Where the sea splits into three colors, the sandbars appear like magic, and snorkeling feels like walking into a postcard.

Koh Gai (เกาะไก่), also known as Chicken Island, is the iconic limestone island with a “chicken head” rock formation. Around it sit Koh Tup, Koh Mor, Koh Poda, and the quiet, underrated Koh Tang Ming — four islands connected by sandbars, coral gardens, and shallow turquoise water.

This is the bright, playful, sandbar chapter of Krabi — sunny, simple, and full of color.

1) Koh Gai (Chicken Island) — East Reef

Thai: เกาะไก่
Romanization: Koh Gai
Local pronunciation: Gai

The east side of Koh Gai is the island’s main snorkeling area — shallow coral gardens, sandy channels, and fish swirling around the rocky edges.

What makes it beautiful

• Clear turquoise water
• Coral heads close to the surface
• Rocky edges full of fish
• Calm, beginner‑friendly conditions

Fish you’ll see

• ปลาผีเสื้อเหลือง (Pla Phee Suea Lueang) — yellow butterflyfish — “the sunshine flutter”
• ปลานกแก้ว (Pla Nok Kaew) — parrotfish — “the loud coral‑crunching gossip queen”
• ปลาจิ๋วฟ้า (Pla Jiw Fa) — blue damselfish — “the tiny electric boss”

“Koh Gai East Reef is the ‘I’m snorkeling under a giant chicken head’ moment.”

2) Koh Gai — South Wall

Thai: ผนังหินด้านใต้เกาะไก่
Romanization: Phanang Hin Dan Tai Koh Gai
Local pronunciation: South Wall

The south side is deeper and more dramatic — a limestone wall dropping into clear blue water.

What makes it beautiful

• Deep sapphire water
• Coral blocks glowing between rocks
• Dramatic limestone cliffs
• A quiet, cinematic atmosphere

Fish you’ll see

• ปลาฟูซิเลียร์ (Pla Fusilier) — fusilier — “the silver confetti cloud”
• ปลาทรัมเป็ต (Pla Trumpet) — trumpetfish — “the long, shy pretender”
• ปลากะรัง (Pla Garang) — grouper — “the chunky, quiet guardian”

“South Wall is the ‘I’m snorkeling beside a giant stone sculpture’ moment.”

3) Koh Tup — Sandbar Reef

Thai: เกาะทับ
Romanization: Koh Tup
Local pronunciation: Tup

Koh Tup is famous for its sandbar, but the snorkeling near the rocky edges is surprisingly beautiful.

What makes it beautiful

• Shallow turquoise water
• Coral blocks near the rocks
• A peaceful, open‑blue atmosphere
• Perfect for beginners

Fish you’ll see

• ปลาสลิดทะเล (Pla Salid Talay) — rabbitfish — “the polite vegetarian”
• ปลาคราม (Pla Kram) — blue‑green chromis — “the sparkling confetti”
• ปลานกแก้ว (Pla Nok Kaew) — parrotfish — “the gossip queen”

“Koh Tup is the ‘I walked across the sea and found coral’ moment.”

4) Koh Mor — Coral Garden

Thai: เกาะหม้อ
Romanization: Koh Mor
Local pronunciation: Mor

Koh Mor is the quietest of the trio — a small rocky island with coral gardens tucked close to the shore.

What makes it beautiful

• Warm, shallow water
• Coral heads close to the surface
• Gentle currents
• A quiet, tucked‑away feeling

Fish you’ll see

• ปลาผีเสื้อปากยาว (Pla Phee Suea Pak Yao) — long‑nose butterflyfish — “the elegant one”
• ปลาจิ๋วฟ้า (Pla Jiw Fa) — blue damselfish — “the tiny electric boss”
• ปลานกแก้วรุ้ง (Pla Nok Kaew Rung) — rainbow parrotfish — “the colorful chaos machine”

“Koh Mor is the soft, slow‑breathing corner of the sandbar islands.”

5) Koh Poda — West Reef

Thai: เกาะปอดะ
Romanization: Koh Poda
Local pronunciation: Poh‑da

Koh Poda is the snorkeling gem of the group — a long beach with coral gardens near the rocky edges and deep blue water beyond.

What makes it beautiful

• Clear, deep‑blue water
• Coral blocks mixed with sand
• Rocky edges full of fish
• A dramatic, open‑ocean feeling

Fish you’ll see

• ปลาฉลามหูดำ (Pla Chalam Hoo Dam) — blacktip reef shark — “the tiny, harmless cutie”
• ปลาฟูซิเลียร์ (Pla Fusilier) — fusilier — “the silver confetti cloud”
• ปลากะรัง (Pla Garang) — grouper — “the quiet guardian”

“Koh Poda is the ‘National Geographic moment’ of the Krabi sandbar islands.”

6) Koh Tang Ming — Hidden Reef

Thai: เกาะตังหมิง
Romanization: Koh Tang Ming
Local pronunciation: Tang‑ming

Koh Tang Ming is the quiet, underrated snorkeling gem between Koh Gai and Koh Poda — a small rocky island wrapped in clear blue water and coral gardens that feel untouched.

What makes it beautiful

• Clear, calm water with excellent visibility
• Coral heads tucked close to the rocks
• A quiet, hidden‑island atmosphere
• Perfect for confident snorkelers

Fish you’ll see

• ปลาฟูซิเลียร์ (Pla Fusilier) — fusilier — “the silver confetti cloud”
• ปลาทรัมเป็ต (Pla Trumpet) — trumpetfish — “the long, shy pretender”
• ปลานกแก้ว (Pla Nok Kaew) — parrotfish — “the colorful chaos machine”
• ปลาสลิดทะเล (Pla Salid Talay) — rabbitfish — “the polite vegetarian”

“Koh Tang Ming is the ‘how does nobody know about this?’ moment of the Krabi islands.”

🌺 The Feeling of Koh Gai & Nearby Islands

Koh Gai, Koh Tup, Koh Mor, Koh Poda, and Koh Tang Ming are the bright, playful, sandbar chapter of the Andaman — shallow turquoise water, soft white sand, and coral gardens tucked between rocky edges.

It’s the part of Krabi that feels like sunshine.