Embark on a 6-Day Culinary Adventure: Krabi – Phi Phi – Koh Tao

When it comes to Thailand, most people recall familiar destinations like Bangkok – Pattaya or Phuket. However, this time our group opted for the route Bangkok – Krabi – Phi Phi – Koh Tao.

Explore a 6-Day Culinary Adventure: Krabi – Phi Phi – Koh Tao

Here are the insights shared by Mai Quoc Viet about the journey to explore Krabi – Phi Phi – Koh Tao during the recent Tet holiday, with Mytour. Our itinerary covered from the evening of the 3rd to the 9th day of Tet.

Travel Expenses

One of the aspects that many travelers are likely to be interested in is the expenses. Here is a comprehensive breakdown of the actual expenses I incurred during the journey. Alongside, I also provide the minimum costs that you can consider (reasonable accommodation, dining, and full enjoyment). Note that some general expenses and costs have been calculated per person (such as food, accommodation, taxi, etc.).

Things to Prepare Before Departure

Flight Tickets: For international routes, consider budget airlines like AirAsia, Vietjet, Nok Air. Domestic routes include Thai Lion, AirAsia, Thai Smile, Thai Airways, Nok Air.

Hotels: You can book through various online hotel booking platforms for good prices and often additional promotions.

Carry-on Luggage: Clothes, (dresses, bikinis), hat (cap), sunglasses, swim goggles, shoes, sandals/flip-flops, personal items (toothbrush, toothpaste, sunscreen, mosquito repellent, necessary medications, etc.).

Equipment: Phone, camera, underwater camera (highly recommended), charger, power bank, passport, flight ticket confirmation/code, and a waterproof bag (to carry important items like phone, camera, wallet, passport when on boats or in the water). A small note for you, power banks should be 25,000mAh or less as Don Mueang Airport restricts those with a capacity >=30,000mAh in carry-on luggage.

Credit Card/Cash: You can exchange Baht in advance at a rate of 650 VND/Baht (or bring USD and exchange it there at a rate of approximately 34.2 Baht/USD, nearly equivalent). As we had pre-booked our flight tickets and hotels, each person only carried a minimum amount of around 7 million VND for convenience.

Map: Download offline maps on your phone for easy navigation in case there is no internet (iOS has an app: MAPS.ME).

A Memorable 6-Day Itinerary

Departure: (30/1/2017, 3rd day of Tet)

18:20: Transfer to Noi Bai Airport by Noibaiconnect's shuttle. If you want to minimize costs and are comfortable with bus travel, you can take bus number 86 or the buses of VNA, VJA to the airport.

20:50-22:45: After completing check-in procedures, we took the Air Asia flight to Bangkok.

23:59: After completing the immigration process, we purchased a 4G sim at the airport, the Tourist sim 4G package priced at 299 Baht, valid for 7 days, providing 1.5GB of high-speed internet and including 100 Baht for calls and SMS.

Day 1 (31/1/2017, 4th day of Tet)

00:30: Moved to DMK Don Mueang Hostel, located 800m from the airport (15 minutes walk). Since our flight to Krabi was quite early (5:35 am) and we didn't want to spend too many hours at the airport, we booked a hostel near the airport for a short nap. You can also choose to sleep at the airport with many available seats at Terminal 2, which is cool and spacious, saving the hassle of moving around.

04:30: Returned to the airport for check-in procedures. As our group had an evening flight, if you have time, you can choose a morning/afternoon flight to Bangkok and then an evening flight to Krabi, avoiding the rush at the airport in the early morning.

05:35-06:55: Flew from Bangkok to Krabi with Thai Lion airline.

07:00: Took a taxi from the airport to Chanchalay Guesthouse. Chanchalay Guesthouse is located in the heart of Krabi Town, 14km from the airport, and approximately 30km from Ao Nang beach. If you prefer a lively atmosphere, it's better to stay near Ao Nang beach (close to the beach with many restaurants, bars/pubs, and tourists). Otherwise, if you want a quieter place with convenient transportation, Krabi Town is a good choice.

Chanchalay features a small and charming coffee shop on the ground floor. The owner here is very enthusiastic, providing guests with useful information and reasonably priced tours. Chanchalay has a pleasant decor with a predominant color tone of sea blue, combined with white and cement colors, creating a Greek-style ambiance. There are various types of rooms, from air-conditioned to fan rooms, single, double, 3-bed, and 4-bed options. Both shared and private bathrooms are available. Our group booked a private room for 4 people with bunk beds and air conditioning at a reasonable price (around 200,000 VND/person/night).

We checked into our room early at 7:30 am and immediately booked a tour to Phi Phi Island for 1,200 Baht/person (an additional 400 Baht/person must be paid when boarding the boat for the island tourism fee). After storing our belongings and preparing for the beach, at exactly 8:00 am, a vehicle took everyone to Ao Nang beach to board the speedboat.

9:00 am: The boat departs from Ao Nang beach to start the full-day tour. The boat is large, beautiful, and fast.

The first stop in the itinerary is Viking Cave (also known as Bird Nest Cave), a small cave with many birds nesting. We could only stay on the boat and admire the panoramic view, not allowed to enter the cave.

Next is Pileh Lagoon, surrounded by rocky mountains with only one entrance. Pileh Lagoon is located to the north of Phi Phi Lee Island (small island). The water here is quite clear and green, suitable for swimming and kayaking. The whole group stopped the boat here, and we swam for about an hour.

The boat continues to Maya Bay, a small bay on Phi Phi Lee Island with a long white sandy beach, clear blue water, and it's the location where some scenes of the movie 'The Beach' were filmed.

Around noon, the boat returned to the center of Phi Phi Don Island (the big island) for a 1-hour lunch break. This buffet lunch is included in the tour price, featuring 3-4 main dishes along with rice/spaghetti.

After the break, the boat continued to Monkey Beach. There are many monkeys on the shore and yellow-striped and gray-striped fish underwater. The boat didn't approach the shore to avoid disturbing the monkeys and prevent them from snatching food. Instead, it anchored farther away, providing each passenger with a snorkeling set to enjoy observing the lively fish.

The last stop on the tour itinerary is Bamboo Beach. Here, the white sandy beach and crystal-clear water are exceptionally beautiful. The curved beach extends, and part of it rises, resembling a sandy shoal bordered by tall green trees, offering visitors a comfortable place to relax and avoid the sun.

4:00 pm: The boat returned to the port and took guests back to their hotels. In the evening, our group strolled through the streets of Krabi town, visited the night market for dinner, enjoyed spicy Thai dishes, and explored various delicious fruits such as mangoes, durians, bananas, and tried Thai desserts like Thai tea and mango sticky rice. Later, the whole group returned to Chanchalay, enjoying a few beers before sleeping after a long and active day.

Day 2 (01/02/2017, 5th day of Tet)

The initial plan was to continue with the 4 Islands tour or the Hong Island tour. However, after considering some advice that the Phi Phi tour is the most beautiful and the weather that day had a slight drizzle, our group decided to change course and venture into the Khlong Thom National Park to admire the Emerald Pool. If you decide early, you can book a full-day tour to visit the Hot Springs - Emerald Pool - Tiger Temple for 900-1,200 Baht. Since it was too late to book a tour when the rain stopped, we decided to take a taxi to the national park (about 70km east of Krabi Town) for a round-trip fare of 1,800 Baht for 4 people.

It took an hour to travel from Krabi Town to the entrance of the Emerald Pool area (located in Krabi National Park). After shopping at a roadside souvenir shop and buying tickets for 300 Baht/person, our group followed the 1.4km streamside path. Along the way, we encountered moss-covered sections, vibrant red-green vegetation, making the journey visually pleasing.

Due to frequent stops for photos, it took about 40 minutes for us to reach the Emerald Pool, a large, emerald-colored pool where visitors can joyfully swim. Moving further up about 500m, there is another stunning water body, especially the Blue Pool with its crystal-clear water displaying a turquoise hue. Afterward, the whole group returned to enjoy swimming and taking photos in the natural Emerald Pool.

In the evening, the vehicle took us back to Krabi Town. By nightfall, the group wandered again to savor Thai cuisine and Chang beer. After a satisfying meal, we returned to the room, packed our belongings, and booked tickets to Koh Tao.

In Thailand, there is a professional ground and sea transport company called Lomprayah, offering a network of large buses and high-speed ferries connecting from north to south through popular tourist destinations such as Bangkok – Chumphon – Phuket – Krabi – Surat Thani – Koh Samui – Koh Tao. You can check schedules and buy tickets at http://lomprayah.com to find a suitable departure time for your itinerary or purchase tickets at the hotel. Our group bought tickets from Krabi to Koh Tao for 800 Baht/person, including comprehensive transportation (cheaper than the web price).

* Day 3 (02/02/2017, 6th day of Tet)

6:30 am: The shuttle bus picked up the entire group at the hotel, and then we gathered at Lomprayah's Krabi headquarters to collect tickets. Luggage and shirts were labeled to differentiate destinations because, although the same route, some passengers would get off at Koh Samui first, some at Koh Pha Ngan, while our group would disembark at the final destination, Koh Tao.

7:00 am: The whole group boarded a double-decker bus, covering 200km to Lomprayah's ferry terminal in Surat Thani (about 70km northeast of downtown Surat Thani).

10:00 am: Boarded the ferry heading to Koh Tao. The sizable ferry can accommodate 400 passengers with a large cabin and two small outdoor decks for those who want to enjoy the breeze.

2:30 pm: We arrived at Koh Tao, a beautiful small island belonging to the Koh Pha Ngan province in central Thailand, situated in the Gulf of Thailand.

On the first day at Koh Tao, our group booked a room at Moov Inn Garden, a hostel near the pier, as it's the bustling area with numerous shops and restaurants. After settling in, we had a satisfying Italian-style lunch. Later, we strolled around the streets, did some shopping, explored island tours, and diving options. In the late afternoon, the whole team gathered at a place called Whitening, next to the train bridge, sipping beer and enjoying the sunset.

By evening, we wandered to find a Thai restaurant as we were craving the tangy and spicy flavors of Tom Yum, Pad Thai, level 7 spiciness... then returned to the hostel to book an island tour for the next day. The full-day island tour costs 600 Baht + 100 Baht for the Koh Nang Yuan island fee per person (including lunch on the boat). Alternatively, you can also opt for a half-day tour at 500 Baht if you prefer a midday departure.

* Day 4 (02/03/2017, 7th day of Tet)

8:30 am: We had coffee and breakfast at an Italian-style restaurant near the train bridge.

9:30 am: The hostel's vehicle took us to the tour headquarters. Here, everyone wore wristbands to mark the order of guests and received snorkeling masks/tubes.

10:00 am: We boarded the boat to start the island-hopping tour, including Shark Bay, Aow Luek, Hin Wong Bay, Mango Bay, and Nang Yuan Island.

The first stop was Shark Bay, located south of Koh Tao. Despite the cloudy weather, the water remained clear, allowing us to admire swimming yellowtail fish.

On the day we went, the sea was rough, which might be why the boat skipped the Aow Luek coral reef diving spot due to large waves and difficult access. Next was Hin Wong Bay, situated on the east side of Koh Tao. Upon arrival, the waves subsided. The water here is clear, teeming with fish, but the underwater vegetation is somewhat deep – about 3-5m, making it more suitable for scuba diving than snorkeling.

The boat continued to Mango Bay, located on the north side of the island. The water in this bay is also clear and has many corals and fish at a depth of about 2-3m, ideal for snorkeling and those who can dive without equipment.

At this point, it's midday. After everyone joyfully finished snorkeling, we headed back to the boat where they served lunch, tea, pastries, and fruits. After a short break, around 1:30 pm, the boat moved back to Koh Nang Yuan.

Koh Nang Yuan is a cluster of small islands located northwest of Koh Tao, consisting of 3 islands connected by a white sandy path. During high tide, this path is submerged underwater, and during low tide, it transforms into a long stretch of sand for sunbathing.

A 15-minute walk along the main island leads to the highest point known as Nang Yuan Viewpoint. From here, you can admire the panoramic view of Koh Nang Yuan from above. You'll witness Nang Yuan dividing the sea into three parts, often playfully referred to as the place where three seas meet.

Continuing through the underwater pathway, we reached the third island, where large rocks provided perfect spots for sunbathing and picturesque photo opportunities.

4:30 pm: The boat brought everyone back to Mae Haad Pier. Our group returned to the hostel to retrieve our belongings (previously stored) and hired a taxi to a more upscale resort, Aminjirah, located northwest of the island, near Koh Nang Yuan, for a relaxing stay.

We booked a room at Aminjirah Resort for approximately 200 USD for 4 people, including breakfast. The resort, situated on the mountain slope, offers breathtaking views of the sea.

After completing the check-in process, we prepared our equipment for a sunset photography session.

Upon checking the Aminjirah restaurant and finding limited Thai dishes, our group moved down to the Koh Tao Hillside Resort restaurant located at the foot of the Aminjirah mountain (a 5-10 minute walk). This is also where we booked a room for the final night to savor Thai cuisine.

* Day 5 (02/04/2017, 8th day of Tet)

The initial plan was to purchase a scuba diving tour near Japanese Garden. However, due to one person still feeling seasick from the previous day and the unpredictable weather alternating between clouds and sun, we decided to reschedule for another day.

So, we spent the entire morning having breakfast on the rooftop and then lounging by the pool. Near noon, we checked out and moved to Koh Tao Hillside Resort for proximity to the beach. The Hillside resort consists of dozens of bungalows scattered on the mountain slope, with a restaurant, swimming pool, a wooden pier, and deck areas right by the sea for sunbathing. The room price here is quite reasonable; I booked a garden-view bungalow for about 760,000 VND/bungalow/night. While the room might not be exceptional, considering the overall package from location, shared amenities, services, and pricing, I would rate it around 3.5-4*.

Since we skipped the diving tour, after having lunch at the restaurant, the entire group rented kayaks here to paddle around for about 2 hours at the cost of 350 Baht/kayak (1-hour rental is 250 Baht, 3 hours for 500 Baht, and a full-day rental for 850 Baht).

Thanks to my experience in kayaking across Lan Ha Bay, Ninh Van Bay, Con Dao, and even El Nido (Philippines), I confidently led the group through the waves from Hillside to Koh Nang Yuan, approximately 1km of open sea. The beach here surpassed the beauty of the previous day, with fine white sand and crystal-clear turquoise waters.

After 2 hours of kayaking fun, we returned to Hillside for snorkeling. As soon as I immersed myself, I couldn't help but be amazed by the abundance of colorful fish and coral, all living at a shallow depth (only 1.5-2m).

After a day of relaxation and exciting activities, our group enjoyed a delightful dinner, savoring the final sunset of Koh Tao by the pier and the resort's swimming pool.

* Day 6 (02/05/2017, 9th day of Tet)

Since the previous check-in, I had pre-booked tickets for the ferry from Koh Tao to Surat Thani Airport at the hotel reception for 1,100 Baht/person. The ferry departed quite early at 6:00 AM, so around 5:30 AM, the hotel staff called for a taxi to take us to the pier on time (the resort provides daily shuttle buses to Mae Haad Pier, but since we needed to catch an early ferry, we opted for a taxi).

10:45 AM: After the Lomprayah ferry and bus journey, we arrived at Surat Thani Airport, enjoying leisure time for shopping and having lunch at the airport.

After returning to Bangkok at 4:30 PM, we continued shopping and had dinner at Don Mueang Airport, waiting until 6:35 PM to take off for Hanoi.

8:20 PM: Landed at Noi Bai International Airport.

By Mai Quoc Viet

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Reference: Mytour Travel Guide