Different things to do in Krabi

Located on the coast of the Andaman Sea and with a coastline of limestone mountains rising majestically from the ground, Krabi is known primarily as a beach destination for good reason. However, it should not only be known for this, as there are many attractions, beauty spots and activities inside. It is this combination of sea and land that makes Krabi a unique destination.

The center of tourism in mainland Krabi is Ao Nang. Ao Nang started out just a few years ago as a sleepy fishing village and although it has grown rapidly and continues to do so, it still has a village feel. If you start from the beach and walk in any direction, a short 15-20 minutes and you are in the countryside. For many, it is this closeness to nature that truly separates a Krabi holiday from almost any other destination in Thailand, Asia, or the rest of the world.

Ao Nang itself is divided into multiple areas by mountains and cliffs that have ensured that wherever you are, you are never far from an incredible sight.

A few kilometers further up the coast is Klong Muang Beach and a little further up is Tup Kaek Beach. Klong Muang and Tub Kaek have established themselves as home to many of the highest starred international resorts such as Sheraton and Sofitel Resorts. This type of resort attracts clients who want to spend most of their vacation within the confines of the hotel, on the beach and with some organized excursions. Klong Muang town has some restaurants, but it can’t really be considered as a tourist destination. The road from Ao Nang to Klong Muang has recently been widened and improved (it is actually still under construction in places) and travel time from Au Nang is about 20 minutes by car. A popular method is to rent a moped, it’s cheap and a lot of fun just touring the local roads.

Klong Muang and Tup Kaek beaches have really beautiful sand and clear water. For swimming it is great at high tide but at low tide it is quite rocky which can make it a bit uncomfortable. However, the beauty of the beach really makes up for this, it is always covered in scattered shells and for children, it is a paradise just spending the day playing. Along the beach there are many trees that create some shade.

The beauty of Krabi is that each beach area is actually a national park. There are no private beaches, no off-limits areas, and resorts cannot mark off areas for their exclusive use. This means you can stay in a 2 star guest house and use the same beach as any of the 5 or 6 star resorts. Another benefit of National Park status is that no permanent beach structures, banana boats, or jet skis are allowed.

inland krabi

Krabi has a great infrastructure with mostly good quality roads linking it with Phuket to the north and Trang to the south. They are mostly two lane roads and the traffic moves quickly. Apart from these roads, however, there are hundreds of small country lanes that wind through the countryside in all directions. Most of the countryside in Krabi is actually oil palm and rubber plantations, which means that most of the smaller paths are beautiful and cool.

krabi town

The main city of the province is actually still a small place. It’s right on the river and the center of town is just two roads running parallel to the river. In the center is a newly built temple which, while quite spectacular, lacks the history and character that make temples in Thailand so interesting. The choice of shops is not very good from a tourist point of view. There are a few gift, souvenir, and jewelry shops along the riverside street, and the next street has the Vogue Mall, a three-story store that sells mostly name-brand and luxury goods at reasonable prices.

There is a wide variety of dining options, from street food and noodle vendors to sit-down restaurants of all varieties and tastes.

There are hotels and guesthouses in Krabi town but considering that Krabi is becoming a major tourist destination, it still doesn’t feel like a tourist town.

inland attractions

The Tiger Cave Temple, just outside Krabi town, is one of the must-see attractions. It’s a really beautiful place and if you can summon the energy to climb the 1237 steps, it’s worth seeing.

Hot Springs and Emerald Pool

These two attractions, being close to each other, are easy to visit in one trip. However, either one deserves its place. The hot springs are quite remarkable, a flowing river and waterfall of hot water is a truly amazing experience. The Emerald Pool (also known as the Crystal Pool) is also a fantastic place. The scene features a beautiful jungle setting and the water really is as emerald and sparkling as the name suggests.

Phanom Bencha National Park

This park is one of the least visited places in Krabi. However, the most popular feature is the waterfall. There is a parking lot and a visitor center and then you walk about 1 km to the waterfall. In low season, it is not very spectacular, but in high season, it is a very nice place to spend an afternoon with three levels of waterfall, each with its own pool to cool off. The park is never busy, well kept and ideal for young children.

Thalane Bay

Thalane Bay is one of the most stunningly beautiful bays in the world rivaling Ha Lung Bay in Vietnam. A walk along the road that runs along its edge is worthwhile. There are no resorts as such and no popular swimming beaches, but the scenery makes the trip worthwhile. At the end of the road is the Thalane Bay Kayak Center, here you can take a kayak tour through the mangrove forests. The mangroves are full of amazing wildlife and whether it’s raining or blazing hot, it’s a trip no one complains about. Kids especially love kayaking, there is something about rowing a boat on the river that draws them in and keeps them interested.

conclusion

There are, of course, all the local islands in Krabi that are the main reason people visit this amazing province, but if you visit and don’t see some of the inland gems that Krabi has to offer, you’re really missing out.