Krabi

Quick facts

Population

483,855 registered residents in Krabi Province (civil registry of the Department of Provincial Administration, 2024); 30,459 in the municipality of Krabi, the capital (same registry, end of 2025). Ao Nang and Railay are outside the municipality, in Mueang Krabi district

Founding

No single date: the communities formed in the late 18th century were raised to city status by King Chulalongkorn in 1872, and in 1875 Krabi stopped depending on Nakhon Si Thammarat and began answering directly to Bangkok

Country and region

Thailand: Krabi Province, in the south of the country, on the Andaman Sea coast, with more than 130 islands

Language

Thai, with the accent and vocabulary of the south; in the tourist areas of Ao Nang and Railay, English covers the basics

Currency

Thai baht (THB, ฿); about 38 per euro and 33.5 per US dollar (rate of September 24, 2026)

Time zone

UTC+7 all year, no daylight saving time

Best time to go

December to March; this is the dry season, with the lowest rainfall of the year and calm seas for boats. From May to October the monsoon brings rain on more than half the days, peaking in October, and November still sees rain on more than half the days

Average daily cost

Budget around THB927; mid-range around THB2,350; comfortable around THB6,060 per person per day, based on spending reported by travelers to Budget Your Trip (checked October 2026). Indicative figures, excluding travel to the destination.

What to see

01

Railay Beach

EssentialAo Nang · Half a day or more · Late afternoon

Railay West beach is the image of Krabi: white sand and shallow water between two limestone cliffs where climbers scale the rock beside people sunbathing. There is no road; you arrive by long-tail boat from Ao Nang in ten to fifteen minutes. The north end is the best for swimming, and at sunset the cliffs become silhouettes over the bay. Behind the beach, a promenade with restaurants and shops connects to the east side of the peninsula. Climbers and backpackers stay in the neighboring cove, Ton Sai.

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02

Phra Nang Cave Beach

EssentialOne to two hours · In the morning

At the southern tip of the peninsula, Hat Tham Phra Nang is considered the most beautiful beach on the peninsula, with pale sand, limestone islets in front of it and a cliff that drops straight onto the sand. You reach it on foot by a flat trail beneath the rocks from Railay East. At the north end, a small cave holds the shrine of Princess Phra Nang, full of wooden phallus-shaped offerings left by fishermen asking for her protection. Through the day, tour boats take up much of the strip of sand; early in the morning it is still free.

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03

Ko Poda

EssentialKrabi · Half a day or more · In the morningCheck tickets and reservations

The Poda archipelago, about 8 km from Ao Nang and 25 minutes by long-tail boat, includes Ko Poda, Ko Kai, Ko Mo and Ko Thap, with white sand, clear water and shallow coral. At low tide a sandbar links Ko Thap to the neighboring islets and you can walk across, which the Thais call Talay Waek, the sea that parts. The trip that agencies sell as the four-island tour usually combines Ko Poda, Ko Kai, Ko Thap and Phra Nang beach, in Railay, on a fixed schedule. If you have already been to Phra Nang or want to time the tide, you can charter a long-tail boat just for Poda and Thap at the booth on Ao Nang beach. The islands are part of the national park, with a fee of 400 baht for adult foreigners and 200 for children.

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04

Wat Tham Suea

EssentialKrabi Noi · Half a day or more · In the morning

The Tiger Cave temple, about 9 km from the center of Krabi Town, began in 1975 as a meditation center at the foot of a limestone cliff. At the base are the hall beneath the rock and the caves where the monks meditate. What draws visitors is the stairway to the top of Khao Kaeo hill, with more than 1,200 steps (published counts run from 1,239 to 1,272), where there is a golden pagoda, a replica of the Buddha's footprint and a view over the hills and the sea. It is a working temple: cover your shoulders and knees, and watch out for monkeys with food and loose belongings.

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06

Ao Nang Beach

Worth a visitKrabi · One to two hours · Late afternoon

Ao Nang's main beach is more a base than a destination: the west end is taken over by the boats leaving for the islands, and the water near the Khlong Haeng stream, which separates Ao Nang from Noppharat Thara, receives sewage and is not suitable for swimming. The east end is cleaner and has monkeys on the rocks. From there, a wooden walkway of ten to fifteen minutes leads to the little beach of Pai Plong, which is prettier and calmer.

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07

Noppharat Thara Beach

Worth a visitAo Nang · One to two hours · Late afternoon

The long, flat beach north of Ao Nang belongs to the Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi national park. It has less commerce than Ao Nang, views of the islands and sand that is good for walking. It is the best of the Ao Nang beaches for late afternoon.

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08

Ko Hong

Worth a visitNong Thale · Half a day or more · In the morningCheck tickets and reservations

The Hong island group, inside Than Bok Khorani National Park, is known for a lagoon ringed by limestone cliffs with a single narrow entrance: at low tide you enter by kayak, at high tide by swimming. On the main island there are white-sand beaches, a 400 m trail and a viewpoint at 109 m. The long-tail boat takes about 40 minutes from Noppharat Thara; the safest season runs from January to April, outside the monsoon.

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09

Khao Khanap Nam

Worth a visitSai Thai · Up to half an hour · Late afternoon

The two limestone hills of about 100 m that flank the Krabi River are the symbol of the town and even appear in Jurassic World Rebirth. Ancient human skeletons and pottery were found inside one of the caves. You get there by long-tail boat from the pier in the center, in about 20 minutes, passing through the mangroves of the estuary; the boat is chartered whole, so it is worth putting together a group. Stairs lead from the bank to the top of one of the hills.

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Nilo’s itinerary

1. 1

   Day 1 · Railay and Phra Nang beach

   1. Diamond CaveUp to half an hourIf there is time

   1. Have an early breakfast in Ao Nang and walk to the east end of the beach, where the booth and the long-tail boats to Railay West are; the boat leaves when it has eight passengers and takes ten to fifteen minutes.

   2. Get off at Railay West, cross the peninsula on the promenade to Railay East and follow the flat trail beneath the cliffs to Phra Nang beach, about ten minutes on foot.

   3. Enjoy Phra Nang in the first hours, before the tour boats take over the sand: a swim, the princess's shrine in the cave at the north end and the climbers on the cliff.

   4. If you have closed shoes and the ground is dry, climb the viewpoint trail, which starts from the same path, in about half an hour; the descent to the lagoon is optional and more dangerous.

   5. Have lunch on the Railay West promenade or the Railay East walkway.

   6. In the afternoon, take an introductory climbing lesson with a school in Railay East, or rent a kayak in Railay West to paddle among the islets in front of Phra Nang.

   7. On the way back to Railay West, step into Diamond Cave for fifteen minutes, on the east side.

   8. Watch the sunset at Railay West and return to Ao Nang by boat; after 6 p.m. the fare is higher.

2. 2

   Day 2 · The Poda islands and the Ko Thap sandbar

   1. 3Ko PodaHalf a day or moreEssential

   1. The day before, check the tide table for the time of low tide and charter a long-tail boat to Ko Poda and Ko Thap at the cooperative booth on Ao Nang beach, with the return time agreed. The four-island group tour also stops there, but it runs on a fixed schedule and repeats the previous day's Phra Nang beach.

   2. Leave Ao Nang in the morning; the boat takes about 25 minutes to Ko Poda. Bring cash for the national park fee (400 baht per foreign adult).

   3. Spend the first hours on Ko Poda beach, with shallow water and coral close to the sand.

   4. At low tide, go on to Ko Thap and walk across the sandbar to the neighboring islets, the Talay Waek.

   5. Return to Ao Nang in mid-afternoon and end the day with a walk along Noppharat Thara beach at sunset.

3. 3

   Day 3 · Krabi Town: the morning market, the Tiger Cave and the river

   1. 4Wat Tham SueaHalf a day or moreEssential
   2. Wat Kaew KorawaramUp to half an hourIf there is time
   3. 9Khao Khanap NamUp to half an hourWorth a visit

   1. Leave Ao Nang around 6:30 a.m., by taxi or car with a driver, for the center of Krabi Town, about 20 minutes away.

   2. Have breakfast at the covered morning market on Maharat Road, before 8 a.m., when the bustle starts to fade.

   3. Continue to Wat Tham Suea, about 9 km past the center, and climb the stairway to the top of Khao Kaeo with water and clothing that covers your shoulders and knees; set aside the morning to climb, see the pagoda and come down unhurried.

   4. Go back to the center for lunch, khao mok gai or massaman at a halal canteen, and stop by Wat Kaew Korawaram, on Maharat Road.

   5. In the afternoon, at the pier in the center, charter a long-tail boat to the Khao Khanap Nam hills, about 20 minutes each way through the mangroves of the estuary.

   6. Have dinner at the Walking Street if it's Friday, Saturday or Sunday, or at the night market by the pier on other days, and return to Ao Nang by taxi or songthaew.

If you stay longer

1. 4

   Day 4 · Ko Hong and the lagoon

   1. 8Ko HongHalf a day or moreWorth a visit

   1. Leave in the morning from the Noppharat Thara pier on a boat tour to the Hong islands; the long-tail boat takes about 40 minutes.

   2. Enter the Ko Hong lagoon by kayak if the tide is low, or by swimming if it is high, following the boatman's instructions.

   3. Land on the main island, walk the 400 m trail and climb to the viewpoint; bring cash for the park fee.

   4. Return to Ao Nang in mid-afternoon and save the evening for Pai Plong beach, a ten- to fifteen-minute walk along the walkway that starts at the east end of Ao Nang.

2. 5

   Day 5 · Phi Phi Islands

   Day trip

   1. The archipelago is about 42 km from Krabi Town, in the same national park as Ao Nang. Ferries leave from the Khlong Chilat port, about 4 km from the center of Krabi Town and 20 km from Ao Nang, and reach Ton Sai pier on Phi Phi Don in one to two hours; there are also boats from Noppharat Thara pier and tour speedboats from Ao Nang. Phi Phi Don is the only inhabited island; Maya Bay, on Phi Phi Leh, can be visited only by boat, with landing at the Loh Samah pier on the opposite side of the island: boats do not anchor inside the bay, and each visitor stays at most one hour. The park usually suspends landings in August and September. The park fee for foreigners is 400 baht. On a day trip by ferry there is little time left for Phi Phi Leh; anyone who wants both islands on the same day is better off on a speedboat tour.

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Food

Where to eat

• Krabi Town markets

  This is where you eat southern food at local prices. The covered morning market on Maharat Road opens before dawn and is busiest before 8 a.m.: fruit, sticky rice, patongko (the fried dough of the breakfast table), sweet tea and hot soy milk. At night, the market by the pier and the weekend Walking Street have roti, Thai dishes, seafood and fruit shakes. I'd go to the morning one for the food and to the night one for the buzz.

• Seafood restaurants in Ao Nang and Noppharat Thara

  For hoi chak tin, the wing snail that is Krabi's dish, and for snails stir-fried with chili and Thai basil, plus whole grilled fish. Ask the price before choosing, especially for fish sold by weight.

• Halal stalls in Krabi Town

  Khao mok gai, massaman and roti at lunch, at the Muslim canteens in the center. They are quick, cheap meals without alcohol, and good for understanding the Muslim side of southern cooking.

· 2026-10-19

Day trips

Where to begin

Railay and Phra Nang beach

Have an early breakfast in Ao Nang and walk to the east end of the beach, where the booth and the long-tail boats to Railay West are; the boat leaves when it has eight passengers and takes ten to fifteen minutes.

• Railay Beach
• Railay Viewpoint

The Poda islands and the Ko Thap sandbar

The day before, check the tide table for the time of low tide and charter a long-tail boat to Ko Poda and Ko Thap at the cooperative booth on Ao Nang beach, with the return time agreed. The four-island group tour also stops there, but it runs on a fixed schedule and repeats the previous day's Phra Nang beach.

• Ko Poda

Krabi Town: the morning market, the Tiger Cave and the river

Leave Ao Nang around 6:30 a.m., by taxi or car with a driver, for the center of Krabi Town, about 20 minutes away.

• Ao Nang Beach
• Wat Tham Suea
• Khao Khanap Nam

Ko Hong and the lagoon

Leave in the morning from the Noppharat Thara pier on a boat tour to the Hong islands; the long-tail boat takes about 40 minutes.

• Ko Hong

Money

Getting there and around

Safety

Etiquette tips

Mistakes to avoid

Useful phrases

Where to stay

• Ao Nang · First-time visitors to Krabi who want to do the islands, Railay and Krabi Town without depending on a boat schedule to get back to the room.: It has lodging at every level, restaurants, agencies and the boats to Railay and the islands, and is about 35 minutes from the airport. It is the busiest area and one of the priciest in the province, the main beach is crowded with boats at the west end, and in the monsoon part of the commerce closes.
• Railay West and Railay East · People who want to wake up without cars, reach Phra Nang beach before the tour boats or climb every day.: The peninsula is empty early in the morning and at night, when the day visitors leave. The drawback is that everything depends on a boat: arriving and leaving with luggage, going to Ao Nang for dinner or shopping. Railay West has the beach and the priciest hotels; Railay East, lined with mangroves and without a swimming beach, has the cheaper options five minutes away on foot.
• Ton Sai · Climbers and backpackers on a tight budget.: It sits at the foot of the climbing cliffs and has the simplest lodging in the area. Access is by boat or by a trail over rocks and through woods to Railay West, and the infrastructure is basic.
• Krabi Town · People arriving late by bus or plane, catching an early ferry to Phi Phi or Ko Lanta, or who prefer town life and want to spend less.: The markets, the bus terminal, the ferry port and the airport are close by, and food and lodging cost less than in Ao Nang. The nearest beach is about 18 km away, so days at the sea start with transport.
• Noppharat Thara · People who want a calmer beach without moving away from the boats.: The beach is long and quiet, and the Noppharat Thara pier serves the Hong islands, Phi Phi and Ko Lanta. There are fewer restaurants and shops than in Ao Nang, so to eat out you often go there.

· 2026-10-19

Districts

Ao Nang

The beach with most of the hotels, restaurants, agencies and the boarding point for long-tail boats to Railay and the islands. The waterfront is lively and full of boats at the west end; the east end is nicer for swimming, and a short trail leads to the little beach of Pai Plong. It is the most practical base for a first visit to Krabi.

History

Geography and shape of the city

Culture

Festivals and events

Books and films

Frequently asked questions

Krabi: how do I get there from the airport?

Krabi International Airport (KBV) is 15 km from the center of Krabi Town, about 25 minutes by car without traffic, and 29 km from Ao Nang, about 35 minutes. In the arrivals hall there are bus counters for the airport, Krabi Town and Ao Nang line, which stops at hotels along the way, and taxi counters with fixed prices. Railay has no road: if you are staying there, you finish the trip by long-tail boat, from Ao Nang, from Ao Nam Mao or from the center of Krabi Town.

Krabi: what do I need to enter Thailand?

Before flying to Thailand, every foreigner fills out the digital arrival card (TDAC) on the immigration website, up to three days before arrival. Thailand has shortened the permitted stay for people entering under the visa exemption: since September 15, 2026, it is up to 30 days, for tourism only, according to the British government's notice to its citizens. The exemption and the length depend on nationality; check the rule for your passport before buying your ticket.

Krabi: how do I get to Railay?

Railay has no road. Long-tail boats leave from the east end of Ao Nang beach for Railay West in ten to fifteen minutes; 2026 guidebooks list 100 baht per person during the day, departing when the boat collects eight passengers, with a higher fare after 18:00. The cooperative's price list is posted at the booths at both ends of the beach. There are also boats from Ao Nam Mao and from the center of Krabi Town to Railay East. There is no pier: bring only the luggage you can carry with water up to your knees, and a waterproof bag for electronics.

Krabi: how many days should I stay?

I'd stay three days in Krabi, sleeping in Ao Nang. The first is for Railay: the early boat to Phra Nang beach, the viewpoint if you have the stamina and an afternoon of climbing or kayaking. The second is for the Poda islands, on a chartered long-tail boat timed for low tide so you can walk across the Ko Thap sandbar. The third is for Krabi Town, with the morning market, the climb to Wat Tham Suea, the boat to Khao Khanap Nam and dinner at the night market. With a fourth day, I'd go to the Hong islands and the kayak lagoon; with a fifth, to Phi Phi, by ferry or speedboat. The emerald pool and the Khlong Thom hot springs are for people with even more time, or for rainy days when the sea won't let the boats out, along with the Krabi Town day.

Krabi: when is the best time to go?

December to March; this is the dry season, with the lowest rainfall of the year and calm seas for boats. From May to October the monsoon brings rain on more than half the days, peaking in October, and November still sees rain on more than half the days.

Krabi: can I do Phi Phi as a day trip?

The archipelago is about 42 km from Krabi Town, in the same national park as Ao Nang. Ferries leave from the Khlong Chilat port, about 4 km from the center of Krabi Town and 20 km from Ao Nang, and reach Ton Sai pier on Phi Phi Don in one to two hours; there are also boats from Noppharat Thara pier and tour speedboats from Ao Nang. Maya Bay, on Phi Phi Leh, can be visited only by boat, with landing at the Loh Samah pier on the opposite side of the island: boats do not anchor inside the bay, and each visitor stays at most one hour. The park usually suspends landings in August and September, and the park fee for foreigners is 400 baht. On a day trip by ferry there is little time left for Phi Phi Leh; anyone who wants both islands on the same day is better off on a speedboat tour.

Krabi: is it safe to swim in the sea?

Rip currents have caused drownings on the Andaman coast, especially in the monsoon: heed the red flags on beaches with lifeguards and avoid swimming where no one else is. Jellyfish come close to shore from May to October, and some stings can be fatal; follow your hotel's advice. When swimming in Railay and Ao Nang, stay clear of the long-tail boat routes, and don't swim near the Khlong Haeng stream, between Ao Nang and Noppharat Thara, which carries sewage to the sea.

Itineraries through here