Krabi Tourism And Travel Guide

Krabi is a province in southern Thailand, known for its pristine dreamy beaches and forests with rock cut lagoons, kayaks floating down the sea and islands in the centre of the Andaman. In recent years, a lot of tourism has redirected to Krabi from likened destinations like Phuket and Pattaya because the former is more peaceful and quaint and less haunted by crowds. 

Obviously, lately the town and its islands have become target to popular tourism and attract travellers like the bees, through high as well as low season. If you are also looking at Krabi for your next holiday, here’s a little travel guide to help you plan well.

The fastest and easiest way to reach Krabi is by taking a flight, and it boasts of an international airport.

By Air:

Krabi International Airport is located 15 km away from the town centre and receives many flights from all over Thailand as well as Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. From India, usually the flights have a Bangkok stopover before reaching Krabi.

By Road:

Good roads connect Krabi to Bangkok (10 hours) as well as Phuket (3-4 hours) and you can easily drive down by hiring a car. Local buses, private coaches as well as luxury and deluxe buses also run to Krabi daily from said cities.

By Rail:

Since Krabi doesn’t have a railway station of its own, you can take a train from Bangkok to Trang and then take the road to Krabi, which takes about 2 hours.

Getting Around:

Krabi is a big place, with so many islands around the mainland. So transportation for getting around here also is very well developed - from tuk-tuks to songthaews, motorbike taxis to hired scooties. For island hopping you can hire a speedboat or take a regular ferry. Yachts are also hired at higher rates.

Krabi is really a year-round destination but some months are definitely better than the others. 

Dry Season (November- April):

The dry season in Krabi is the time when rainfall is relatively low and the skies a little more clear than other months. The temperature doesn’t change much, hovering between 24-31°C, practically spreading Thai ‘winter’ through Krabi. Tourism wise, this is a high season and crowds throng the islands all through the months. Everything is very expensive and it may be difficult to find accommodation if you haven’t booked in advance.

Rainy Season (May- October):

The other half of the year in Krabi is rained-in, and this marks the wet season or rainy season, from May to October. The temperatures don’t change much, except when it is raining or too windy to bring them down. The highs might be higher than the dry season, up to 35°C, and the skies are more overcast than usual. For all its rain and choppy waters, this time is also equally touristy, if not more. But the months of July and August are better than others for they are drier and allow you some beach activities.

Go Island Hopping:

Krabi is a collection of islands and the best thing to do here is go island hopping, visit some of the best with their unique beaches, lagoons, cliffs and caves. You can hire a yacht or speedboat or even go on the usual ferry. Some of the most beautiful islands to include on your hopping are Ao Nang, Koh Lanta Koh Poda and Koh Hong.

Enjoy the Beaches:

Aside from island hopping, beaches are the next big thing here. Visit Railay Beach, one of the most famous here, followed by Tonsai Beach for rock-climbing, Phra Nang Beach for its gorgeous caves and sunset views and Tub Kaek Beach for its pretty cute charm.

Party At Ao Nang Beach:

Nightlife in Krabi is synonymous with the Ao Nang Beach. It may not be the most unique or gorgeous of the lot, but boasts of a throbbing night rhythm with clubs, bars, cafes and restaurants. Party mongers find this as their haunt every night.

Try Rock Climbing:

Rock climbing is a sport that is not offered everywhere, like hiking or trekking is. In Krabi, the best place to go rock climbing is Ton Say Bay, followed by Railay beach. The activity is open for both, beginners, as well as experienced enthusiasts.

Visit a Glowing Lagoon:

In the thickets of Khao Phra Bang Khram Wildlife Sanctuary, you will be delighted to discover a lagoon that is blue and glows brilliantly - Sra Nam Pud. It is not fit to swim but makes for a gorgeous backdrop to take some photos. If you wish to swim, head to the nearby Emerald Pool, where the waters are clear green and conducive to swimming and floating.

Krabi has some of the most mouthwatering dishes to offer, its repertoire being the traditional Thai cuisine, the usual continental and Italian fare, many Indian restaurants as well as some Moghlai cuisine too. Even so, some dishes stand out and the street food is any day more fun than your usual restaurants. 

Visit the Night market on Maharat Soi 10 for Malaysian and Moghlai curries, Thai seafood, South Indian vegetarian snacks and other local delights sold on streets and small garage restaurants. Roadside vendors also sell one-pot Thai meals that include noddles with two Thai curries of your choice and meat or seafood along with veggies. These bowls are inexpensive, starting at 30 Baht, and fill your tummy for half a day. Khanom Jeen Soup Stand is one of them. If you want more high class, better-ambience facilities, head to Ao Nang for its line of cafes, bakeries and Thai and Italian restaurants.

Okay, Krabi may not have all the sophistication of Milan or Paris, nor would it have the mass shopping mood of Bangkok or Hong Kong, but what it does not have in quantity, Krabi compensates in vibes. The province is peppered with street shops, stalls and night markets selling everything from apparel to logo Tshirts, gadgets to accessories, first copy hand bags to shoes and sneakers and perfumes. Visit the Krabi Town Walking Street on weekends and Ao Nang Walking Street any day of the week for this kind of shopping. 

For high end brands and local fashion designers, head to the Vogue Department Store, Big C Mall and Outlet Village (cheaper, warehouse items from big brands).