Base yourself in Ao Nang or on Railay. Give the first day to Railay: Phra Nang beach in the morning, then the viewpoint scramble or a climbing lesson. Spend the second on a boat, to Phi Phi and Maya Bay or to the Hong Islands' lagoon. Take the third inland: the Tiger Cave Temple's steps at dawn, then the Emerald Pool and the Khlong Thom hot springs.
Krabi is both a province and its capital: a river town on Thailand's Andaman coast, with the beaches about 20 km west at Ao Nang and Railay. Limestone towers rise straight from the sea here, and dozens of islands sit offshore, a longtail ride away.
A peninsula cut off from the road by its cliffs, so every visitor arrives by longtail from Ao Nang or Krabi Town. Stay a night rather than day-trip: the beaches empty once the last boats leave, and the walls climb best in the cool of the morning.
The finest beach on the peninsula, under cliffs that climbers rope up from the sand. At its eastern end, Phra Nang Cave holds a shrine of carved wooden phalluses, offerings left by fishermen for a sea princess.
Phi Phi Don is the inhabited island and Phi Phi Leh the cliff-ringed one, with Maya Bay on its west side. Swimming in the bay is banned and boats land at a pier behind it; go early, ahead of the day boats from Phuket.
A forest monastery whose cave shrines sit at the foot of a karst, with a staircase of 1,260 steps to a golden Buddha on the summit. The view takes in the Krabi plain and the coast; climb at first light, while the steps are still shaded.
A cluster north of Ao Nang where Ko Hong hides a lagoon enclosed by cliffs, entered by kayak or longtail at high water. Quieter than Phi Phi and a shorter run, it makes the better first boat day for families.
The short hop from Ao Nang: Ko Poda's long beach, the chicken-head rock of Ko Kai and the sandbar that joins Ko Tup to its neighbours at low tide. Most tours add Phra Nang, so it doubles as a Railay visit.
A spring-fed pool in lowland forest at the end of a boardwalk, its water a steady clear green. A longer trail runs on to the Blue Pool, which is for looking at only.
Hot spring water spills over stepped rock into a cool stream, so you sit where the two temperatures meet. The local subdistrict runs it, not the national parks, and it pairs with the Emerald Pool in a single day inland.
A steep forest climb of about 3.7 km to a rock ledge above the Andaman coast and its islands. Allow three to four hours there and back, start before 8am and carry at least two litres of water.
The town is where locals live and shop, on a mangrove-lined river facing the twin karsts of Khao Khanab Nam. On Friday and Saturday evenings, Maharat Soi 8 turns into the Walking Street of food stalls and music.
A muddy rope scramble from Railay East to a lookout and a hidden lagoon.
Offerings and firecrackers at Krabi Town’s Chinese shrines.
Candlelit processions around temple halls on the full moon.
Ko Lanta’s Old Town celebrates the island’s mix of cultures.
Thai New Year: water fights at Ao Nang and in town, merit at the temples.
Buddhism’s holiest day, with candlelit walks at the temples.
Nine meat-free days, with a shrine procession to the City Pillar.
The end of Buddhist Lent, with merit-making at the temples at dawn.
Floats set on the river and the sea at the full moon; 24 November in 2026.
About 7 km east of Krabi Town and roughly 30 km from Ao Nang, with flights from Bangkok and seasonal routes from abroad. Shared minivans and taxis wait at arrivals.
Klong Jilad pier, about 4 km from Krabi Town, runs ferries to Phi Phi in about 1 hour 40 minutes and to Ko Lanta. Some Phi Phi boats also leave from the Ao Nang coast.
Longtails leave Ao Nang beach for Railay once a boat fills, and also run from Krabi Town’s riverside. Buy tickets at the counter on the beachfront.
Shared songthaews link Krabi Town, Ao Nang and Noppharat Thara by day. Grab operates here; agree taxi fares first, and ride a scooter only with a licence and a helmet.
Sour, turmeric-yellow Southern curry, usually with fish.
Fiery Southern curry of fermented fish innards and vegetables.
Southern rice salad with herbs, toasted coconut and budu fish sauce.
Griddled flatbread from the Muslim stalls, with egg, banana or curry.
Dry-fried minced meat with turmeric, lime leaf and plenty of chilli.
Fresh rice noodles under a fish curry, with raw vegetables on the side.
Thai-Muslim chicken biryani, yellow with turmeric and served with a sweet chilli sauce.
Whole fish fried with turmeric and garlic, a seafront staple.
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