# Ao Nang Beach, Krabi > Ao Nang Beach is Krabi's main resort beach: about 1.5 km of sand beneath limestone cliffs, with a promenade of cafés and a longtail boat stand. Entry is free. Longtails reach Railay Beach in 15 minutes for about 100 baht (unofficial). Swim from November to April; May to October brings waves and red flags. It's 30–40 minutes from the airport. Web page: https://yesgo.io/thailand/krabi/ao-nang-beach - City: [Krabi](https://yesgo.io/thailand/krabi), Thailand - YesGo score: 41/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 2 h - Opening hours: Open 24 hours; boats to Railay ≈ 8:00–18:00 - With kids: Fine with kids - Entry: Free — a public beach - Longtail to Railay: About 100 baht per person, ≈ 15 minutes; more after 18:00 - Boats: Roughly 8:00–18:00; they leave once full - 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, 98.82188 - Facts checked: 08.11.2026 ## Key facts - **≈ 1.5 km** — the beach's length beneath the limestone cliffs (source: travel guides) - **Longtails** — the beach's hallmark — boats leave here for nearby beaches and islands (source: English Wikipedia) - **≈ 100 baht** — for a seat in a shared boat to Railay (source: 2026 travel guides) - **≈ 15 minutes** — by boat to Railay West (source: travel guides) - **Low tide** — by day the sea pulls back, exposing sand and rocks near the shore (source: travel guides) - **Nopparat Thara** — the next beach north — long and quiet (source: OSM) - **≈ 28 km** — by road from Krabi Airport, about 35 minutes (source: OSRM route) - **Red flag** — means 'no swimming' — the rule along the whole Andaman coast (source: Andaman 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. > **Longtails: how they work** Shared boats to Railay cost about 100 baht per person and leave once 8–10 passengers have gathered; after 18:00 the fare goes up. Tickets are sold at the booth by the boat stand. Landing at Railay is a 'wet landing': you step into knee-deep water, so keep your things in a waterproof bag. Boats don't run in bad weather. ## 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 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. ## Before you go: checklist - [ ] Flags and tide table checked - [ ] About 100 baht in cash for a longtail - [ ] A waterproof bag for my things - [ ] Sunscreen and water - [ ] Back on the promenade for sunset ## Krabi beaches: compare and choose Krabi beaches and bays rated by YesGo. - [Ao Nang Beach](https://yesgo.io/thailand/krabi/ao-nang-beach) — YesGo score 41/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · free; longtail to Railay ≈ 100 baht - [Phra Nang Beach](https://yesgo.io/thailand/krabi/phra-nang-beach) — YesGo score 37/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · free; toilets charge - [Railay Beach](https://yesgo.io/thailand/krabi/railay-beach) — YesGo score 36/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · free; longtail ≈ 100 baht - [Koh Tup and Chicken Island](https://yesgo.io/thailand/krabi/chicken-island) — YesGo score 27/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · park fee ≈ 400 baht; boat extra - [Koh Poda](https://yesgo.io/thailand/krabi/koh-poda) — YesGo score 25/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · park fee ≈ 400 baht; longtail ≈ 300 - [Khao Phanom Bencha National Park](https://yesgo.io/thailand/krabi/khao-phanom-bencha) — YesGo score 22/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · ≈ 200 baht - [Than Bok Khorani National Park](https://yesgo.io/thailand/krabi/than-bok-khorani) — YesGo score 22/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · ≈ 300 baht; kayaking extra - [Emerald Pool](https://yesgo.io/thailand/krabi/krabi-emerald-pool) — YesGo score 20/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h 30 min · ≈ 400 baht; Hot Spring Waterfall ≈ 200 - [Koh Hong](https://yesgo.io/thailand/krabi/krabi-hong-island) — YesGo score 16/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 4 h · park fee ≈ 300 baht; tour extra ## 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 Beach](https://yesgo.io/thailand/krabi/ao-nang-beach) — YesGo score 41/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · free; longtail to Railay ≈ 100 baht 2. [Railay Beach](https://yesgo.io/thailand/krabi/railay-beach) — YesGo score 36/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · free; longtail ≈ 100 baht 3. [Phra Nang Beach](https://yesgo.io/thailand/krabi/phra-nang-beach) — YesGo score 37/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · free; toilets charge ## Good to know Ao Nang is a resort beach and village in Krabi. Railay and Phra Nang are neighbouring beaches reachable only by boat. Nopparat Thara beach is to the north, in a national park. ## Tips - 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](https://yesgo.io/thailand/krabi/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. ## How we checked There'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). ## Sources - 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 --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. 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