Koh Poda: best day trip from Krabi

By Paula Parker

Koh Poda is a beautiful small island hidden off the Krabi coastline. If you are traveling throughout this area of Southern Thailand, I highly recommend you add Poda Island to your bucket list.

Mu Koh Poda is a group of small limestone islands under the Haad Noppharat Thara-Mu Koh Phi Phi National Park administration.

The island is only 30 minutes by longtail boat, southwest of Ao Nang, Krabi’s main tourist area, or around 20 minutes from the popular Railay Peninsula.

Koh Poda, also known as Poda Island, is the largest of the four islands in the Poda Group of Islands. The smaller islands in the group are Koh Kai, Koh Mo, and Koh Thap.

About Poda Island

Whilst Poda Island is the largest, it is a relatively small circular island, no more than a kilometre in diameter, fringed by crystal clear turquoise waters, white sandy beaches, and coral reefs. The interior of the island is covered with pine trees and palm trees.

This island is a popular spot for day trips from the nearby Ao Nang, Phra Nang, and Railay Beaches and in recent years has become a very popular location for Instagram shots.

As Poda Island is one of Krabi’s main tourist attractions; it can get busy, especially during the high season.

The busiest time at Ko Poda is around lunch time, as this is where tour groups stop for lunch, after spending the morning island hopping and snorkeling around all the other beautiful offshore islands.

What to do at Koh Poda

The beach at Ko Poda would have to be the one of the best beaches near Krabi, with lots of areas to enjoy swimming, snorkeling and taking in the natural beauty.

The best areas for swimming and snorkeling at Koh Poda can be found at the northern tip of the Island, just in front of Ko Ma Tang Ming, the towering limestone islet that sits just offshore from Poda Island.

But if you walk further around the island, you will find quieter areas to swim, snorkel, or relax on the beautiful white sandy beach.

If it is quiet and not too crowded with longtail boats or speed boats, the east-facing beach is also a good spot, but this area is also where the longtail boats and speedboats anchor to drop-off day trippers.

To enter Koh Poda, there is a National Park Fee of 400 Baht per adult, and 200 Baht per child, which is paid to the National Park Ranger on the Island.

Poda Island offers amenities for visitors, including a small shop, restrooms, and bench seats and tables to enjoy your lunch.

During the day you will also find ice cream vendors and food boats along the beach selling a range of cheap eats or beach vendors cooking fresh corn under the shade of the trees.

Getting to Koh Poda

Koh Poda is included in the Four Island Tour and is one of the best day trips offshore from Krabi.

The other islands visited during the four-island tour include Koh Kai also known as Chicken Island and Ko Thap or Tup Island, plus the beautiful Phra Nang Cave Beach, located on the Railay peninsula.

From Ao Nang, you can get a return longtail boat to Poda Island for 400 baht per person. The downside is you may have to wait for other passengers to join you before the boat will leave, which is normally a minimum of eight people.

Alternatively, you can charter a long-tail boat with a driver to take you island hopping to all four islands for around 2,200 baht.

We took this option and had a wonderful day snorkeling, swimming, and exploring Krabi’s beautiful offshore islands. Just ensure that the boat driver includes snorkeling gear in the price.

For beach lovers, who want to spend more time at Koh Poda, but don’t want to join an Island-hopping tour. I recommend getting to Poda Island around 10.00 am, before the tour groups arrive which is usually around lunchtime.

Long-tail boats can also be found at Klong Muang, Thara, and the Railay beaches or at the Chao Fah pier in Krabi Town. The prices from these areas may be slightly different from those in Ao Nang.

If you want to take the stress out of planning your Krabi 4 Island tour, we highly recommend that you contact our friends at Easy Day Thailand.

What to bring to Ko Poda

If you are traveling as part of an organised tour group, your tour should include, lunch, snorkeling equipment, a life jacket, drinking water, and hotel transfers.

If you decide that you would prefer to spend the day at Koh Poda independently of a tour group, ensure that your longtail boat driver has snorkeling equipment for you to use or take your own.

There are basic amenities available including food, drinks, and toilets. However, I would recommend taking extra water and snacks.

Other things you should take include:

• Cash for the National Park Fee
• Beach towel
• Sunblock
• Hat
• Sunglasses
• Insect repellent

There is no pier at Koh Poda, so keep this in mind if you have any mobility issues. You can also expect to get wet when getting on and off the boat, so its advisable to have a good dry bag to keep your wallet, phone or camera in.

You can also read what other travelers have to say about their trip to Poda Island on TripAdvisor.