Splitting a week between Phuket and Krabi gives you the best of the Andaman Sea: towering limestone karsts, historic Sino-Portuguese architecture, sheltered emerald bays, and accessible offshore islands. But the logistics of linking Thailand's largest island with the mainland province can quickly unravel without advance planning around pier transfers, tide tables, and seasonal marine park schedules.
Rather than booking disjointed day excursions on the fly or guessing how long passenger ferries take across the open sea, this seven-day itinerary establishes a logical east-to-west geographic flow. You will spend your first three nights based in Phuket, cross the Andaman Sea by scheduled passenger vessel, and spend your final three nights based in Krabi's coastal hub of Ao Nang.
Essential Route Architecture: How to Cross Between Phuket and Krabi
Before detailing day-to-day activities, it is crucial to understand the maritime connection between the two hubs. There are two primary commercial ferry routes across the Andaman Sea:
- The Direct Coastal Ferry (Phuket to Ao Nang / Railay): Commercial operators like Ao Nang Travel and Tour run the Ao Nang Princess ferry directly between Phuket's Rassada Pier on the southeastern coast and Ao Nang's Nopparat Thara Pier, making a brief passenger stop at the floating pier off East Railay Beach. The direct crossing takes roughly 2 hours to 2 hours and 15 minutes, with standard adult one-way fares around 900 THB. During the high season (November through April), departures operate daily, but shoulder and low-season schedules often reduce frequency to specific days of the week (such as Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays) or adjust for sea conditions.
- The Two-Leg Route via Koh Phi Phi: If you want to break up transit or if the direct Ao Nang ferry is not running on your travel date, passenger lines such as Andaman Wave Master run large commercial ferries from Phuket (Rassada Pier) to Koh Phi Phi Don (Tonsai Pier), taking approximately 2 hours (fares around 850–900 THB). From Koh Phi Phi Don, connecting ferries depart for Krabi Town's Klong Jilad Pier (taking 1.5 to 2 hours, starting from roughly 450 THB). From Klong Jilad Pier, travelers take a 30-minute shared songthaew or private taxi overland to reach Ao Nang or Ao Nam Mao.
Overland Alternative: If severe weather halts maritime traffic or if you are prone to heavy seasickness during the southwest monsoon, private road transfers connect Phuket and Krabi via Route 402 and Highway 4. The drive takes 2.5 to 3.5 hours depending on traffic and local road conditions.
Day 1: Arrival in Phuket, Old Town Heritage, and Kata Sunset
Morning: Arrival and Base Setup
Land at Phuket International Airport (HKT) and take an airport taxi or registered van to your base. For this itinerary, staying on the southern or central-western coastline (such as Kata Beach, Karon Beach, or close to Phuket Town) keeps transit to the eastern departure piers manageable on Day 4.
Transit Buffer: Phuket Airport sits at the far northern tip of the island. Transfers south to Kata or Karon require 60 to 90 minutes depending on mid-island road congestion around Thalang and Koh Kaew.
Afternoon: Phuket Old Town Architecture
Head into Phuket Old Town to explore the preserved Sino-Portuguese shophouses along Thalang Road, Dibuk Road, and Soi Rommanee. Built during the height of the island's 19th-century tin-mining boom, these pedestrian-friendly streets feature local batik workshops, traditional herbal dispensaries, and quiet boutique cafés serving southern Thai iced tea and iced kopi.
Stop at a local restaurant to sample Moo Hong (braised pork belly flavored with garlic, black pepper, and sweet dark soy sauce) or Mi Hokkien (thick yellow noodles stir-fried with seafood, greens, and pork broth).
Evening: Kata Viewpoint and Quiet Dinner
Head southwest toward Kata Viewpoint (Karon Viewpoint) along Highway 4233 for sweeping views of Kata Noi, Kata, and Karon beaches. Conclude the evening with an unhurried beachfront dinner along Kata Beach before resting up for an early marine departure the following morning.
Day 2: Phang Nga Bay and the Limestone Caves
Morning: Departure to Phang Nga Bay Marine Park
Set an early alarm for a full-day sea excursion into the protected waters of Ao Phang-Nga National Park. Organized longtails, traditional big boats, and speedboats depart from northeastern Phuket piers such as Ao Po Pier or Royal Phuket Marina between 07:30 and 08:30.
Park Admission: The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) charges a mandatory national park conservation entrance fee of 400 THB per foreign adult (200 THB per child). Keep local cash on hand, as rangers collect this upon entering park waters unless your tour operator has explicitly invoiced and paid it on your behalf.
Afternoon: Sea Kayaking, Khao Phing Kan, and Ko Panyi
Transfer onto stable two-person inflatable canoes paddled by local sea guides through the tidal sea caves (hongs) of Koh Panak and Hong Island. At low to mid-tide, you glide through dark limestone tunnels that open into hidden, mangrove-fringed central lagoons encircled by sheer vertical cliffs.
Next, cruise past Khao Tapu (popularly known as James Bond Island after appearing in The Man with the Golden Gun), fronting Khao Phing Kan. Because visitor foot traffic is concentrated along narrow boardwalks, visit mid-day when tour dispersals occur. Continue onward to Ko Panyi, an extraordinary Muslim fishing village built entirely on stilts over the sea around a giant limestone tower. Walk the elevated wooden boardwalks to see the community school, the floating football pitch, and the mosque.
Evening: Return to Phuket and Night Market Dining
Boats return to Phuket's northeastern piers between 16:30 and 17:30. Take your van back to your hotel, shower, and spend a casual evening browsing the stalls at the Chillva Night Market or Phuket Weekend Market (Naka Market) for fresh grilled squid, roti, and tropical fruit shakes.
Day 3: West Coast Beaches, Big Buddha, and Wat Chalong
Morning: Cultural Landmarks
Spend a land-based day resting between boat trips to avoid maritime fatigue. Begin at Wat Chalong (Wat Chaithararam), the largest and most venerated Buddhist temple complex on Phuket. Dress respectfully (shoulders and knees covered, shoes removed before entering prayer halls) as you view the Grand Pagoda containing a bone fragment relic of the Buddha.
From Chalong, take the winding 6-kilometer mountain road up to the Nakkerd Hills to visit the 45-meter-tall Maravija-posture Big Buddha (Phra Phutta Ming Mongkol Akenakakhiri). The summit terrace offers an unobstructed 360-degree panorama over Chalong Bay, Kata Beach, and the Andaman Sea.
Afternoon: Southern Coastal Exploration
Drive down to Nai Harn Beach, one of Phuket's cleanest and most relaxed swimming bays, flanked by protected headlands and freshwater lagoons. Grab lunch at one of the open-air wooden restaurants set back in the casuarina pines.
For travelers seeking a quieter afternoon, walk 10 minutes south along the dirt track to Ao Sane Beach, a stony cove with small coral heads suitable for casual shore snorkeling.
Evening: Sunset at Promthep Cape
Finish your stay in Phuket at Promthep Cape (Laem Promthep), the southernmost headland of the island. Walk past the tourist plaza to the lighthouse overlook or follow the exposed dirt ridge downward for an unobstructed sunset view over Nai Harn Bay. Dine nearby on fresh grilled sea bass and tom yum soup along Rawai Beach's seaside seafood stalls.
Day 4: Ferry Crossing to Krabi via Railay Peninsula
Morning: Rassada Pier Check-In
Check out of your Phuket accommodation by 07:00 and take a 30-to-45-minute taxi to Rassada Pier on Phuket's southeastern side. Scheduled ferries to Krabi and Koh Phi Phi generally require passengers to exchange digital booking vouchers for physical boarding stickers between 07:45 and 08:15 for an 08:30 departure.
Board the direct Ao Nang Travel and Tour Ao Nang Princess passenger ferry heading toward Nopparat Thara Pier. As the ship leaves Phuket waters, find an outdoor deck seat or an air-conditioned cabin seat. The journey crosses open water east toward the Krabi coastline, passing offshore limestone pinnacles.
Low-Season Note: If traveling during off-peak months when the direct ferry operates only selected days, book an Andaman Wave Master ferry to Koh Phi Phi Don (Tonsai Pier), spend a 90-minute layover having lunch at Tonsai Village, and connect on the afternoon passenger ferry to Krabi Town's Klong Jilad Pier.
Afternoon: Arrival at Ao Nang and Railay Transfer
Around 10:45, the direct ferry calls at Railay Beach, using a designated floating pontoon off Railay East to transfer disembarking passengers. If your accommodation is in Railay, disembark directly onto the peninsula (which is accessible only by water due to high limestone cliffs). If your base is Ao Nang, remain on board as the boat finishes its 20-minute run to Nopparat Thara Pier in Ao Nang.
Once on land, take a short shared songthaew or tuk-tuk to your Ao Nang hotel, unpack, and grab a late lunch along Ao Nang's beachfront strip.
Evening: Sunset Longtail Ride to Phra Nang Cave Beach
Around 16:30, hire a local motorized longtail boat from the Ao Nang Longtail Boat Club kiosk (fixed regulated rates around 100 THB per person each way) for a 10-minute hop around the headland to Phra Nang Beach.
Swim in the calm waters framed by hanging stalactites, explore the local Princess Cave (Tham Phra Nang Nok) dedicated to a sacred spirit of fertility and maritime protection, and watch rock climbers scale the sheer limestone faces before catching a return boat as twilight settles.
Day 5: Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park Day Trip
Morning: Speedboat to Koh Phi Phi Le and Maya Bay
Book an early-morning day tour departing Nopparat Thara Pier between 07:00 and 08:00 heading south into the Hat Noppharat Thara – Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park.
Your first destination is Koh Phi Phi Le. Arriving early lets you access Maya Bay before mid-morning tour flotillas arrive. In accordance with strict marine rehabilitation guidelines enforced by the DNP:
- Maya Bay operates hourly tourist entry quotas.
- Swimming and wading inside Maya Bay itself are strictly prohibited to safeguard blacktip reef shark nurseries and regenerating coral gardens.
- Boats do not enter the bay directly; they dock on the rear at Loh Samah Bay, where visitors walk a raised timber boardwalk through the island forest to the viewing platform.
Seasonal Closure Warning: Check the official TAT Newsroom marine park closure schedule. Maya Bay, Loh Samah Bay, and Loko Bay close annually from August 1 through September 30 for environmental rejuvenation. If you visit in August or September, boats tour the outer bay from the water without landing.
Afternoon: Pileh Lagoon and Bamboo Island
Cruise around Koh Phi Phi Le into Pileh Lagoon, an emerald-green inlet enclosed by 100-meter karst walls. The water here is calm, shallow, and open for swimming and snorkeling. Continue past the Viking Cave, where sea swallow nests are collected for soup.
Next, motor north to Bamboo Island (Ko Mai Phai), an uninhabited coral island surrounded by clear turquoise water. Spend two hours snorkeling along the outer coral reef flats or resting on the powdery white sand under casuarina shade.
Park Fees: Ensure your tour voucher confirms payment of the 400 THB foreign adult DNP marine park fee, or have cash ready for the ranger station on the beach.
Evening: Relaxed Dining in Ao Nang
Return to Nopparat Thara Pier by 16:30. Spend a relaxed evening along Ao Nang's walking street. Order Roti Gluay (banana pancake drizzled with condensed milk) from a street cart, or dine at a hilltop restaurant overlooking the bay for views of the offshore karst silhouettes.
Day 6: Krabi's Karst Interior: Tiger Cave Temple and Emerald Pool
Morning: The Climb at Wat Tham Suea
Take a break from the ocean to explore Krabi's inland rainforest and limestone landscape. Hire a private driver or join an inland excursion heading 30 minutes east of Ao Nang to Wat Tham Suea (Tiger Cave Temple).
If you are physically fit, tackle the 1,260-step vertical staircase up the limestone karst peak. The climb is steep and unshaded in sections; bring at least one liter of water and start before 08:30 to avoid mid-day heat. The summit rewards climbers with a golden stupa, giant seated Buddha, and views over Krabi's limestone towers and palm plantations.
Safety Precaution: Wild macaque monkeys inhabit the lower temple grounds. Do not carry loose food, plastic bags, or open drink containers, as monkeys will aggressively snatch them.
Afternoon: Emerald Pool (Sa Morakot) and Hot Springs
Drive 45 minutes farther southeast into the Khao Pra-Bang Khram Wildlife Sanctuary to visit the Emerald Pool (Sa Morakot). Walk the 1.4-kilometer raised wooden nature trail through peat swamp forest to reach the natural spring-fed limestone pool, where clear, mineral-saturated turquoise water invites a swim.
Afterward, continue 15 minutes to the nearby Namtok Ron (Klong Thom Hot Springs), where smooth volcanic stone basins channel thermal spring water (around 38–42°C / 100–108°F) directly into a cool freshwater jungle stream.
Evening: Krabi Town Night Market
On your way back to Ao Nang, stop in Krabi Town. If your Day 6 lands on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, spend the evening at the Krabi Town Walking Street (Thanon Khon Doen) behind the Vogue Department Store. Sample local delicacies including satay skewers, papaya salad (som tum), and crispy coconut pancakes (khanom bueang) before taking a 25-minute songthaew back to Ao Nang.
Day 7: Hong Islands Half-Day and Departure Logistics
Morning: Koh Hong Marine Trail
For your final morning, take a local longtail boat from Nopparat Thara Beach to the Hong Islands archipelago (part of Than Bok Khorani National Park), situated just 20 minutes north by water. The main attraction is Koh Hong's sheltered pelican-shaped lagoon, entered via a narrow cliff passage.
Climb the steel 360-degree viewpoint staircase (419 steps) constructed atop Koh Hong's limestone peak for views over the entire Phang Nga Bay karst landscape. Swim along the sheltered bay or snorkel the edge of the shallow reef.
Afternoon: Check-Out and Transfer Management
Return to Ao Nang by 12:30, check out of your hotel, and organize your departure transfer. Your logistics depend on where your return flight originates:
- Departing from Krabi International Airport (KBV): Krabi Airport sits approximately 30 kilometers east of Ao Nang. A private taxi takes 35 to 45 minutes; airport shuttle buses run hourly and take 60 to 75 minutes. Plan to arrive at KBV two hours prior to domestic flights.
- Departing from Phuket International Airport (HKT): If your round-trip airfare leaves from Phuket, book an overland private minivan or taxi leaving Ao Nang at least 5.5 to 6 hours before your flight departure time. The drive covers roughly 160 kilometers and takes 2.5 to 3.5 hours, plus potential traffic delays across the Sarasin Bridge entering northern Phuket.
Logistics and Transit Summary Table
| Connection / Route | Primary Operator / Authority | Typical Duration | Approximate Cost | Practical Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phuket (Rassada) to Ao Nang Pier | Ao Nang Travel and Tour | 2h 15m | ~900 THB | Direct high-season route; calls at Railay East. Frequency drops in low season. |
| Phuket (Rassada) to Koh Phi Phi (Tonsai) | Andaman Wave Master | ~2h 00m | ~850–900 THB | Runs year-round; connect at Phi Phi for ferries onward to Krabi Town (Klong Jilad). |
| Phang Nga Bay Day Trip | Ao Phang-Nga National Park | 7–8 hours (full day) | 400 THB entry fee | DNP park fee collected in cash; sea kayaking is tide-dependent. |
| Phi Phi Le & Maya Bay | Hat Noppharat Thara – Mu Ko Phi Phi | 7–8 hours (full day) | 400 THB entry fee | Strict no-swimming rule in Maya Bay. Annual closure applies August 1–September 30. |
| Ao Nang to Railay Beach | Ao Nang Longtail Boat Club | 10–15m | ~100 THB each way | Shared longtail water taxis; requires stepping through ankle-to-knee-deep water. |
Four Practical Tips for Andaman Sea Travel
- Prepare for Wet Pier Landings: Traveling by longtail boat at Railay, Bamboo Island, or Phra Nang Beach frequently requires wading through shallow surf between the boat ladder and the sand. Wear quick-drying water shoes or strapped sandals, and pack high-value electronics inside a heavy-duty waterproof dry bag.
- Carry Cash for DNP Park Rangers: Thailand's national marine park entrance fees are rarely bundled into independent ferry tickets. Keep crisp 100 THB and 500 THB banknotes accessible in your day pack. Rangers inspect wristbands or paper fee receipts throughout the day.
- Monitor Seasonal Wind Shifts: The dry northeast monsoon (November through April) brings flat, glassy seas ideal for high-speed catamaran and passenger ferry crossings. The southwest monsoon (May through October) introduces seasonal swell and sudden tropical downpours; if open-water passenger boats suspend operations, immediately pivot to overland highway transfers.
- Keep Travel Bookings and Flight Confirmations Organised: Multi-destination trips involving separate flights, hotel bookings across two provinces, ferry transfers, and national park passes require tight organization.
To keep your flight numbers, hotel confirmations, and day-by-day transfer windows organized in one spot without messy paperwork, visit Suitcase2Go. You can organize stays, flights, and daily plans, add confirmations directly, and print or share your finalized schedule so everyone in your travel group stays on the exact same page across Thailand.
