Krabi, Thailand is one of the most popular destinations in Thailand because of its beautiful beaches and the stunning islands that surround it. What makes it so unique are the jagged limestone mountains that surround it, creating unique and unforgettable views everywhere you look.
Besides the beaches and the islands though, what more is there to do in Krabi?
Well, get ready to discover 20 amazing things to do when you are in Krabi, Thailand!
Getting around Krabi
Typically, the majority of tourists will stay in Ao Nang and rarely go outside of this popular beach destination. However, if you have time, we also recommend exploring outside of Ao Nang to discover the hidden gems of Krabi.
It’s best to rent a motorbike or rent a car to explore these places. It’s also possible to hire a private driver for the day. Public transportation is limited in Krabi and does not go to all of these places on this list.
1. Visit the Beaches
Krabi has 5 beautiful beaches that we highly recommend exploring including:
- Ao Nang Beach
- Nopparathara Beach
- Pai Plong Beach
- Klong Muang Beach
- Tubaek Beach
If you only have time for one beach, then make sure you check out Ao Nang Beach first. Ao Nang Beach not only offers beautiful views, it also offers easy access to dozens of hotels, restaurants, and nightlife. If you have time also check out Nopparathara Beach and Pai Plong Beach which are both within walking distance to Ao Nang Beach.
Beaches that are worth driving to if you have your own transportation include Klong Muang Beach and Tubkaek Beach. If you want all the details on how to get to these beaches. Check out our full Krabi Beaches article here! You can also watch the full video below!
2. Take a Boat to Railey Beach
Although Railey Beach is attached to mainland Thailand, because of the rigid limestone mountains, you are not able to get there by car. You can only get to Railey Beach by boat. This beach is definitely worth the trouble to go through. It has amazing views of uniquely shaped limestone mountains and caves. It’s a good place to spend the day as there really is a lot to explore.
The easiest way to get there is to take a boat from Ao Nang. If you have your own transportation though, you can drive to Ao Nam Mao Pier for cheaper boat fare rates. Either way, it’s just a short 15-minute boat ride to some of the most beautiful views in Krabi. Railey Beach is definitely a must-see!
3. Go Island Hopping
There are many stunning islands a short speedboat ride away from Ao Nang. You can either join a group tour or book a private boat rental. Either way, you will enjoy the sparkeling blue waters and unique rock formations of these islands.
Popular group boat tour packages include:
- The 4 Islands Tour includes Poda Island, Chicken Island, Thale Waek Island, and Railey Beach
- The Phi Phi Island Tour includes Bamboo Island, Viking Cave, Monkey Beach, and Pileh Lagoon.
- The Hong Island Tour includes Laolading, Pakbia, Hong Island, and the Hong Island lagoon.
We recommend Klook for booking group boat tours. Taking a group boat tour is a great way to see a lot while saving money. If you would $5 off your first booking on Klook, click here!
If you would like to set your itinerary and go at your own pace, I recommend Krabi Best Tour for private boat charters.
4. Tiger Cave Temple
The Tiger Cave Temple is a Buddhist temple known for its infamous 1260 step climb to the top. It is an arduous 45-minute hike to the top, but the views are stunning and worth the experience at least once in a lifetime.
It’s also nice to go inside the main temple to see the cave where a monk once saw a tiger giving this temple its name.
This temple is donation based, so give what you can when you go!
5. Khao Ngon Nak Viewpoint
The Khao Ngon Nak Nature Trail is a challenging but beautiful 3-hour hike up to the Dragon’s Crest Viewpoint. It’s best to go at 9 am when the park first opens to avoid climbing up in the heat of the day. It’s also important to bring at least 1.5 liters of water per person. This national park is free and if you would like to read our full article on this hike click here!
6. Ao Nang Landmark Night Market
Ao Nang Landmark Night Market starts every evening around 5 pm. Nopparathara Beach is across the street from this market, so it’s nice to watch the sunset on the beach and then go have dinner at the night market. There are many shops and food vendors to choose from. There’s also live music on the weekends.
7. Krabi Town Night Market
Krabi Town also has a nice night market that starts around 5 pm as well. This market is across the street from the Krabi riverfront. The riverfront really does have a beautiful mountain view, so it’s nice to check out the river and then check out all of the food and souvenir vendors at the Krabi Town Night Market.
8. Krabi River Cruise
At the Krabi Riverfront, you can hire a longtail boat for a river tour. It includes seeing Khao Khanab Nam Cave where archaeologists found a giant. Yes, literally this cave has proof that giants walked the Earth so it’s a must-see in my opinion!
In addition, you will cruise down the river to see the mangroves and the fisherman village. It takes about an hour or an hour and a half, but it’s such an unforgettable experience. It costs just 500 Baht ($15.99 USD), and we highly recommend this one!
9. Wat Kaeo Korawaram
Wat Kaeo Korawaram is a beautiful white temple in Krabi Town. The climb up the staircase with the snakes on either side is quite beautiful. This temple is worth stopping by if when you go to the Krabi riverfront and the Krabi Town night market. However, it’s probably not worth making a special trip to see all by itself.
10. Emerald Pool
The Emerald Pool is a full hour outside of Ao Nang and is known for its emerald green waters. It’s an 800-meter walk to the pool down a nice nature trail with great views of a running creek all the way there. If you are lucky, you might even be able to bathe in the pool. However, swimming was not allowed when we last visited.
This national park also has a stunning Blue Pool, but the trail to this one was closed for construction during out visit. It was still an interesting place to see.
The entrance fee to the Emerald Pool is 200 Baht ($6.40 USD).
11. Krabi Hot Springs
About 15 minutes away from the Emerald Pool is the Krabi Hot Springs. This natural hot spring is quite warm but relaxing with running water that is heated by a volcanic chamber. The water temperature can get up to 35-40 degrees Celcius (95-104 degrees Fahrenheit), so they only recommend soaking for no more than 15-20 minutes.
They claim that the natural minerals in the spring bring many health benefits and can cure many ailments. We really enjoyed taking a soak there and experiencing the healing waters for ourselves!
The entrance fee to the Krabi Hot Springs is 200 Baht ($6.40 USD).
12. Lot Cave
Lot Cave is a real hidden gem in Krabi. About 50 minutes North of Ao Nang, you can take a kayaking tour to see this stunning cave. The cave is filled with massive stalactites that have taken hundreds of thousands of years to form.
This 2-hour kayaking tour also includes paddling through a mangrove forest and seeing Pee Hua Toa Cave which is another fascinating cave with cave drawings that are over 3000 years old. It was fascinating to see the drawings and to see all of the intricate rock formations.
This fun and informative tour costs 800 Baht ($25.60 USD), and we highly recommend it!
Want to see the full video of Lot Cave? Check it out below!
13. Thanbok Korani National Park
Only a quick 10 minute drive away from Lot Cave, Thanbok Khorani National Park is a great place to visit for peaceful nature trail, with soothing running water, and small but charming waterfalls. It only takes about an hour to walk the nature trail, but you can swim in designated areas if you would like to extend your trip.
The entrance fee at Thanbok Khorani National Park is 300 Baht ($9.60 USD).
14. Wat Bang Thong
Wat Bang Thong also known as Wat Maha That Wichiramongkol is a newly built temple at the Northern border of Krabi that is worth a stop when you are in the Ao Luek area visiting Lot Cave and Thanbok Khorani. Its tall steeple and colorful structures will really make you say, “Wow!”
You have to take your shoes off at the entrance which usually is not a problem, but the courtyard of this temple gets so hot mid-day that it really feels like your feet are on fire when you walk around. Instead, try to walk through the cloister admiring the colorfully painted Buddhas and limiting your exposure to the hot pavement.
Wat Bang Thong is donation based so give what you can when you go.
15. Huay to Waterfall
About 30 minutes outside of Ao Nang, Huay To Waterfall is a nice multi-level waterfall worth exploring! The nature trail is nice with the soothing sound of running water. As you climb up, you can explore each level of the waterfall even closer. If you love waterfalls, then you would love to see such a unique one as Huay To.
Admission to this national part is 100 Baht ($3.20 USD)
16. Ao Thalane
Ao Thalane is a great place for taking a kayaking tour. This area has some beautiful canyons and rock formations that are just stunning to see.
If you are interested in booking this experience for yourself, check out Ao Thalane kayaking tours here!
17. KhaoThong Hill Restaurant Viewpoint
This restaurant is really close to Ao Thalane kayaking and is a great place to stop for lunch after kayaking. The view is unbelievably beautiful and worth a quick stop whether that be for coffee, cake, or a full meal.
18. Horse riding on the beach
If you like horses, then you should try horse riding on the beach while you are in Krabi. We had a great experience doing a half-day tour where we got to explore the beach, the countryside, and we even got to “swim” with the horses at high tide. It was super fun and exhilarating. I can highly recommend it! You can read our full Krabi horse riding article here!
19. Fossil Shell Beach
Fossil Shell Beach is unique because it contains slabs of fossiled seashells that are over 40 million years old. This beach is not for swimming though, so only come if you are truly interested in geology of seashells.
Admission into this national part is 200 Baht ($6.40 USD).
20. Enjoy a Restaurant with a View
Krabi has several restaurants with beautiful views. It’s so nice to enjoy a meal and with a stunning view. Some of our favorite restaurants with views include:
You can watch our full video of Krabi restaurants with a view below!
Final Thoughts
There really is a lot to see and do in Krabi. If you only have a short amount of time, then we recommend staying near Ao Nang Beach and taking an island hopping tour. If you have several days or weeks, then it’s worth branching out and exploring as many of these 20 items as you can. We hope you have a splendid stay in paradise!
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