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Chicken Island (Koh Kai), Krabi by Private Yacht from Phuket
Chicken Island (Koh Kai), Krabi by Private Yacht from Phuket
Koh Kai (Chicken Island, Krabi)
Koh Kai, also known as Chicken Island, is a well-known island located in Krabi province.
The island got its name from the shape of the rock rising above it. Some say it resembles a chicken’s head, while others think it looks like an axe handle.
This popular tourist spot is easy to reach by comfortable yacht.
Advantages of the location:
– Unusual scenery: rocky on one side, a clean, cozy beach on the other.
– Unique rock formations.
– Clear, transparent water with colorful fish and coral reefs — an excellent spot for snorkeling.
– Shallow water, plenty of room for children to play, and an ideal place to sunbathe and admire the beauty of the Andaman Sea.
– Part of Ao Phang Nga National Park, home to a variety of wild animals and plants. Enjoy the rich flora and fauna without leaving any litter behind and without damaging the coral reefs.
– A sandy sandbar connects Chicken Island with two smaller islands, Koh Mor and Koh Tup, forming a single scenic complex known as Talay Waek (“the sea splits”). At low tide you can walk along the Y-shaped sandbar from one island to another.
Nuances
The island is popular with tourists, and everyone wants to see this unique beach, so if you’d like some peace and quiet, it’s best to visit in the early morning or late afternoon. If your goal is to walk the famous sandbar, wear closed-toe shoes to avoid injuring yourself on coral fragments.
While strolling along the sandbar, you can attract exotic fish — just take a piece of banana and sit down, and a whole shoal of fish will swim right up to you. It makes for some beautiful photos.
The island’s shoreline is about 600–1,000 m, so you can walk around it in a couple of hours.
Day by private yacht: Phuket – Koh Kai (Chicken island Krabi) and back
A trip to Koh Kai (Chicken Island, Krabi) is a peaceful escape from the energetic buzz of Phuket. If you’re craving a calm, unhurried getaway, this paradise island is the ideal place for you. On the way, you’ll enjoy the island’s picturesque scenery, and from a distance you’ll already be able to spot the famous “chicken head” rock and capture a great photo. Adding this trip to your Thailand itinerary will make your trip even more memorable.
Here’s why our service stands out:
– Personalized approach. We take all your preferences and needs into account and do everything we can to make you happy — breakfast, lunch or dinner, and a swim can all be arranged on board, along with stops for photos or fishing.
– Quality and comfort. Spacious cabins, spotlessly clean and modern common areas, and a dedicated, attentive crew — your comfort matters greatly to us.
– The yacht journey to Koh Kai reveals breathtaking views of limestone karsts, turquoise water and lush greenery — the journey itself is part of the experience.
– Safety above all. Our crew consists of experienced professionals who ensure not only a memorable journey but real peace of mind throughout the trip.
Start planning your yacht trip to Koh Kai today. Contact us — your unforgettable getaway to this hidden paradise will be unlike any other.
Koh Kai is a limestone island in Krabi province, connected by a sandbar to two smaller islands, Koh Mor and Koh Tup.
The island got its name from the shape of the rock rising above it — some say it resembles a chicken’s head, while others think it looks like an axe handle.
Snorkel in clear water among colorful fish and coral reefs, walk the famous sandbar (a Y-shaped phenomenon connecting the islands at low tide), feed exotic fish with pieces of banana, and relax on the shallow, sandy shore.
The island is very popular with tourists, so for a quieter visit to the sandbar it is best to go during high tide hours.
Yes, it is part of Ao Phang Nga National Park, home to a variety of wild animals and plants — visitors should not leave litter or damage the coral reefs.
What is Chicken Island like?
Koh Kai — Chicken Island in English — is a limestone rock off the Krabi coast, named for the shape of its northern end. It is small: there is no village, no road and no facilities, and the island is visited from the water rather than landed on for the day.
What brings boats here is the sandbar. At low tide a strip of sand appears between Chicken Island and its neighbours, and you can walk between them across water that is knee-deep. At high tide it disappears completely — which is why the tide, not the hour, decides when this stop happens.
How far is Chicken Island (Koh Kai) from Phuket?
In a straight line it is about 52 km (28 nautical miles) from Chalong Pier to Chicken Island (Koh Kai). This is an approximate straight-line distance, not an exact navigational figure — the actual route on the water is always somewhat longer.
It is closer from Ao Po Grand Marina — about 38 km (20 nautical miles), roughly 1–1.5 hours under way. For routes toward the Krabi side, this is usually the more convenient departure point.
For a motor yacht, a crossing of this length typically takes about 1–2 hours, depending on the yacht, the weather and the state of the sea. The departure pier is also chosen to suit the route and the vessel, so we confirm the exact timing and departure point when planning your trip.
When planning a longer day on the water, this trip is often combined with Koh Poda or Railay Beach.
Where does this route depart from? Chalong Pier and the island's marinas are compared in where yachts depart from in Phuket.
How long does the trip take on different boats?
Chicken Island is about 38 km from Ao Po Grand Marina (about 52 km from Chalong Pier), and that distance sits differently on different hulls.
| Boat | Cruising speed | One way |
|---|---|---|
| Speedboat | 25–35 knots | ~50 min |
| Motor yacht | 9–28 knots | ~1.1 h |
| Power catamaran | 8–18 knots | ~1.5 h |
| Sailing catamaran | 5–7 knots | ~3.5 h |
Times are calculated and run a little longer in practice: the captain eases off in swell and close to shore.
What is there to do at Chicken Island?
Two things: walk the sandbar and snorkel by the rocks. The sandbar is the main reason to come, but it appears only at low tide, and the captain times the stop to the water of the particular day. Closed shoes are better for walking it: bits of coral hide under the sand.
While the spit is under water, the anchorage by the rocks gives calm snorkelling in shallow water. The rest of the day usually goes to the neighbours — Koh Poda and Railay lie close by.
How a day at Chicken Island actually goes
| Time | Full day |
|---|---|
| 08:00 | depart |
| 09:15 | first stop, the bay is empty |
| 11:00 | move to the second anchorage |
| 12:30 | lunch on board at anchor |
| 14:00 | third stop or back to the first |
| 15:30 | head back |
| 16:30 | alongside |
The schedule is yours to move: a private charter has no timetable to hold to. But the eight o'clock departure is worth keeping — the tour boats reach the popular anchorages between ten and eleven, and the first hour and a half decides what kind of day it becomes.
This destination is not taken as a half day: after the crossing each way there would be an hour and a half left on the island itself.
When is the best time to go, and when is it not?
From November to April the Andaman side has calm water and predictable visibility — this is the main season. From May to October the south-west monsoon brings wind and swell in bands rather than continuously: there are calm weeks in July and rough days in December.
In practice, in low season the route is chosen on the morning, not a week ahead. The captain reads the forecast and takes the side of the island that is in the lee. Trips are almost never cancelled — they change shape. If the weather genuinely does not allow a safe departure, it is discussed case by case.
Recommended Yachts for Your Koh Kai (Chicken Island) Tour
Horizon Cruises Phuket offers a private yacht charter to Koh Kai tailored to your group. Two of our vessels are especially well suited for this trip:
- Technema 89 “Say Yes” — a spacious motor yacht ideal for families and groups seeking comfort on the way to Koh Kai.
- Beluga 88 — a stylish yacht offering a relaxed, private atmosphere for couples or smaller parties.
See our full yacht fleet or contact us to plan your Koh Kai day trip.
What does a trip to Chicken Island cost?
The price is per boat per day, not per person: from ฿18,900 for a speedboat for 4–12 guests, from ฿20,900 for a sailing catamaran for 8–120, from ฿33,900 for a motor yacht for 6–80, from ฿39,115 for a power catamaran, from ฿100,000 for a luxury yacht. The group shares one sum.
Fuel for the distance — about 76 km there and back — is added to the rate, plus fees where the route incurs them. Season moves the base rate by roughly a quarter: low season May to October, high season November to April, peak from 20 December. Full tables are on the yacht charter prices page.
What to bring
A hat, sunglasses, high-factor sunscreen and a light long-sleeved shirt for the middle of the day — it protects better than any amount of cream. Swimwear worn under your clothes saves the changing routine. Cash in baht for fees, if the route incurs them. A dry bag if you take a phone into the water.
Towels, masks and fins, water, soft drinks, ice and life jackets in adult and child sizes are already on board. On full-day trips most boats include lunch.
Chicken Island or Koh Poda — which should you choose?
Both on the Krabi side, both about sand and shallow water. Chicken is about the sandbar between the islands that appears at low tide. Koh Poda is about the long beach and the view of the Railay cliffs. They lie close by, and a fast boat takes both in a day. Koh Poda in detail.
Where do boats to Chicken Island depart from?
Routes into Phang Nga Bay and to the Krabi side are measured from Ao Po Grand Marina in the north-east of Phuket: from there it is about 38 km to Chicken Island against 52 km from Chalong. The hour of running saved stays on the islands themselves. The boarding point depends on where the particular boat is berthed and is confirmed at booking. All Phuket marinas.
Other destinations nearby
- Koh Poda — about 40 km from Ao Po, a beach and the view of the cliffs
- Railay — about 44 km from Ao Po, a peninsula with no road
- Koh Pak Bia — about 26 km from Ao Po, a sand spit
Frequently asked questions
How far is Chicken Island from Phuket?
About 38 km from Ao Po Grand Marina — roughly 1.1 hours on a motor yacht and 50 minutes by speedboat. From Chalong Pier it is about 52 km.
When is the sandbar visible?
Only at low tide: a strip of sand appears between Chicken Island and its neighbours, and you can walk across in knee-deep water. At high tide it disappears, so the captain times the stop to the water of the particular day.
Can you land on the island?
The island is small and has no facilities — it is visited from the water: an anchorage by the rocks, snorkelling and a walk along the sandbar at low tide, rather than a landing for the day.
What else is seen the same day?
Koh Poda at 40 km and Railay at 44 km from Ao Po lie close by, and a fast boat covers two or three points in a full day.
Boats that suit this route
Departure marina is the practical filter for this direction:
- 53ft Grand Banks Sambuca — 53 ft, from ฿40,000
- Siam Princess 70 — 70 ft, from ฿55,000
- Azimut 55 After 8 — 55 ft, from ฿79,000
- Cranchi 58 Scenery — 58 ft, from ฿100,000
- Beluga 88 — 88 ft, from ฿214,000
- Falcon 106 — 106 ft, from ฿400,000
