Krabi Travel Guide

Krabi, a coastal province, abounds with countless natural attractions that never fail to impress tourists. Such attractions include white sandy beaches, crystal clear water, fascinating coral reefs, caves and waterfalls, as well as, numerous islands.

The distinguishing feature of both Krabi and neighboring Phang Nga is the massive limestone karsts, rising vertiginously out of the flat rice paddies on land and as islands from the sea. Add in some gorgeous beaches and excellent scuba diving and rock climbing, and it's little wonder that tourism in the area has been booming.

While less commercialized than neighboring Phuket, Krabi Province cannot be described as undiscovered: it receives two million visitors a year, and the major tourist areas cater extensively for foreigners.

Climate

Krabi is hot and humid all year round, with peak temperatures around April. The rainy season arrives in the fall and drizzles until about November, during which time many hotels and bars close, and the sea can get rough and some ferries (including those to Ko Lanta) stop running. High season is November-April inclusive, when it's a little cooler; the peak tourism period spans Christmas and New Year.

Attractions

Apart from its natural attractions, Krabi is also a popular place for scuba diving and snorkeling, kayaking, rock climbing, and jungle treks by foot, mountain bike or elephant. Famous spots for kayaking include Ko Hong, Ko Karot, Ko Phak Bia, Ko Ku Du, and Tha Len, while Tham Phra Nang and Hat Rai Le are a mecca for climbers from all over the world. Abseiling has currently become another popular sport in Krabi.

Located 35 kilometers from the provincial town, Ban Tha Len, abounds with mangrove forests and ghost crabs. Tham Khangkhao or the bat cave has impressive stalactites and stalagmites. There is a panoramic view of Krabi's sea, offshore islands, and mangrove forests are visible.

 

Diving & Snorkeling Diving in Krabi is one of the favorite pastimes of tourists because the waters are home to the likes of friendly leopard and whale sharks, turtles, moray eels and dolphins.

 

Rock Climbing in Krabi has grown very popular over recent years, the most popular place is Railay Beach.

 

Sea Kayaking With a coastline composed of mangroves, limestone, small coves, caves and islands, and an interior with rivers lined with cave systems. Krabi provides a popular environment for kayaking.

 

Bird Watching There are many hard-to-find birds such as: Gurneys, Finfoots, Bigwinged Brown Kingfishers, Egrets, Bitterns and Herons etc.

 

Sailing & Cruising Krabi has plenty of anchorages but usually deserted.

 

Fishing Fishers catch the likes of marlin, sailfish barracuda and tuna.

 

Jungle Trekking Krabi's forests with attractive flora and fauna are popular for trekking. The Khao Phanom Bencha National Park and the Khao Pra-Bang Khram are regarded as the two of the favorites among trekkers.

 

Golf Krabi has one 18-hole golf course to the south of Krabi town with a new development currently underway by an international group including Colin Montgomery.

 

Spa There are plenty of spas located in the major hotels and resorts. The treatment normally includes both traditional remedies and modern techniques.

 

Nightlife

 

Krabi's touristic areas have all the usual types of foreign-orientated beer bars. The provincial town is home to, again, the same type of Tha-style entertainment which can be found all over Thailand. That is: karaoke lounges, live music venues and discotheques.

 

Beaches

Ao Nang - Krabi's most developed beach. Fringed by palms, the long beach is backed by a wide range of accommodation including resorts, bungalows and guesthouses, and Krabi's best selection of restaurants.

Rai Leh (Railay) - Thailand's rock climbing Mecca, a craggy peninsula with several small beaches

Ton Sai - Cheapest bungalows in the area. Preferred by backpackers away from the hordes of tourists and an easy walk to Rai Leh.

Had Yao (Long Beach) - the last untouched beach in Krabi Province, and perhaps the most spectacular with its views of Jum Mountain and Ao Nang's cliff walls.

 

Getting to Krabi

By plane

Krabi International Airport (KBV) is about 10 km from the city limits, 15km from city centre. It is 40km from Ao Nang and 23km from Had Yao.

 

To/from Bangkok

 

• Flights operate daily direct flights to/from Bangkok.

To/from Phuket

 

Flights operate daily direct flights from Phuket.

To/from outside Thailand

 

Air Asia has daily flights to/from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

 

Krabi Airline, a newly established airline will start it's operations in February 2009. Its inaugural flights are planned to Oslo, Norway on 21 February 2009 and to Munich, Germany on 24 February 2009. respectively.

The international departure tax surcharge is 700 baht but is included in most tickets now; domestic departure tax is included in the price of the flight.

National Car Rental has a branch at the airport; motorcycle taxi rides are available outside the terminal. Krabi Limousine has a desk inside the terminal and provides "limousine taxi" (using large air-conditioned sedans) transport to Krabi for 500 baht; Ao Nang for 800 baht; Phuket for 2500 baht.

 

Getting to/from airport: An airconditioned airport bus service links the airport with Krabi Town, Ao Nang and Noppharat Thara Beach. Fares are 90baht to Krabi and 150 baht to Ao Nang/Noppharat Thara. Buses meet all flight arrivals. For times to the airport.

Songthaews run from Krabi Town to the airport and cost 40 baht. Going to the airport, they will drop you at the departure terminal. From the airport, you will have to walk out and catch them along the main road to Krabi, a distance of about 200m.

 

By train

 

Krabi does not have a railway station. Most travellers head to Surat Thani and transfer onto buses to Krabi from there. See the Surat Thani page for train times and the "By Bus" section below for bus connections between Krabi and Surat Thani.

 

By bus

 

To/from Bangkok: Buses to/from Bangkok's Southern Bus Terminal take about 12 hours and depart as follows:

• VIP bus at 07:20 700-800 baht

• First class bus at 19:00 500 baht

• Second class bus - 07:30, 19:00, 19:30, 21:00, 350-400 baht

In Krabi, buses arrive/depart from the bus terminal at Taladkao, about 5km north of town.

 

To/from Surat Thani: Buses run from Krabi's bus terminal at Taladkao. Buses connect Krabi with Surat Thani with connections to ferries to Ko Samui and the other islands). Choose your ticket carefully - the trip should take no more than three hours, but some travellers have endured ridiculous ten hour rides (giving thieves ample time to go through the bags underneath the bus) which included extensive "repair stops" right in front of restaurants coincidentally affiliated with the bus company... such hassles can be avoided by using state/government-run BKS buses instead of dodgy private operators.

 

To/from Phuket: Shuttle buses run between Krabi airport and Phuket airport several times a day. There are also regular buses that make the 2 hour run.

 

To/from Ao Nang: White-coloured songthaews run from Krabi Town to Ao Nang via Klong Jilard, Sai Thai, Ao Nang Junction Village and Noppharat Thara Beach. Fares 50 baht during the day until 18:00, 60 baht between 18:00 and 22:00. They run every ten minutes during the day and every 30 minutes after 18:00. In Krabi, songthaews depart from in front of the 7-Eleven on Thanon Maharat.

 

By car

 

Krabi is located just off Highway 4. It is 946km south of Bangkok, 180km by road to Phuket, and 70km to Phang Nga.

 

By boat

 

Ferries run from/to Ko Phi Phi, Ko Jum and Ko Lanta daily. Most depart in the morning. Tickets can be purchased at the dock or from tourist offices and most local guesthouses and hotels. The normal passenger ferry does not start from the center of town anymore, but from a new passenger port about 3 km outside Krabi. Free taxi transfer to the pier should be included in the price of your ticket. If your boat starts from the old piers in the center of town (Chao Fah pier or Phi Phi pier), you are most likely on a more expensive and longer tourist boat ride. Also, make sure that when you arrive at the airport the taxi driver takes you to the correct pier. Many times they'll take you to a travel agent near the old pier and sell you additional accommodations or services. Only ever buy the ticket you need. Prices will often get cheaper the closer you get to your next destination.

Ferry tickets to Ko Phi Phi are 350-500 baht when purchased from a travel agent.

The large displayed time-tables in the many travel agencies are just for show and the times are not to be taken literally. There were two ferries a day from Krabi to Ko Phi Phi a day: 10am and 2:30pm. They add additional ferries during high-season.

The pier at Klong Jilad, for ferries to and from Ko Phi Phi has a taxi desk with posted prices: 150 baht to Krabi town, and 350 baht to the airport.