I visited Thailand for the first time back in October 2024. After a couple of days in Bangkok, where I must admit I crammed all the tourist attractions into one jam packed day, I spent the next few days out on Khao San Road and sleeping through most of the days. Yes, Chang beer is addictive.
Anyway, as I had only planned a two week holiday, I decided to change pace and explore part of southern Thailand, taking a well deserved beach break from the blasting music of Khao San Road.
Why Krabi?
Well, to be honest, as a huge James Bond fan, I really could not choose anywhere else but the place where 007 himself landed in a seaplane and had an epic showdown with the villain. After rewatching The Man with the Golden Gun, I was all set.
After booking a cheap flight out of Bangkok, I arrived in Krabi and checked into my hostel. Not exactly Bond esque, but what can I say, I do not exactly look like Roger Moore either.
First impression of Krabi and accommodation
I really enjoyed Krabi. It was much more relaxing than the bustling streets of Bangkok, and the locals seemed incredibly friendly.
In terms of accommodation, I stayed at Pak Up Hostel in Ao Nang. As far as hostels go, it was pretty average. There were overly enthusiastic reps trying to get everyone drunk, unfriendly groups of travellers who think they are cooler than you, and of course that one annoying guy who snores his head off in your dorm. Joking, kind of.
Island Tour from Krabi
I decided to book a combined four island longboat tour. It was advertised in the hostel and seemed like good value at around £50 or 2,000 THB. The trip included a full day of sightseeing across four islands, snorkelling, and lunch.
Pick up and shuttle
The tour operator picked me up directly from the hostel at 8:30 AM in a small minivan with other travellers. I was fortunate to sit next to a friendly German who was travelling around Thailand. After some chatting, we arrived at Ao Nang Beach. The journey took around 30 minutes from what I remember.
Longboat experience and potential warning
As someone with a background in sailing small dinghy boats, and even a short time working as a sailing instructor back in Scotland, I did not have any concerns before getting on board.
However, the level of chop in the water and the strong waves made even me feel queasy. There were a couple of girls who asked for the boat to turn around, but that was not possible.
So a bit of advice, if you are prone to seasickness or have a weak stomach, be prepared.
Tup Island
The first island was reached after about 20 minutes, which felt much longer due to the waves. After getting off the boat, we were told we had around 30 minutes to explore.
This island is not anything special in terms of facilities, as there are none, but the natural beauty still makes it worth visiting. At low tide, you can see Thale Waek, a natural sandbar that connects three islands, Koh Kai, Koh Top, and Koh Mor.
Chicken Island
The second stop was where we had our first snorkelling session. There was not a huge amount to see in terms of marine life, but I did manage to spot some clownfish.
There were also plenty of chances to jump off the boat into the water, which was definitely one of the highlights.
Ko Poda
The final island was easily the best part of the trip.
After getting off the longboat, we were directed to a shaded area where lunch was served. It consisted of rice, BBQ skewers, and vegetables, along with plenty of beer.
Most visitors stayed close to where the boat dropped us off, but if you walk further along the beach, you will find much better spots. From there, you get great views of the surrounding islands, especially Chicken Island in the distance.
After exploring you can get back to the main beach area, where there are some toilet facilities which are surprisingly well maintained. Additionally, there are some shops and vendors where you can purchase food and of course beer from if this is not included in your tour.
Summary
Looking back, Thailand was a bit of everything, but in a good way.
Bangkok was busy, chaotic, and a lot of fun, even if I spent half of it recovering from nights out. Getting down to Krabi was exactly what I needed. It was calmer, more scenic, and more relaxing
The island tour was probably the highlight. It was not perfect, the sea was rough and the stops felt a bit short, but it was still a great experience and something I would recommend.
If it is your first time in Thailand, doing both Bangkok and somewhere like Krabi is definitely worth it. You get a good mix of city life and beaches, which makes the whole trip feel more complete.
If you’re interested in reading about other activities in Thailand, I have left a link to my review of the Royal Thai Air Force Museum here.