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Ao Nang Beach, Krabi

Ao Nang Beach in Krabi: sand, swimmers and palms below a towering limestone cliff and a green karst headland
Photo: kallerna, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

The essentials in 10 seconds

Entry
Free — a public beach
Hours
Open 24 hours; boats to Railay ≈ 8:00–18:00
Time on site
A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes.
2 h
With kids
Fine with kids
Longtail to Railay
About 100 baht per person, ≈ 15 minutes; more after 18:00
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Boats
Roughly 8:00–18:00; they leave once full
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Best time
November–April: calm, clear sea
May–October
Monsoon season: waves, currents, some boats cancelled
Distances
≈ 28 km from the airport, ≈ 18 km from Krabi Town
Coordinates
8.03109, 98.82188YesGo MapGoogleApple

Key facts

≈ 1.5 kmthe beach's length beneath the limestone cliffs
Sourcetravel guides
Longtailsthe beach's hallmark — boats leave here for nearby beaches and islands
SourceEnglish Wikipedia
≈ 100 bahtfor a seat in a shared boat to Railay
Source2026 travel guides
≈ 15 minutesby boat to Railay West
Sourcetravel guides
Low tideby day the sea pulls back, exposing sand and rocks near the shore
Sourcetravel guides
Nopparat Tharathe next beach north — long and quiet
SourceOSM
≈ 28 kmby road from Krabi Airport, about 35 minutes
SourceOSRM route
Red flagmeans 'no swimming' — the rule along the whole Andaman coast
SourceAndaman coast lifeguards

What is Ao Nang Beach?

Ao Nang is the main resort beach of Krabi province on the Andaman Sea. About 1.5 km of sand lies beneath green limestone cliffs, with a promenade of cafés, shops and bars along the shore. It's the heart of the resort area and Krabi's main 'boat stop'.

From here longtail boats run to nearby beaches and islands: Railay and Phra Nang, cut off from the mainland by cliffs, plus the islands of Poda, Chicken and Hong. That makes Ao Nang a convenient base: islands by boat in the morning, dinner on the promenade in the evening.

Swimming, tides and season

November to April brings a calm, clear sea — the best time to swim. May to October is the south-west monsoon: waves and currents, red flags on the beach and some boats cancelled. A red flag means swimming is forbidden.

Ao Nang has big tides: by day the sea often recedes, exposing sand and rocks near the shore. Swimming is easier at high tide — check a tide table. The water by the boat stand is busy, so swim away from it.

Things to do at Ao Nang

  • Swimming and sunbathing — in the dry season, at high tide.
  • A boat to Railay and Phra Nang — 15 minutes to beaches beneath the cliffs.
  • Island trips to Poda, Chicken and Hong.
  • Sunset over the sea and cliffs.
  • The promenade — dinners, massage, shops.
  • Nopparat Thara beach to the north — for a quiet walk.

How to get to Ao Nang

Step-by-step directions are below; the map shows where you arrive.

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Where are you starting from?

We’ll draw it on the map on foot and by taxi; metro and buses open in your maps app. Your location isn’t stored.

More tips

  1. From Krabi Airport (KBV) — about 28 km, 35–40 minutes by taxi, Grab or shuttle bus.
  2. From Krabi Town — about 18 km by white songthaew or taxi, 20–30 minutes.
  3. From Phuket — by ferry or minibus, about 2–3 hours.
  4. On to Railay — by longtail from the beach stand, about 15 minutes.
  5. The beach runs along Beach Road, next to the resort centre.

How long do you need?

If you're staying in Ao Nang, it's your everyday base. The beach itself takes a couple of hours — a swim and the sunset. Krabi's best beaches, Railay and Phra Nang, are 15 minutes away by boat, so people often come to Ao Nang in the morning for a boat and back in the evening for sunset.

In the evening the promenade comes alive: cafés, street food and massage to the sound of the sea.

Is Ao Nang Beach worth it?

Yes, as a base: it's the easiest place to reach Railay and the islands from, with plenty of accommodation and cafés, and the cliffs above the sea are beautiful.

The YesGo take: the beach itself isn't Krabi's best — low tide by day, lots of boats and noise near the shore. Swimming and sunbathing are nicer at Railay, Phra Nang or on the islands. Ao Nang is for living and evenings.

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Krabi beaches: compare and choose

Krabi beaches and bays rated by YesGo. Tap a column heading to sort.

Ao Nang Beachyou are here412 hFree—
Phra Nang Beach372 hFree3.3 km
Railay Beach363 hFree2.7 km
Koh Tup and Chicken Island272 hpark fee ≈ 400 baht; boat extra7.9 km
Koh Poda253 hpark fee ≈ 400 baht; longtail ≈ 3006.9 km
Khao Phanom Bencha National Park221 h 30 min≈ 200 baht25.4 km
Than Bok Khorani National Park221 h 30 min≈ 300 baht; kayaking extra40.9 km
Emerald Pool202 h 30 min≈ 400 baht; Hot Spring Waterfall ≈ 20050.5 km
Koh Hong164 hpark fee ≈ 300 baht; tour extra16.7 km

Krabi by sea in a day

A morning boat from Ao Nang Beach to Railay, Phra Nang Beach in the afternoon, and back to Ao Nang for sunset. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers.

  1. Ao Nang Beachyou are here2 h · free; longtail to Railay ≈ 100 baht
  2. 47 min walk from the previous stopRailay Beach3 h · free; longtail ≈ 100 baht
  3. 11 min walk from the previous stopPhra Nang Beach2 h · free; toilets charge

3 places · about 7 h 58 min with walks · 58 min on foot in total

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How to do it right

  • The best sunset is from the west end of the beach by the cliffs.
  • Swim at high tide — at low tide it's shallow near the shore.
  • Boats to Railay fill fastest in the morning.
  • There's plenty of street food on the promenade in the evening.
  • 15 minutes by boat: Railay Beach.

Questions

Can you swim at Ao Nang?

Yes, from November to April; from May to October only in calm seas and never under a red flag.

How much is a boat to Railay?

About 100 baht per person in a shared boat, more after 18:00 (according to guides).

How long is the boat ride to Railay?

About 15 minutes.

How do I get to Ao Nang from the airport?

About 28 km — 35–40 minutes by taxi or shuttle.

Why is there so little water by day?

It's low tide — check a tide table and swim at high water.

When is the best time to visit Ao Nang?

November to April.

What's near Ao Nang?

Railay and Phra Nang beaches by boat, and Nopparat Thara beach to the north.

Ao Nang or Railay?

Ao Nang is more convenient to stay in; Railay is prettier for a beach day.

Have you been? Was it worth your time?

1 — no, 5 — absolutely

Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.

Sources and fact-check

  • English Wikipedia — Ao Nang: resort village, beach and longtails
  • 2026 travel guides — longtail fares and hours, tides, beach length (unofficial)
  • Andaman coast lifeguard flag rules — red flag and monsoon season
  • OSM — beach coordinates; OSRM route — distances from the airport and Krabi Town
YesGo editorial team · facts checked 08.11.2026 ·
How we checkedThere's no official website. The description is from English Wikipedia. The 100 baht longtail fare and 8:00–18:00 hours come from 2026 guides; the after-18:00 surcharge is given as 50 baht or up to 150 per trip, so it's marked unconfirmed. The 1.5 km length is from guides. Flag rules apply along the whole Andaman coast. Distances are OSRM routes from the airport (27.7 km) and Krabi Town (17.5 km).

Top YesGo picks: Krabi

Phra Nang Beach

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2 h · free; toilets charge

Railay Beach

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3 h · free; longtail ≈ 100 baht

Koh Tup and Chicken Island

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2 h · park fee ≈ 400 baht; boat extra

Tiger Cave Temple

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2 h · free

Koh Poda

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3 h · park fee ≈ 400 baht; longtail ≈ 300

Emerald Pool

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2 h 30 min · ≈ 400 baht; Hot Spring Waterfall ≈ 200

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