Krabi is all about scenery. Sheer limestone towers rise straight out of the Andaman Sea, beaches hide behind cliffs that can only be reached by boat, and the inland forest holds clear pools and hot springs. Compared with Phuket next door, the pace is slower and the towns are smaller, which is exactly why many travellers love it. This guide covers the best islands and beaches, inland sights, local food, where to stay and how to time your trip around the weather.<\/p>\n
The province stretches along Thailand’s southern Andaman coast and includes dozens of islands, from the famous Phi Phi group to quieter Ko Lanta. Its dramatic karst landscape has made it a well-known rock-climbing destination, while calm, shallow bays are ideal for kayaking and snorkelling. Krabi Town sits on a mangrove-lined river estuary and has a relaxed, local feel, with a large Muslim community whose influence shows in the food. For a short taste of the province, read our introduction to Krabi’s limestone mountains and turquoise sea<\/a>.<\/p>\n Railay sits on a peninsula cut off from the mainland by limestone cliffs, so the only way in is by boat; longtails from Ao Nang take about 15 minutes. West Railay has soft sand and sunset views, while Phra Nang Cave Beach, a short walk away, is framed by towering cliffs and a cave shrine filled with offerings. Climbing shops run beginner lessons, no experience needed.<\/p>\n Tip:<\/strong> the trail to the Railay viewpoint and hidden lagoon involves scrambling up steep, muddy rock with ropes. Wear proper shoes, avoid it after rain and go only if you are confident. Boats back to Ao Nang stop around sunset.<\/p>\n The classic Krabi boat trip visits Ko Poda, Chicken Island (Ko Kai), Ko Tup and Ko Mor. The highlight is Thale Waek, the “separated sea”, where a sandbar appears at low tide and links Ko Tup, Ko Mor and Chicken Island so you can walk between them. Trips are timed around the tides and leave from Ao Nang and Railay. The islands are part of a national park, and foreign adults pay a 400-baht park fee.<\/p>\n North of Ao Nang, the Hong Islands are known for an emerald lagoon enclosed by high limestone walls, best explored by kayak or longtail at high tide. Day trips usually add snorkelling stops and a beach break.<\/p>\n Ferries and speedboats connect Krabi with Ko Phi Phi Don, the main island, which has a car-free village, beaches and a hilltop viewpoint. Neighbouring Ko Phi Phi Le is home to the famous Maya Bay. Boats no longer enter the bay: visitors land on the far side and walk in along a boardwalk, swimming is not allowed, and the bay closes every year from 1 August to 30 September.<\/p>\n About 9 km from Krabi Town, this forest temple is famous for its staircase of around 1,260 steps up a limestone peak, rewarded by a shrine and sweeping views over the coast and karst hills. Entry is free.<\/p>\n Tip:<\/strong> start at dawn, carry water and keep bags zipped, as monkeys along the stairs grab anything that looks like food. Cover shoulders and knees.<\/p>\n In Khlong Thom district, roughly 55 to 60 km from Krabi Town, the Emerald Pool is a spring-fed pool of startlingly clear green-blue water in the forest, about 800 metres from the entrance along a path, or longer via a boardwalk. Foreign adults currently pay 200 baht. Nearby, the hot-spring waterfall lets you soak in warm mineral water flowing over rock terraces. Arrive early on a weekday to beat the tour groups.<\/p>\n Krabi Town is easy to explore on foot, with a riverside promenade, morning markets and a lively walking street on Maharat Soi 8, usually from Friday to Sunday evening. Across the river, the twin limestone hills of Khao Khanab Nam are a symbol of the province; longtail trips from the town pier pass them and continue into the mangroves.<\/p>\n For a slower pace, Ko Lanta has long west-coast beaches, small fishing communities and a national park at its southern tip. It is reached by minivan or by boat from Krabi and makes a good base for a few quiet days at the end of a trip.<\/p>\n Krabi’s cooking is southern Thai at heart: bold, spicy and rich in fresh turmeric, shrimp paste and herbs, with strong Muslim and seafood traditions. Look for:<\/p>\n The walking street in Krabi Town and the night markets around Ao Nang are the easiest places to sample several dishes. Many restaurants are halal, and pork is less common than elsewhere in Thailand.<\/p>\n Krabi International Airport (KBV) is about 9 km from Krabi Town and roughly half an hour by road from Ao Nang; flights from Bangkok take around 1 hour 25 minutes. Overnight buses from Bangkok’s Southern Bus Terminal take about 12 to 14 hours. There is no railway in Krabi: the nearest station is Surat Thani (Phun Phin), a few hours away by minivan. Ferries and speedboats link Krabi with Phuket, Phi Phi and Ko Lanta, with routes and schedules that vary by season.<\/p>\n Locally, shared songthaews run between Krabi Town and Ao Nang, and an airport bus serves both. Longtails leave from Ao Nang beach for Railay and nearby islands. Ride-hailing apps work in the main areas, and scooters and cars are easy to rent; a car is the simplest way to reach the Emerald Pool and hot springs.<\/p>\n The dry season from about November to April brings calm seas and the best conditions for boat trips, with November to February also best for climbing, when the rock is driest. From roughly May to October, the south-west monsoon brings rain and rough seas: longtail crossings can be suspended, island tours cancelled and some resorts on Railay and the islands close. Prices fall and the forest is at its greenest, so it can still work if your plans are flexible.<\/p>\n Base yourself in Ao Nang for convenience or Railay for the views, spend calm-weather days on the water and keep an inland day for Tiger Cave Temple, the Emerald Pool and the hot springs. Visit between November and April for the best seas, and if you are flying in via the capital, our Bangkok travel guide<\/a> will help you plan the first leg.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Plan your Krabi trip: Railay, island-hopping and Phi Phi, Tiger Cave Temple, southern food, the best bases to stay, transport and the best season.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4200,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[172],"tags":[],"province":[162],"class_list":["post-5089","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-attractions-en","province-krabi"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/songkran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5089","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/songkran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/songkran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/songkran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/songkran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5089"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/songkran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5089\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5164,"href":"https:\/\/songkran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5089\/revisions\/5164"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/songkran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4200"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/songkran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5089"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/songkran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5089"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/songkran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5089"},{"taxonomy":"province","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/songkran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/province?post=5089"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Top things to do in Krabi<\/h2>\n
Railay and Phra Nang Beach<\/h3>\n
The Four Islands and Thale Waek<\/h3>\n
The Hong Islands<\/h3>\n
The Phi Phi Islands<\/h3>\n
Tiger Cave Temple (Wat Tham Suea)<\/h3>\n
The Emerald Pool and the hot springs<\/h3>\n
Krabi Town and Khao Khanab Nam<\/h3>\n
Ko Lanta<\/h3>\n
What to eat in Krabi<\/h2>\n
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Where to stay in Krabi<\/h2>\n
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Getting there and getting around<\/h2>\n
Best time to visit<\/h2>\n
Good to know<\/h2>\n
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In short<\/h2>\n