Dear Simba Tours Team, I wanted to take a moment to thank you for another fantastic experience following my recent Sunrise Phi Phi & Maya Bay tour. I have been travelling with Simba Tours since 2013, back when the company was under its previous ownership. Over the years, I’ve experienced tours under both the original and current owners, and what continues to impress me is the consistency of the experience and the standards you maintain. A few things have always stood out to me: • Professionalism from start to finish • A genuine customer-first approach • A team that clearly cares about creating memorable experiences rather than simply moving tourists from one location to another On this particular trip, Noi and his crew were exceptional. Their energy, charisma, humour, and ability to engage with guests made the day even more enjoyable. What impressed me most was the care shown towards guests who were nervous about the sea or snorkelling. I watched Noi personally enter the water with guests to help them overcome their anxieties and ensure they felt safe and comfortable. That level of care is rare and speaks volumes about the culture of your company. From time to time, I hear people comment that Simba Tours is more expensive than some other operators. Having travelled with many tour companies over the years, my response is always the same: there is a reason for the difference. With Simba, you are paying for professionalism, safety, organisation, quality, and an experience where guests genuinely matter. You’re not simply another number on a crowded boat. The attention to detail and customer care consistently justify the premium. After more than a decade of travelling with Simba Tours, it’s wonderful to see that the values that made me choose you in the first place are still very much alive today. Please pass my thanks on to Noi and the entire crew. They did a fantastic job and made what was already a beautiful day even more memorable.
Discover the Beauty of Hong Island: A Thrilling Speedboat Adventure
Hong Island (Koh Hong) sits in Krabi province, about 50 km east of Phuket by direct speedboat — versus the 180 km road route via Phang Nga's coast. The island's headline feature is the hong itself: a sea-level cave entry that opens into a hidden interior lagoon enclosed by towering limestone walls (hong is Thai for "room"). Day-tour boats from the Krabi side reach Hong Island from late morning onwards; the quieter window is reached by departing earlier from Phuket's Boat Lagoon Marina on the direct sea route. National park fees are included on every Simba Sea Trips Krabi departure.
Why the sea route from Phuket beats the road
The transit math is striking: by road, Phuket to Krabi’s Ao Nang pier is roughly 180 km — three hours-plus each way before you even board a longtail or ferry for the final 30-40 minute crossing to Hong Island. By direct speedboat from Boat Lagoon Marina, the same destination is around 50 km — well under an hour and a half. A road-based Hong Island day trip from Phuket spends most of the day in a van. A sea-route trip arrives early, leaves late, and spends the day at the islands. The other consideration is timing: Hong Island gets busy from late morning onwards as the Krabi-side day boats arrive from Ao Nang. The early sea-route window is materially quieter.
Krabi Luxury Private Charter — from ฿41,690
Simba Sea Trips’ main route into Hong Island is the Krabi Luxury Speedboat Private Charter — an 8-hour private charter for 2 to 20 guests departing Soho Pool Club at Boat Lagoon Marina. From ฿41,690 THB at the base group rate, all-inclusive (transfers, national park fees, light breakfast, buffet lunch, snorkel equipment, soft drinks). The route visits Hong itself, Hong Lagoon, Railay Beach, Chicken Island, and hidden hongs that the day-boat fleet doesn’t reach. For deeper context on the destination — geology, tide windows, the four “hongs” worth visiting — see our long-form Ko Hong Island guide.
What to expect at Hong Lagoon
The hong is a circular interior lagoon enclosed by limestone walls roughly 100 metres tall. Entry is via a low sea-level cave opening on the island’s seaward side — at low tide the opening is clear and easy; at high tide it can close completely, depending on monthly tidal range. The architecture is geological: collapsed cave roofs over millennia left a karst chamber open to the sky inside, accessible only by water through the original cave mouth. The experience inside is the silence — the lagoon’s interior is sheltered from the open sea and from the wind, with only the sound of paddles or distant gulls. Bring reef-safe sunscreen, a dry bag for camera kit, and a hat.
Operator authority — running this coast since 2005
Simba Sea Trips has been running the Phuket and Krabi coasts since 2005 — more than twenty years of operating, with the safety position built across every route we run. The company holds TAT Licence 34/02111 issued by the Tourism Authority of Thailand. Run by an airline pilot of 23+ years with aviation-grade safety standards applied at the operations management level, with Thai-licensed captains and certified crews on every boat. More than 5,814 verified reviews across TripAdvisor, Google, and GetYourGuide back the operating record.
Bookable Simba tours that visit Koh Hong
Join-In TourLuxury Private Speed Boat Charter - Krabi
Krabi by sea — the charter we've been running since 2005.
Simba's full-day Krabi private charter from Boat Lagoon Marina, Phuket — 50 km by sea versus 180 km by road via two ferries.
The route crosses the Andaman to Krabi's limestone bay — karst islands, hidden lagoons (the "hongs") cut into the cliffs. Koh Hong and Hong Lagoon are the anchor stops; the rest flexes around weather and tide.
2 to 4 guests as standard; per-person above 4, up to 18 adults. All-inclusive: pickup, breakfast, snacks, snorkelling, park fees, lunch. Free cancellation 24h.
World Luxury Travel Award winner.
Join-In TourKrabi Classics - Phuket to Krabi Islands tour
Simply the best way to see the islands of Krabi
Simba is proud to announce the upcoming return of the incredible Krabi Island tour! The Krabi Island tour offers an unforgettable experience to our guests by providing tours to the islands of Krabi, considered some of the most alluring islands in the Phuket region! If you are looking for a Krabi speedboat tour that will offer you a relaxing showcase of the beauty of the area of Krabi, then this is the tour for you. As a guest aboard our speedboat, you will not only visit some of the most interesting and beautiful places in the Krabi region but you’ll also be afforded the opportunity to escape the crowds.
Join-In TourLocals Island Private Charter — Phuket East Coast
Phuket's east coast by boat — our half-day private charter from Boat Lagoon Marina to Koh Rang Yai.
4 hours from Soho Pool Club at Boat Lagoon Marina along Phuket's east coast to Koh Rang Yai. Swimming, snorkelling, time on a quiet beach without the Phi Phi or Phang Nga transit.
Up to 25 adults on a single private charter — no shared boat. All-inclusive: skipper, fuel, snorkelling gear, drinks, snacks. Koh Rang Yai sits in Phuket waters, so no marine park surcharge. Free cancellation 24h.
Operating from Boat Lagoon Marina since 2005.
Looking for something custom?
Tell us where you'd like to go and how you'd like to travel. We'll put together a bespoke charter that fits your group, your dates, and your budget — no template, no compromise.
Email sales@simbaseatrips.comWhat Guests Say About This Tour
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