Krabi Islands by Speedboat
Discover 4 amazing islands
of krabi
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By Sam Wilkinson - Photos by
Stephan Audiger
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Many visitors to Thailand are surprised at
just how hot it can get by eight o'clock in
the morning here. People used to chilly winds
and cloudy skies generally don't bother applying
sunblock until after ten o'clock, when things
start to hot up on a summer's day back home.
That's a bad mistake here.
So it is that as we wait in the foyer of the
Sofitel
for our tour minibus we spray on the factor
20 to make sure we won't come back from our
Half-Day, Four-Island Krabi Trip looking like
two-legged tomatoes.
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| Departure
from Nopparat Thara |
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A half day in the sun here without UVA protection
can ruin the rest of your holiday.
The minivan makes its way through leafy country lanes,
passing waving and smiling schoolchildren, rubber
farmers carrying wicked-looking curved machetes and
housewives sweeping their yards with short-handle
brooms.
Pretty soon we rumble up to an open-sided riverside
hut and clamber out to watch a promotional video about
Krabi's attractions. We're informed that Railay Beach
is an ideal place for 'hiking' while the video shows
people rock climbing!
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First stop: Phra Nang Beach in Railay
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| Phra
Nang Beach |
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Ten minutes later we're aboard a two-engine speedboat
and Marion, our guide, introduces herself and explains
that our first stop is Phra Nang (Princess) Beach.
The boat roars out of the river estuary and we motor
past Ao Nang while people point out their hotels on
the mainland to their fellow passengers.
In no time at all we've passed Ton Sai and Railay
beaches and are revving down as we approach Phra Nang.
The main attraction here is a limestone cave used
as a shrine by local fishermen.
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| Princess
Cave |
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The entrance is lined with lingams or phallic symbols
of every size, shape and colour and were placed here
to appease a local mythical princess.
At the other end of this 600-metre beach is a rough
and difficult track leading up to a cave but we don't
have enough time to go that far so we swim out in
the wonderfully calm and inviting water.
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Second Stop: Chicken Island
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| Chicken
Island |
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"See you tomorrow," Marion shouts down
the beach some 30 minutes later to a lingering Indian
couple as the captain starts his motors. For a moment
they look worried then scurry aboard, laughing.
Our next stop is the weirdly shaped Chicken Island
with a rocky outcrop that looks just like a chicken's
neck and head.
I've never seen stone giblets before but I bet it
lays hard-boiled eggs. Just a short hop away we stop
at a rock face and gently ease ourselves off the back
of the boat into the water.
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| Snorkeling
nearby Chicken Island |
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The snorkeling here is fantastic with spectacular
coral and tropical fish of every hue and size. Below
the shoals of banner fish I spy some sea anemone with
accompanying nemo clown fish and one bright blue specimen
that I've never seen before.
A diving friend tells me that there are sea horses
here and I don't disbelieve him.
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Third Stop: Tub Island
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| Lunch
on Tub Island |
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Next stop is Tub Island (pronounced 'Tap') which
is quite an unusual sight to say the least. A sandbar
links the two sides of the island over which you can
walk at low tide.
Presently there is about a foot of water washing
over it but when Marion mentions that a bar sells
beer on the other side several people splash over
for a brew, despite it being 11 in the morning.
A lazy hour later a lunch of chicken, omelette and
rice is served up with 'Krabi cake' and fresh seasonal
fruit. When all the leftovers and containers are bagged
up we zoom over to our penultimate destination, Poda
Island.
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Fourth Stop: Poda Island
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| Poda
island |
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Koh Poda is no more than a kilometre in diameter
and is circular in shape. Off its east shore stands
an obelisk-like rocky outcrop that is reminiscent
of James Bond Island's gravity-defying rock.
The island has a causarina tree grove in which to
sit to avoid direct sunlight. 99% of the Asian passengers
take advantage of this and 99% of the Caucasians spread
out their towels to sunbathe while the Asians scratch
their heads in wonder at the sight.
After a major chill-out session on Poda (actually
a nap) we motor to Noppharat Thara where we say goodbye
to Marion and the boat guys and head back to the hotel.
To be fair, this is not a four-island tour; rather
a three-island plus a rather interesting beach tour
with a marked emphasis on lolling on white sand with
our toes in the warm waters of the Andaman Sea. But
who's arguing?
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Interested in this tour?
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Exciting island-hopping to the tropical hot spots
in the Krabi sea : Phra Nang Beach, Tub Island, Chicken
Island and Poda Island. Swimming, snorkelling, sunbathing,
exploring and photography are the main activities
to enjoy. Expect plenty of sun, a rich variety of
corals and fishes, crystal clear waters and white
powdery sand beaches, lined with coconut palms. Fast
and fun.
Half-daytrip: 1,000 Baht
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Photo Gallery of the tour
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