Highlights of Krabi Thailand

Thailand is a timeless destination. It’s a country rich in culture, stunning beaches, wildlife, and fresh tasty cuisine! With such a diverse combination, it’s a travel location that continues to appeal to many. With great value for money and Thai people who are so welcoming it lives up to its name as ‘the land of smiles’. So what better than to wind down from work for a week or so exploring highlights of Krabi Thailand, for a much needed break.

A boat sits in clear torquoise waters of Krabi.

How to Get to Krabi

Most direct flights to Thailand arrive into Bangkok, the capital of the country.

Depending on where you are coming from we suggest a couple of days in the capital before travelling onto your final destination. Plan for 2-3 days to see the main sights and get over any jet lag.

Expect a whirlwind of chaos experiencing authentic Asia on bustling streets. Modern skyscrapers sit next to golden temples. Witness the madness of Samut Songkhram market famous for being set along a railway line where stall holders have to speedily move their wares from the track as a train passes through – I mean where else would this happen??? It’s definitely worth a few nights. We have many options beyond the beach to suggest too as you read on.

If you have more time, spend a week or more in the north exploring the Golden Triangle region. This incorporates the cultural cities of Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Mae Hong Son with their hill people. It’s a great place for being more active with hiking a popular pass time here.

A large lantern hangs from the branch of a tree over a beach in Thailand.

Why Visit Krabi, Thailand?

However, this time, I only had 9 days leave. I’d been really busy at work and so my focus was relaxation. Where better than to head to Krabi only an 80 minute flight, south from Bangkok.

Renowned for secluded bays, sea caves, hot springs, incredible limestone rocks rising from the sea, unspoiled white beaches and stunning scenery, I was on a winner! In addition, Krabi has wonderful sunsets best enjoyed, of course, on the beach. It would also of course, fit into our travel motto of ‘Go Somewhere New’!.

We chose just to have one base for this vacation and explore from there. For us, the Amari Vogue Hotel with its private beachfront was a great choice. Situated right on Tubkaek Beach, it’s a quiet spot so if you’re after a load of shops and markets, you won’t find them here. If you’re after relaxation, with a few trips thrown in it’s perfect!.

Woman lying on a massage table, receiving a Thai massage which is one of the highlights of Krabi. — Thai Massage Therapy!

Where to Stay in Krabi

You’ll find a few restaurants scattered along the beach and a tour operator which we found knowledgeable and reasonable. Traditional longboats are available for hire. While you are in Krabi, don’t miss out on a Thai massage!

A swimming pool with sun loungers and red parasol shade. Palm trees adorn the area and it looks out to 0pen waters. — Amari Vogue Pool and View out to sea

We decided on bed and breakfast to allow us to eat at the selection of restaurants along the beach. But we also ate in the hotel restaurant one evening when they hosted a Thai buffet and entertainment event.

Our hotel was 45 minutes from Krabi airport (taxi fare £40/$48). They offered shuttle service to the nearest town Ao Nang 20 minutes away. The pool area was beautiful and sunsets incredible.

Wooden square tables and chairs set out on a beach in Krabi, Thailand — Cafes along the beach

Beach front street with a local travel agent advertising trips from Krabi, Thailand. — Tour Agent on the Beach

Best Time to Visit Krabi

With a tropical climate, you will find temperatures around the 27C mark year round. For the best weather, come to Krabi (& Thailand) between November and March.

The rainy season peaks September and October. It’s harder to plan outdoor activities during this time of year, so if you’re looking for sunshine, stay clear of these months.

Restaurant on a beach in Krabi with views out over the ocean. — Lunch time snack time Tubkaek Beach

Evening dining on the beachfront with tables set for dinner. — Casual dining on the beach

Top 10 Highlights of Krabi, Thailand

Have dinner at a Krabi Night Market

Krabi Town is fairly busy and functions more as a town than a tourist hub. I’ve read that If you want to see the real Thailand come here and watch daily life unfold. Arrive early in the morning and you’ll see fishing boats bringing in their catch for next-door restaurants. Most tourists however, visit the Krabi Town night market. It is a hive of activity between 5pm and 10pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

A group of people are watching the sunset. They are looking out to the outline of mountains on other islands in the distance. — Amari Vogue Hotel – watching the sunset

Stalls sell a variety of arts and crafts as well as clothes, CD movies, fabrics and shoes amongst many other things. Bands are playing on stage and it is very busy. The food is great but it is sometimes hard to find a place to sit down and eat it. Over 70 food stalls sell a range of Thai cuisine, delicacies and seasonal fruits.

People are gathered in a street where a night market in taking place in Krabi, Thailand.

Kebabs on skewers made of wood on display for sale at a street market in Krabi.

Although we enjoyed the experience, the art and craft stalls were overshadowed by clothes stalls.

My favourite past-time was watching food being prepared. Thai people certainly know to cook quickly from scratch – serving amazing street food! Oh that’s how to use a wok:)

If you love markets and especially night time markets, why not consider visiting Laos in SE Asia. They are incredible both for street food options and of course buying that hard to resist silk souvenir.

Potter around Ao Nang Town

We took the shuttle bus from our hotel to Ao Nang several times; it’s a fun town with a great promenade and beach. If you’re looking for a livelier location than TubKeak Beach, you could stay here.

A Thai making local ice cream and rolling it to serve.

Beach with two small wooden boats tied up. The beach sands are soft yellow and trees are growing along the edge of the beach.

There are plenty of hotels, restaurants, tourist shops selling fabulous silks, wooden handicrafts and longboat trips leaving from the beach several times a day. We enjoyed just pottering around here. I also loved the delicious rolled ice-cream! Food again! Well, don’t you agree ice-cream is very relaxing:)

When you first see the majestic limestone rocks rising from the sea, they take your breath away. Yes, you may have seen them on TV or in movies but actually seeing them up close, they are incredible.

Sail To and Explore Local Islands

One of the most popular tours that visitors to Krabi go on is the Four Island Tour, and we did this too. Our trip took us to Tup Island, Phra Nang Cave, Chicken Island (yes it does look like a chicken) and Poda Island.

Large trees with foliage offer shade to locals on a hot day in Thailand. — Poda Island

We stopped at each location giving us time to swim, sunbathe, explore and have lunch. Food was tasty – fish, chicken, rice and vegetarian options.

These trips can be busy so I recommend avoiding weekends. Depending on your budget, you can book a private trip – great if you are with friends and can share the cost. Alternatively just join others on the longboat or speedboat. It was a fun way to spend the afternoon. The snorkelling equipment provided was good and I spotted quite a few fish!

Woman is about to go Snorkeling off a boat near Krabi, Thailand. — Thailand Snorkeling

Enjoy Railay Beach and Cave System

Railay beach is stunning – some say the most attractive beach in Thailand. Accessible only by boat due to the large cliffs on each side cutting it off from the mainland it’s a fun excursion.

We booked this trip via our hotel.

A cave and beach structure with 4 large stone peaks jutting out of the ground behind a beach with a sandy cove.

On arrival, you will find stunning white sand, breath-taking views and fantastic limestone cliffs. When you arrive at Railay you will not find any roads or cars because of its cut off location, just a few long tail boats and a couple of bars. You can stay here – there is a hotel, so if you want to feel free from the rest of the world, this might just be as good as it gets.

Many people come to rock climb – I was happy to watch others scale the cliff side but if you fancy trying this check out Rock Climbing at Railay Beach.

Woman standing on a beach in front of large rock structure. Small boats are anchored on the beach as they transport people from around the islands.

Visit A Temple Cave At Wat Tham Sua

Throughout Thailand, there are incredible temples which are deeply important to the Thai people. Krabi has one of the most famous ones namely Wat Tham Su. It’s also known as Tiger Cave and is about 3km from Krabi Town.

Legend has it that a tiger once lived in the cave which is where the name of the temple originated. Explore three main areas. The first part of the temple is actually a cluster of temples, shrines, and statues located near the main entrance at the foot of a steep hill.

A set of 1260 steps to the top of a temple in Krabi, Thailand. — Only 1260 Steps!

Two gold Buddha statues standing together and behind them are hills covered in greenery.

Next is the hill top temple. There’s only one way to get there and it’s to walk up the steps. It’s a long steep climb that requires a lot of effort and takes 30 to 45 minutes to complete depending upon how fit you are.

Going up gave me a new meaning to the word ‘step!’ It’s really more of a climb than a step! We heard many give up – we didn’t! And wow- when you get to the top you are rewarded with Buddha statues and 360 degree views of the Andaman Sea and beautiful islands within it.

Tiger statue is at the entrance to a temple.

A viewing station at the top of a 1206 step climb in Krabi — Incredible views from the top

A further 100 or so steps take you to the third part to Wat Tham Sua -a forested area with a series of small caves. Thankfully the trek down was easier. Then it was time for a cool beer or another ice-cream!

For more information, check out their website. Wat Tham Sua – Tiger Cave

A gold seated Buddha statue sits atop a building

Trek through Thung Teao Forest Natural Park and Swim in Emerald Pool

This beautiful spot is home to spectacular plants and animals, waterfalls and jungle. Arriving here late morning after our Tiger Cave climb was great. We were advised this was a good time to go – afternoons apparently get very busy.

Wandering a couple of miles through the park (which is well signposted) we eagerly awaited the sight of the emerald pool. Suddenly it was in front of us. A natural rock pool flowing with blue-green water!

Emerald Green waters surrounded by lush green trees. — Emerald Pool

Tucked away in a thick forest, when the light hits the water just the right way, the pool turns a vivid, striking shade of emerald green hence its name. We spent about 2 -3 hours here just enjoying being with nature. Note that there are no changing rooms and only a couple of benches to put any belongings on so bring the basics only.

A sign welcoming visitors to The Emerald Pool near Krabi, Thailand — Emerald Pool

A dirt track pathway leads walkers to the Emerald Pool, near Krabi Thailand.

Entrance is around $6. You’ll need decent footwear for walking through the park. There are plenty of places just outside the park to have lunch.

Relax in Krabi Hot Springs

If you want to end the day in a relaxing way, a 30 minute dip in a natural hot tub jacuzzi is a must. The Krabi Hot Spring waterfall is located in a beautiful small rainforest with streams flowing down to create a waterfall of several natural spring water pools.

Woman is relaxing in warm waters on a rock in Thailand.

There’s a tiny entrance fee and refreshments can be bought on site . It’s a super relaxing feeling with the warm water which is a constant pleasant 35-42C. With stunning views of the river below, enjoy yourself bathing in the Hot Springs and let the mineral salts of the spring water do their beneficial work for your skin.

Later you can swim and cool off the river which is so refreshing after the hot spring! We spent about an hour here and after a busy day sightseeing, it was perfect. Combine this with your visit to Emerald Pool – they’re about 15 minutes apart.

Take a Kayak Jungle and Mangrove Trip

I’m no kayak expert so this activity at Ao Thalane was perfect for inexperienced paddlers like me.

No in-depth training was needed but with our tour we had a guide with us who was informative. He ran through general safety aspects and some techniques to consider when using the oars!

A top 10 Krabi experience is kayaking and this is where you can hire kayaks. They are sitting on a rack just above the water.

A couple is Kayaking around large rock formations near Krabi

We were a small group of about 6 kayaks which was great. Our ‘expert’ was with us at all times guiding us through the canyons and into the mangroves. I felt like a real explorer navigating through mangrove forests, caves and lagoons. We went early afternoon but your time will depend on the tides – if it is low tide, where you can go will be limited.

All in all we spent about 4 hours here. We booked through our beach side agent. However, you could use Get your Guide who also have a range of tours or book through your hotel.

Support the Elephant Sanctuary

I love elephants – Jude does too so I was keen to visit an Elephant Sanctuary to see these magnificent animals up close. At the Aonang Sanctuary you can take part in the feeding and washing process and have a walk with elephants.

An elephant standing in a river is drinking from it.

Thankfully there is no riding of elephants here and it really felt like a really caring environment. In their own words, their aim is to give ‘visitors a deeper understanding and appreciation of these magnificent animals.

We also support the important work of conserving elephant populations and protecting these gentle giants for future generations to enjoy.’ Washing the elephant was such a wonderful experience – they really are majestic animals. Definitely recommended.

If you want to see wild elephants on a safari, check out our South Africa or Sri Lanka 9 day itinerary.

Relax – Sunsets, Food and Cocktails

Who doesn’t love a sunset? In Krabi, and at our TubKeak Beach resort, they were stunning. That first evening, I thought II’d just seen the best sunset of the holiday. But then the next evening and the evening after, I was treated to this incredible blaze of colours in the sky. Backdrops of the limestone rocks and longtail boats made this even more memorable.

Sunset over the waters of Krabi, with a traditional boat sitting just offshore.

Of course, I suggest you have a cocktail or two close by and enjoy those early evening drinks. Food wise, you will never go hungry in Krabi.

What a fantastic choice we had – I loved their Thai curries, succulent prawns, the fresh fish and satay sticks. Simply delicious! Mmmmm. Take your pick at the many restaurants around the area – we did and we were never disappointed!