Things to do in Krabi: top sights and where to go
Krabi is a coastline, not a city: most visitors stay at Ao Nang Beach, a 10–15 minute longtail ride from Railay and Phra Nang and about half an hour from Koh Poda, Koh Tup and Chicken Island. Tiger Cave Temple with its climb of over a thousand steps, the Huai To waterfalls and the Emerald Pool are inland and need a car. Give the beaches and islands one day and the temple and jungle another.
Sights
Krabi itineraries
Krabi travel guide
Before you go: Ao Nang and Railay, Poda, Chicken and Hong islands, the Tiger Cave Temple, the Emerald Pool, the airport, seasons and sea.
Krabi on your own: the essentials
- How many days
- 4–7 days: beaches, islands, jungle
- When to go
- November–April: dry with a calm sea
- Visa
- Depends on your passport — many are visa-exempt
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Arrival card
- Online TDAC before you fly
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Currency
- Thai baht (THB); cash for boats and park fees
- Airport
- Krabi (KBV) — ≈ 40 min to Ao Nang
- Railay
- By boat only — no roads lead there
- Islands
- Longtail boats from Ao Nang beach
- Park fees
- Paid in cash on the islands
- Time zone
- UTC+7 all year
officiali
Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Key facts
Sourcei
Wikipedia, “Wat Tham Suea (Krabi)”Sourcei
Wikipedia, “Railay Beach”Sourcei
Wikipedia, “Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park”Sourcei
Wikipedia, “Krabi province”Things to do in Krabi
The top things to do in Krabi are the beaches of Ao Nang, Railay and Phra Nang among limestone cliffs, the islands of Poda, Tup and Chicken, and Hong, the summit view from the Tiger Cave Temple, the Emerald Pool and the Than Bok Khorani and Khao Phanom Bencha national parks. Every place with its YesGo score is in the list above.
| Ao Nang | Ao Nang Beach | ½ day |
|---|---|---|
| Peninsula | Railay, Phra Nang | 1 day |
| Islands | Poda, Chicken, Hong | 1 day |
| Krabi Town | Tiger Cave Temple | 2 h |
| Jungle | Emerald Pool, Khao Phanom Bencha | 1 day |
| Mangroves | Than Bok Khorani | ½ day |
Rather not plan it yourself? The list above has ready itineraries for 1–2 days, with places in a sensible order.
Krabi airport to Ao Nang
Krabi International (KBV) is ≈ 10 km from Krabi Town and ≈ 28 km from Ao Nang — about 15 and 40 minutes by taxi or transfer. For Railay, go to Ao Nang first, then take a 10–15-minute longtail boat.
| Taxi, transfer | Ao Nang | ≈ 40 min |
|---|---|---|
| Taxi | Krabi Town | ≈ 15 min |
| Longtail boat | Ao Nang — Railay | ≈ 10–15 min |
| Ferry | Phuket, Phi Phi | ≈ 1.5–2 h |
Ao Nang or Railay: where to stay
Ao Nang or Railay is the big choice in Krabi: Ao Nang has restaurants, shops and boats to the islands; Railay has cliffs, quiet and car-free beaches. Klong Muang and Tub Kaek offer big resorts on calm beaches; Krabi Town is cheapest but far from the sea.
| Ao Nang | Everything close, island boats | Busy beach |
|---|---|---|
| Railay | Cliffs, quiet, climbing | Sea access only; tricky with luggage |
| Klong Muang | Resorts, quiet beach | ≈ 20 min to Ao Nang |
| Krabi Town | Budget, night market | ≈ 30 min to the beach |
Krabi weather by month
The best time to visit Krabi is November to April: dry, ≈ 31–33 °C by day, with a calm sea at 28–30 °C and boats running to every island. May to October is the rainy season, with downpours and waves; some boat routes are cancelled.
°CiLong-term averages, °C: day and night air, sea water near the shore, rain — rainy days a month. Any given year can be warmer or cooler. Tap a month for details below. | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day | 32° | 33° | 34° | 34° | 33° | 32° | 31° | 31° | 31° | 31° | 31° | 31° |
| Night | 22° | 23° | 23° | 24° | 25° | 25° | 24° | 24° | 24° | 24° | 23° | 22° |
| Sea | 28° | 28° | 29° | 30° | 30° | 29° | 29° | 28° | 28° | 28° | 28° | 28° |
| Rain | 4 | 3 | 6 | 13 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 22 | 21 | 13 | 6 |
Warm — 20 °C and above by dayBest time to go: January–April and November–December
- day ≈ 32°
- night ≈ 22°
- sea ≈ 28°
- rain 4 days
Dry, calm sea — the best time. Warm for swimming, water — about 28°.
- day ≈ 33°
- night ≈ 23°
- sea ≈ 28°
- rain 3 days
Dry, ≈ 33°. Warm for swimming, water — about 28°.
- day ≈ 34°
- night ≈ 23°
- sea ≈ 29°
- rain 6 days
Hot and dry. Warm for swimming, water — about 29°.
- day ≈ 34°
- night ≈ 24°
- sea ≈ 30°
- rain 13 days
The hottest month. Warm for swimming, water — about 30°.
- day ≈ 33°
- night ≈ 25°
- sea ≈ 30°
- rain 19 days
Rains begin. Warm for swimming, water — about 30°.
- day ≈ 32°
- night ≈ 25°
- sea ≈ 29°
- rain 19 days
Downpours, waves. Warm for swimming, water — about 29°.
- day ≈ 31°
- night ≈ 24°
- sea ≈ 29°
- rain 19 days
Rain. Warm for swimming, water — about 29°.
- day ≈ 31°
- night ≈ 24°
- sea ≈ 28°
- rain 20 days
Rain. Warm for swimming, water — about 28°.
- day ≈ 31°
- night ≈ 24°
- sea ≈ 28°
- rain 22 days
The wettest month. Warm for swimming, water — about 28°.
- day ≈ 31°
- night ≈ 24°
- sea ≈ 28°
- rain 21 days
Rain. Warm for swimming, water — about 28°.
- day ≈ 31°
- night ≈ 23°
- sea ≈ 28°
- rain 13 days
The season opens. Warm for swimming, water — about 28°.
- day ≈ 31°
- night ≈ 22°
- sea ≈ 28°
- rain 6 days
Dry — high season. Warm for swimming, water — about 28°.
Krabi prices for tours and parks
Ao Nang and Railay beaches and the Tiger Cave Temple are free. You pay for longtail boats and island tours, national park fees (in cash), the Emerald Pool and Than Bok Khorani.
| Koh Tup and Chicken Island | 27 | 2 h | park fee ≈ 400 baht; boat extra |
|---|---|---|---|
| Koh Poda | 25 | 3 h | park fee ≈ 400 baht; longtail ≈ 300 |
| Khao Phanom Bencha National Park | 22 | 1 h 30 min | ≈ 200 baht |
| Than Bok Khorani National Park | 22 | 1 h 30 min | ≈ 300 baht; kayaking extra |
| Emerald Pool | 20 | 2 h 30 min | ≈ 400 baht; Hot Spring Waterfall ≈ 200 |
| Koh Hong | 16 | 4 h | park fee ≈ 300 baht; tour extra |
Free — 4 places: Ao Nang Beach, Phra Nang Beach, Railay Beach, Tiger Cave Temple.
Tips
- Climb the Tiger Cave Temple early — 1,260 steps in the heat are hard going.
- Monkeys at the temple and on Railay snatch food and bags — don’t carry plastic bags.
- Bring cash for national park fees — islands don’t take cards.
FAQ
Is Krabi worth visiting?
Yes, for dramatic limestone cliffs, Railay’s car-free beaches and easy island-hopping — calmer than Phuket.
Do I need a visa for Thailand?
It depends on your passport: many nationalities are visa-exempt for a set number of days, and all visitors fill in the online TDAC arrival card. Check the official rules for your passport.
Ao Nang or Railay — where should I stay?
Ao Nang for convenience and restaurants; Railay for scenery and quiet, if you don’t mind boat transfers.
How do I get to Railay Beach?
Only by longtail boat from Ao Nang or Krabi Town — 10–15 minutes.
What is the weather like in Krabi in December?
Dry and sunny: about 31 °C by day with a calm sea near 28 °C.
Which Krabi island tour is best?
The 4 Islands tour (Poda, Chicken, Tup and Phra Nang) for beaches, Hong Island for its lagoon, or Phi Phi for a full day.
How many steps is the Tiger Cave Temple?
1,260 steps to the ≈ 278 m summit — about an hour up.
When is the rainy season in Krabi?
May to October, with downpours and some island trips cancelled.
How do I get from Krabi to Phuket?
By ferry via Phi Phi or by road, about 2.5–3 hours.
How do I get from Krabi airport to Ao Nang?
By taxi or transfer in about 40 minutes.
Sources and fact-check
- Wikipedia, “Krabi province”; “Railay Beach”; “Wat Tham Suea”; Krabi climate (1991–2020 normals)
- Department of National Parks, Thailand — official information
- Krabi International Airport — official website
Day trips from Krabi
- Phuket · 50 km
- Koh Samui · 219 km
- Pattaya · 590 km
- Bangkok · 662 km
- Chiang Mai · 1196 km