Make your way over to Krabi if you want to avoid Thailand’s most touristy island, Phuket, but still want to have easy access to the surrounding islands and even more beautiful backdrops with plenty of entertainment.
There is no shortage of things to do in Krabi so it’s a must add to your Thailand itinerary.
Krabi is a province on southern Thailand’s west coast, and is a lot larger of a city than most would expect. It’s busy but you can’t blame people for venturing to this province with limestone formations rising majestically all around.
Krabi Town itself has one of the country’s best food markets and the Andaman Islands are at your fingertips, just a quick boat trip away.
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Things to do in Krabi
Wondering what to do in Krabi? Keep reading for my favourite Krabi attractions!
Hike Tup Keak
If you’re debating whether or not you want to climb the 1237 stairs to the top of the Tiger Temple with a bunch of tourists, maybe you should consider this epic hike! This hike is mostly unknown and I only encountered five people our entire hike up!
It is about an hour and a half up and an hour to come back down. Once you reach the top you may even spend an hour just taking in the views. We did this hike around 1:00 PM, but if you time it perfectly you will be in for a magical sunset.
The hike is very strenuous, so make sure you wear the right shoes and bring snacks and water.
Krabi Island Hopping
Krabi Island hopping cannot be missed on any Krabi trip. The most popular Krabi Island tour is the Four Islands tour which takes you to the most beautiful islands close to Krabi for a full day of snorkelling and relaxing in the sun.
I opted to do the Seven Islands sunset tour, which lasted all day and night and was so much fun! We visited Chicken island, Koh Tub, Koh Poda and Koh Mor. I think we visited a couple more islands (it was 7) and then hopped over to Railay Beach for the sunset and a delicious meal.
The tour ended with a fire show and the opportunity to swim with iridescent plankton which is definitely a highlight of any Krabi sightseeing trip!
Explore Railay Beach and Its Caves
One of the places to visit in Krabi is Railay beach, which is apart of the tour above but I swear this beach is absolutely breathtaking with its rock formations. If you like to rock climb, this is your place!
There are several caves to explore such as the Princess Cave (famous for its collection of wooden phallic symbols) and Diamond Cave (famous for its stalactites and stalagmites).
If you’re looking to relax, this beach has way less of a party vibe than other beaches. You can only access Railay by boat and can catch one on the main beach, Ao Nang.
Visit the Night Market in Krabi Town
Check out Krabi Towns two night markets and be sure to visit the Wild West-themed bar called Old West Bar, which has live music. The night market is open at night from Friday-Sunday and has over 70 food stalls.
It’s easily one of the best things to do in Krabi Town.
Relax (or Party) at Ao Nang Beach
This Krabi beach is the main tourist beach and is where you can catch boats to Phi Phi and Railay. The beach isn’t the prettiest but is super close to accommodation options so it’s a nice place to spend a day relaxing and get a massage.
At night this turns into the party beach and one of the top Krabi activities. There are many bars and restaurants along the beach and you can also book tours from here at reasonable prices.
Catch the Sunset at Aonang Cliff Beach Resort
To get to the actual bar up top at Aonang Cliff Beach Resort was kind of confusing so ask the staff for directions. The view of the sunset from this resort is absolutely breathtaking, you won’t regret going!
Phi Phi Island Tour from Krabi
Many people dislike Phi Phi because it’s very crowded and a party city but many people fall in love with this small little party island!
You can opt to have a ferry arranged for you and stay on Phi Phi or a full day Phi Phi Island tour from Krabi is a popular option.
If you stay on Phi Phi Island don’t miss Captain Bob’s Booze Cruise! On this cruise you get unlimited alcohol and get to island-hop and snorkel all day. At night there’s even a fire show and party on the beach back in Phi Phi.
Phi Phi also has some great viewpoints, and if you’re a cat person like me, it’s filled with island cats.
Visit the Shell Cemetery at Susan Hoi
If you love geology, this is your spot! There are only three cemeteries like this in the world. This fossilized shellfish cemetery dates back 20-40 million years. It is located 70 km from Krabi Town and there are also mangrove forests in the area to explore.
Take a Dip in the Klong Thom Hot Springs
These springs are perfect for relaxing and getting some great Instagram photos if you go at the right time. The springs are located 70 km from Krabi Town and there is an entrance fee so make sure to bring some Baht.
You can do a tour, hire a taxi or rent a motorbike to get here. The springs contain natural mineral salts that have healing properties and the springs are close to the Emerald Pools so you can do both!
Thung Teao Forest Natural Park
This is where the Emerald Pools are located. After hiking through the lush jungle, head here and take in how stunning the water is.
These pools are very well known (thanks Instagram!) so I would come either very early or later in the day but you may still experience many tourists.
My tip to you is to ask the locals where the best places to go are that are not well known but still picturesque.
Krabi Accommodation
Find where to stay in Krabi that’s within your budget for the perfect Thailand trip.
Krabi Hostels
- Chanchalay Hip Hostel | BOOK NOW: Booking.com
- Pak-Up Hostel | BOOK NOW: Booking.com
Mid-Range Krabi Hotels
- Krabi SeaBass Hotel | BOOK NOW: Booking.com
- Sleep Whale Express | BOOK NOW: Booking.com
- River Front Krabi Hotel | BOOK NOW: Booking.com
Luxury Krabi Hotels
- Railay Princess Resort & Spa | BOOK NOW: Booking.com
- The Pineapple Hotel | BOOK NOW: Booking.com
- Island Hideaway Resort | BOOK NOW: Booking.com
This article is a guest post written by Laura of Travel to the Beat.
Laura is a pediatric nurse who lives in Columbus, OH. She ignited her passion for travel in 2018 after visiting Thailand and has since gone on to grow her Instagram following from 900-20K followers in four short months and is currently building her own social media business so that she can travel the world full time. Her blog features travel tips, destinations, Instagram tips & tricks, and stunning visual captures.
A newly inspired photographer and videographer she is also hoping to break into the vlogging world! She loves cats, breakfast foods, has been to over 20 music festivals and owns one too many bikinis. Her top travel advice is that there is no right time to travel if it’s something you really want to do. If you keep telling yourself, “I’ll travel in two years when I have more money,” that just isn’t the right mindset to have. Traveling can be inexpensive if you budget! Get a credit card that gives you miles so that you can fly for free!