Today is another day of loving Southeast Asia! Not long ago, I took a trip to Thailand, where I had a lot of fun but also owed a bunch of travel guides. So, here I am, fulfilling my homework.
My trip lasted a total of 6 days, covering Phuket and Krabi. Since I’ve already written a guide about Phuket, this time I’ll focus on introducing Krabi, a peninsula in southern Thailand.
I believe many people, like me, often choose Phuket as their first stop when traveling to Thailand. However, just like how we began exploring the areas around popular cities within our country, Phuket has become quite mainstream. As a result, seasoned travelers are starting to look for new destinations in the vicinity.
Right across the Andaman Sea from Phuket lies Krabi, a place that’s wilder and more unspoiled, which can be a pleasant surprise.
Krabi’s terrain gives me a bit of a “Thai version of Guilin” vibe. As vehicles drive through Krabi towns, towering karst mountains flank you on both sides, creating a sense of pressure as you move through them.
Moreover, these gigantic karst rocks don’t just remain on land; they also suddenly rise from the azure waters.
One of the world-renowned rock climbing spots is located at Krabi’s Railay Beach.
The sea in Krabi is truly stunning! Common adjectives like “jelly-like” and “crystal-clear” apply here as well. With its fine white sandy beaches, serene emerald waters, and incredible limestone caves, Krabi has it all.
Honestly, after seeing too many murky yellowish seas, encountering such vibrant waters brightened my mood considerably.
If you’re into island-hopping, there are over 30 beautiful islands scattered around Krabi. For instance, the ever-popular Phi Phi Islands are actually closer to reach from Krabi than from Phuket.
Of course, the quintessential joys of Southeast Asia are not lacking in Krabi either.
It carries forward the same design aesthetic typical of Southeast Asia—vivid and richly colored, yet harmoniously blended. Here, the burliest big brother might own the cutest pastel-colored shop, and just the street scene’s color palette can be quite exhilarating.
The entire town exudes a rare sense of relaxation and joy. Here, you can spend your days island-hopping and sea-gazing, and your evenings getting a massage, strolling through night markets, enjoying endless mango sticky rice and sipping on Thai milk tea. Every day, your happiness level gets fully recharged.
So, carrying these beautiful memories with me, I’ve written this guide to Krabi, Thailand for you all! First, let me give you a map overview, and then I’ll elaborate in detail.
The First Step in Krabi Guide: Choosing a Beach
Krabi mainly has three beaches: Ao Nang Beach, Railay Beach, and Thung Ka Beach, each with its own distinct characteristics.
Ao Nang Beach
Ao Nang Beach is the earliest and most developed beach in Krabi (similar to Patong Beach in Phuket). Naturally, it also attracts the most tourists.
On the commercial street by the beach, you can find a travel agency almost every 10 meters. If you’re into island hopping, there’s a wide array of choices available here.
Of course, if you prefer just lounging on a beach chair sunbathing and gazing at the sea, that’s perfectly fine too. Moreover, there are many brand hotel options in the vicinity, making it the most convenient place to stay.
Railay Beach
For those interested in rock climbing, Railay Beach is worth considering. This place is a beloved spot for outdoor enthusiasts. The cliffs towering over Railay Beach in Krabi are rugged, steep, and ideal for rock climbing.
There are over 400 routes to choose from, catering to various skill levels, truly making it a world-class climbing site.
Free climbing is a test of both physical strength and endurance. I, being somewhat faint-hearted, find the photos alone nerve-wracking. However, friends who have tried it say it’s much easier to get started than expected, and the scenic views are an absolute bonus.
Major online travel agencies offer one-day rock climbing packages, which typically include round-trip transportation and all necessary climbing gear, so there’s no need to worry about the logistics.
Thung Ka Beach
Thung Ka Beach is home to Krabi’s high-end hotels. Unlike the previous public beaches, its beach is privately owned by the hotels, offering a secluded and hidden retreat. Luxury resorts like Banyan Tree Krabi and The Ritz-Carlton have settled in this area.
However, it’s quite distant from the bustling city areas, making it a bit of a hassle to go out for a trip. Thus, it’s generally more suited for those who plan to stay and enjoy the hotel amenities.
Step Two of Krabi Guide: Island Hopping
Phi Phi Islands
The classic way to experience the sea is naturally through island hopping. There are over 30 nearby islands around Krabi, with the Phi Phi Islands being the most iconic.
You can book a one-day tour to the Phi Phi Islands on various online travel platforms.
The Phi Phi Islands consist of six islands, and the tours typically cover several of them.
This time, we visited Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon, Viking Cave (where you can snorkel), Monkey Bay (to view monkeys from afar), Ton Sai Bay (the commercial center of Koh Phi Phi Don), and Bamboo Island.
We got to experience snorkeling, swimming, and taking photos with longtail boats all in one go, making it a highly efficient itinerary.
Maya Bay is the filming location of Leonardo DiCaprio’s movie “The Beach.” The stunning seascape depicted in the movie can still be seen here today. With towering cliffs and azure water, it feels like every snapshot you take could make the cover of a magazine.
Pileg Lagoon is also known as the swimming pool in the ocean. Surrounded by limestone mountains, a patch of emerald green sea is truly beautiful. Even as someone who can’t swim, I couldn’t resist taking a dip. The water is crystal clear and refreshing, making the experience extremely pleasant.
At Viking Cave, I had my first-ever snorkeling experience. To be honest, putting my head underwater and watching various colorful fish swimming right in front of me was truly wonderful.
No wonder I often hear diving enthusiasts say that the ocean can be addictive.
We had lunch at Tonsai Bay on Phi Phi Don Island, enjoying a buffet.
This place is also the bustling “commercial center” of Phi Phi Islands, with various souvenir shops, restaurants, cafes, and dessert houses. It’s a good spot to buy some items and take a break.
In contrast, Bamboo Island’s beach has no facilities and remains very pristine. Basically, all you can do there is stare at the sea and daydream. But the sea is as transparent as glass, making it hard to resist.
I recommend everyone to put on sunscreen and bring your swimwear, as you should fully enjoy the sea when you come to Phi Phi Island.
Many local travel agencies offer this project. We signed up for the Love Andaman tour, and the overall experience was quite good.
The tour guide was very enthusiastic, and since guests came from different countries, she explained each location in Chinese, English, and Thai to ensure everyone could understand.
Staff constantly handed out bottled water and beverages throughout the trip. On our way back, they even served mooncakes, making a perfect end to this journey.
Besides Phi Phi Islands, other popular places around Krabi include Rok Island (very secluded, open from mid-October to mid-May each year), Hong Island (filming location for the movie “Cutthroat Island”), Krabi Four Islands, and Lanta Island (a tranquil summer retreat, large enough for accommodation).
All the surrounding offshore islands are in the same sea area, so you can choose one to get a feel for the atmosphere.
Krabi Guide Step Three: Visit Night Markets & Markets
Leave the daytime for the islands, and spend the evenings experiencing the nightlife at the night markets. Tropical life means that the important moments are reserved for the night.
Those seemingly deserted areas can transform into bustling hubs of activity by evening.
Ao Nang Landmark Night Market, near the lively Ao Nang Beach, is the most famous night market in Krabi, starting daily at 5:30 pm.
As usual, the night market sells a lot of handicrafts, with elephants and coconut trees being the most common themes. There’s also a rich variety of Thai snacks.
In the open space in the middle of the night market, there are occasional performances. This time, I caught a fire show, which felt like a high-difficulty circus performance. In the evenings, there are even Muay Thai matches; interested friends can buy tickets to watch.
I find the night market relatively commercial, with more homogeneous items for sale. If you want to visit a more authentic market, I highly recommend spending a day in Krabi Town (which I’ll introduce later).
If you love nightlife, you should head to the main street of Ao Nang. It is also packed with various restaurants, nightclubs, and bars, offering an atmosphere that feels more primitive and wild.
Krabi Town
Krabi Town is a small town featuring gorilla-themed traffic lights and large art installations standing right on the streets. “So cute!” was my first impression of it!
Krabi Town is not large, with markets, night markets, and malls all concentrated within a radius of two to three kilometers.
The Krabi market is worth a visit, as it dazzles with an array of vibrant and colorful ingredients. The sheer vitality of the various green spices and produce is striking.
There’s also no shortage of fruits: coconuts, pineapples, bananas, mangoes, and durians are all plump and full of vigor.
Curries come in different colors, each corresponding to various levels of spiciness and uses. The mango sticky rice, complete with an array of ingredients, looks so appealing that you’ll want to take it home.
Moreover, the food here is conveniently packed in small plastic containers, making it easy to grab and go.
If it weren’t for the fact that the vendors start closing up little by little after noon, I could spend half a day exploring this market. So, getting to the market early is the way to go.
You don’t need to go anywhere else in the morning; the energy of the tropics can be felt right in the market.
Additionally, you can visit a Thai milk tea shop or a café. The most famous café in town is Much & Mellow. As for Thai milk tea, many small shops make it, and they rarely disappoint. It has a strong tea flavor and is refreshing—my ultimate pick-me-up beverage.
The Krabi Night Market is located on the walking street of Krabi. It’s only open every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, operating from 6 PM to 11 PM.
The main stage in the middle features local singers who take turns performing. Surrounding the stage are numerous stalls selling food and handicrafts.
A stroll around the market will have you instinctively picking up various seafood, grilled fish, and skewers. My dinner mostly comes from the night market.
Additionally, this place serves as a local flea market, where you can find many handmade crafts. The elephant-themed trinkets and small bags are particularly delicate.
You’ll also find an array of Southeast Asian floral shirts, with so many styles and patterns that it’s hard to choose.
Compared to the Ao Nang night market, I find the products here more local and it’s even more enjoyable to explore!
📚 Visa
Currently, there are three types of visas for traveling to Thailand: tourist visa, visa on arrival, and e-visa. We’ve written about this before, so I won’t go into detail. Just refer to this article👇🏻
I’ve grown so accustomed to the leisure of this small Thai town that I feel like quitting my job upon returning!
✈️Transportation
Currently, there are not many direct flights to Krabi within the country. Typically, you can transfer through Phuket or Bangkok. From Bangkok to Krabi, both flights and buses are available. If you land in Phuket, you can take a bus or a taxi, with a car journey taking around 2.5 hours.
Transportation within Krabi is relatively convenient, with many tuk-tuks and taxis available by the roadside, ready to go at any time. Some drivers even decorate their cars with cute embellishments; if you come across one, make sure to take it for double the fun!
In Krabi, the ride-hailing app you can use is Grab, which is significantly cheaper than directly hailing a taxi. However, there are not many drivers accepting orders, so you often need to wait quite a while, and a bit of luck may be involved.
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The above is the travel guide for Krabi, Thailand! Thailand is always worth visiting, so next time, consider adding Krabi to your luxurious travel list!
