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Hong Island and Ko Pak Bia with Sunset Barbecue Dinner in Krabi

Top rated
4.8
Activity provider: AsiaByLocals
Hong Island and Ko Pak Bia with Sunset Barbecue Dinner
Hong Island and Ko Pak Bia with Sunset Barbecue Dinner 2
Hong Island and Ko Pak Bia with Sunset Barbecue Dinner 3
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Swim and snorkel around Hong Island and the sandbars of Ko Pak Bia, then stay out for a barbecue dinner at sunset and a night swim with glowing plankton.

Highlights

  • Snorkel and swim around Hong Island's sheltered bays
  • Explore the shifting sandbars of Ko Pak Bia
  • Barbecue dinner served as the sun sets
  • Night swim among bioluminescent plankton
  • Round-trip hotel transfers included

Hong Island and Ko Pak Bia with Sunset Barbecue Dinner: Key Facts

PriceFrom $46 per person
Duration8 hours
LanguagesEnglish
Tour typeGuided Tour
BookingDirect with the local operator — no OTA markup

Full description

This trip takes the standard Hong Islands route and keeps going after everyone else has gone home. The afternoon covers the familiar ground: the enclosed lagoon at Hong, snorkelling over sheltered reef, and the pale sandbars of Ko Pak Bia that shift shape with the tide and rarely have more than a handful of people on them.

What sets it apart is the second half. Rather than heading straight back, the boat holds position while the crew set up a barbecue dinner, timed so you eat as the sun drops behind the limestone towers and the whole bay turns copper.

After dark comes the last swim of the day. In sheltered water away from lights, bioluminescent plankton glow faintly around every movement, and the crew give you time in the water rather than rushing the moment. Transfers, dinner and snorkelling gear are included.

Tour Itinerary

Itineraries are customisable as per your request

The schedule below is a suggested plan and can be adjusted to suit your preferences.

12:30 PM45 minutes

Hotel pickup

Midday transfer to the pier, briefing and boarding.

2:00 PM1 hour

Hong Lagoon

Enter the enclosed lagoon through the cliff passage and swim in calm, shallow water.

3:15 PM

Ko Pak Bia sandbars

Time ashore on the tidal sandbars with snorkelling from the beach.

5:30 PM

Sunset barbecue dinner

Barbecue dinner served on board or on the beach as the light fades.

7:15 PM45 minutes

Plankton night swim

Final swim in a sheltered bay to look for bioluminescent plankton.

8:30 PM45 minutes

Return to hotel

Boat back to the pier and drop-off at your accommodation.

Detailed Itinerary

Pickups run from around 12:30 and the boat leaves the pier early in the afternoon, heading north towards the Hong archipelago. The first stop is the lagoon, reached through a narrow gap in the cliffs, where the water is shallow and unusually still.

By mid-afternoon you are at Ko Pak Bia, a low island fringed with sandbars that appear and disappear with the tide. There is snorkelling straight off the beach and enough time to explore on foot.

Around 17:30 the crew set up dinner, timed so the barbecue is served as the sun goes down behind the limestone. Once it is fully dark the boat moves to a sheltered bay for the plankton swim, then starts back to the pier at about 20:30 with transfers waiting.

Includes

  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Boat trip with crew and guide
  • Snorkelling equipment
  • Barbecue dinner
  • Drinking water, soft drinks and fruit
  • Life jackets
  • Insurance

Excludes

  • National park entrance fee
  • Alcoholic drinks
  • Towels
  • Tips
  • Personal expenses

Important information

Meeting point

Hotel pickup in Ao Nang, Krabi Town and Nopparat Thara

Know before you go

  • Free cancellation available up to 24 hours before the activity starts

About this activity

Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Secure payment
Complete your booking safely with Razorpay. Full refund if you cancel 24h prior. Read more
Duration 8 hours
Check availability to see starting times
Live tour guide
English
Wheelchair accessible

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Main Tour Price
Starting from $46
$46
Tour Type
Island HoppingSunset TourSnorkelling
Need a custom booking or have a larger group?Contact Support via WhatsApp
Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Secure payment
Complete your booking safely with Razorpay. Full refund if you cancel 24h prior. Read more

Traveler Reviews

4.8/5
based on 8 reviews
Guide
4.8/5
Value for money
4.7/5
All reviews are from verified AsiaByLocals travelers
5
I
Imogen Trelawney– United Kingdom
October 6, 2025

Hong Island in the afternoon, then the sandbars at Ko Pak Bia which are the prettiest thing we saw in Krabi, pale sand curving out into turquoise. Barbecue dinner was grilled fish, chicken skewers and rice cooked on the boat as the sun set. Then a night swim with plankton to finish.

5
K
Karl Wiesinger– Austria
February 25, 2026

Ko Pak Bia is a proper sandbar you can walk along and it was almost empty when we arrived at around four. Snorkelling around Hong was fine, plenty of fish though the coral is patchy. The barbecue was cooked fresh and there was plenty of it.

5
A
Ananya Deshmukh– India
April 8, 2026

The plankton were visible but not dramatic on our night and the crew said clearly beforehand that it depends on the moon phase and cloud. Even faint, swimming in the dark with sparks around your hands is worth it. Warm shower on the boat afterwards.

5
B
Bruno Salgado– Brazil
June 16, 2026

Eight hours but it builds well, snorkelling first, then beaches, then dinner, then the swim. The barbecue was served on the upper deck with the limestone silhouettes all around. Best sunset we had in Thailand.

4
L
Line Jespersen– Denmark
January 29, 2026

Lovely trip with a good crew. The night swim is optional and a few in our group found the dark water unnerving, which is fair enough. Hong Island and Ko Pak Bia in the late afternoon light were the real draw.

5
C
Chiamaka Uche– Nigeria
November 19, 2025

Fewer boats everywhere because you go out after the morning fleet returns. Vegetarian option at the barbecue was grilled vegetables and tofu and it was properly done. Life jackets and glow lights for the night swim.

5
S
Simon Achterberg– Netherlands
May 11, 2026

The sandbar at Ko Pak Bia changes shape with the tide and our guide explained exactly when it appears. Water was bath warm at seven in the evening. Well worth the extra over a standard day trip.

5
P
Paloma Restrepo– Colombia
July 28, 2026

Boat was comfortable with a shaded deck and mats for lying out. Fruit and drinks were topped up all afternoon. Getting back to Ao Nang around nine after a barbecue and a night swim was a perfect end to the trip.

Frequently Asked Questions

No — plankton are natural and never guaranteed. They're brightest on dark nights with little moon and calm, warm water, and can be barely visible near a full moon or after heavy rainfall. Crews are usually upfront about the night's odds before you get in.
A barbecue dinner cooked fresh on board at sunset, typically grilled fish, chicken skewers, rice, salad and fruit. Vegetarian and vegan options such as grilled vegetables and tofu are available when requested at booking, and are prepared properly rather than as an afterthought.
Ko Pak Bia is a small island near Hong known for its pale sandbars that curve out into shallow turquoise water. The sandbar's size and shape change with the tide, so how much you can walk on depends on when you arrive. It's typically much quieter than Hong itself in the late afternoon.
Completely. You can stay on deck and still see the plankton by moving your hand through water from the platform. For those swimming, life jackets and glow lights are provided and crew supervise from the ladder and the water. Some people find dark open water unsettling, which is entirely normal.
Daytime kit — swimwear, towel, sunscreen, hat — plus a dry change of clothes and a light layer for the ride back after dark. Mosquito repellent is useful around dusk. A freshwater rinse is available on board before dinner.
The trip runs about 8 hours and typically returns to Ao Nang around 8:30 to 9:00 pm depending on the season's sunset. Don't book anything else for that evening, and let your hotel know if you need late access.
Yes. The Hong Islands national park fee is paid separately on the day in cash, around 400 THB per adult and 200 THB per child. It's collected regardless of what time your boat enters the park.
Hotel pickup and drop-off Boat trip with crew and guide Snorkelling equipment Barbecue dinner Drinking water, soft drinks and fruit Life jackets Insurance
The duration of the Hong Island and Ko Pak Bia with Sunset Barbecue Dinner is typically 8 hours. We recommend arriving 15 minutes before the scheduled start time for a smooth check-in. Your guide will meet you at the designated meeting point and ensure the experience runs on schedule while remaining flexible to your pace.
For most experiences, we highly recommend an early morning start. This allows you to avoid the midday heat, bypass the largest crowds, and capture the best lighting for photography. Your guide can advise on the optimal timing based on the season and specific attractions included.
Yes, once your booking is completed via our secure payment gateway, you will receive an instant confirmation email with your tour details, meeting point address, guide's name, and direct contact information. You can also view and manage your booking through your AsiaByLocals account dashboard.
Yes! All our private tours are fully customizable. Whether you want to add extra stops, skip certain locations, change the pace, or adjust the start time — simply let your guide know in advance or on the day. We aim to create a personalized experience tailored to your interests and energy level.
We offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before the scheduled start time for a full refund. Cancellations within 24 hours may be subject to a partial charge depending on the tour type. Weather-related cancellations for outdoor and boat tours are handled on a case-by-case basis, with full refunds or free rebooking offered when safety is a concern.
Most of our experiences are family-friendly and suitable for children of all ages. However, some tours involving extensive walking, water activities, or early morning starts may be better suited for children aged 5 and above. Please check the specific tour description for age recommendations, or contact us for personalized family itinerary advice.
After booking, you will receive detailed meeting point instructions via email. Most tours include complimentary hotel pickup within the central area. For tours without pickup, your confirmation email will include the exact address, Google Maps pin, and your guide's phone number for easy coordination. Guides typically arrive 10 minutes early and will message you on WhatsApp.
We accept all major credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express), PayPal, Apple Pay, and Razorpay for Indian cards. All payments are processed through a PCI-compliant secure gateway with 256-bit encryption. You can also pay in multiple currencies — the price is automatically converted to your local currency at checkout.
Yes, all AsiaByLocals guides are licensed professionals who have been rigorously vetted through background checks, skill assessments, and customer reviews. Many hold government-issued tourism licenses, university degrees in history or cultural studies, and have years of experience leading tours for international travelers. Every guide maintains a minimum 4.5-star rating to remain active on our platform.
Starting from$46