Longtail or speedboat in Krabi: the honest comparison

If you only want to read one line: the best boat depends on what you want from your day. By type of traveller it looks like this:

The longtail is a slender wooden boat driven by an engine on a long, swivelling shaft. It is part of the image of southern Thailand, and many travellers want exactly that experience.

Strengths: the price is usually lower than for a speedboat, and the boat can enter very shallow water and get close to beaches where a deeper boat has to anchor. It is uncomplicated, manoeuvrable and suits the short ride to nearby islands and to Railay.

Limits: the engines are open and loud, fumes and vibration are noticeable. The ride is slower, which eats most of your time on distant destinations. The boat sits low, spray can come aboard in waves, and seats are often simple wooden benches. Shade often comes only from a canopy that is not always reliable.

This is not a judgement but a description: for short distances in calm seas a longtail is a great, authentic choice. The drawbacks grow with the length of the ride.

A speedboat is an outboard boat with several engines, built for speed. Strengths: it is much faster than a longtail, reaches more distant islands in reasonable time and leaves more hours for stops. Modern four-stroke outboards are quieter and cleaner than open diesel engines, and a higher hull brings less spray on board.

Limits: in rough water a speedboat must reduce speed, and in waves the ride can become harder. On many shared tours 30 to 40 people are on board, stops are tightly timed and the bays fill up at the same time – we describe this as our own observation, not as a statistic. The price per boat is usually higher than for a longtail.

Important: “speedboat” is a broad term. A full group boat and a private hardtop cabin boat share little besides the engine. So check equipment, space and group size, not just the name.

Most disappointments on boat tours do not come from the boat type but from the group: a fixed schedule, many guests, crowded bays and hardly any time in the water. This is as true for a longtail with a shuttle bus as for a packed speedboat.

A private longtail can therefore feel better than a group speedboat – it belongs to you, you set the pace. Conversely a private speedboat is usually the calmest option because you control route, start time and duration and can go against the flow: out earlier, back later, different bays.

To settle the decision, first ask private or group, and only then longtail or speedboat. For the costs of private tours read our cost guide for private boat tours in Krabi.

Our boat is a white hardtop cabin boat with two 300 hp four-stroke engines. It has a bench seat and comfortable boat chairs, a rear cockpit and shade from the hardtop cabin. A maximum of 5 guests are allowed on board. We run privately: your boat, your captain, your schedule.

On board there are also life jackets in adult and children’s sizes, a first-aid kit and a marine radio. Thanks to two engines we have a backup on board. The standard tours include time to snorkel, swim and relax; snorkel gear is free and ticked when booking.

In concrete terms: you can talk in the shade without shouting, your belongings stay drier than on a low-lying boat, and distant destinations such as Phi Phi or Phang Nga Bay are possible in a single day. It does not replace every strength of a longtail – but it makes the day calmer and gives you more time at the stops.

Range is the practically most important difference. With a longtail you reach nearby destinations well: Railay and Phra Nang from Ao Nang and, depending on the operator and sea state, the classic 4 Islands with Poda, Chicken Island and Tup. For these distances a longtail is a real option.

Distant destinations, however, make little sense by longtail in one day. Phi Phi with Maya Bay and Pileh Lagoon is about 50 minutes from Ao Nang (per our tour planning), the Hong islands about 35 minutes, the far destinations such as Koh Roi, Koh Kudu and Koh Nok around one hour, each by speedboat. With a slower boat these travel times increase considerably and your time at the stops shrinks.

As to whether you can reach Phi Phi by longtail from Krabi, we answer cautiously: depending on operator and weather it is partly possible, but usually a long, open crossing, and most Phi Phi tours run by speedboat. Ask your operator about the actual travel time and the weather plan.

On noise, an open diesel engine on a long shaft is usually much more present than a modern outboard; conversation during the ride on a longtail is often only possible with a raised voice. On spray: a low-lying boat takes on water more readily in waves, a boat with a higher hull and cabin stays drier – but nobody stays completely dry at sea, especially as you are here to swim.

On comfort, seat and shade count. Wooden benches without backrest become tiring, especially for children and older guests. A boat with a bench seat, comfortable chairs and a hardtop offers more back support and protection from the midday sun. In fairness: a speedboat is not automatically comfortable either when 30 to 40 people sit on it.

The longtail’s strengths remain its atmosphere and closeness to the water. If that is what you are after, spray and noise may be part of the experience for you – and that is perfectly legitimate.

A blanket answer would be unprofessional. A speedboat spends less time under way, which helps with seasickness, and in calm seas it rides evenly. In choppy water the ride can get harder and bumpier. A longtail sits lower, rocks more easily and is slower – so you are on the water longer.

What helps in practice is less the boat type than preparation: a good seat in the middle of the boat, eyes on the horizon, a light meal, enough water, fresh air and – if you are prone to it – a remedy agreed beforehand with a doctor or pharmacist. We make no medical promises.

Season has more effect than the boat: from about November to April conditions are generally calmer, in the rainy season more changeable. More in our article on the best time to visit Krabi. A reputable operator postpones or changes the route when conditions do not fit.

The longtail is usually the cheaper way to rent a boat, which is exactly why it remains the first choice for many travellers. We do not quote other operators’ prices because they change quickly. With us, prices apply per boat for up to 5 guests, for example from 11,500 THB for the 4-hour Railay Escape and from 18,500 THB for the 4-Islands VIP & Sunset Special.

The per-head comparison depends on group size. With five the cost is spread, with two it is not. Also count the time gained: whoever reaches destinations in one day that a slow boat could not manage gets more experience for the money, even if the number is higher.

You will find the detailed cost breakdown, including extras and a checklist, in the article on the cost of a private boat tour in Krabi.

These five questions usually lead you quickly to your boat: