Practical
What to bring on a Krabi island hopping day
Six hours on an open boat in the Andaman sun, wet landings at every stop, and cash-only stalls on beaches with no cash machine. None of the kit is specialist; all of it is the stuff people leave in the hotel.
Quick answer
A hat, reef-safe sun cream, a dry bag and cash in baht. That is the list that actually changes the day. There is almost no shade on a longtail, every landing is wet, and the national park fee and the lunch stalls both want notes rather than a card.
The kit, at a glance
- Hat
- Essentialthere is little shade on a longtail
- Sun cream
- Reef-safeand more than you think
- Long-sleeved rash top
- Strongly recommendedbetter than reapplying cream all day
- Dry bag
- Yesspray and wet landings are constant
- Cash in baht
- Yespark fees, lunch and drinks
- Shoes
- Ones you can soakor carry them
- Towel
- Not always providedcheck your listing
- Water
- Usually providedbut bring extra in heat
- Motion sickness tablets
- If you are proneespecially on a speedboat
- Warm layer
- On evening tripsit cools down on the water after dark
What to bring, in order of what people regret
Five things
These are the regrets that turn up in reviews, roughly in order of frequency.
- Something with sleeves
The single biggest comfort factor. There is little or no shade on a longtail and six hours of equatorial sun on shoulders is a real problem. A light long-sleeved rash top beats reapplying cream all day.
- A hat that stays on
Wind on a moving boat takes wide brims straight over the side. A cap or something with a cord.
- A dry bag
Spray on a longtail, wet landings at every stop, and a phone in a pocket. A cheap dry bag is the best five dollars you will spend here.
- Cash in baht, in small notes
National park fees are collected on the day, usually in cash. Beach stalls do not take cards. There are no cash machines on the islands.
- Reef-safe sun cream
Several of these stops are inside marine national parks, and ordinary sun cream is discouraged or restricted.
What not to bring
Three things that cause trouble
Small bag, nothing loose, and no assumptions about toilets.
A big bag. Longtails are small and open, and there is nowhere dry to put luggage. A day pack that fits under your legs is the right size.
Anything you would hate to lose overboard. Sunglasses, hats and phones go over the side on every trip somewhere in Krabi. Straps, cords and closed pockets.
Expectations about toilets. Some beach stops have facilities and some do not, and the boat certainly does not. Plan around the stops rather than around the boat.
Common questions
What to bring, answered
What should I bring on a Krabi island hopping tour?
A hat, reef-safe sun cream, a long-sleeved top, a dry bag, a towel and cash in baht for park fees and food.
Do I need cash?
Yes. National park fees are usually collected on the day in cash, and beach stalls do not take cards. There are no cash machines on the islands.
Is there shade on the boat?
Partial at best on a longtail — usually a canopy over the middle and nothing over the bow. This is why a long-sleeved top matters.
What shoes should I wear?
Ones you can soak, or carry them. Landings are on sand and you wade the last couple of metres.
Is lunch included?
On most full-day and sunset trips, yes. Check your listing, and bring cash for drinks either way.
Do I need motion sickness tablets?
If you are prone to it, yes — particularly on a speedboat, which slams rather than rolls.
Go deeper
More on island hopping in Krabi
What it costs
From $53 to $611, plus the park fees nobody mentions.
The verdictWhich trip is best
All fourteen ranked, by islands rather than by number.
The classicThe four islands
Poda, Chicken, Tup and Mor, and the sandbar between them.
The lagoonThe Hong Islands
A separate group, and an almost enclosed lagoon.
SunsetThe sunset run
Seven islands, a barbecue, and a swim after dark.
Further outPhi Phi
An hour out by speedboat, and what the day costs.
