KRABI, THAILAND
Is Krabi unknown and off the beaten path? No. Is Krabi beautiful and worth visiting? Absolutely! On my trip through Southeast Asia, I only had time to visit one destination in Southern Thailand. It was a tough decision but Krabi ended up winning out because of its accessibility and proximity to other attractions in the area. Krabi is located on the Andaman Sea which makes visiting other islands such as Koh Phi Phi, Phuket, and Koh Lanta quite easy!
Attractions:
Ao Nang Beach: This is Krabi’s main beach and where you will be transported to and from other destinations. It’s a nice area but I think heading to Railay or Tonsai are more worth your time!
Railay Beach: Just a 15 minute boat ride from Ao Nang, Railay Beach is a popular spot for those looking to kick back and relax. Round trip tickets from Ao Nang to Railay cost 200 baht (or $6 USD). When you get to Railay, there’s a hike you can do if you walk 15 minutes from the boat drop. The hike is very steep and takes about 30 minutes each way but the view up top is gorgeous! Definitely wear supportive footwear!
Tonsai Beach: Tonsai is a short walk from Railay and is a bit more quiet. The surrounding limestone cliffs are unbelievable and make for a great rock climbing experience!
7 Island Tour: This tour picks you up from either Krabi Town or Ao Nang at 12pm and costs 900 baht ($27 USD). You will float on a long-tail boat to (you guessed it) 7 different islands with the option to snorkel at a few of them. The ticket price includes a dinner buffet and you will return to Ao Nang at 8pm. I highly recommend doing this - the surrounding scenery is stunning!
Talay Wak (Split Ocean): When the tide is low (five days before or after the full moon), a white beach will appear and connect two islands - Koh Kai and Koh Tub. Pretty cool!
Other spots to check out include: Fossil Shell Beach (Susan Hoi), Emerald Pool (Sa Morakot), and Huay Toh Waterfall.
Accommodation:
Ao Nang Backpackers: I stayed in a six-person dorm for 200 baht/night (about $6 USD). The hostel has a spacious social area with both pool and ping pong tables. There’s a party hostel right across the street that has a fun pub crawl, too.
I would suggest staying in Ao Nang (as opposed to Krabi Town) because it’s closer to the water and beach.
Transportation:
Ko Phi Phi is 1.5 hours by ferry from Krabi and costs 400 baht.
Phucket is 2.5 hours by bus from Krabi and costs 150 baht.
Bangkok is 12 hours by bus from Krabi and costs 1,000 baht. Flights between the two cities are 1.5 hours and cost between 1,400-2,000 baht.
The above photos of me were taken by a couple of random travelers - thank you, people!