Since we started our journey in early April we have pretty much been on the go, so it was nice to base ourselves for six nights at a beautiful beach resort on the coast of south Thailand. We literally had several days without having anything scheduled! When you hear about the beaches of Thailand it’s important to know that there are over 1,400 different islands and therefore so many options. We landed in Krabi, an area of Thailand known for it’s dramatic limestone cliffs, turquoise waters and a great base for island hopping.
One of the highlights of our stay in Krabi was a full-day island-hopping adventure. We joined 20 other travelers on a laid-back day of taking in the best islands. Our day started at 9:00 and was packed with five unique stops, each offering its own slice of tropical magic:
Maya Bay – Made famous by the movie The Beach starring Leonardo DiCaprio, this cinematic cove on Phi Phi Leh truly lives up to the hype. Since the global surge in popularity, some things have changed to protect the island like limiting the number of visitors and not allowing swimming. Regardless, it’s absolutely beautiful!
Monkey Island – This stop brought us face-to-face with cheeky monkeys lounging on the rocks and trees right near the shore. These fellas are native long-tailed macaques that happen to be excellent swimmers. They can paddle and hold their breath underwater while digging for shellfish. We were warned, they’re bold and curious—great for photos but better admired from a respectful distance!
Loh Samah Bay – A stunning lagoon surrounded by sheer cliffs was just perfect for our snorkeling stop in clear tourqouise water filled with colorful fish and coral. Floating in the warm sea here felt like being inside an aquarium. Amazing!
Phi Phi Don – This was our mid afternoon stop, the largest and only inhabited island in the Phi Phi archipelago. We docked at Tonsai Bay, where a lively mix of beach bars, shops, and restaurants lined the shore. This is a popular spot for overnight stays.
Bamboo Island – This was our final island stop with a great stretch of white sand beach with casuarina trees. The cruise was supposed to end with a stunning sunset, but mother nature had other plans—a quick-building storm rolled in. While not the postcard-perfect sunset we’d hoped for, it added some excitment and a pretty choppy ride back to the share.
The Iconic Long-Tail Boats of Thailand
Long-tail boats are one of the most recognizable symbols of Thailand’s coastlines and island life. With their narrow wooden hulls, vividly painted prows, and distinctive long propeller shafts, these boats have been around for decades across southern Thailand. They were traditionally used by fishermen and coastal traders, they served (and still serve) as a primary means of transport in remote or island communities. Today, many are still operated by local families.
While some boats are still used for fishing, the long-tail has become central to Thailand’s tourism experience, especially in areas like Krabi and Phi Phi. They ferry travelers to hidden beaches and limestone coves.
