Koh Poda is a small, uninhabited limestone island located about 8 km off the coast of Ao Nang. It is the largest of the Poda island group, which also includes Chicken Island, Koh Mo, and Koh Tup, and is considered a classic first stop on the Krabi Four Islands tour. Its main beach, facing the mainland, is long, white, and offers clear, shallow water. Just offshore lies the small rocky islet that appears in almost every photograph. There are two ways to reach the island. A longtail boat from Ao Nang Beach takes 15 to 20 minutes and costs around 300 baht for a round trip for groups of six or more. This allows for almost a whole day to explore the island.
The 4-island tour (750 to 1,200 baht) stops here for about an hour, along with the Thale Waek sandbank, Chicken Island, and Phra Nang. The national park fee of 200 baht must be paid in cash upon arrival. There are no hotels, restaurants, or ATMs on the island, so bring cash, water, and snorkeling gear, and take the first boat in the morning if you want to enjoy the beach before the tour boats arrive.
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Key facts
15 to 20 minutes from Ao Nang
Longtail boats depart from Ao Nang Beach to Koh Poda and back for approximately 300 baht, provided six people have booked. Return trips are typically around 4:00 PM. Pick-up times should be arranged before departure.
The parking fee is 200 Baht and must be paid in cash upon arrival.
Koh Poda is located within the Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, which charges an entrance fee of 200 baht for foreign adults and 100 baht for children. Some websites still list 400 baht, the old island price.
The 4 Islands Tour stops here.
Koh Poda, Chicken Island, the Thale Waek sandbank near Koh Tup and Phra Nang, 750–1,000 Baht by longtail boat or 1,000–1,200 Baht by speedboat, times depend on the tides.
Go early
The beach is quietest before about 10:00 AM. From December to February, dozens of longtail boats arrive at midday.
No rooms, no restaurant, no ATM
At the jetty there are toilets belonging to the national park and cold water showers, as well as some stalls selling water, fruit and snacks; payment in cash only.
Bring your own snorkel.
The coral reefs off the rocky ends are patchy, but there are fish, and the number of rental properties on the island is limited.
All routes to Koh Poda compared
Prices for Krabi are based on information from the Krabi and Ao Nang travel guides on this website (tour operator lists, as of 2026); the park fee (200 ฿ per foreign adult, 100 ฿ per child, National Park Administration tariff since June 2022) is not included unless otherwise stated on the ticket.
What is there to see on Koh Poda?
The boats dock at the main beach in the east, opposite Ao Nang, a long, soft, white sandy beach fringed with palm and pine trees. Beyond the beach rise the karst cliffs of the mainland. Not far from the beach lies a small rocky islet, the sail-shaped rock described by the tourism authority and visible in every photograph of the island. The water is clear and shallow, ideal for swimming and for children. Visitors spend the day in the shade of the trees.
Outside of the infrastructure operated by the national park, there are no other buildings: toilets and cold-water showers near the jetty, a ranger station, and a few stalls selling water, fruit, snacks, and souvenirs. There are no hotels, restaurants, or ATMs, and cell phone reception is patchy. Bring cash for the park fee and the stalls. The rangers are strict about litter and alcohol on the beach, so leave your cooler full of beer at home.
Heading to the west side, you'll find a quieter bay, the so-called Secret Beach on Poda Island, which is usually visited by excursion boats. The best snorkeling is at the rocky ends of the main beach, where the coral is patchy but there are fish. A sun-protective shirt is helpful if jellyfish are nearby.
The common longtail from Ao Nang
To spend a full day on Koh Poda, a shared longtail boat is recommended. At the ticket booths on Ao Nang Beach, a round trip to Koh Poda costs around 300 baht. A boat departs as soon as six people have signed up, so you rarely have to wait long in the mornings during peak season. The journey takes 15 to 20 minutes, and the boats return around 4:00 PM. Arrange your pickup time with the boatman before he departs.
A private longtail boat is more expensive, but offers the flexibility to set your own schedule. For example, you can be on the beach as early as 8:00 AM or stay until late afternoon. Boat operators at Ao Nang Beach and the floating pier in Railay East often offer these boats as a four-island tour. The price is agreed upon directly on the beach.
Koh Poda on the 4-island tour
Most visitors see Koh Poda as a stop on the four-island tour, the classic first boat day in Krabi. Koh Poda is usually visited for swimming, with lunch either there or on Koh Tup, depending on the operator. Other destinations include Chicken Island with its impressive rock formations and snorkeling opportunities; Koh Tup, where at low tide a sandbar emerges from the sea near Thale Waek, allowing for walks between the islands; and Phra Nang Beach on the Railay Peninsula. Longtail boats cost between 750 and 1,000 baht, and speedboats between 1,000 and 1,200 baht, plus a parking fee. Departure times are tide-dependent, so the same tour departs at different times on different days.
On this tour, you'll have about an hour on Koh Poda, midday when the beach is most crowded. If you'd like to visit the island itself, a shared longtail boat is a better option. If you also want to see the sandbar, you should book the tour.
The best time to travel to Koh Poda
From November to April it's the dry season, when the Andaman Sea is calm and clear. From December to February is high season, with dozens of longtail boats arriving at midday. The first boat to leave Ao Nang departs around 8:00 or 9:00 a.m., giving you almost the beach to yourself until the Four Islands tours begin. The beach empties again in the late afternoon before the last boats leave.
From May to October, the southwest monsoon brings rain and rough seas. Some longtail boats run less frequently during this time, and on the worst days, they don't operate at all. When they do run, the beach is noticeably calmer.
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Is Koh Poda worth visiting?
Yes, if you arrive early or stay late. It's one of the most beautiful beaches near Ao Nang, only 15 minutes away, and a day trip there is inexpensive. If you have the morning almost entirely to yourself, it's like something out of a postcard. At midday during peak season, when the tour boats line up along the shore, it's overcrowded, and there's not much to do besides swimming, snorkeling, and sitting in the shade.
If you only have one day for a boat trip, the 4-island tour offers a first glimpse of Koh Poda and the sandbank, while Hong Island, with its more beautiful scenery, provides a second impression. My Hong Island guidebook compares the two islands.
Experience a day on Koh Poda
A visit in 2026, filmed by another traveler, from landing to the tour around the island. Nothing loads from YouTube until you press "Play".
Other boat trips from Krabi
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently asked questions about Koh Poda, Krabi.
Approximately 8 km, 15 to 20 minutes by longtail boat from Ao Nang beach.
A round-trip trip on a shared longtail boat from Ao Nang Beach costs approximately 300 baht. The boat departs once six people have signed up and returns around 4:00 PM. A private longtail boat is more expensive; the price is agreed upon on the beach.
200 baht for foreign adults and 100 baht for children, payable in cash to the rangers upon arrival, unless this is included in your tour. Some operators still quote 400 baht, the old island rate which the park administration abolished in June 2022.
No. There are no hotels or rooms on the island, so a day trip from Ao Nang, Railay or Krabi Town is possible.
There are only a few stalls selling water, drinks, fruit, and snacks; cash is required. There is no restaurant, so bring your own lunch or book a tour where it's included.
This is ideal for the first day of boating, as it takes you to the Thale Waek sandbank, Chicken Island, and Phra Nang. Those who mainly want to spend time on the beach at Koh Poda can spend most of the day there in a shared longtail boat.
From November to April, on the first boat in the morning or late afternoon, before and after the 4 island tours.
Yes, at the rocky ends of the main beach, although the coral reef there is patchy in places. Bring your own diving mask, as there are only a few rental options on the island.
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