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Krabi

Krabi is the main town of the province of the same name, which lies in the south west of Thailand, with its coastline on the Andaman Sea (which is part of the Indian Ocean). The province is divided into eight sub-districts – Amphoe Muang (where you will find Krabi Town), Khao Panom, Khlong Thom, Plai Phraya, Ko Lanta, Ao Luk, Lam Thap and Nhua Khlong. The province also counts around 130 islands as its own, including the famous Phi Phi islands. It is one of the most spectacularly beautiful parts of Thailand, if not of South East Asia, famous for its towering limestone cliffs, pristine waters with fascinating coral reefs, numerous islands, forests, caves, waterfalls and of course the all important soft sand beaches. Krabi is home to two of the most famous beaches in Thailand, Ao Nang and Hat Rai Le.
 
Long known as a convenient stepping off point for the nearby national parks, islands and beaches, Krabi has recently developed as a resort in its own right, and is gaining in popularity. It has the advantages of being less crowded and commercialised than some of its island neighbours, whilst having all the facilities and services of a fully fledged resort, including excellent accommodation and restaurants and a wealth of attractions.
 
Historically, Krabi is of significant importance too, and there is archaeological evidence to support the theory that the area was inhabited during pre-historic times, and stone tools, ancient stone paintings and even skeletal remains have been round in the cliffs and caves of the province. 
 
The best beaches in Krabi are a boat ride from the main resort town, and there is plenty of choice of beach depending on what you are looking for. Ao Nang is located around four miles from Hat Noppharat Thara and 12 miles from Krabi town, and is a big bay with some stunning beaches and in excess of 80 small off shore islands. The most famous beaches are Rai Le and Tham Phra Nang (see below). There are numerous operators offering sightseeing excursions from Ao Nang, either around the coast or to some of the islands such as Koh Poda, Ko Kai, Ko Mo and Ko Thap (see below).   Ao Nang now boasts a wide range of accommodation and restaurants, and it is a lively resort with plenty going on – popular excursions including kayaking along the beachfront, exploring the mangrove forests, islands an semi submerged caves.
 
As an alternative to the beach, Krabi Town is well worth exploring, and there are some fascinating temples as well as some interesting shops and street stalls. Nightlife in Krabi is a lot more relaxed than in many of the other beach resorts, although there are plenty of restaurants where you can sample local fare. Around the waterfront in the centre of Krabi Town there are numerous street food stalls, which often serve the best and most authentic local specialities – standards are high and the fact that locals choose to eat here as well as tourists must be recommendation enough! Seafood is of course a speciality, but also try the red and green curries!
 
Of course it is for the limestone cliffs that Krabi is well known, and there are numerous ways of exploring – there are plenty of operators offering sea kayaking trips, and this is probably the best way of seeing the rock formations up close. Organised day trips will often include swimming, a trip to a beach, and lunch as well, and all level of kayakers are catered for.
 
Krabi has a tropical climate with two distinct seasons, the hot season and the wet season, and is warm year round. The hottest months of the year tend to occur between April and May, when there may be thunderstorms, and again between September and October, though there is also frequent rainfall at this time which will cool you down. It is generally wet in Krabi in May, which is the peak month for the southwest monsoon, and it is also very humid at this time. The best time to visit is between November and March, when rainfall is at a minimum and temperatures range between 24 and 32 degrees Celsius. 
Getting To Krabi
By Air
You can fly from Bangkok’s Don Muang domestic airport to Krabi (KBV) with Thai Airways, Air Asia, Nok Air (the low cost airline that is part of Thai Airways), and One Two Go. There are also direct flights from Singapore’s Changi Airport with Tiger Air. The flight from Bangkok takes around 1 hour 20 minutes. You can also fly from Phuket on Phuket air, and the journey again takes around 1 hour 20 minutes. 
 
By Road
There are two main routes from Bangkok to Krabi, the shorter being just over 500 miles and the longer just under 600. Alternatively, Krabi is just a 115 mile journey by road from Phuket. The longer route from Bangkok will take you via Petchaburi and Chumphon to Krabi, the shorter via Chumphon and Amphoe Ao Luk.    There are regular buses, both air conditioned and non, leaving Phuket for Krabi each day, which takes around four hours. There are also buses linking Bangkok with Krabi – they leave the Southern Bus terminal at Borommaratcha Chonnai Road daily between 6.30am and 8pm – choose from ordinary buses, 1st or 2nd class air conditioned ones, or even 24 seat VIP buses. The journey takes around 12 hours. 
 
Travelling around the region is also quite straightforward and there are both air conditioned and non air conditioned buses that will take you from Krabi Bus terminal to the neighbouring provinces of Phuket, Surat Thani, Hat Yai and Trang. Contact the bus terminal, just over a mile north of Krabi Town at Talat Kao for more information on prices and timetables. You can also get combination bus and boat tickets to destinations such as Koh Samui and Kho Pha Ngan
By train
There is no direct rail service linking Bangkok with Krabi, but you can take the train from Bangkok’s Hualamphong Station to Nakhon Si Thammarat and then from there take a bus or taxi to Krabi. The train leaves daily at 5.35pm, arriving at Nakhon Si Thammaret at 10.45 the next morning, or there is an express train leaving at 7.15pm arriving at midday. Contact the train station for up to date prices and timetables.
 
By Boat
You can take a boat from Phuket to Krabi, and there is a direct service daily. It leaves Phuket ferry terminal each morning at 8am and then again at 8.30am and arrives at Ao Nang Beach, to the south west of Krabi Town roughly two hours later, returning to Phuket at 3pm. Also included in the price of your ticket (350 baht) is the return bus journey into Phuket town.


Getting Around Krabi
There is a pretty good public transport system in Krabi Province, with buses linking the two main destinations, Krabi Town and Aonang Beach. All along the coast, and out to the main islands there are ferries and water taxis, and on the mainland, open air buses, converted pickups or sawngthaew and tuk tuks (motorcycle taxis) all ply for trade. The resort town itself is small enough to explore on foot, unless your accommodation is a way from the centre. The bus terminal is located just over a mile from the town, and there are numerous buses that run throughout the day linking it with the major tourist destinations – the service is reliable and cheap (10 baht for a journey into town). 


Top Ten Things to See and Do in Krabi
  1. BEACHES
Despite the numerous other attractions you will find in Krabi, for many people, the main draw is still the beaches. And the beaches in Krabi cannot fail to disappoint you! Here are just a few of the main beaches in Krabi: Hat Tham Phra Nang is only accessible by boat, and is quite simply stunning – powder-soft white sand, pristine turquoise waters and dramatic limestone cliff scenery make this a popular beach, though the relaxing ambience and unspoilt nature belies the fact that it is so popular! Here you will find the luxury 5 star Rayavadee Resort, the only resort on this particular beach. Other nearby attractions include the Inner and Outer Phra Nang Caves and Phra Nang Lagoon, where there is more varied accommodation on offer. Diving, snorkelling, rock climbing and hiking are all popular here; Rai Le Beach is probably the best known beach in Krabi, and is divided into two sections, west and east, the former being more peaceful and quieter, the latter is famous for rock-climbing, as there are some dramatic limestone cliffs on the headland between here and Tham Phra Nang. The beach itself is better to the west as the eastern beach is really just a mud flat; Hat Noppharat Thara is a well-known white sandy beach, four miles from Ao Nang, and 10 miles to the north west of Krabi town. The beach is actually part of a national park, and this is also where you can catch the ferry to Koh Phi Phi (see below)
 
  1. LIMESTONE CLIFFS AND ROCK CLIMBING
Arguably THE landmark symbol of Krabi, Khao Kanab Nam are two mountains that jut straight out of the sea, and rise to around 100m, just one of the outstanding natural landmarks of this beautiful part of Thailand. Take the 15 minute long tail boat ride from the town pier and climb the stairs to the top of the peak. On the way up there are caves complete with stalactites and stalagmites, as well as evidence of prehistoric man. You can take a more extensive trip and also take in the mangrove forest and fishing village at Ko Klang. Krabi is a firm favourite with rock climbers the world over, and the dramatic sheer limestone cliffs provide some of the best climbs in Asia. Climbers from all over the world come to Rai Le Beach and Tham Phra Nang Beach each year to test themselves on a variety of routes – but you needn’t be an expert as the levels of difficulty vary hugely and there are some gentle climbs that are ideal for beginners too! Most hotels and other accommodation offer rock climbing excursons which include all equipment as well as a guide and instruction. One of the most popular climbs, particularly for the less experienced climber is the climb to see the Princess Lagoon, and the views back over Rai Le Beach as well as out to sea. There are fixed ropes at certain points to help you but the climb itself is more like a hike in the woods – access to the climb is either from Rai Le Beach (eastern side) or Phra Nang Beach. 
 
  1. NATIONAL PARKS AND WILDLIFE SANCTUARIES
It seems that in Thailand you don’t have to go far before you find a National Park and Krabi is no exception, and there are several to explore. The Than Bok Khorami National Park is home to waterfalls, mangrove forests, and numerous nature trails, as well as caves, complete with pre-historic paintings and limestone islands, where you can swim, canoe and snorkel. The park itself is named after and emerald pond, Sa Bok Khorami, where visitors can have a cooling swim, and at the north of the pond, which flows through the mountain, there is a wood carving of a footprint of the Buddha, and a shrine. Other features in the park include several caves, mangrove forest and some stunning islands, that you can only reach by boat. There is no accommodation within the park, though it is permissible to camp. Admission to the park is 200 baht. The Khao Phanom Bencha National Park, is located about 12 miles from Krabi along the Talat Kao Ban Huai To Road, and covers an area of around 50 sqkm. The park comprises mountain peaks with lush forest, streams, waterfalls, and some fascinating wildlife. The Khao Pra-Bang Khram Wildlife Sanctuary is found at Ban Bang Tiao, just over 10 miles from Amphoe Khlong Thom. Some of the main attractions of the park include a nature trail through the forest, where you can spot numerous native species such as kingfishers, hornbills and the Gurney’s Pitta. Close by is the Emerald Pool, a hot spring that originates from a warm streem in the lowland forest, Khao Nor Juji, which is reputed to the last piece of virgin rainforest in Thailand. Depending on the time of your visit and prevailing light conditions, the deep turquoise waters vary in colour – the best time to visit is dawn. You can visit year round and there is an entrance fee payable of 20 baht.
  1. NAMTOK RON KHLONG THOM OR HOT SHOWER WATERFALL
Another natural wonder worth exploring is the Namtok ron Khlong Thom, or Hot Shower Waterfall, located quite close to the Emerald Pool (see above), deep in the forest. Here cool streams and hot springs meet on a gentle slope to create cascades or warm water, at a pleasant 40-50 degrees Celsius. The falls are best visited early in the morning (around 7-8am), or in the late afternoon (4-5pm). To get there, follow the road to Amphoe Khlong Thom for around 28 miles, then another 7 miles along the Sukhaphiban Road. There is an admission charge of 10 baht per person.
 
  1. CAVES
Krabi is home to a number of cave temples, one of the most spectacular of which is the Tiger Cave Temple, or Wat Tham Suea, so named because there is a rocky outcrop nearby which resembles a tiger’s claw. The temple is located a few miles to the north east of Krabi town, in the Khriwong Valley, in amongst lush forests and the spectacular scenery of the Ao Luk Thanu mountain range. It is known as a meditation centre – easy to see why given its stunning location – and is home to some 250 monks and nuns. It is also a place of historical and archaeological significance, and there have been numerous finds of stone tools, pottery remains, beads and other items which bear testimony to the cultural heritage of the place. It is also a lovely place to take a walk – there are two passages up to the hill top (be warned, there are 1200 steps on one of them!), but the views are worth it. The other is less energetic, taking you up just 130 steps to the monks’ cottages. Tham Phra Nang Nok, or the Outer Princess Cave, is named after a mythical princess and are to be found at the southern end of Ao Phra Nang Beach. There is also an Inner Princess Cave, within which is a hidden pool called Sa Phra Nang, reached via a trail to the interior of the mountain. Tham Phi Hue To is a large cave of particular interest to archaeologists, as there are prehistoric cave paintings on the walls. Access is by boat from the town pier in Krabi. Tham Sadet is a beautiful cave complete with stalactites and stalagmites, located and Ban Nong Kok, named after the royal visit by then then King Rama VI in 1909. Other caves worth noting are Tham Phet, or Diamond Cave, where as well as the glittering internal walls you can also see a Buddha image enshrined in front of the cave; Tham Lot Nuea and Tham Lot Tai, which boast some stunning stalactites and stalagmites as well as long meandering passages only navigable at low tide; and Tham Chao Le, accessible by boat from Laem Sak, where you can see prehistoric cave paintings.
 
  1. DIVING AND SNORKELLING
There are numerous opportunities to dive and snorkel in the waters off Krabi and its 100+ off shore islands. In the main resorts you will find plenty of operators offering dive trips, as well as hiring out equipment.    Some of the best diving is available from Ao Nang, and from here you can go on trips out to the Poda Island group, where the waters are even clearer than those off the mainland, and visibility is probably second only to Phi Phi.    There is are a total of 15 different dive sites off Ao Nang, all of which are accessible by boat within an hour from the mainland.   No matter what your level of diving is, there is sure to be a dive site to suit you! Experienced divers should head to the 50m long cave at 5-12m depth at Yawabon Island, behind Poda. Generally speaking, the best time of year for diving is between November and April when visibility is at its best. Some of the dive shops in Ao Nang shut during the low season (May to October), but some others do remain open year round. Diving is generally inexpensive in comparison with the rest of the world – two local dives in the Poda Island group costs less than 2000 baht, and a four day PADI approved open water course costs around 10,000 baht.
 
  1. CANOEING AND KAYAKING
The best way to see the limestone rock formations that rise so spectacularly out of the sea has to be from a boat, and what better way than to canoe of kayak between them? You will be able to explore the offshore areas at a leisurely pace. Operators offering kayaking and canoeing trips can be found in both Ao Nang and Krabi town.
 
 
  1. THALE WAEK, OR THE SEPARATED SEA
 
For a truly remarkable sight, head to Thale Waek, or the Separated Sea, which is located along the Ko Dam Khwan. Each time the tide goes out, the sea is magically separated by the limestone and white sand beach that appears to connect the two islands at low tide. The effect is at its best five days before and after the full moon, any time between December and May. 
 
  1. SUSAAN HOI, OR FOSSILS SHELL BEACH
 
Around 10 miles or so from Krabi town, close to Ban Laem Pho, is Susaan Hoi, or Fossils Shell Beach, an outstanding natural phenomenon. There are three sites like this in the world, and this is the only one in Asia. When you first see it, it looks like some slabs of concrete that have fallen from above, but in fact these are slabs formed from a huge number of embedded mollusc shells, dating back around 40 million years! Thhis shell graveyard was once a large freshwater swamp, some 75 million years ago, and the swamp was full of snails and other molluscs. As they died, layer upon layer of shells accumulated, and then, when changes occurred on the surface of the earth combined with global changes in weather, seawater flooded the swamp and the limestone in the seawater enclosed the submerged molluscs, fossilizing them into ignite rock some half a metre deep. Subsequent geographical upheavals broke up these into thick sheets of rock and boulders, which are now strewn around the beach at Cape Laem.
 
  1. ISLANDS
Within easy reach of Krabi are a number of islands that are well worth a visit. Of these the most famous are of course the Phi Phi Islands, the perfect place for a relaxing break, as well as being a great place for diving. For more detailed information on these and other islands, return to the Thailand homepage and select the destination.
                          i.      Mu Koh Phi Phi (Phi Phi Islands)
Reputed to be amongst the most beautiful tropical islands in all the world, the Phi Phi Islands have soared in popularity in recent years, part due to being the location for the film “The Beach”, and part because of their recent classification as a National Park. Located just 25 miles from two very popular tourist resorts, Krabi and Phuket, they are easily accessible by boat. The Phi Phi archipelago is comprised of tow rocky islets called Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Le – the former is the larger island, famous for its beaches and coral formations, and excellent hotels and other facilities, the latter is smaller and uninhabited, and the main attraction is Viking Cave, a 3.2sqkm cave that is inhabited by thousands of swallows. Around 90% of the islands are composed of cliff or mountain, and the main village and all accommodation options lie in one small area, leaving the rest of Phi Phi Don largely unspoilt. Diving and snorkelling are popular on Phi Phi – the coves of Ao maya and Ao Lo Sama are best for snorkelling and the waters particularly to the south are great for diving and you will see some stunning coral formations.   The are other outlying islands – Ko Yung and Ko Phai are worth mentioning – which also boast some spectacular corals and beaches.

The best time to visit the Phi Phi islands is between November and April when the waters around the islands are calm. To get to the Phi Phi Islands, take the boat from either Krabi or Phuket – from Krabi, there are passenger boats leaving Chao Fa Pier at 10am and 2.30pm, a trip of around 2 hours 30 minutes. Alternatively there is an express boat that leaves Ao Nang at 9pm, taking just 40 minutes.    From Phuket, there is a shuttle boat service that leaves at 8.30am and 1.30pm. There are also numerous operators offering day and extended excursions.

                         ii.      KOH LANTA
Koh Lanta is comprised of two main islands, Ko Lanta Yai, the larger of the two, and Ko Lanta Noi, which lie on the east side of Phang Nga Bay, some 44 miles to the south of Krabi. The islands are largely composed of mountains and virgin rainforest. The island group is protected as the Koh Lanta National Park, which covers 152sqkm and incorporates the small islands or Ko Ha, Ko Rok and Ko Hai as well as the two main islands.   The best time to visit is between November and April. The main beaches and accommodation lie on Ko Lanta Yai – the best include Kho Kwang, Khlong Dao, Phra Ae and Ba Kan Tiang.

Getting to Koh Lanta is quite straightforward. From Krabi, between November and April there are boats leaving twice a day from the Chao Pha Pier in Krabi town at 10.30am and 1.30pm, arriving at Saladan in the North of Koh Lanta two hours later. There are plenty of minibuses and pick ups waiting for visitors at the pier which will take you to your accommodation. The return boats leave Saladan at 8am and 1pm. Between May and October there are no boats operating between Krabi and Koh Lanta due to rough seas and high winds. If you are visiting Koh Lanta from Phuket, then the easiest way to travel is via the Phi Phi Islands as a regular boat operates between Tonsai Bay’s town pier and Saladan, leaving at 11.30am and 2.30pm each day, taking just over an hour.




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