If you’re wondering what a full day on our Krabi Sunset Cruise actually looks like, here’s a behind the scenes look at the journey, broken down by our team, from the moment you step aboard until your evening swim among glowing bioluminescent plankton.
Times are approximate, as every day on the Andaman Sea is slightly different. Weather, tides and the pace of the group all help shape the experience.
1:00pm, Meeting in Ao Nang
The day begins in Ao Nang, where our crew welcome guests before transferring everyone to the boat. Most guests have only travelled a short walk or a few minutes by tuk tuk or taxi, but you can already tell who’s counting down the minutes until we get out on the water (especially in the mid-day heat!)
One of the things our Owner Carolyn has learnt over the years is that the more information she can give people before we set off, the more relaxed they become. She’ll explain exactly how we’ll get to the boat, what the afternoon looks like and answer any questions before we leave.
Without fail, the question we’re asked most often is: “What if it rains?” It’s such a common concern, and we always explain that Krabi has its own microclimate, so it’s not unusual for it to be raining on the mainland while the islands are enjoying blue skies. Before every trip, we check the conditions and plan our route around the calmest water, so a bit of rain in Ao Nang rarely tells the full story.
The next question is usually how busy the boat will be. We tell everyone that although our traditional Siamese junk boat is licensed to carry far more people, we deliberately keep our public cruises smaller. It means there’s plenty of room for everyone to spread out, select a quiet spot to enjoy the views or choose somewhere to chat with the people you’ve just met.
Finally, people want to know how they’re getting out to our larger boat (it can’t come into the shore as it’s not deep enough.) Our guests take a short 5-10-minute longtail boat out to our main vessel.
1:30pm, Collecting guests from Railay Beach
After picking up guests staying in Railay, everyone is welcomed aboard our traditional wooden Siamese junk boat before setting sail across the Andaman Sea.
People often ask where the best place to sit is, but there isn’t really one. Some guests make a beeline for the sunshine, while others prefer a shaded spot with a cold drink. The upper deck usually stays fairly quiet at first too. Most people are still getting their bearings and taking in the views before they head upstairs later in the afternoon. To get up there, you have to climb the wide rope ladders up to the top, and a lot of guests are waiting for someone else to make the first move – and sometimes our guides or crew will initiate that.
If you look around, you’ll notice cameras and phones are already out. The dramatic limestone cliffs surrounding Railay, set against the bright blue water, make it hard to take a bad photo. Even before we’ve reached our first stop, plenty of guests have filled their camera roll.
There may also be an eagle or Brahminy kite flying overhead, although most of the marine life appears once we reach the first snorkelling spot.
And then there’s the boat itself. She’s become something of a celebrity over the years, and people often tell us she’s one of the main reasons they booked. Although, if you ask the rest of the crew, they’ll tell you Guide Michael is usually the one people want a photo with. Thanks to social media, quite a few guests arrive already knowing who he is, so finally meeting in person has become part of the experience too. We all have a laugh about it.
1:45pm, Cruising towards the first island
With everyone on board, we set course for our first stop. The journey takes around 40 minutes, giving everyone a chance to settle in. Fresh fruit and soft drinks are served and alcoholic drinks are available from the bar (our team will even come and take an order from you.)
This is usually when our crew make their way around the boat, saying hello properly, chatting with guests and answering questions people have.
One of Guide Michael’s favourite parts of the day is listening to guests’ stories. Every cruise brings together people from different parts of the world, all with their own reasons for visiting Krabi. Some are celebrating birthdays or anniversaries, some are travelling solo, while others have been planning this holiday for years.
2:30pm, First snorkelling stop
Depending on the conditions on the day, we’ll head to either Koh Si or Koh Ya Wa Sam. Both have fantastic snorkelling spots!
One of the questions we’re asked most often is whether the reef sharks are dangerous. The answer is no. Blacktip reef sharks are naturally shy and harmless to people, and if we’re lucky enough to spot one, it’s usually far more interested in swimming away from us than coming anywhere near us.
There’s plenty more to look out for too. We regularly see colourful reef fish, clown fish, cuttlefish, moray eels and, every now and then, sea snakes – and we have a laminated photo guide on-board so that you can identify what you saw. Almost every trip someone asks if we’ll see turtles. I always tell them I’d love to say yes, but they’re actually quite rare here, so it’s best not to expect one.
For a lot of us, our favourite part of this stop isn’t spotting the wildlife though. It’s taking guests who can’t swim or have never snorkelled before, and helping them experience it for the first time. Seeing someone come back to the boat smiling because they’ve just discovered a whole new world beneath the surface never gets old.
In fifteen years, Guide Michael has only seen two whale sharks here (and he’s on the water A LOT!). They were incredible moments, but they’re incredibly rare.
3:30pm, Back on board
Once everyone is back on board, we cruise towards our next stop while the boat settles back into its relaxed feel. Towels come out, another round of drinks is ordered from the bar and the conversations usually pick up where they left off.
One of the coolest things at this point is how quickly the group dynamic changes. Just a couple of hours earlier, many of our guests had never met. Now they’re swapping stories about what they’ve just seen beneath the surface, comparing photos of clown fish or reef sharks and asking each other what they managed to spot.
Not everyone is chatting, though. Snorkelling is surprisingly tiring, especially if it’s your first time. It’s not unusual to see a few people stretched out in the shade having a quick nap, particularly if they’re recovering from a late night before the tour.
3:50pm, Chicken Island
Our next stop is Chicken Island, one of Krabi’s most famous landmarks and somewhere guests have usually heard about long before they arrive.
One of the questions I’m asked most often is, “Why is it called Chicken Island?” The answer is all down to the unusual limestone rock formation at one end of the island. From the right angle, it looks just like the head and neck of a chicken. Once you’ve seen it, it’s hard to unsee it… although I still meet plenty of guests who insist it looks nothing like one!
Guests can head ashore, relax on the beach, paddleboard, kayak or jump back in for another snorkel. Personally, one of my favourite spots here is the reef on the east side of the island.
5:00pm, Poda Island
As the afternoon begins to cool, we arrive at Poda Island. Some guests head back into the water for another swim, paddleboard or kayak, while others are perfectly happy to stay on board with a cocktail, enjoying the views as the evening draws closer.
People often ask us what makes the sunsets here so special, and we think one of the reasons is where we watch them from. Depending on the time of year, we can see the sun setting between Koh Ta Ming and Poda Island. It’s very spectacular!
There’s usually music playing on board and a lovely atmosphere as everyone enjoys the last stop of the day.
People also ask our guides what the best sunset they’ve ever seen is. That’s a difficult one to answer, but they’re usually the best after a stormy day, when there are lots of clouds scattered across the horizon. Most people think you need a completely clear sky for a great sunset, but that’s often when the colours are at their best.
6:30pm, Dinner on board
By the time everyone is back on board, it’s usually time for one of Guide Michael’s favourite parts of the day… dinner.
One thing that delights guests is that the food isn’t brought in from a restaurant or bought ready-made. Our Thai husband-and-wife team prepare everything fresh in our industrial kitchen just a couple of hours before the trip starts, so by the time we sit down to eat, it’s only been made that afternoon.
One of the conversations that comes up over dinner is which dish everyone enjoyed most. The Massaman chicken and the pumpkin and egg curry are usually the two favourites, and it’s not uncommon for guests to go back for seconds.
The best part is hearing what our guests think. A lot of people tell me it’s the best food they’ve had while travelling in Thailand, which is always lovely to hear, especially knowing how much care goes into preparing it before every cruise.
7:30pm, Phra Nang Beach
Our final stop of the day is just off Phra Nang Beach, where we head into the water in search of one of nature’s most incredible displays… bioluminescent plankton (tiny marine organisms that glow blue when the water is disturbed.)
Most guests already know about the plankton before they arrive. In fact, it’s one of the biggest reasons many people choose this cruise.
One thing that comes up a lot is that our guests have never been in the sea at night before. It’s perfectly natural to feel a little unsure about stepping into dark water for the first time. We always explain what to expect and stay close by to help anyone who’s feeling nervous.
Then, as soon as people start moving through the water and see the tiny flashes of blue light around them, those nerves usually disappear. The reaction we see most often is amazement. It’s impossible to predict exactly how bright they’ll be on any given evening, but when conditions are right, the effect is something many guests remember long after they leave Thailand.
8:00pm, Returning to shore
Before long, it’s time to make our way back towards the mainland. As we arrive, our two long-tail boats split off, with one returning guests to Ao Nang and the other heading back to Railay Beach.
It’s always nice seeing people step ashore after spending the afternoon together. Earlier in the day, most guests were strangers. By the end of the cruise, they’re often swapping contact details (it’s not uncommon for us to spot them out for dinner or drinks together later in the week.)
Then it’s time for us to get everything ready and do it all again tomorrow.
