HotHotels
Anana Ecological Resort Krabi, Krabi

Things to do guide

The best things to do in Krabi

Updated 7 October 2026 · 13 things to do

Pictured: Anana Ecological Resort Krabi

Krabi is the Thailand of the postcards. Sheer limestone cliffs burst out of a jade-green sea, long-tail boats nose on to white sand with ribbons fluttering from their prows, and dozens of small islands are scattered across the horizon. It is on the Andaman coast, across the bay from Phuket, and noticeably calmer.

Days here are spent on the water. You hop between islands and sandbars, snorkel over reefs, or paddle a kayak through mangrove channels. Inland there are jungle pools, hot springs and a temple at the top of a very long staircase, for when you have had enough salt and sunscreen.

Don't miss

  1. 1Railay Beach
  2. 2Phra Nang Cave Beach
  3. 3The Four Islands
  4. 4The Phi Phi Islands
  5. 5Tiger Cave Temple

Beaches

  1. Railay Beach

    Beach

    Railay West beach beneath limestone cliffs
    Photo: kallerna, CC BY-SA 3.0

    Railay is a peninsula cut off from the mainland by towering limestone cliffs, so the only way in is by boat. That short long-tail ride from Ao Nang is part of the magic. Railay West is the broad sweep of sand facing the sunset, hemmed in by rock walls at both ends.

    There are no cars, only footpaths between the beaches. Rock climbers come from all over the world for the cliffs here and at neighbouring Tonsai, and there are routes and instructors for complete beginners.

    Tip: Boats land in the shallows, so wear shorts and sandals you do not mind getting wet.

  2. Phra Nang Cave Beach

    Beach

    Phra Nang beach in Krabi
    Photo: kallerna, CC BY-SA 3.0

    A short walk from Railay, at the tip of the peninsula, this is the beach most people picture when they think of Krabi: soft pale sand, clear shallow water, and a huge overhanging cliff dripping with stalactites at one end. A small cave at its foot holds a shrine to a sea spirit. It gets busy by late morning.

  3. Ao Nang

    Beach

    A view of Ao Nang beach in Krabi
    Photo: Satdeep Gill, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Krabi's main resort is a long beach backed by a busy strip of restaurants, bars, massage shops and tour desks. The sand is not the finest in the region, but the sunsets are, and this is the hub for long-tail boats to Railay and the islands. It suits anyone who wants plenty of choice in the evening.

  4. Tubkaek Beach

    Beach

    Tubkaek Beach in Krabi
    Photo: Stefan Fussan, CC BY-SA 4.0

    North-west of Ao Nang, Tubkaek is a quiet stretch of sand looking out to the jagged outline of the Hong Islands. A handful of upmarket resorts sit among the trees and there is little else, which is the point. It suits couples after peace, long swims and big sunsets.

Island hopping

The reason most people come.

  1. The Four Islands

    Activity

    Long-tail boats on the beach of Koh Poda
    Photo: kallerna, CC BY-SA 3.0

    The classic Krabi boat trip, a short ride from Ao Nang. It takes in Koh Poda, with its broad white beach and solitary rock stack offshore; Chicken Island, named for a rock shaped like a bird's head and neck; Tup Island; and Phra Nang Cave Beach. Swimming and snorkelling stops are built in.

    At low tide a sandbar surfaces between Tup and Chicken Island, and you can wade from one to the other.

    Tip: A long-tail boat is slower and more atmospheric; a speedboat gives you more time on the sand.

  2. The Hong Islands

    Activity

    Sea kayaking in the lagoon at Koh Hong
    Photo: Steve Cornish from Marlow, UK, CC BY 2.0

    A cluster of forested limestone islands in a national park north-west of Ao Nang. The main island has a lovely curve of beach beneath the cliffs, and a hidden lagoon enclosed by rock walls, entered by boat through a narrow gap. Hong means 'room' in Thai, and you will see why.

  3. The Phi Phi Islands

    Day trip

    Long-tail boats in Maya Bay on Phi Phi Leh
    Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0

    The most famous islands in the Andaman Sea are a boat ride from Krabi. Day trips circle the cliffs of uninhabited Phi Phi Leh, home to Maya Bay, the cove made famous by the film The Beach, and stop on the larger Phi Phi Don for lunch. Maya Bay now limits visitor numbers and does not allow swimming, to protect its reef.

    Tip: It is a long day on a boat and the popular stops are crowded. Early departures are worth the alarm.

  4. Kayaking at Ao Thalane

    Activity

    Kayaking at Ao Thalane in Krabi
    Photo: Christophe95, CC BY-SA 4.0

    North of Ao Nang, a bay of mangrove forest is threaded with channels that wind between limestone walls into narrow canyons and hidden lagoons. You explore it by sea kayak, usually with a guide who knows the tides. It is quiet, shady and a welcome change from the beach.

Inland

  1. Tiger Cave Temple

    Landmark

    The golden Buddha at the hilltop of Tiger Cave Temple
    Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0

    Wat Tham Suea is a Buddhist temple set among caves and forest a short drive from Krabi Town. The challenge is the staircase: more than 1,200 steps, some of them knee-high, straight up a limestone tower. At the top are a large golden Buddha and a view over the whole province, from the karst peaks to the sea.

    Tip: Climb early or late in the day, carry water, and cover shoulders and knees as this is a working temple.

  2. The Emerald Pool

    Nature

    In the lowland forest of Khlong Thom, south-east of Krabi Town, a spring feeds a natural pool of startlingly clear green water, reached by a walk through the trees. Nearby, at the hot springs waterfall, warm water runs over smooth rock into natural tubs beside a cool stream. The two are usually visited together.

  3. Krabi Town

    Neighbourhood

    The twin peaks of Khao Khanab Nam and the Krabi River
    Photo: Christophe95, CC BY-SA 4.0

    The provincial capital is a working riverside town rather than a resort, and that is its appeal. Stroll the waterfront for the view of Khao Khanab Nam, the pair of limestone peaks that frame the river, then eat your way around the night market. At weekends a walking street market takes over the centre.

Eat and drink

  1. Southern Thai seafood

    Food

    With the Andaman on the doorstep, seafood is the thing to order: whole fish grilled or steamed with lime and chilli, prawns, crab and squid chosen from the ice. Southern Thai cooking is hotter than elsewhere in the country, with plenty of turmeric. Massaman curry, mild and rich with peanuts, is the gentle exception.

Day trips

  1. Koh Lanta

    Day trip

    Sunset at Klong Khong Beach on Koh Lanta
    Photo: Stefan Fussan, CC BY-SA 3.0

    A long, laid-back island to the south, with a string of wide sandy beaches down its west coast and a sleepy old town of wooden houses on stilts on the east. It is possible as a day trip, but most people who go end up wishing they had booked a few nights.

Where to stay in Krabi

Not sure which area suits you? Read our guide: Where to stay in Krabi →

Getting around

Long-tail boats are the local taxis, running from Ao Nang to Railay and the nearby islands. On land, shared songthaew pick-ups link Ao Nang and Krabi Town, and taxis and tours cover the inland sights. A car is useful only if you plan to explore widely.

When to go

The dry season, roughly November to April, brings the calmest seas and the most sunshine, and is the best time for boat trips. From about May to October it is wetter and the sea can be rough, which sometimes cancels island tours, though there are still plenty of fine days and far fewer people.

Questions about visiting Krabi

What is Krabi best known for?
Limestone cliffs and beaches, especially Railay and Phra Nang, island-hopping trips to the Four Islands, Hong Islands and Phi Phi, and rock climbing.
How many days do you need in Krabi?
Four to five days gives you time for Railay, two boat trips, a day inland at Tiger Cave Temple and the Emerald Pool, and some time doing nothing on the beach.
Is Krabi worth visiting?
Yes. The scenery is among the most dramatic in Thailand, and it is generally quieter and more relaxed than Phuket.
What is there to do in Krabi with kids?
Long-tail boat rides, the shallow water at Phra Nang and Koh Poda, walking the sandbar on the Four Islands trip, kayaking in the mangroves and a swim at the Emerald Pool.
Do you need a car in Krabi?
No. Boats, songthaews, taxis and organised tours reach everything most visitors want to see.

More guides