One of the highlights of our recent family trip to Krabi has got to be the island-hopping bit. The waters were crystal clear with many fishes swimming close to the shore. Although the sun was merciless for most part of the trip, it felt really good to be this close to nature and immersing in the beauty of it all.
There are many different island trip options in Krabi, but we decided to go for the 4-island tour because we heard that it’s more family-friendly. We bought the tour package from one of the many street vendors along Krabi Town and it costs less than $20 per pax for a half-day tour with lunch and direct hotel pick-up included. The sceneries were beautiful and mesmerizing, and we were in the same boat with some very nice Thai folks, who fed us with all the titbits they brought along for the trip. The whole experience was just wonderful. :)
Island-hopping is one of the most popular and best activities to do in Krabi, so everyday, hundreds are gathered at the pier waiting to set off for their tours. It was a rowdy morning as different agents went through the crowds shouting, ‘4-island tour!’, ‘James Bond Island tour!’…. to claim their tour groups. Finally, we were called and brought to our longtail boat to set off for our trip. We opted for the longtail boat because we wanted a more authentic feel (also because the speedboat option was double the price. =P).
We arrived at Poda Island after a 20-minute boat ride, and it was just like what I saw in photos – White sandy beaches with clear water! It was super crowded with tons of tourists, but there was a happy feel in the air. This place felt like paradise! Especially love the longtail boats parked side by side – All prettily decorated with colorful ribbons.
Needless to say, the kids were thrilled. They love water and seeing so many small fishes crisscross swimming by their legs was so amazing! They went about collecting seashells, playing with the little fishes and plodding themselves down on the huge rocks in the sea near to shore. It was such a relaxing feeling, I tell ya. I felt a connection with the sky and the sea.
The smiles on their faces made me really happy. This is what every vacation should be like! Carefree, fun and lots of bonding. :)
At low tide, you could walk on a sandbed from this island to the adjourning island, and many people were walking just for the experience. Look at the sea water – as clear as a swimming pool!
We then headed to the next island, and this next one we went to, we did not step onto the shore at all because the boatman parked the boat on the sea and we all went snorkeling! It was a first for the husband and I, so you can imagine our excitement. There were so many fishes and the underwater world was beautiful! The kids were not allowed to snorkel but they had just as much fun feeding the fishes with bread given by our fellow Thai tourists. :)
We were famished after the snorkeling, so I was glad we headed to have lunch at the next island. This island was very similar to the previous one, so we didn’t explore much. The lunch was simple fare of a meat and a vegetable with rice provided by the agent, and we quickly finished it before going for a dip in the cool waters again. This island was very picturesque and a dip in the sea was wonderful because of the merciless sun.
The last island for the tour was one of the most memorable because of the natural caves on the island. Everywhere looked like a piece of heaven and we almost couldn’t bear to leave.
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And that marked the end of our first 4-island tour – It was so much fun, and the kids couldn’t stop talking about it after that. If you are planning for an island-hopping tour too, remember to slap on lots of sunblock and drink plenty of fluids! I say Krabi is best enjoyed this way. :)
