A Complete Guide to Travelling to Krabi

Krabi has more than 160 kilometers of coastline, paradise-like islands, vast beaches, crystal clear waters, spectacular karst rocks, and mysterious caves that attract tourists from all over the world. Snorkeling, kayaking, rock climbing, diving, soaking in hot springs and many other activities are available in Krabi. Here you will find detailed information, and suggestions on what to eat, where to stay, how to get to Krabi, how many days to spend in Krabi and the best time to visit Krabi.

Highlights in Krabi

1. Hong Island

Hong Island is the best place in Krabi for kayaking and snorkeling. Hong Island is surrounded by limestone mountains like a huge room, and even if the wind and waves outside the island are strong, the island is calm inside. You can kayak freely between the cliffs, explore the caves, and when you encounter shallow water, you can go down and relax for a while. Pelay Beach, the only beach on Hong Island, is the best for snorkeling where the water is crystal clear and small fish are swimming around you. The beach has soft sand and shade trees, and is a good place to rest when you're tired. Hong Island takes one day to visit and you can rent a speed boat or a long-tail boat to get there.

2. Railay Beach

Railay Beach is the best place for rock climbing and watching the sunset in Krabi. Backed by mountains, surrounded by sea on three sides, and with huge karst rocks rising steeply from the emerald green water, Railay Beach is one of the most beautiful rock climbing destinations in the world. At the back of the karst rocks for rock climbing, there are gentle slopes leading halfway up the mountain, from where you can also overlook the beach. Railay Beach has the most stunning sunset at around 6 pm, when the sun slowly sets over the sea, making the sky and sea look like orange satin. Railay Beach takes about one day to visit, you can rent a boat to go in the morning. If rock climbing is not in your plans, you can go there in the afternoon and return after watching the sunset.

Railay Beach

3. Ko Lanta Island

Ko Lanta Island is the perfect choice for the adventurous traveler in Krabi. The island has long white beaches, about 20 square kilometers of rainforest, and large mangrove forests where you can rent a boat to travel through and see more than a hundred species of colorful birds, as well as flying lemurs, monkeys and lizards. The island also has several mysterious and rugged caves, of which Tham Khao Mai Kaew is the most famous, filled with stalactites that have been deposited over the years. Koh Rok is a not-to-be-missed island located near Ko Lanta Island (about 50 minutes away by speedboat), it is a diving mecca, with breathtaking colorful coral reefs and fish in the clear emerald sea.

4. Emerald Pool and Blue Pool

Emerald Pool and Blue Pool are located in Thung Teao Forest Natural Park. Emerald Pool is the best for soaking, it is a natural hot spring with clear, mineral-rich water, about 20 meters wide and 1 to 2 meters deep. It is surrounded by dense forest, and you can hear the birds chirping when soaking. After Emerald Pool, walk along the flat trail for about 10 minutes and you will see the Blue Pool, a small but breathtaking wonderland. Its mineral-rich water takes on different colors in the sunlight, from yellow to green to blue, and the trees crisscrossing the bottom of the water are clearly visible. You can't go into its water, but you'll be left with some of the best photos you've taken. Emerald Pool is open daily from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Blue Pool is open daily from 10 am to 3:30 pm and is closed from May to October every year.

Best Time to Visit Krabi

The best time to visit Krabi is from November to March, when the weather is not very hot, the rain is scarce, and the sea is calm and clear, making it ideal for snorkeling, kayaking, diving, sunbathing, etc. June to October is the rainy season in Krabi, the sea is not clear, with strong winds and waves sometimes, and most islands are closed, so you can explore the night markets and visit land-based attractions such as Emerald Pool and Blue Pool. In April and May, the weather is much hotter, but there are fewer tourists and you can get discounts on hotels.

Where to Eat in Krabi

Ao Nang and Krabi Town are the best food destinations in Krabi, offering a seafood feast, with firm grilled lobster, spicy southern Thai fish curry, rich crab stir-fried with curry powder and tender grilled scallops being very popular. In addition to seafood, there are also countless other delicious food, such as tempting green curry chicken, sweet coconut mango rice, and refreshing tropical fruits.

You can find all the food at the restaurants or night markets in Ao Nang and Krabi Town. Lae Lay Grill, The Hilltop, and Jenna's Bistro & Wine in Ao Nang, as well as Red Chilli Thai Cuisine, Rakhang Thai Bistro and Bar, and Twin Lotus House & Restaurant in Krabi Town are all very well-rated restaurants. The night markets in Ao Nang and Krabi Town are usually open from 5 pm to 11 pm. The Ao Nang Landmark Night Market is about a 15-minute walk from Ao Nang Beach and is open daily. Krabi Night Market is located east of Vogue Mall in downtown, near the river, and is open every day. Krabi Walking Street Night Market is located right next to Vogue Mall in downtown and is open every Friday and Saturday, with local people singing and dancing.

Where to Stay in Krabi

Ao Nang is the best place to stay in Krabi. It is the transport hub from which almost all trips to the various beaches and islands depart by boat. It is also convenient to eat in Ao Nang, where there are many famous restaurants such as Lae Lay Grill, The Hilltop, and Jenna's Bistro & Wine. In the evening, there is Ao Nang Landmark Night Market, which has a wide range of dishes, snacks, desserts and fruits. If you want to go to Krabi Night Market, it is just a 15-minute taxi ride away.

Many hotels on Ao Nang Walking Street are backed by mountains and surrounded by coconut palm trees, with quiet environment, offering facilities such as swimming pools and gym, and hotels such as Aonang Villa Resort, Peace Laguna Resort, and Avani Ao Nang Cliff Krabi Resort are highly recommended. Most hotels on Ao Nang Beach are facing the sea and have a wide view, and some of them have private pools, beachfront terraces, water slides and swim-up bars, and hotels including Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Krabi, Holiday Ao Nang Beach Resort, and Centara Ao Nang Beach Resort & Spa Krabi are highly recommended.

How to Get to Krabi

From abroad, you can take a flight to Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, which accepts flights from more countries and cities, and then fly to Krabi International Airport (about 1 hour and 20 minutes), where you can take a taxi to your hotel. If you plan to stay in Ao Nang, it will take you about 40 minutes to get there by taxi from the airport.

For tourists traveling from other parts of Thailand, such as Bangkok, Phuket and Chiang Mai, it is recommended to take a taxi to Krabi if you are close to Krabi, and if you are far from Krabi, you can take a flight from the local airport to Krabi International Airport and then take a taxi to your hotel. From some places in Thailand you can get to Krabi by boat, for example, you can take a speedboat from Phuket to Krabi (about 2 hours). It should be noted that water transport is more susceptible to weather, you may not reach Krabi on time by boat, especially from June to October, when the sea can be rough, so in order not to delay your trip, it is recommended to give priority to air and car.

How Many Days to Spend in Krabi

You need at least a week to visit the tourist highlights of Krabi, such as Hong Island, Railay Beach, Ko Lanta Island, Emerald Pool, and Blue Pool, and to enjoy the feast at Ao Nang Landmark Night Market and Krabi Night Market. If you don't have enough time, please experience at least one of the beaches, one of the islands, and one of the night markets, because you won't want to miss the amazing scenery and food, and it will take 3 to 4 days. If you have plenty of time, you can have wonderful 15 to 20 days in Krabi, with Koh Haa, Koh Poda, Bamboo Island, Phi Phi Islands, and Tab Kak Hang Nak Hill all being well worth visiting.

Don't miss Krabi, the soft beaches, crystal clear water, beautiful coral reefs, and delicious dishes are waiting for you. Activities such as snorkeling, kayaking, rock climbing, diving and sunset watching will make your Thailand tour unforgettable. Let Odynovo create a variety of travel plans for you to choose from and handle possible hassles for you, so you can enjoy your trip to the fullest.