Why visit Krabi
On Thailand's Andaman coast, between Phang Nga and Trang, Krabi province stretches across 150 km of coastline dotted with more than a hundred islands, its landscape shaped by limestone cliffs, mangrove forests, waterfalls and caves rather than by resort development. Choose it when you want scenery that looks nothing like the beaches of Phuket or Pattaya.
Visitors typically settle into Ao Nang, Railay, Phi Phi Island or Koh Lanta, where hotels span budget to luxury. Compared with Phuket or Pattaya the nightlife is quiet, and Ao Nang's shopfront restaurants - Thai, European and other Asian cuisine among them - suit families and older travellers just as well as groups chasing adventure.
Activity is really the point here. Half- and full-day excursions cover island-hopping, snorkelling, rock climbing, sea kayaking, jungle trekking and scuba diving, giving you enough options to fill three or four nights without doing the same thing twice.
Things to see and do
Railay Beach & caves
Boat-access-only beaches backed by dramatic cliff faces, popular with climbers.
4 Island Tour
A full-day boat trip covering Krabi's best-known island stops.
Phi Phi Islands day trip
Speedboat excursion to the Maya Bay area and surrounding islands.
Emerald Pool & Thung Teao Forest
A cooler, jungle-set alternative to a beach day.
Wat Tham Sua (Tiger Cave Temple)
Hilltop temple with a steep climb and panoramic views.
Rock climbing at Railay
Guided climbing on limestone cliffs for adventure-focused travellers.
Consider adding the twin limestone peaks at Khao Khanab Nam, a soak at the Klong Thom hot springs, a stop at an elephant sanctuary, or the climb up to Khao Ngon Nak viewpoint for extra scenery.
Good to know
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Best time to visit | November to February; hot March-May, monsoon May-October |
| Getting there | Krabi Airport, approx. 1h10 flight from Bangkok |
| From Phuket | Approx. 2h30 by road |
| Island ferries | Regular services to Phi Phi Island, Koh Lanta and other islands |
| Currency | Thai Baht (THB) |
Trips that include Krabi
5D/4N Phuket (2N) & Krabi (2N)
Krabi paired with Phuket for a two-island trip.
7D/6N Phuket & Krabi Highlights
A longer combined itinerary across both destinations.
On trips of seven nights or longer, Krabi extends naturally into a wider route - Phuket and Bangkok, or Phuket and Koh Samui.