Is a private long-tail boat tour in Krabi worth it? A review of Viator’s Hong Island tour
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Updated: January 2025
Exploring the Islands of Krabi in Thailand is something everyone travelling there should have on their to-do list when they visit. The only question is, do you want to join a group tour or would you prefer to have private long-tail boat all to yourself? I’ve done both so I’m here to share my experience of this private tour and go through the pros and cons of a private tour versus a joining a group tour.
My short answer to the question, “is a private long-tail boat tour in Krabi worth it?” is YES. Keep reading on for my full review, explanation and helpful tips to make the most of your day.
But firstly, let’s go over a few details about the tour I booked:
“Krabi Hong Island Tour:
Charter Private Long-tail Boat“
Duration: Approximately 6 hours
Places visited: Koh Lao La Ding, Koh Hong, Koh Pak Bia and Hong Lagoon (You can choose 2 or 4 island trips)
Inclusions: Fruit platter, boat driver, snorkel and mask, bottled water, esky/ cooler box, hotel transfer from Ao Nang
Exclusions: National Park entrance fees (300 THB per adult and 150 THB per child), lunch or any meals
What’s Viator?
Haven’t used Viator before? Let me give you a quick rundown… Viator is an online booking platform for tours, activities and experiences around the world. It connect you to tours run by local operators, tickets for major attractions and even has multi-day tours options. It’s been my go-to for tour bookings for over a decade now – always happy to answer any questions about the platform and you can send them through to me here.
Booking process & first impressions
Booking through Viator was extremely easy, and because this tour was private I was able to message the tour operator directly from Viator to organise an earlier pick-up time.
Itinerary overview
As per the tour description, the standard itinerary for the day sees you visiting Koh Lao La Ding first, then onto Koh Pan Bia. The third stop is Hong Lagoon, where you’ll also stop at a snorkelling spot close by, before continuing to the last stop on the itinerary at Koh Hong. However, our itinerary for the day unfolded like this
Picked up at the hotel at 6am, arriving at Ao Nam Mao Pier to board the long-tail boat at 6.30am.
It took around one hour to arrive at the first stop for the day, which was Koh Hong. At 7.30am, when we first arrived, the sun hadn’t quite risen over the cliffs so the beach was in the shadows. But we were the first ones to arrive so we had the whole beach to ourselves for a short time before the second boat arrived.
We decided to head straight into the viewpoint hike on Koh Hong – which took around 40 minutes as a roundtrip with photos stops and enjoying the view at the top.
Next stop was Koh Lao La Ding, where we arrived around 8.30am. The beach here was quite small but an extremely beautiful view of the limestone cliffs looking out from the shore – and there’s a cute little swing here too. The little drinks stand opened just as we arrived here so we grabbed some drinks.
At 9.40, we arrive at Koh Pak Bia, where we had a swim. It’s worth noting that there is not a huge amount of shade on the beach here.
Around 10.20, we got to Hong Lagoon, where were headed into lagoon on the boat and did a slow lap of the lagoon to take in the scenery.
After the lagoon, the last place on our itinerary was a snorkelling stop at 10.40am. I think we got a little unlucky as the water was a little cloudy, which is different to the much clearer visibility I’ve experienced in Thailand in the past, and the current had some strength to it,
Back at Ao Nam Mao Pier at 12pm, where we were picked up by our drive and taken back to our hotel.
Guide and service quality
While this is not a guided tour and does not include an English speaking guide, the long-tail boat captain communicates at each stop about timings and important details you need to know – and will happy take any photos for you!
This tour is suited to independent travellers, who do not require a guide.
The customer service with the tour provider as whole was excellent – they were on time and communicative, as well as flexible with starting times.
Value for money
I found this tour extremely reasonable for a completely private experience customisable to how you’d like to spent the time. I paid AUD $220, which was split between myself and a friend. However, you can have up to 6 people on the private tour and the prices remain the same.
Pros & cons summary
| Private long-tail boat tour |
|---|
| Pros: • Flexible starting time – Coordinate directly with the operator to start early or late, based on your preferences • Flexible itinerary – Decide where to go (out of the standard options) and how long to stay at each spot • Enjoy the boat exclusively with your group or by yourself, avoiding crowds. • No strangers in the background of your photos. • Enjoy peaceful moments at iconic spots without feeling rushed. |
| Cons: • More expensive than a shared long-tail boat tour, especially for solo travellers • Limited English communication might make it harder to ask questions or clarify concerns with the boat captain. |
| Shared long-tail boat tour |
|---|
| Pros: • Cheaper than booking a private long-tail boat, especially for solo travellers • A chance to meet other travellers, share experiences, and make new friends. |
| Cons: • No flexibility of starting time • Fixed schedules and routes mean less freedom to explore or spend extra time at your favourite spot. • Sharing the boat with others can feel cramped and less relaxing. • Not everyone in the group might be considerate and the schedules/ timings may be affected by slower or less punctual participants. |
What to take with you
Essentials to pack:
- Sunscreen
- Towel
- Hat
- Toilet paper (there was none in the toilets on the islands)
- Rubbish bag for your own rubbish (don’t leave any rubbish on the islands)
- Seasickness tablets (if you’re prone to motion sickness)
Food and drinks:
- Drinks (While bottled water, I would recommend bringing any additional drinks you’d like with you as there’s a cooler box on board.)
- Snacks or light lunch (A fruit platter is provided, and some island may have places to purchases snacks)
Extras:
- Underwater camera (GoPro or Insta360)
- Your own snorkel (if you don’t want to use the one supplied)
Final verdict: Would I recommend this tour?
Short answer, yes – I’d recommend this tour and I would definitely do a private tour again!
I really enjoyed how tailored this experience was, which is obviously not something you’d get if you joined a tour with other travellers. It was really special experience to have the whole boat to ourselves and being able to move about to see the views as we pleased.
I have been on other long-tail boat tours in Thailand, and have been unfortunate enough to be thrown-up on by someone next to me who suffered from motion sickness. I’ve also been on tours where other travellers take their time getting back to the boat or lack consideration for other people on the tour, so this private long-tail boat tour was really nice to have a bit more space and control over the experience.
As a mid-budget traveller myself, I do splurge a little of certain experiences and this cost AUD $220, which was split between myself and a friend (AUD $110 each). While I think this is a completely reasonable price for the experience, if you’re a solo traveller and budget traveller, this is a similar tour at a lower cost on a shared long-tail boat. I do think I would have splurged on this experience, even if I’d gone solo.
As for the stops on the tour, aside from the snorkelling spot, everywhere was really beautiful. Although I’d say it’s hard to be disappointed by any views island hopping in Krabi. I also really enjoyed that this tour offered variety in activities, i.e. snorkelling, beach-hopping, hiking, etc.
How to book & helpful links
Like the sound of this private long-tail boat tour in Thailand? You can book the “Krabi Hong Island Tour: Charter Private Long-tail Boat” tour here.
Want to browse other private long-tail boat tours from Krabi here. Or if you’re after a similar tour at a lower cost on a shared long-tail boat, you can check out this similar tour here, which is more solo traveller and budget traveller friendly, or browse all tours here.
Frequently asked questions
Does the private long-tail boat tour include a round-trip transfer from accomodation?
A round-trip transfer from accomodation is Included for accomodation in Ao Nang. At the time of posting, they charge 500 TBH from other selected areas.
Where to stay in Ao Nang, Krabi?
I stayed at Poonsiri Resort, where you stay in little villa overlooking a lagoon – it is absolutely beautiful. For a budget option, you can check out TAN Hostel x Cafe.
Is there something else you’d like to know about the private long-tail boat tour in Krabi, Thailand?
Is there something specific you’d like to know about booking a private long-tail boat that I haven’t included in this post? As always, you’re welcome to leave any thoughts or questions in the comments below and I will do my best to answer you. Or feel free to send me a message via my contact page.
Trip Planning Resources
eSIM Card
After years of hunting for local SIM cards or paying hefty roaming fees, I finally switched to Airalo eSIMs for my recent trips to India and Thailand – and it’s been a total game changer. As a solo traveller, having immediate connectivity upon landing gives me a comforting sense of security.
Travel Money Card
Over the years, I’ve tried several travel cards, but my go-to is Wise. It offers excellent exchange rates and is super convenient to reload with options like ApplePay, bank transfer, debit card, or credit card. Plus, it’s a Visa card, which came in handy when travelling to places like Tanzania, where many ATMs didn’t accept MasterCard.
Tours and attractions
Over the years, I’ve booked most of my tours and tickets through Viator (unless I’m booking directly with local vendors or at the attractions themselves). Recently, I’ve started exploring GetYourGuide as well. Both websites offer a fantastic range of tour options, and since they sometimes have different selections, it’s definitely worth checking out both.
Accommodation
For over 10 years, I’ve been religiously booking my accommodation through Booking.com – it’s my go-to platform for keeping all my trip’s hotels and hostels organised in one place.
