AWESOME THINGS TO DO IN KRABI THAILAND
There are so many things to do in Krabi, Thailand. The beautiful beaches, sparkling turquoise water, sheer limestone cliffs, and iconic long-tail boats first drew us to Thailand. If you, too, want to experience the beauty of the southern Thailand islands, you’ll want to check out these 15 things to do in Krabi.
Where is Krabi?
Krabi is located on the west coast of southern Thailand, along the Andaman Sea. The beach town of Ao Nang is the epicenter of the Krabi region and the beautiful southern Thailand islands.
How to Get There
The closest airport in the area is Krabi International Airport (KBV). From the airport, it is a 30-minute drive to Ao Nang. Depending on where you are traveling from, you can reach the Krabi region by car, taxi/shuttle, bus, ferry, or plane.
Domestic flights from northern Thailand are inexpensive and will reduce a 12-hour drive from Bangkok or an 18-hour drive from Chiang Mai to a 1.5-hour flight. We’ve flown AirAsia and Thai Airways and have been happy with both. Depending on the time of year, a round-trip ticket from Bangkok can range from $50-100 USD. I’ve seen one-way tickets as low as $25 USD.
If you are in Phuket, you can rent a car or take a bus, taxi/shuttle, or ferry, all of which take 2-3 hours.
Spend the Day on the Islands
Every trip to Thailand should include time on southern Thailand’s west coast. This is my absolute favorite thing to do in Krabi.
These beautiful islands are accessible by long-tail boat and through tour companies in the area. You can purchase a long-tail boat tour at the ticket counter next to the Ao Nang beach. Tour companies located in Phuket and Ao Nang offer a variety of day trips to the islands.
BEST THINGS TO DO KRABI THAILAND
Phi Phi Islands (Koh Phi Phi)
One of the best things to do in Krabi is visit the Phi Phi Islands (pronounced pee-pee) are by far some of the most popular islands in the area. These islands are characterized by sparkling turquoise water, exquisite beaches, and stunning limestone cliffs.
Friends, you won’t regret spending a day lying on the beach, swimming, or snorkeling in the turquoise waters surrounding the islands.
Due to their popularity, the Phi Phi Islands draw many visitors. If you plan a day trip, you’ll want to arrive early to avoid the mass tour boats that roll in later in the morning.
Due to the distance from Ao Nang, it is better to travel by speed boat rather than a long-tail boat. By speed boat, it takes 45 minutes, while a long-tail boat takes closer to 2 hours one-way. Although long-tail boats make for a smoother ride, most operators will not travel that far.
Monkey Beach
Monkey Beach is a popular stop while visiting the Phi Phi Islands. It is fun to see the many monkeys strolling along the beach, but the monkeys should be watched from afar.
These little critters are unpredictable and can become aggressive. It is critical that you keep your distance as they’ve been known to jump on backpacks, steal food, water, and sunglasses. Although this may sound funny, no one wants the shots that will follow if bitten or scratched.
One of the most important Thailand travel tips is that monkeys are not critters to try to get a selfie with. I’ve seen a lot of people, especially on Monkey Beach, inching up to a wild monkey for a selfie. This is a dangerous risk and not worth the likes on social media.
Hong Island (Koh Hong)
From Ao Nang, you can reach the stunning Hong Island in 45 minutes by long-tail boat or 20 minutes by speed boat. Hong Island is part of a national park that requires a small fee for day use.
This island is the perfect setting to spend the day relaxing or swimming and snorkeling in the blue-green lagoon.
Four Islands
A Four-Island tour includes Phra Nang Cave Beach, Chicken Island, Tup Island, and Poda Island. All four are beautiful and offer great opportunities to relax on the beach, swim in the sparkling turquoise water, or snorkel with the abundant marine life.
Bamboo Island (Koh Mai Pai)
Bamboo Island is another gorgeous island with some of the best snorkeling in the area. Spend a relaxing day on this beautiful white beach. You can easily combine a stop at Bamboo Island with your trip to the Phi Phi Islands.
How We Enjoyed the Islands
Since visiting these islands is one of the best things to do in Krabi, Thailand, they have become increasingly popular, resulting in long-tail and tour boats constantly shuffling visitors in and out of the islands. I highly recommend that you arrive early and purchase a private tour that can be customized to your needs.
You will rarely be on a beach alone, but don’t let this impact your joy of the islands.
We have used Andaman Camp and Cruise for day trips both times we have been in Ao Nang and would highly recommend them.
Owners Elizabeth and Sun, and their crew are amazing hosts. We found that the private tours were very affordable and provided us with our own customized adventure.
We have also done their tours to the Phi Phi Islands, the Four Islands, Hong Island, and Bamboo Island. These tours are in my opinion one of the best thing to do in Krabi. Each tour includes a homemade meal that is some of the best Thai food we’ve ever had and fruit for a snack throughout the day. Do not pass up a day with this amazing company!
Take a Long-Tail Boat to Railay Beach
Phra Nang Cave Beach
Railay is comprised of four beaches. Phra Nang Beach is a 10-minute long-tail boat ride from Ao Nang.
On the edge of Phra Nang Beach, you will find a cave dedicated to Princess Phra Nang. Offerings are left in the cave by local fishermen to ensure safe travel on the sea. A visit to the cave can be shocking upon the realization that phallic symbols are being left to the Goddess Phra Nang, who lost her own husband to the sea.
One of our favorite sites was the line of long-tail food boats, which were like Thai food trucks. Visitors relaxing on the beach could walk up to the boats and order their favorite curries and other Thai dishes.
Rock Climbing at Railay Beach
Railay Beach is known for its iconic limestone tower off Phra Nang Beach. The limestone cliffs surrounding Railay Beach draw rock climbers from around the world. The hundreds of bolted climbing routes provide opportunities for climbers with varying skill levels.
Kayak Through the Mangroves
Spend time paddling through the sparkling blue-green water amidst the limestone canyons and exotic mangrove forests. As you enjoy your time in the mangroves, you will observe many birds and monkeys in the nearby trees. This is an amazing experience and should be added to your list of things to do in Krabi.
We spent the day with First Level Kayaking in the beautiful Ao Thalane Bay. See their reviews on TripAdvisor.
Tha Plom Klong Song Nam
Tha Plom Klong Song Nam is an absolutely beautiful and serene park. As you stroll along the 1.2km wooden walkway, you will see the amazing mangroves and be awed by the crystal-clear emerald water.
There is a natural pool where you can swim. The entrance fee is 100 baht or $3 USD. On average, you’ll spend 1-2 hours at this beautiful park.
Relax and Rejuvenate With a Massage
Thai Massage
At the southern end of Ao Nang Beach, you will find a long walkway lined with spas offering a full array of massages and other services. I highly recommend adding a Thai massage to your list of things to do in Krabi.
If you want a full-body treatment, there is nothing like a Thai massage. This is not a standard oil massage, as you might expect. Instead, it’s a combination of stretching, pulling, and acupressure. It can feel a little rough but you walk away feeling relaxed and rejuvenated.
One of my favorite memories was lying under a thatched-roof hut, getting a Thai massage, as the afternoon rain rolled in. As the skies slightly darkened from clouds, we could hear the rain falling around us. There was no need for piped-in spa music, as Mother Nature was already playing her song.
Thai massages are reasonable: around 400-600 baht, or approximately $15-20 USD, for a 60-90-minute massage. I only wish I could find those prices at home.
Foot and Leg Message
If you aren’t up for a full Thai massage, you must try a foot and leg massage. You can often find a 30-60-minute foot and leg massage for around 150-300 baht or $5-$10 USD. A foot and leg massage should not be passed up!
Snorkeling or Scuba Diving Around the Islands
The many southern islands offer amazing opportunities for snorkeling and scuba diving. I have snorkeled around many of the islands and was not disappointed.
The expansive coral reefs are home to over 2,000 species of fish, including clownfish, butterflyfish, whale sharks, leopard sharks, and manta rays.
The best months for scuba diving are November to April, although snorkeling and scuba diving are good year-round.
Popular diving areas in the Andaman Sea include Krabi, Koh Lanta, Koh Lipe, and Similan Islands. There are many opportunities, including reef, wreck, and drift diving in southern Thailand. Add snorkeling and scuba diving to your list of things to do in Krabi so you don’t miss out on the abundant marine life and amazing visibility in the clear blue waters and
Visit the Emerald Pool (Sa Morakot)
The stunning crystal blue waters of the Emerald Pool (Sa Morakot) make this a popular attraction. The Emerald Pool is a hot spring in the Khao Prabang Khram Wildlife Sanctuary.
The Emerald Pool is an hour and a half drive from Ao Nang but is close to the Tiger Cave Temple, so both can be visited in a day.
The water’s color varies depending on the sun, although it is most intense at dawn or early in the morning.
The area around the pool is very slippery so waterproof shoes are highly recommended. Also, this attraction draws a lot of tourists so the earlier you arrive the better.
Tiger Cave Temple
When planning our trip to Krabi I read about the stunning panoramic views at the Tiger Cave Temple. Other travelers had mentioned that it was a 1,237-step climb to the top but reported it was manageable. Now, they were correct it is manageable. However, my friends, I think they downplayed it a little too much!
It wasn’t until we passed the monkeys hanging out at the bottom of the walkway and turned the corner that we truly saw what we were in store for.
So, about the monkeys, this is one of those times when you should just keep walking, not make eye contact or have your snacks or water bottle within reach. Remember how mischievous those furry rascals can be. You don’t want them stealing your water before you climb because you’ll need it.
As we turned the corner friends we saw the steepest, most uneven 1,237-steps we’d ever seen. That isn’t to say it isn’t manageable at your own pace, but WOW!
As if climbing the 1,237 steps wasn’t enough, the exertion is compounded by the 90-degree heat and stifling humidity. However, we climbed each miserable step, regularly stopping to catch our breath, and wipe away every ounce of liquid that we had now sweated out.
About 30 minutes later we made it to the top, and there we found a panoramic view and large golden Buddha perched high above the Thai countryside. It really is a beautiful view!
Would I do it again? Probably. If you pace yourself (I’m not much for doing that I just want to get it over with) it probably would be better. It is a good challenge and worth adding to your list of things to do in Krabi.
Banana Leaf Sticky Rice
Eat as many of these bundles of joy as you can! We were introduced to this luscious rice and coconut treat in Ao Nang and haven’t found it made in the same way anywhere else. Although it is similar to coconut sticky rice, the coconut caramelizes when steamed in the banana leaf, creating a whole different taste. This is an amazing package of sweet, creamy rice and coconut. Yuuuummeee!
Where We Stayed
Thailand is a great place to splurge on a hotel because you get so much for your money. Our favorite places we’ve ever stayed in Thailand are the Centara Grand Beach Resort and Villas Krabi. It is located around the corner from Ao Nang Beach and looks out over the limestone formation in front of Railay Beach. Friends, I’d highly recommend staying at this beautiful resort. You can’t beat that view, the accommodations, or the amazing staff!
Book the Trip!
The Krabi region is one of our favorite places in the world, and the one place we always want to return to. I highly recommend adding this to your Thailand itinerary. The beauty in this area is stunning.
If you want additional tips about Thailand, check out the 25 Essential Thailand Travel Tips I Wish I’d Known Sooner.
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