It was my first time in Thailand, a country that ends up on many backpackers' lists as an easy and beautiful country to travel around. I wholeheartedly agree, and already can't wait to come back to explore more of Thailand. I only had ten days to cram in as much as possible with Ina, a close friend from Salzburg, so we focused our time on island-hopping in the south.
We spent our first two nights in Ao Nang, a town on the beach in Krabi. It was a great place to relax, get used to the new timezone and settle into the Thai routines. But, our main reason for staying in this area was so we could do a day trip out to the iconic Hong Island, one of the most beautiful (if popular) destinations around Phuket and Krabi.
Read my full guide to Ao Nang here!
How to Visit Hong Island
We booked a full-day tour with Get Your Guide, my long-time favourite tour-booking platform which I've used in many countries around the world. It was a full-day tour; booking a tour is the only way to visit Hong Island.
We were picked up from our hotel in Ao Nang and met the rest of our group at the beach. There were loads of tours leaving from the same area and there were plenty of check-in desks so we had to be sure we went to the right one! Ultimately, we felt the whole day was very organised.
We were worried that we'd be in a boat with loads of other people, but there actually only ended up being 16 of us on board which was the perfect size for the day. Of course, the places we visited were very popular, but at least we had the ability to do our own thing.
Book your day tour to Hong Island on Get Your Guide!
Hong Island Tour Itinerary
There were quite a few stops included on our Hong Island Tour itinerary, including snorkeling, beautiful boat rides on our traditional Thai longtail boat, swimming, beach time and a short but steep hike.
We would have preferred a little bit more snorkeling, as there was only one stop, but we more than made up for that on Ko Tao later in the trip. And Hong Island is truly beautiful.
1. Traditional Thai longtail boat ride
We started our day off with a half-hour Thai longtail ride departing from Ao Nang and heading northwest towards Hong Island. The sun was hot, the breeze refreshing and the water a radiant turquoise blue.
2. Snorkeling at Ko Daeng
We arrived at our first stop near Hong Island at Ko Daeng, a well-known snorkeling spot. It was nice to be in the water, but the water was a bit sandy with all the people in it, so we struggled to see much. It was our only snorkel stop of the trip.
3. Boat ride to Hong Island
After we left the snorkel spot, we were headed to Hong Island for the rest of the day. A short but gorgeous boat ride through the iconic islands of Phang Nga Bay awaited.
4. Hang out on Hong Island Beach
Hong Island is one of the most popular islands in Phang Nga Bay thanks to its gorgeous lagoon, sandy beaches and stunning views. Naturally, this means it is also busy. The beach was packed, as was the hike up to the viewpoint. But if you can look past that, and enjoy the views, then it's worth the trip!
Lunch and water is included with the tour, but you should definitely bring snacks for the day. Food is available for purchase on the island, too.
5. Hike up to the Hong Island Viewpoint
One of the best parts of visiting Hong Island is the steep 109-metre climb on metal stairs high up to the viewpoint, and the platforms along the way. You'll need to battle the 30° heat and the crowds but WOW is the view from the top over Phang Nga Bay SO worth it.
Check out my guide to hiking to the Hong Island Viewpoint here!
6. Visit the Hong Island Lagoon
On your way back to Ao Nang, you'll visit the Hong Island Lagoon for a photo stop to take those iconic Thai shots of you perched on the front of the longtail. A beautiful way to end the day.
This post includes affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you click a link and buy something I have recommended. It won't cost you any extra money, but helps keep this blog going! This post includes content sponsored by Get Your Guide. All opinions and ideas, as always, are completely my own.
Hi! I’m Jana, a Dutch-German-British-Canadian with a dream of seeing every country in the world. I am a storyteller, photographer and adventurer passionate about documenting and sharing my travels.
