10 Top Things to Do in Krabi

Ao Nang is Krabi's main beach resort area and the gateway to the limestone islands offshore - a 2 km curved beach backed by Soi Ao Nang restaurant and shopping street. The beach itself faces directly west onto the Andaman Sea with dramatic karst island views; the central beachfront has been pedestrianised since 2019, eliminating the long-tail boat traffic noise that previously dominated.

Most boat tours (4 Islands, Hong Islands, Phi Phi day trips) depart from the Ao Nang pier at the eastern end. The Center Point pier is now used for departures - the longer walk down the beach also offers good photos. Sun loungers (200 THB), parasols, kayaks (300 THB/hour), and paddleboards (500 THB/hour) all available. The beach is public, free, open 24 hours.

Pro Tip: Walk 10 minutes south to Pai Plong Beach (accessible only by stairs from the Centara Resort) for a quieter experience - it's a small Centara-managed beach that the public can access via the stair path next to the resort entrance.

Phra Nang Cave Beach at the southern tip of the Railay Peninsula consistently ranks among Thailand's most beautiful beaches - a 200-metre crescent of white sand backed by towering limestone cliffs, with a small cave at the western end. The Princess Cave (Tham Phra Nang) inside the cliffs holds wooden phalluses left as offerings to a Thai sea spirit by fishermen seeking good catches; the most photographed pagan-Buddhist shrine in the country.

Reach via long-tail boat from Ao Nang (15 min, 200 THB return) - the boat lands at Railay East, then walk 5 minutes south through the peninsula. Floating long-tail vendors sell mango with sticky rice, grilled coconut, and Pad Thai (100-150 THB) directly from their boats anchored offshore. No accommodation at Phra Nang itself - Railay or Ao Nang are the closest. Beach is public, free.

Pro Tip: Climb the unmarked Phra Nang Viewpoint trail at the eastern end of Railay (45-min steep scramble each way, ropes provided) for the iconic view down onto Phra Nang Cave Beach. Wear shoes with grip; not suitable for flip-flops.

Wat Tham Suea (Tiger Cave Temple) sits 9 km north of Krabi Town and is the province's most spiritually significant Buddhist temple - founded in 1975 by the renowned forest monk Phra Achan Jamnean as a meditation retreat. The temple takes its name from a cave at the base reputed to have housed tigers in the 1970s. The pilgrimage centre is the 1237-step stairway up the 280-metre limestone summit topped by a golden Buddha and a giant footprint.

The climb takes 45-60 minutes one way - steep, irregular steps, no shade, best done before 09:00 to avoid heat. The summit view of Krabi's flat green plain dotted with karst peaks is the best on the mainland. The lower temple grounds and the original cave shrines (free entry) are worth a visit even without the climb. Open daily 06:00-18:00. Dress code applies; covered shoulders and knees.

Pro Tip: Bring 2 litres of water and ankle support - the steps vary in height and depth. Climb early before 08:00 for the cooler conditions and best summit visibility before the haze builds. The forest behind the lower temple is patrolled by monkeys; don't carry visible food.

The Hong Islands (Mu Koh Hong) are a cluster of 5 limestone islands 30 minutes by speedboat north-west of Ao Nang. The main draw is Hong Lagoon (Tha Lay Wak) - a fully enclosed marine lagoon at the centre of the largest island, accessed by a single narrow channel between cliffs only passable at high tide. The lagoon water is impossibly clear and ringed by 200-metre cliffs.

Standard Hong Islands tours include the lagoon, a snorkel stop at Pakbia Island, a beach stop at Hong Beach, and the 4-5 viewpoint hike on Daeng Island. Tour duration 7-8 hours. Speedboat day trip 1500-2200 THB per person plus 200 THB national park fee. Departure from Ao Nang pier; hotel pickup typically included. November-April for the calmest seas; July-September sees rougher water.

Pro Tip: Book a tour that includes the Daeng Island 360-degree viewpoint hike (15 min uphill, easy) - the panorama of the surrounding karsts is the standout image of the day, often missed by tours that just do the beach stop.

The 4 Islands tour is the classic half-day boat trip from Ao Nang visiting Koh Poda, Koh Tup, Koh Mor (collectively the Talay Waek or Separated Sea sandbar), and Koh Kai (Chicken Island, named for its rooster-shaped limestone). At low tide, a natural white-sand bar emerges connecting Tup and Mor islands - one of Thailand's most photographed natural phenomena. The trip is offered as both speedboat (4 hours) and long-tail (6 hours) options.

Speedboat 4 Islands 1200-1800 THB per person plus 400 THB national park fee. Long-tail 800 THB plus park fee. All tours include a snorkel stop (basic gear provided), lunch, and beach time. Tours run daily 09:00 and 13:00 departures. Talay Waek tidal sandbar is best around mid-tide (check the tour operator's tide chart) - it disappears at high tide and is rocky at low tide.

Pro Tip: Take the long-tail rather than speedboat option if you have time - the open-sided boat with the noisy engine is the authentic Thai island experience and the longer journey allows actual snorkelling stops rather than rapid drive-bys.

Emerald Pool (Sa Morakot) is a natural emerald-green hot spring pool deep inside Khao Phra Bang Khram Nature Reserve - 60 km south-east of Krabi Town. The mineral-rich limestone water sits at a constant 30-35°C and turns shades of green and blue depending on the time of day and weather. A 1.4 km wooden boardwalk through forest leads to the pool from the parking area.

Two pools sit side by side - the lower Emerald Pool open for swimming, and the upper Blue Pool (more vivid colour) closed to bathers for ecological reasons. Swimming is permitted only in marked areas. The path continues another 30 minutes to a smaller hot spring waterfall. Park entry 200 THB foreigners. Open daily 08:00-17:00 (last entry 16:00). Allow 3 hours including walking time.

Pro Tip: Visit at opening at 08:00 for the green colour at its most vivid - the pool darkens as the angle of the sun changes throughout the day. Combine with Klong Thom hot springs (15 minutes away by car) for a full nature day.

Ao Thalane (Tha Lane Bay) 30 minutes north of Krabi Town is the best mangrove-kayaking destination in southern Thailand - a series of narrow channels weaving between 50-100 metre limestone cliffs into hidden lagoons. The mangroves are protected national park territory and the channels are reachable only by paddle. Kayaking through is silent and atmospheric; eagles, herons, and the occasional macaque inhabit the cliffs.

Half-day kayaking tours from Krabi 700-1200 THB include kayak rental, life jacket, guide, lunch, and transport from Ao Nang or Krabi Town. Full-day options 1500-2000 THB add a long-tail leg to Bor Thor caves with ancient cave paintings (3000 years old). The best operators are Krabi Eco Cycle and Sea Kayak Krabi. November-April is the prime season; summer brings stronger tides.

Pro Tip: Choose the full-day kayak plus Bor Thor caves combo - the prehistoric red ochre rock paintings inside the cave system are 2000-3000 years old and almost no tour groups visit them. Bring a torch for the cave sections; tour guides usually have one but spare is wise.

Krabi Town's weekend night market (Walking Street) on Maharat Soi 8 operates Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings from 17:00 to 22:00 - the most authentic local food and shopping experience in the province. The 200-metre street fills with food stalls run by locals, live Thai bands on the central stage, and the Khanom Jeen noodle stalls that the province is famous for. Far cheaper than Ao Nang restaurants.

Standout food: kanom jeen nam ngew (rice noodles with northern Thai pork broth, 60 THB), curry crab (Krabi specialty, 150-250 THB), grilled river prawns (200 THB), and the green sticky-rice mango. The Krabi River walkway 5 minutes south is the prettiest evening stroll in town. The market is free; cash only. Family-friendly and a perfect break from beach resorts.

Pro Tip: Songthaew from Ao Nang costs 50 THB; departures every 30 minutes. Arrive 17:30 before the live music starts at 19:00. The Khao Tom Naai Tong rice porridge stall at the eastern end has the most loyal local clientele - eat what they recommend.

Khao Khanab Nam is a pair of 100-metre limestone karst peaks rising directly from the Krabi River at the town's western edge - the visual symbol of Krabi Town and the subject of every classic photograph of the area. The peaks frame the boat approach from the sea. A long-tail boat from Krabi Town's Chao Fah pier (200 THB return) takes 30 minutes to reach the small landing between the peaks.

A short cave at the base contains stalactites, stalagmites, and a small Buddhist shrine. Skeletons found in the cave in the 1990s during a survey are believed to be early human remains. The Krabi River boat trip itself is the main attraction - the mangrove-lined route shows herons, kingfishers, and macaques. The peaks themselves cannot be climbed (no path). Free to visit; only boat cost. The trip pairs with a stop at the riverside fishing village Bann Khao Phai Bay.

Pro Tip: Time the boat for 1 hour before sunset (around 17:30 in dry season) - the light hits the karsts from the west and the photographs are the best in the province. Pair with a Krabi Town night market dinner afterwards.