Stunning Krabi

Towering limestone cliffs, soft white sand beaches, small coves and offshore islands. Krabi's beautiful coastline is one of the province's most attractive assets. Each each seems to outdo the last, with the crowning glory being fabulous Railay Beach with its otherworldy feel, a sort of coastal Jurassic Park, accessible only by sea. But the best thing about Krabi's beaches is that they're never crowded. You'll always find a patch of paradisical space for yourself here.

Stroll along Ao Nang & Nopparat Thara Beach

Compared to the touristy Patong beach of Phuket, Ao Nang Beach and Nopparat Thara Beach are comparatively more peaceful. Both beaches boast beautiful emerald-green waters, a long coastline, soft caramel-hued sand, and cooling sea breezes. There are significantly less tourists on both beaches than Patong Beach.

Ao Nang Beach is flanked by towering limestone cliffs on one end and is the signature beach of Krabi. Nopparat Thara Beach is more popular with the locals, so you can expect to see many Thais frolicking in the waters here. The water at the beach is also shallower than Ao Nang Beach’s, so there will be more children playing in the sea.

Between the two, Nopparat Thara Beach is more peaceful but Ao Nang Beach is slightly more scenic (in our opinion). The two beaches are connected and within walking distance of each other.

Maya Bay

Maya Bay is a stunningly beautiful bay that's sheltered by 100-metre high cliffs on three sides. Inside the bay there are several beaches, most are small and some only exist at low tide. The main one is around 200 meters long with silky soft white sand, underwater colourful coral and exotic fish in exceptionally clear water; the whole bay is one big reef.

Maya Bay has become the main tourist attraction of Phi Phi since The Beach was filmed here in 1999. It was always very popular before the film but now people around the world who haven't even heard of Phi Phi have certainly heard of Maya Bay.

The best time to visit Maya Bay is between November and April during the high season when seas are calm and access to the bay is easy. Rough seas from May to October may hinder access but rarely deny entry.

The bad news; as it's so beautiful and so well known many boats are required to ferry all the visitors in and out. On any given day at any time there will be 30 + speedboats and longtail boats on the beach, with large ferry boats carrying hundreds of snorkelers and sightseers moored in deeper water. Beautiful it is, secluded it isn't – thousands of people visit each day. Try to visit early in the morning or after 17:00 and you'll avoid the crowds.

Phi Phi Island

The Phi Phi islands are some of the loveliest in Southeast Asia. Just a 45-minute speedboat jaunt and a 90-minute ferryboat ride from Phuket, these picture postcard islands offer the ultimate tropical getaway.

Classic beaches, stunning rock formations, and vivid turquoise waters teeming with colourful marine life - it's paradise perfected.

There are two islands, Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Leh. The larger and inhabited, Phi Phi Don attracts hundreds of visitors to stay on its lovely shores.

Railay Beach

Now on every savvy traveller's list, Railay is nevertheless one of Thailand's most sought-after beach areas. Just south of Ao Nang Beach, around a rocky headland and accessible only by boat, Railay presents a tranquil and extraordinary world.

In just one small peninsula you'll find gorgeous white sand beaches, soaring limestone cliffs, viewpoints, caves and a lagoon hidden inside the cliffs, shaped and fed by the changing tides. All within walking distance!

At Railay there are no roads; only footpaths. No buses, no cars, just longtail boats. Although it's actually connected to the mainland, the spectacular Phra Nang Peninsular is effectively cut off from the rest of Krabi by limestone headlands and steep jungle valleys; the only access is by sea. The very picture of tropical paradise, with no roads and no hassle, Railay offers lazy days, adventure forays and chilled-out evenings.

Fancy Restaurants

If you prefer to dine in a fancier setting, check out Lae Lay Grill or The Hilltop, located on a steep slope behind Ao Nang Beach. Since the restaurants are situated at such a high level, they provide splendid vantage points to watch the beautiful sunset of Krabi. Both restaurants provide free shuttle services between the restaurant and your hotel (Ao Nang area) so it’s really convenient! Menu presents a wide selection of Thai cuisine and seafood, so there’s definitely something that will appeal to your palates.

Krabi Town

Krabi Town is located about 18km up coast from Ao Nang Beach. Tourism has trail-blazed infrastructure development in many parts of Krabi. But despite this growth, Krabi Town has retained its rustic and laid-back allure. Therefore, it’s a great place to get deeper insights into local living. Below are some interesting attractions of Krabi Town.