Chicken Island (Koh Kai), Tup Island (Koh Tup) and neighbouring Mor Island form one of Krabi’s most photogenic spots: at low tide a white sandbar surfaces between the three islands, letting you walk across the sea from one to the next. Locals call it Talay Waek, “the separated sea.” Chicken Island takes its name from a tall limestone rock shaped like a chicken’s head and neck. The water here is shallow, warm and exceptionally clear, with easy snorkelling reefs right off the sand — which is why these islands, along with Poda Island, make up Krabi’s classic “Four Islands” route. They lie off Krabi’s Ao Nang coast, and the most rewarding way to reach them from Phuket is directly by sea, rather than the long road around the bay.
Simba Sea Trips is licensed by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (licence 34/02111), which means we operate to the formal safety and insurance standard required for commercial marine tourism in Thai waters — the part of a Krabi day most visitors never think about until something goes wrong. The sandbar is tide-dependent, the crossing from Phuket is open water, and the Four Islands area gets busy with day boats; running it safely and at the right time of day is exactly what a licensed, properly equipped operator is for. We time our arrival around the tide so the sandbar is showing and the crowds aren’t.
The “separated sea” sandbar (Talay Waek)
The headline experience is the tidal sandbar linking Tup, Chicken and Mor islands in a rough T-shape. As the tide drops, a ribbon of white sand emerges and you can wade — or almost walk dry-shod — between the islands. It’s a genuine natural curiosity and a wonderful photo, but it only appears around low tide, so timing is everything. Plan to be there as the sandbar reveals itself rather than after it’s submerged again. Wear water shoes — the sandbar holds the odd sharp shell and coral fragment. For the classic view down the sandbank, there’s a short (slightly rough) trail to the Chicken Island Viewpoint, looking across to Tup and out to Koh Poda.
Snorkelling and the reef
The shallow, clear water around Chicken and Tup makes for relaxed, accessible snorkelling — reef fish, easy entry from the sand, and good visibility on calm days. It suits families and beginners, while confident snorkellers can explore the reefier edges.
Where these islands sit
Chicken, Tup and Mor are part of the cluster off Ao Nang in Krabi that also includes Poda Island. From Krabi they’re a short longtail hop; from Phuket they’re a direct open-water crossing — about 50 km by sea versus roughly 180 km by road around Phang Nga Bay. The sea route is faster, cooler, and means you arrive by boat rather than after a long transfer.
Best time to visit
The calm, dry season (November–April) gives the most reliable conditions for the open crossing and the clearest water. Green season (May–October) is quieter; conditions are checked day by day. In every season, the sandbar is governed by the tide, not the calendar — so the right time of day matters as much as the month.
Visiting from Phuket by private charter
The cleanest way to do Chicken and Tup from Phuket is our Krabi Luxury Speedboat Private Charter, an 8-hour day that crosses directly to the Krabi islands from ฿41,690* for the boat, all-inclusive. A typical run takes in:
- Koh Hong and the cliff-ringed Hong lagoon
- Railay Beach
- Chicken Island and the tidal sandbar
- the quieter hidden hongs
Because it’s private, we can time the day around the low-tide sandbar and pick your stops, rather than running a fixed group schedule. You’ll find the full Krabi picture on our Krabi destination guide.
Why a licensed operator matters here
An open-water crossing to another province, on a tide-sensitive itinerary, is precisely the kind of trip where licensing and equipment count. Our TAT licence (34/02111), full safety kit and experienced local Thai crew mean the day is planned around conditions and tides, with the right margins built in. The reward for that diligence is simple: you get the sandbar at its best, the reef when it’s clearest, and a calm, well-run day on the water.
