Krabi and island hopping on Koh Lanta & Koh Ngai

Today, you’ll be travelling to Thailand with connecting flight(s) on the way.

You will arrive at Krabi airport, pass through immigration, and collect your luggage. In the arrivals hall, a driver will be waiting to take you to your hotel.

Upon arrival, you will check in, and the rest of the day is yours to enjoy at your leisure. Pop on your swimwear and find a sunlounger by the hotel’s pool, or head to the beach, which is just a stone’s throw away.

You’ll be staying at Tub Kaek Beach as a default. The area offers a relaxed and peaceful atmosphere, perfect for those seeking tranquillity. You’ll almost have the beach to yourself, and although the selection of hotels and restaurants is small, any of them are undeniably a good choice. Tub Kaek is an ideal starting point for hikes, including the popular trail to Dragon Crest Mountain, where you’ll be rewarded with a spectacular view.

Alternatively, you may opt to stay in Ao Nang, which is perfect for those who desire more action and a wide selection of dining and activities. The main street stretches for several kilometres, offering a plethora of eateries, from international restaurants to local spots serving authentic Thai dishes. In Ao Nang, you’ll find both the tranquil Noppharat Thara Beach, perfect for relaxing sunset walks, and the livelier Ao Nang Beach, where boats shuttle to the many beautiful small islands in Krabi Bay.

Days are at your leisure.

In Krabi, the door is open to a myriad of activities and stunning beaches, all with views of Krabi province’s hallmark limestone cliffs and islands. Here, you can find both peace and adventure.

Just off Krabi in the Andaman Sea, lie some of Thailand’s most beautiful islands, including the Phi Phi Islands, Hong Island, and several smaller isles. Tomorrow’s excursion will take you to some of these enchanting islands, something to definitely look forward to! The islands are famous for their extraordinary beaches and splendid snorkelling spots.

The mainland also offers delightful beaches such as Railay Beach, Phra Nang Beach, and Tonsai Beach. These beaches attract visitors worldwide with their soft, white sand, crystal-clear waters, and impressive rock formations.

Besides relaxing, you have the opportunity to experience Krabi’s remarkable nature, including natural pools amidst the jungle. Or perhaps the kayak paradise of Ao Thalane? If you’re up for even more adventure, you can trek through lush jungle and small streams to nearby Dragon Crest Mountain in Tub Kaek, where the unforgettable view is your reward.

In Krabi province, you also have the chance to experience Thai culture influenced by two religions. Here, Buddhists and Muslims live harmoniously side by side. The multicultural society is vividly reflected in the cultural experiences available. You’ll find both mosques and temples around, and the Tiger Cave Temple, just outside Krabi, is particularly worth visiting. Here, you can get close to monks’ daily lives and experience the spiritual calm of the place. If you’re up for a challenge, you can take on the over 1,200 steps to the top of the cliff – a symbolic journey representing the overcoming of life’s challenges and the pursuit of inner peace.

Today, you’ll embark on an unforgettable full-day excursion, visiting some of the most popular islands in the Andaman Sea and the picturesque Phra Nang Beach on the Railay Peninsula.

You will be picked up from the hotel and taken to the pier, where a traditional longtail boat is ready to whisk you over the turquoise waters.

After about 30 minutes, you will arrive at Koh Poda, one of the most beautiful islands in the Andaman Sea. Known for its pristine beaches with soft, white sand meeting the crystal-clear water, this island is a haven for snorkelling among tropical fish, swimming, or simply soaking up the sun. You might also retreat beneath one of the shady trees to enjoy the breathtaking views. For that feeling of having the island to yourself, stroll further along the beach to discover your own little, secluded slice of paradise. The further you wander, the more of a Robinson Crusoe vibe you’ll capture.

At midday, a traditional Thai lunch buffet is set up on the beach, allowing you to enjoy your meal with your toes sunk into the white sand.

You’ll once more board the longtail boat, which takes you to Koh Gai, also known as Chicken Island due to the island’s rock formation resembling a hen. The island boasts beautiful beaches and is surrounded by crystal-clear waters teeming with coral reefs and colourful fish.

Next, you visit the paradise islands of Koh Tup and Koh Mor, offering crystal-clear waters, white sand, and excellent snorkelling opportunities. The two islands are connected by a sandbar that appears at low tide. Swimming from one island to the other is also possible, as they are close together.

The tour concludes at Phra Nang Beach, where you can swim and visit the Princess Cave, or head to the eastern side of the Railay Peninsula, where you’re quite likely to encounter a few macaques along your way.

You return to the hotel in the mid-afternoon, with the evening free to enjoy Krabi before the tour continues to Koh Lanta tomorrow morning.

Today, your island-hopping adventure starts on Koh Lanta and Koh Ngai.

After breakfast and check-out, you’ll be driven to the Ban Hua Hin pier, around a 1.5 hour’s drive away. From here, you will take a ferry to Koh Lanta, a crossing of around 20 minutes. On your arrival, a driver will be waiting to drive you to the hotel, and after check-in, you can lounge by the pool or head for the beach.

The days are yours to do as you please.

Koh Lanta is an island with beautiful beaches, countless local restaurants, traditional island life, stunningly beautiful scenery and not least dazzling sunsets.

The island’s best and most beautiful beaches are to be found all along the west coast. They are golden, and the water is calm and shallow – perfect for the young and old alike. If you head to the north-west, you will find the long, wide beaches, whereas the beaches furthest south are more rugged and rocky.

Despite its size, Koh Lanta is one of Thailand’s more authentic islands, where the locals do not live exclusively off tourism as on many other Thai islands, and this can be felt – in a good way. There are no bar streets, high-rise buildings or shopping centre here. Koh Lanta is proof that tourists and locals can easily make things work without either party having to compromise.

In the main town, Saladan, on the northern tip of the island, there is plenty of opportunity to get close to the locals and get a feel for the traditional island life, and the same is true in the small fishing villages such as Lanta Old Town on the east coast. It’s as if time stands still here. The old town is also known as Sea Gypsy Village, as the inhabitants live on the sea in wooden houses built more than a hundred years ago. The Sea Gypsies rarely mingle with the regular population, and they have their own language, traditions and beliefs. Not a lot happens there, but it’s very cosy.

Koh Lanta’s beautiful scenery is especially evident in Koh Lanta National Park, which offers great walks and breathtaking views. In the middle of the island, you can even experience waterfalls and caves, where stalactites and stalagmites sparkle like diamonds. If, on the other hand, you make your way to north-eastern Koh Lanta, you can go kayaking, as a large part of the area consists of mangroves. If you have not had enough of the sea, you can visit Hin Daeng, Koh Rok Noi and Koh Rok Nai, which are some of Thailand’s finest snorkelling and diving sites with beautiful coral reefs, fish, caves and wrecks.

In the evening, you can sit yourself down at a beach bar and watch the sun set over the Andaman Sea with an ice-cold Singha beer in your hand.

Today, you’ll be sailing on to the next island, Koh Ngai.

After breakfast and check-out, you’ll be picked up from the hotel and driven to the Saladan pier, where you’ll take a speedboat to the small paradise island of Koh Ngai. You’ll sail past tall limestone karsts and arrive at the little island around 40 minutes later. The boat docks at the beach, and the hotel staff will help you carry your luggage to reception. After check-in, the day is yours to enjoy this paradise island, where relaxation and tranquillity await you.

There are no planned excursions.

Koh Ngai is like something from a travel magazine – traditional long-tail boats are parked on the white sand, palm trees hang lazily across the beach and the clear, turquoise water and vertical limestone karsts provide the perfect backdrop. You have no choice here but to unwind. There are no roads, no shops, no traffic no neon lights and no noisy discos. Just lie back and enjoy the tranquillity and the scenic surroundings instead.

Koh Ngai also offers fantastic snorkelling and good walks in the jungle full of birds chirping and viewpoints.

Koh Ngai is affected by the tide during the afternoon. This doesn’t mean that you can’t swim, but you’ll have to walk a lot further out than usual. Otherwise, you can make use of the hotel pool when you need a dip.

In the evening, you can go for a stroll along the beach and watch the sun go down to the gentle lapping of the waves. Round off the day at one of the laid-back lounge bars along the beach, where there’s live music from time to time.

Sadly, the time has come to bid Thailand farewell.

You’ll be picked up by a long-tail boat that sails you to the Pak Meng pier south of Krabi – a trip that takes 45–60 minutes. A driver will be waiting for you on the pier to drive you to the airport, from which you will fly back to Europe with connecting flights(s) along the way.

You land at your chosen airport after an eventful yet relaxing journey with lots of new memories to look back on.