A little less than 500 miles south of Bangkok sits Krabi, a province on the west coast of southern Thailand at the mouth of the Krabi river that empties into the Phangnga Bay. If sand, beaches, boat rides, island hopping and waterfront restaurants are your thing, I highly suggest planning a trip to Krabi. There are several means of getting to Krabi; if you’re short on time, I’d suggest taking a flight to Krabi Airport (KBV) which is conveniently located on the province’s main highway, Route 4. If you’re looking for a more scenic route into Krabi, then a beautiful ferry ride from Phuket is your best option. The ferry makes a 5 hour stop in Phi Phi Island for travelers to enjoy it’s gorgeous white sand beach.
Choosing the more scenic route into Krabi, the trip took us about 8 hours total and cost around 777 Baht ($24). Upon arrival to Krabi, there are a plethora of things to keep your days busy and your adventurous spirit active. Start your visit by taking in some of the local cuisine. Mr. KRAB-i on Chaofah Road offers phenomenal food in a cool wooden Thai house that offers free wifi gives free popcorn; any meal here is good, so I suggest trying something new while visiting!
Take your adventurous side out to explore after a good meal and make your way north to the Khao Phanombencha National Park. The enormous park offers pristine, lush forest with mountain ranges running north to south. Streams, caves, wild animals and waterfalls will make you feel like time is standing still, keeping you in the park for hours. On the way back to Krabi town, you can hit a few golf balls at the Krabi Golf Driving Range off Route 4; they house a pro shop, restaurant, practice green and chipping greens with a bunker. They also offer tours to the area’s golf courses and provide round trip transportation to most tourist areas.
Once night falls, you’ll find an area buzzing with activity every night. The Krabi Town night market is the place to go if you’re looking to buy gifts and souvenirs for friends and family, but if you want to treat yourself, the food here is finger licking good! You can fill your stomach with a variety of delicious foods without emptying your wallet.
When looking for a nice day out on the beach under a bright sun, there are plenty of gems in Krabi and the archipelago of islands in the bay. Railay Beach sits on the mainland between the city of Krabi and Ao Nang and is only accessible by boat due to the high limestone cliffs surrounding the peninsula that cut off access to and from the mainland. It is divided into two sections, east and west, with grove forests to the north and the adrenaline pumping sport of cliff climbing.
There is also Phra Nang beach, which is also only accessible by boat. It’s small cave is shrouded in myths and mystery which make it a memorable site to visit. You can expect to see plenty of rock climbing and sun bathing; as a well known hotspot in Krabi it keeps a good tan going.
If you’re looking to be a little more engaged without having to climb an enormous rock, Koh Hong would be the place for you. As the biggest limestone island in a group of southern islands, it provides plenty of fine white sand beaches with shallow and deep water coral reefs, which made it ideal for snorkeling, scuba diving, fishing and sea canoeing. It also has a 400 meter hiking trail around the island where visitors are known to conduct nature studies.
A tropical paradise, Krabi boasts an array of beautiful landmarks and natural environments to enjoy the hospitality of the Thai people. You can book a hotel room, but you’ll only be using it to sleep; with so many outdoor activities and festivities the time here will be sun soaked and relaxing outdoors. This is just one of the many gems this amazing country has to offer and it’s one that we will be visiting as often as possible.
