Short answer
Which islands do we visit?
Koh Yawasam and Koh Tan Ming for snorkeling, Chicken Island, Tup Island and Koh Mor with the sandbar, Poda Island for dinner, and Koh Raeng for the plankton swim. The order changes with the tide and the weather.
This is an island tour in reverse: snorkeling and the sandbar in the afternoon, dinner at sunset, and the swim with plankton last, in the dark. The sandbar between Tup Island and Koh Mor only shows at low tide, so the order of the stops follows the tide. Do not count on the plankton: the glow depends on the moon, the tide and the water, and the swim is a short bonus at the end of a long afternoon on the water. This guide covers the Krabi 7 Islands Sunset Tour with BBQ Dinner & Plankton from the pickup to the last stop — the mood, the route and the tips guides mention in passing.
What makes the Krabi 7 Islands Sunset Tour with BBQ Dinner & Plankton worth your time
A driver collects you from your hotel in Ao Nang or Krabi Town between about 12:00 and 1:30 pm and takes you to Nopparat Thara Pier. The longtail boat leaves at about 1:00-2:00 pm and calls at Railay to collect more guests. You snorkel at Koh Yawasam and Koh Tan Ming, stop at Chicken Island, walk the Tup and Mor sandbar at low tide, then have dinner on Poda Island at sunset. After dark you swim with plankton at Koh Raeng. The boat is back at the pier at about 7:00-7:30 pm and you are at your hotel at about 7:30-8:00 pm.
Route highlights at a glance
The standout moments of the Krabi 7 Islands Sunset Tour with BBQ Dinner & Plankton.
- Tup sandbar walk — At low tide a sandbar links Tup Island and Koh Mor, and you walk across the sea between them.
- Dinner at sunset on Poda — A Thai buffet with BBQ on the beach at Poda Island while the sun goes down.
- Swim with glowing plankton — A night swim at Koh Raeng near Railay, where the water lights up as you move through it; the glow cannot be guaranteed.
- Snorkeling at two reefs — Koh Yawasam and Koh Tan Ming, with mask, snorkel and life jacket provided.
How the day unfolds, step by step
The route in order; exact pickup times and what shifts by season are in the schedule.
- Hotel pickup — Transfer from your hotel in Ao Nang or Krabi Town, about 12:00-1:30 pm; the time is confirmed before the trip.
- Nopparat Thara Pier — Meet the crew, put on your life jacket and board the longtail boat at about 1:00-2:00 pm; the boat calls at Railay to collect more guests.
- Koh Yawasam and Koh Tan Ming — Two snorkeling stops over reefs and rocks, with mask and snorkel provided.
- Chicken Island and the Tup sandbar — A stop at the rock shaped like a chicken's head, then a walk on the sandbar between Tup Island and Koh Mor at low tide.
- Poda Island — Thai buffet dinner with BBQ on the beach while the sun sets, at about 5:15-6:30 pm.
- Koh Raeng — A swim of about 30 minutes in the dark with bioluminescent plankton, near Railay.
- Back to Ao Nang — Back at the pier at about 7:00-7:30 pm and at your hotel at about 7:30-8:00 pm.
Insider tips
The details a guide mentions on the day — worth knowing before it.
- Pay the national park fee in cash at the pier: 200 baht per adult, 100 per child.
- Use the toilet at the pier before the boat leaves.
- Wear swimwear under your clothes and bring a dry change for the ride back after dark.
- Water shoes are better than flip-flops on shells, rocks and the sandbar.
- Long swimwear or a rash vest helps if jellyfish are around.
- Leave large bags and backpacks at the hotel; take a small waterproof bag for your phone and cash.
Best time of year
November to March, after the rainy season, is usually the calmest time; April and May are hot and clear; in the rainy season the tour still runs when the water is calm enough, and otherwise it moves to another day.
Whether it is worth the money and what the price covers is in why book it.
Questions and answers
Which islands do we visit?
Koh Yawasam and Koh Tan Ming for snorkeling, Chicken Island, Tup Island and Koh Mor with the sandbar, Poda Island for dinner, and Koh Raeng for the plankton swim. The order changes with the tide and the weather.
How is it different from the 4 Islands tour?
The 4 Islands tour is a morning speedboat trip that leaves at about 9:00 am and is back at about 2:00 pm. This tour starts after lunch on a longtail boat, adds a sunset dinner on Poda and a night swim with plankton, and brings you back at about 7:30-8:00 pm.
Will we see the bioluminescent plankton?
It cannot be promised. The glow depends on the moon, the tide and the water, and it shows when you move through the water. The swim takes about 30 minutes in the dark, close to Railay.
How much is the national park fee?
200 baht per adult and 100 baht per child, paid in cash at the pier. It is a government fee and is not included in the tour price.
Read next
- Is the Krabi 7 Islands Sunset Tour Worth It?
- Krabi 7 Islands Sunset Tour: Schedule and Packing List
- Krabi night market: which evenings the Walking Street runs, what it costs and how to get there from Ao Nang
- Is Krabi good with kids? Which boat days, beaches and trips suit children, and what to skip
- Thailand's 2026 alcohol sales rule: shops sell from 11:00 to midnight, with exceptions for hotels, airports and bars
- Can you see bioluminescent plankton near Phuket and Krabi, and what do our two evening tours promise?
- Krabi 7 Islands or 4 Islands tour: a morning speedboat from $35, or a sunset longtail evening from $40?
- Krabi 7 Islands tour price: what $40 covers, and the national park fee you pay in cash at the pier
- Krabi 7 Islands Sunset Tour with BBQ Dinner & Plankton — From $40 per person