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View all Krabi toursHong Islands Emerald Lagoon and 360-Degree Viewpoint Day Trip in Krabi
Slip into Hong Island's hidden emerald lagoon, climb to the 360-degree cliff viewpoint and swim off quiet beaches, all with far less boat time than Phi Phi.
Highlights
- Hong Lagoon, entered through a tide-dependent cliff passage
- Steep climb to the 360-degree island viewpoint
- Koh Lao Lading's overhanging cliff, far quieter than Koh Tapu
- Sheltered water that holds up when open crossings are rough
- Speedboat between islands, so the day is not spent travelling
Hong Islands Emerald Lagoon and 360-Degree Viewpoint Day Trip: Key Facts
| Price | From $62 per person |
|---|---|
| Duration | 7 hours |
| Languages | English |
| Tour type | Guided Tour |
| Booking | Direct with the local operator — no OTA markup |
Choose from 4 available options
Speedboat Tour (Fastest & Most Popular)
Longtail Boat (Scenic & Relaxed Experience)
Private Hong Islands Longtail Charter
Private Hong Islands Speedboat Charter
Full description
A full day around the Hong Island group, built around a lagoon you enter through a gap in a cliff.
Koh Hong's lagoon is the reason the island is on every Krabi itinerary. It is a shallow pool of green water almost completely enclosed by limestone walls, and the only way in is a narrow passage that boats can pass at some tides and not others. Inside, the walls cut the wind and the water goes flat, which is why it photographs the way it does.
The viewpoint is a climb, and a steep one. The reward is the whole island group laid out below with the bay behind it, and it is the picture people actually keep from a Krabi trip.
Koh Lao Lading is the other stop worth naming: a small island with a single overhanging cliff leaning out above a curve of sand. After James Bond Island it is the most photographed rock formation in the bay, and it is far quieter.
Snorkelling is over sheltered reef. This island group sits inside the bay rather than out towards Phi Phi, so the water stays workable on days when the open crossings are rough, which makes it a more reliable booking in the green season from May to October.
Speedboat transfers between the islands keep a seven-hour day from becoming a day of travelling.
Your place is held with the operator before your booking is final. The price covers hotel pickup and drop-off, speedboat transfers, an English-speaking guide, lunch, drinking water and soft drinks, and snorkelling equipment.
National park fees are collected at the pier unless confirmed otherwise, so carry cash. Minimum one day's notice.
Tour Itinerary
The schedule below is a suggested plan and can be adjusted to suit your preferences.
Hotel pickup
Transfer from your hotel to the departure pier and short safety briefing.
Koh Lao Lading
Swim and photo stop at a small beach beneath an overhanging limestone wall.
Hong Lagoon
Enter the enclosed emerald lagoon through the gap in the cliffs and swim in the sheltered water.
Hong Island beach and lunch
Lunch on the main beach with free time to swim or snorkel from the shore.
360-degree viewpoint
Guided climb up the stepped trail to the panoramic viewpoint above the islands.
Return transfer
Boat back to the pier and drop-off at your hotel.
Detailed Itinerary
Pickups begin around 08:30 and the boat leaves the pier once everyone has been briefed. The first stop, roughly an hour later, is Lao Lading, a small crescent of sand where most people swim straight off the boat.
By late morning you reach Hong Lagoon. The entrance is a narrow slot in the rock, and the water inside is shallow, still and distinctly green. After a swim the boat moves round to the main beach, where lunch is served around noon and there is time to snorkel from the shore.
Early afternoon is reserved for the viewpoint climb. The trail is short but steep, with steps and handrails most of the way, and the platform at the top looks out over the whole archipelago. The boat starts back around 15:00, reaching hotels in the late afternoon.
Includes
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Speedboat transfers between islands
- English-speaking guide
- Lunch
- Drinking water and soft drinks
- Snorkelling equipment
- Life jackets
- Insurance
Excludes
- National park entrance fee
- Towels
- Alcohol
- Tips
- Personal expenses
Important information
Meeting point
Hotel pickup in Ao Nang, Nopparat Thara or Krabi Town
Know before you go
- Free cancellation available up to 24 hours before the activity starts
About this activity
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Traveler Reviews
We did Phi Phi earlier in the week and this was better, mostly because you are not spending four hours getting there and back. The hidden lagoon is reached through a narrow gap in the rock and the water inside is a flat, milky green. Climbing the 360-degree viewpoint takes about twenty minutes of steps and metal ladders.
The viewpoint is the reason to book this over the standard island day. From the top you can see the lagoon on one side and the sandbars on the other, and there is a proper platform to stand on. Take a small towel because you will be dripping by the top.
Seven hours split nicely between swimming, the lagoon and the climb. The beaches on the far side of Hong were almost empty at midday. Guide explained how the lagoon fills and drains with the tide, which we could see happening.
Water in the lagoon was warm and calm, easy for my mother who is not a strong swimmer. There is a boardwalk section and then real steps for the viewpoint so decent shoes help. Fruit and water were provided throughout.
The lagoon and the viewpoint were both excellent. The climb is genuinely steep and hot, so anyone with knee trouble should know that before booking. Everything else about the day was well managed.
We arrived at the lagoon early enough that there were only two other boats, and by the time we left there were ten. Ask for the earliest departure if you can. The green colour really is that saturated in the morning light.
Much less boat time than the Phi Phi trips and you still get the postcard scenery. Snorkelling was fine rather than spectacular, but the lagoon and the viewpoint carry the day. Good sized group of about fourteen.