Review: Hong Island Krabi Tour by Catamaran

Well, this is my first time writing a travel story and I would like to tell you how I feel about the "Hong Island Krabi Tour by Catamaran", which my family and I went on last Sunday.

The tour started at 08:20am when a very gentle driver opened up the door of the minibus for the four of us to board. He arrives exactly on time and the minibus is new and clean - you can smell the freshness!

A short ride later and we have arrived at Pier88, where a yummy mini-breakfast is waiting for us; boiled rice, fried egg, pastries, coffee and tea. I love their coffee and croissants - I still miss the taste weeks later! While we dine, snorkelling gear and proper deck shoes for the trip are prepared for us.

We jump back into the minibus for a ride to Ao Por Grand Marina, where we board the catamaran. I've fallen in love again - it's just perfect for a family, even if you are travelling with a small child or an elderly grandparent. This boat is easy to get in and out of, the seats are comfort and there is a lot of space. With four engines, it's as fast as a speedboat, but smooth like only a catamaran can be. My little boy very much enjoyed just sitting at the prow, the free-flow soft drinks provided all through the day. Toilets and showers are also available on board.

About 45 minutes after we arrive at Koh Yao Noi - the 'Big Tree' welcome area. A fresh coconut is served and the cool, refreshing juice gives me energy for the next few minutes as we have to try sea kayaking the short distance to Toh Buad Cave to see stunning scenery surrounded by towering limestone cliffs and visit shelters of fishermen. Do not worry if you've never tried this activity before; the experienced kayaking guide will help and long-tail boat also follow us along the way. It proves to be a really excited and enjoyable experience.

From Toh Buad Cave, we take a long-tail boat to the next stop at Lao Ku Du Yai Island to see stunning scenery surrounded by towering limestone cliffs and the kids can enjoy swimming. Afterwards, the long-tail brings us back to the Big Tree - our lunch is ready! We have a seafood basket, chicken basket or mushroom basket, each served with several kinds of sauce, tropical fried rice, tom yam mushroom soup, bread, salad and fresh fruits. I love them all!

After eating, we all enjoy some free time to swim or chill out at the beach. When everyone's ready, the tour guide leads us on the jungle walk to finally see the 'Big Tree' - the symbolic of Koh Yao Noi. At over 300 years old, it's so big and it makes us feel so small. It is a peaceful place, though, and we have learn how to make the fresh ground coconut while we snack on tasty grilled banana and sweet potato dip - yummy again.

We return to the boat for our journey to Koh Hong, stopping for some sightseeing from the deck at Koh Pak Bia and Lao Lading (Lao means Koh or Island). We arrive at our destination and take some time to relax, sunbathe, swim and snorkel. My little girl was very happy with the white sand beach and the perfectly calm sea. We spend well over an hour at Koh Hong, enjoying the the striking surroundings.

On the way back to the pier, the tour guide display pictures of us which the photographer has been taking during our activities over the whole day (we called him the Paparazzi). They show a lot of fun times.

I keep all good memories back home. The staff took good care of us and, with such a small group of customers, I felt like we are on a private trip all of our own. The kids are still talking about it and keep asking when we'll be doing it again.

I just realised how many times I used the words 'love' and 'enjoy'. Now you know how I feel about this trip. Try it yourself and tell me about your story, too!