Phi Phi or 4 Islands Tour from Krabi: Which One to Choose?

Published 1 November 2026 · 9 min read

You have five days in Ao Nang, one of them is already gone to jet lag, and there is room for exactly one boat trip. The guest next to you at breakfast swears Phi Phi is the best day of her life; the couple at the next table say the 4 Islands were just as good and far less tiring. This article settles the phi phi or 4 islands tour question for people who can only do one, honestly and with a clear recommendation.

I live here and send friends on both trips all the time. Both are good. They are just good at different things, and the right one depends on what you want from the day.

Phi Phi or 4 Islands tour: what is the short answer?

Choose Phi Phi for the famous sights, the 4 Islands for an easier, more relaxed beach day. Phi Phi is the bigger name, but it is busier, longer and further across open sea; the 4 Islands are close to Krabi, shorter and calmer. Neither is a wrong choice, but they suit very different travellers.

Phi Phi is the trip you have seen on a thousand screensavers: Pileh Lagoon, Maya Bay from the film The Beach, Viking Cave, Bamboo Island and lunch on Phi Phi Don. It is a big, ambitious day with many stops, some of them short photo stops from the boat.

The 4 Islands are the local favourite: Phra Nang Beach on Railay with its Princess Cave, Tub Island with its sandbar, Chicken Island and Poda Island. Fewer famous names, but longer beach stops, easy snorkelling and short hops between them.

So the real question is what you value more: seeing the icons, or having a gentle day in beautiful water. The rest of this guide helps you decide.

How long is each trip, and how much of it is on the water?

The 4 Islands day is shorter and has much less travelling on the boat. The 4 Islands tour runs 08:30 to 15:30 with short crossings near Krabi, while the Phi Phi tour runs 08:30 to 16:30 and includes the longest open-sea crossing of any trip from Ao Nang. That difference is felt in your back and your energy levels by the afternoon.

On the 4 Islands tour, the islands are close enough to see from Ao Nang beach. You hop from one to the next in short rides, so most of the day is spent on sand or in the water.

Phi Phi is a different scale. The archipelago sits out in the Andaman Sea, and even on a fast speedboat the ride there and back takes a good part of the day. In the calm months it is fine, even fun. In windy weather, the front rows of a speedboat slam over the waves, and some people arrive feeling queasy.

Both tours start with hotel pickup, and the exact time is sent after booking. Krabi Town guests are picked up earlier than people staying in Ao Nang, simply because of the drive.

Which is more crowded, Phi Phi or the 4 Islands?

Phi Phi is clearly the more crowded of the two. Its famous stops are on almost every boat's route from Krabi, Phuket and Phi Phi Don, so Maya Bay and Pileh Lagoon are busy from morning to afternoon in high season. The 4 Islands get busy too, but the crowds thin out quickly between peak times.

At Maya Bay, the national park now limits how many people are on the beach at once, and you walk in on a boardwalk from the back of the island. Swimming is not allowed there. That keeps it beautiful, but it also means the stop is short and managed, not a lazy beach hour.

At Pileh Lagoon, many boats float in the same turquoise water at once. It is still stunning. You just need to go in with realistic expectations, and enjoy the swim even if there are other people in the frame.

The 4 Islands have their busy moments as well, especially at Tub Island's sandbar and Phra Nang Beach around midday. But the islands are bigger relative to the number of boats, and you can usually walk a few minutes along the sand to find your own patch.

My view: crowds bother some people far more than others. If a busy beach ruins your mood, the 4 Islands will make you happier.

Which has better snorkelling and beaches?

For easy snorkelling and long beach stops, the 4 Islands win; for dramatic scenery, Phi Phi wins. Chicken Island and Poda Island have good reef snorkelling close to the boat, and you get real time on each beach, while Phi Phi's stops are more varied but shorter.

Chicken Island, Koh Gai in Thai, is named after its rock shape and is the best snorkelling stop of the 4 Islands day. Poda has white sand and calm, clear water, good for swimming and lying in the sun. Tub Island has the sandbar that appears at low tide, so you can walk across to Chicken Island.

Phra Nang Beach, on the Railay peninsula, is one of the prettiest beaches in Thailand, backed by huge limestone cliffs. Railay is reached only by boat, so this tour is also an easy way to see it without organising a separate trip.

Phi Phi's best water is at Pileh Lagoon and Loh Samah Bay, where the snorkelling with fish and coral is excellent. Bamboo Island has the classic white sand and turquoise water. The views of Phi Phi Leh's cliffs are more dramatic than anything on the 4 Islands route, and that is honestly the reason to go.

In short, Phi Phi is better for the wow factor, the 4 Islands are better for actually spending time in the water.

Which is more comfortable for kids and older travellers?

The 4 Islands tour is the more comfortable choice for most families and older travellers. Shorter crossings, longer beach stops and calmer water near the coast make it the gentler day, and it finishes earlier than Phi Phi. Children under 3 go free on both tours, and children aged 3 to 11 pay a child price.

With small kids, time on the boat is the real enemy. A child who is bored, hot and a bit seasick after a long crossing will not care how famous the next bay is. The 4 Islands keep the boat parts short and the beach parts long, which is exactly what small kids need.

Older travellers should think about the bounce. A speedboat on open sea is hard on backs and knees in the front rows. If you choose Phi Phi, ask for the back seats near the engines, where the ride is much softer. On the 4 Islands longtail, the ride is slow and gentle, but getting in and out from the beach needs some balance.

Health rules matter too. The 4 Islands tour page states that pregnant women and people with heart or other serious medical conditions cannot join, and island boat tours here generally follow the same rule. If anyone in your group has a health concern, ask on WhatsApp before you book.

What does each cost, and what is included?

The 4 Islands tour is the cheaper day out. It starts from ฿1290 by longtail and ฿1490 by speedboat, while the Phi Phi speedboat tour starts from ฿1890. Children aged 3 to 11 pay ฿990 or ฿1190 on the 4 Islands, and ฿1590 on Phi Phi.

Both tours include the same basics: hotel transfer, snorkel mask, life jacket, an English speaking guide, accident insurance, fresh fruit, soft drinks and lunch. On Phi Phi, lunch is a buffet on Phi Phi Don. On the 4 Islands, lunch is served during the day on the route.

The national park fee is the extra to remember. On the 4 Islands tour it is ฿400 per adult and ฿200 per child, not included in the tour price. Phi Phi is also a national park area with its own park fee, so check the tour page and carry cash.

Value is about more than price, though. Phi Phi costs more partly because the distance is greater. If the famous sights matter to you, it is money well spent. If you mostly want sun and water, the 4 Islands give you more beach for less.

There is one more hidden cost on the Phi Phi side: energy. After a long day of crossings, many guests are too tired for anything but dinner and bed. The 4 Islands tour gets you back in the afternoon with enough left in the tank for a sunset walk on Ao Nang beach or a massage, and on a short holiday that free evening has real value too.

Which one should you book? A pick by priority

Book by what matters most to you, not by what is most famous. Most families and relaxed travellers are happier on the 4 Islands, while first-timers set on Maya Bay and Pileh Lagoon should go to Phi Phi.

• You want the famous icons: Phi Phi. Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon and Viking Cave are only there.
• You have young kids: 4 Islands, ideally by speedboat for shade, or by longtail for budget.
• You get seasick: 4 Islands. Short crossings near the coast are much kinder.
• You want the most snorkelling time: 4 Islands, with longer stops at Chicken and Poda.
• You love dramatic scenery and do not mind crowds: Phi Phi.
• You are on a tight budget: 4 Islands by longtail.
• You travel in the windy season: 4 Islands, as the open-sea crossing to Phi Phi is the first to get rough.

The 4 Islands longtail suits budget travellers and photographers, the 4 Islands speedboat suits families who want shade, and the Phi Phi speedboat suits active adults who want the famous sights.

For more depth, I have written about whether the Phi Phi day trip from Krabi is worth it, and a separate look at the 4 Islands tour by longtail or speedboat.

Booking tips before you choose

Book your one island trip early in your stay, not on the last day. The program can change because of the weather, and a spare day lets you move the trip instead of losing it. This matters most for Phi Phi, which depends on calmer open sea.

1. Book through the 4 Islands longtail tour page or the Phi Phi speedboat tour page, and reply when the pickup time arrives.
2. Pack a swimsuit, sunglasses, sunblock and a beach hat, as both tour pages list, plus a dry bag.
3. Bring cash for the park fee and drinks.
4. Take seasickness tablets before boarding if you are sensitive, especially for Phi Phi.
5. Sit at the back of the speedboat if anyone has a sensitive back.

And if you end up loving the water, there is always next time. Most people who do the 4 Islands first come back for Phi Phi, and most who do Phi Phi wish they had a slow beach day too.

Frequently asked questions

Can I do Phi Phi and the 4 Islands in one day?

No, they are separate full-day trips in different directions from Krabi. Trying to combine them would mean very little time at each stop. If you have two days, do the 4 Islands first and Phi Phi later in the week.

Which trip is better for photos?

Phi Phi gives the most famous shots, especially at Pileh Lagoon and from the boat around Phi Phi Leh. The 4 Islands give more relaxed beach photos, the Tub Island sandbar and the cliffs of Phra Nang. Go to Phi Phi if the photos are the main goal.

Do I visit Railay on the 4 Islands tour?

Yes, the first stop is Phra Nang Beach on the Railay peninsula, with the Princess Cave. Railay is reached only by boat, so this is an easy way to see it. You will not have time to explore the whole of Railay, though.

Is the Phi Phi tour too much for a non-swimmer?

Not at all, since life jackets are included and many stops are about views. Non-swimmers can snorkel close to the boat in a life jacket or stay on the beach. Tell the guide at the start so they can keep an eye on you.

Which is better in the rainy season?

The 4 Islands are the safer bet in the windy months, because the crossings are short and closer to the coast. Phi Phi trips are the first to be bumpy or changed when the sea is rough. Keep a spare day either way.

Is lunch included on both tours?

Yes, both tours include lunch, fresh fruit and soft drinks. On Phi Phi, lunch is a buffet on Phi Phi Don. Tell the team about any allergies when you book.

Do I need to bring my own snorkel gear?

No, a snorkel mask and life jacket are included on both tours. Some people bring their own mask for a better fit, which is fine. Bring a rash top for sun protection while snorkelling.

Updated 1 November 2026.