo.com/en/tours/phang-nga-skywalk) card. Which of those viewpoints and glass bridges is which is untangled on [Samet Nangshe or Beyond Skywalk](https://phukeo.com/en/faq/samet-nangshe-vs-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](https://phukeo.com/en/faq/samet-nangshe-and-james-bond-one-day). The hour each trip reaches the viewpoint is on [Samet Nangshe at sunrise or in the afternoon](https://phukeo.com/en/faq/samet-nangshe-sunrise-or-afternoon). Choosing between the two long jungle days? [Khao Lak safari or Avatar world](https://phukeo.com/en/excursions/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](https://phukeo.com/en/excursions/avatar-world-tour-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](https://phukeo.com/en/guide/lao-lading-island) 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](https://phukeo.com/en/guide/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](https://phukeo.com/en/faq/krabi-islands-by-speedboat-from-phuket).

## 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](https://phukeo.com/en/excursions/cheow-lan-lake-day-trip-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](https://phukeo.com/en/excursions/elephant-beach-and-mantra-spa-worth-it). 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](https://phukeo.com/en/guide/phuket-to-james-bond-island) 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](https://phukeo.com/en/faq/how-to-book-krabi-four-islands-tour).

## Worth knowing

On the Krabi inland day the Emerald lake is for swimming and the Blue lake next to it is for looking only. The guide shows which is which before anyone gets in.

## FAQ

### Is Krabi or Phang Nga closer to Phuket?

Phang Nga. It is the province just north of Phuket; the James Bond island day drives around an hour and a half to the pier. The inland Krabi day starts between 05:00 and 06:00.

### Which is better for beaches?

Krabi. Krabi tropical paradise visits four islands with swimming, snorkelling and a sunset on a sandbar.

### Which has elephants?

Both. The Phang Nga and Samet Nangshe day includes the full elephant spa with a ride; Secrets of Krabi has a feeding stop for 100 ฿ on the spot.

### Can I see Krabi and Phang Nga in one day?

Yes, on the eleven-islands day: Phang Nga Bay in the morning, Krabi's Lao Lading and Hong island after lunch, Phi Phi late in the day.

### Which is calmer for seasick travellers?

Phang Nga Bay. The James Bond island day stays inside the sheltered bay by longtail and kayak.

### Do I have to climb the Tiger Cave temple?

No. The 1,260 steps are optional, and the cave monastery at the bottom is the alternative.

### Is Secrets of Krabi or Phang Nga a better day trip from Phuket?

Secrets of Krabi if you want jungle lakes, the hot waterfall and the Tiger Cave temple, with no boat at all. A Phang Nga day if you want the bay itself: limestone islands, a longtail and James Bond island. Krabi starts earlier, with pickup from 05:00.

## Compare with

- [Krabi Tours from Phuket: Islands, Lakes and Railay](https://phukeo.com/en/excursions/krabi-tours) · [md](https://phukeo.com/en/excursions/krabi-tours.md)
- [James Bond Island Tours from Phuket and Phang Nga Bay](https://phukeo.com/en/excursions/james-bond-island-tours) · [md](https://phukeo.com/en/excursions/james-bond-island-tours.md)
- [Samet Nangshe Viewpoint Tours from Phuket](https://phukeo.com/en/excursions/samet-nangshe-viewpoint) · [md](https://phukeo.com/en/excursions/samet-nangshe-viewpoint.md)
- [Coral Island or Krabi from Phuket: Which Day Trip?](https://phukeo.com/en/excursions/coral-island-or-krabi-day-trip) · [md](https://phukeo.com/en/excursions/coral-island-or-krabi-day-trip.md)
- [All tours](https://phukeo.com/en/tours)

## How to book

[Ask about dates on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/66619490349?text=Hello!%20I%20found%20you%20on%20phukeo.com%20and%20I'd%20like%20to%20book%20%22Krabi%20vs%20Phang%20Nga%22.%20My%20dates%3A%20)

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