In southern Thailand, just over a two-hour drive from Phuket, lies the province of Krabi (one of the country’s 76 provinces). Its coastline is bathed by the Andaman Sea and is an area of spectacular natural beauty, characterised by countless ‘vertical’ islands rising out of the water with limestone hills and cliffs that are a magnet for climbers from all over the world.
The base camp or town from which to explore the various beaches and islands is Ao Nang, which has established itself as a lively coastal area with hotels, houses, bars, restaurants and shops. From there, travellers can reach the secluded beaches of Phra Nang Cave, home to the famous old hippie community of Railay; the archipelago of the five islands of Phi Phi; and the secluded Maya Bay on the island of Ko Phi Phi Leh, where part of the film The Beach (2000) starring Leonardo DiCaprio was filmed.
Krabi has an airport for international arrivals, and it is advisable to book in advance since it is one of the main tourist destinations not only in Thailand but in Asia as a whole.
History and context of Krabi province
Archaeological remains indicate that Krabi’s many bays have been inhabited for more than 25,000 years. For centuries, pirates and seafaring merchants have been visiting its shores.
In the 13th century, Krabi was tributary to the Ligor Kingdom on the east coast of the Kra Peninsula, where Nakhon Si Thammarat is today.
In 1875, its territory came directly under Bangkok and became the present province, i.e. a separate entity from the rest of the Thai provinces, with its headquarters at the mouth of the river Kabri since 1900. Kabri means ‘sword’ in English. Legend has it that a sword was unearthed before the founding of the present town that bears the same name as the province.
The coastline and islands of Krabi province were severely damaged by the 2004 tsunami.
Phi Phi Islands
An hour by boat from Phuket and a little less by speedboat from Ao Nang, the archipelago of the Phi Phi Islands, known as the ‘jewel of the Andaman Sea’, is one of Thailand’s most exotic destinations.
Of the six islands, i.e. Phi Phi Don, Phi Phi Leh, Phai (Bamboo island), Young (Mosquito island), Bida Nok and Bida Nai, only one, Phi Phi Don, is inhabited; it is the largest and provides tourist accommodation; the rest are uninhabited and undeveloped.
Among the highlights of this archipelago is Maya Bay on the island of Phi Phi Leh, where the beach in the Leonardo DiCaprio film The Beach is located. Since the famous film was screened in 2000 and until 2018, around 5,000 tourists and 200 boats arrived daily in this paradisiacal corner of the world. The result? Its natural ecosystem deteriorated and it was closed to the public in 2018. Nevertheless, the Thai authorities reopened it to tourism in 2022, with measures such as access for only 300 people per day and the possibility of spending one hour on the beach.
Monkey Beach, with its white sand, on the island of Phi Phi Don is known for the monkeys that accompany the swimmers; the Viking cave is famous on the island of Phi Phi Leh; and Bamboo Island is known for its fine sandy beaches and crystal-clear waters.
Diving (there are leopard sharks), snorkelling or spending a day at the beach and swimming in these amazing places is the most popular activity among travellers. The only downside is the large number of tourists.
Hong Islands
Twelve islands are spread vertically from north to south in the Krabi Sea, across Phang Nga Bay. Only some beaches are accessible and overnight stays are not allowed.
The jewel in the crown is Hong Island, with lush mangroves and the famous blue lagoon, one of the most popular tourist spots in the area that is surrounded by mountains.
November to April is the ideal time to travel to these islands since the weather allows for kayaking, for example.
Koh Poda
The island of Koh Poda is located six kilometres from Ao Nang and is surrounded by white sandy beaches and crystal-clear turquoise blue waters.
It is an ideal place for snorkelling along a coral reef inhabited by many marine fauna. It is also a natural phenomenon in which a tongue of land is exposed at low tide: it is called the Separated Sea and is located between Than and the Moque Islands.
Opposite is the islet of Ko Ma Tang Ming, one of Krabi’s most famous snapshots.
Krabi beaches
In addition to Maya Bay, the aforementioned beach on the island of Phi Phi Leh where part of the DiCaprio film The Beach was filmed, there are many other beaches in Krabi province that stand out for their paradisiacal beauty.
It is not the most attractive but, for tourists staying in Ao Nang, which is the norm, the town has a beach called Aonan. It is quite a long beach and has some nice views: from there you can see the Railay cliffs. The downside? The sand is not very fine and there is a lot of hustle and bustle from the boats coming and going.
Railay beach is situated on a small peninsula made up of a row of hills between Krabi Town and Ao Nang. It can only be accessed by boat.
It is one of the most visited places in Krabi because of its limestone cliffs emerging from crystal-clear waters.
In total, there are three white sandy beaches. Railay west is the longest and has shallow waters. Many hotels and restaurants are located there.
Tonsai beach is the most hippie and less accessible beach. It is the beach of choice for rock climbing.
Finally, Phranang beach is one of the most visited in Thailand. It is located in the luxury Rayavadee Resort, a 26-hectare private beach property with a variety of accommodation options. Generously long, this white sandy beach stands out for its beauty, its rock-like islet in the middle of the sea and its caves. You can go diving, snorkelling, hiking or rock climbing.
Noppharat Thara beach, formerly known as Khlong Haeng beach, is located less than 20 kilometres from Krabi Town and is within the Hat Nappharat Thara National Park. In total, it has three kilometres of white sand full of coconut trees. When the tide goes out, it exposes hundreds of shells.
Phang Nga Bay
Phang Nga Bay, with an area of 400 square kilometres, is located on the Andaman Sea between the island of Phuket, the Strait of Malacca and the Kra Isthmus.
Since 1981, a large area of the bay has been protected as the Ao Phang Nga National Park. It is considered to be the second largest marine park in Thailand because of the number of karst rocks that create rich fish habitats in the water; these large rocks over the water are reminiscent of Ha Long Bay in Vietnam.
There are 40 islands in this area, as well as a handful of caves, mangrove forests and lagoons. There are also archaeological sites. The Phang Nga coastline has heavenly beaches, islands and a tropical climate: it is one of Thailand’s most popular tourist destinations, with an extensive range of tourist accommodation.
Among the most popular sites is the so-called ‘James Bond Island’. It is a small island whose real name is Koh Tapu and the famous islet is called Khao Phing Kan. Access is by speedboat from Ao Nang and the trip is one hour.
The floating village of Koh Panyee is another unique place along Phang Nga Bay. It was built decades ago by Muslim fishermen who, in the absence of dry land, decided to build their houses on wooden stilts emerging from the bottom of the water. This village has maintained its customs and traditions over time. You may be familiar with it because of its famous floating football pitch.
Activities in the area
Besides visiting islands and beaches, Krabi provides different and alternative plans.
Visit Wat Tham Suea, the ‘Tiger Cave Temple’. This spiritual retreat is very close to Krabi Town. It is located on top of a hill; in fact, to access it you have to climb steps for one hour. Once at the top, at what is known as ‘Buddha’s footprint’, there are breathtaking views of the Andaman Archipelago and the Andaman Sea.
The Khao Khanap Nam mountains are another characteristic place in Krabi. They do not stand out for their height since they do not rise more than 100 metres, but they do stand out for their beauty and caverns that were once a refuge for pirates and for their impressive stalactites and stalagmites.
In addition, the Klong Thom Hot Springs attract local and international travellers for their renowned therapeutic benefits. They contain natural sea salts.
Boat trips
Most boat trips to Krabi’s islands and beaches depart from Ao Nang: many are by speedboat, and the trips usually take no more than one hour and prices are usually no more than 100 euros.
The trips include the archipelago of the five islands of Phi Phi; the secluded Maya Bay on the island of Ko Phi Phi Leh, where part of the film The Beach (2000), was shot; Phra Nang Cave, where the famous old hippie community of Railay is located; and the Hong Islands, among other destinations.
