Krabi is a popular starting point for people heading to Ao Nang, Railay Beach, Ko Phi Phi, Ko Lanta and many of the other nearby islands. Since we were coming from Europe with a stopover in Dubai and in no hurry, we decided to slow down and spend a week exploring the area. What we found was great food and friendly people. It was the perfect place to settle in and learn a little about Thailand before we headed off to spend the next few weeks on the islands.
Getting In
Krabi International Airport has direct flights to Bangkok, Ko Samui, Kuala Lampur and Singapore.
We flew Tiger Air from Singapore for about $70 pp not including our checked bag.
There is a bus leaving the airport for Krabi town for 90 baht and tickets can be bought from a stand just before the exit. The bus continues on to Ao Nang Beach and Noppharat Thara Beach for 150 baht and from there you can catch a boat to the surrounding islands.
Buses connect Krabi with Bangkok, Phucket, Hat Yai and Surat Thani.
Getting Around
Our guest house was a bit outside of the main area so we rented a moped. The moped cost 200 baht per day and makes getting around very easy, although the drivers here are a bit crazy!
If you stay in the main town most things are within walking distance. To get to Ao Nang Beach or Noppharat Thara Beach you can take a songthaew for 50 baht one way. There are also taxis available but they are considerably more expensive.
Accommodation
We stayed at B.B. Mansion – a new and decent size guest house. Our room had a double bed, a fan, fridge, wifi (strong signal), patio area and a private shower for 450 (about $14) baht per night on Agoda.com. Everything was clean and in great shape and was a great value for the price. It was a few km from the main area of town but with the moped it was no problem. We enjoyed the quiet area and there is even a nice place to sit and enjoy a beer in the shade at the front of the guest house. They did have a little market with things for sale like water, snacks and beer and also had laundry service for 30 baht! Free coffee in the morning and a strong wifi signal made it a pleasant stay.
Check the price for B.B. Mansion on Agoda.
What To Eat
The food market in the center of town has some great options for a cheap meal. We found ourselves here daily and found a stall selling delicious Pad Thai for 4o baht with either chicken or shrimp.
For more about the food in Krabi and our restaurant recommendations check out our Southern Thailand Food Guide HERE!
Things To Do and See
Wat Kaewkorawaram
This was our first temple visit so we didn’t have anything to compare it to but we had a great time exploring the temple and grounds. Set in the middle of town, it is a beautiful sight and the temple sits on top of the hill and gets some nice breezes on a hot day! We read up on temple dress etiquette but found that most visitors there were wearing shorts and some even wore tank tops. The monk inside the temple was even posing for pictures with visitors. Since the temple is directly in the town it is well worth a visit.
Ao Nang Beach
Ao Nang is a popular beach town just a 15-20 minute songthaew ride from Krabi. The ride cost 50 baht and the driver will wait until the entire truck is full before departing. We even had a driver leave the bus stop and slowly cruise down the street honking at people until he was able to fill the last few seats!
The beach is quite beautiful and is long enough that it doesn’t feel crowded. The sand is nice and soft and the beach is perfect for swimming and laying out in the sun. There are a ton of restaurants and shops along the main street.
Noppharat Thara Beach
This beach is separated from Ao Nang by a large rock formation and you will pass the beach just before reaching Ao Nang coming from Krabi. The sand is not as nice with lots of sea shells and the water is a bit murky-er. It is a bit quieter than Ao Nang and every bit as beautiful.
Massage
There are lots of places to get a massage in Krabi and for 200 baht for a Thai massage and 350 baht for a Thai oil massage, we figured we couldn’t afford not to get one! We were recommended one that is just off the main street and after a bit of wandering around we were able to find it. It nice and cool inside and a great, relaxing way to spend a hot day!
Dhara Massage & Spa