What's actually included
- Koh Poda — a genuine white-sand postcard island with calm, shallow snorkelling water.
- Koh Tup & Koh Mor — two islands joined by a sandbar that appears at low tide, walkable between them.
- Chicken Island (Koh Kai) — named for a chicken-shaped rock formation, good for a quick photo stop and snorkelling.
- Phra Nang Cave Beach — on the Railay peninsula, with a fertility shrine cave at one end.
Longtail boat vs speedboat
Longtail tours are cheaper (roughly 400–700 THB per person) and slower, with more time spent getting between islands. Speedboat tours (roughly 1,200–1,800 THB) cover the same four islands plus sometimes a fifth stop, and get you back earlier — worth it if you're short on time or prone to seasickness on longer crossings. Private longtail charters, where you set your own route and timing, run from around 2,000–3,000 THB for the boat (split between your group).
Avoiding the crowds
Every tour operator runs the same four islands, and most boats leave Ao Nang between 9 and 10am — which means every island gets busy around the same time. Booking an afternoon tour, or a private charter that starts later, can mean having Koh Poda's best cove largely to yourself.
What to bring
Reef-safe sunscreen, a rash guard or T-shirt for snorkelling (the sun reflecting off the water is brutal by midday), a dry bag for your phone, and cash for the 400 THB Ao Nang/Railay national park entrance fee, which most tours don't include in the ticket price.
Snorkelling quality
Reasonable rather than spectacular — expect small reef fish, some coral, and clear visibility close to Chicken Island and Koh Poda. If serious snorkelling or diving is the priority, the better sites are further out, around Koh Phi Phi or the Similan Islands.