Comparison · Krabi vs Langkawi · Thailand / Malaysia
Krabi vs Langkawi
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Luxure, CC BY 3.0 au
Quick answer
Choose Krabi for Railay Beach, Limestone karsts and day trips; choose Langkawi for SkyCab and Sky Bridge and Mangrove tours. Day-to-day costs are similar, and the two are about 217 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 217 km
- Less expensive
- About the same
- Best time for Krabi
- December–March
- Best time for Langkawi
- December–March
Side by side
| Krabi | Langkawi | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Thailand | Malaysia |
| Known for | Railay Beach, Limestone karsts and Island-hopping | SkyCab and Sky Bridge, Mangrove tours and Pantai Cenang beach |
| Best time to visit | December–March | December–March |
| Ideal stay | 5 days | 5 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $70–$150 | $80–$160 |
| Cost level | Affordable | Affordable |
| Warmest month | March, 34°C (93°F) | March, 34°C (93°F) |
| Coldest month | September, 31°C (88°F) | July, 31°C (88°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 8 | 8 |
| Day trips in our guide | 6 | 2 |
| Beaches | Railay West | Pantai Cenang |
| Airports | KBV, HKT | LGK |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Krabi for…
Railay Beach, Limestone karsts and day trips. Krabi province on Thailand's Andaman coast is a landscape of sheer limestone karsts rising from turquoise water, mangroves and more than 100 islands. Most visitors base themselves at Ao Nang, the main beach resort, or on the car-free Railay peninsula…
Choose Langkawi for…
SkyCab and Sky Bridge and Mangrove tours. Langkawi is an archipelago of about 99 islands in the Andaman Sea off the Kedah coast, and most visitors stay on the main island. The west coast holds the beaches — Pantai Cenang, Pantai Tengah and the resort coves of Datai Bay — while the north and east are…
Top sights compared
| # | Krabi | Langkawi |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Railay Beach | SkyCab cable car |
| 2 | Phra Nang Cave Beach | Langkawi Sky Bridge |
| 3 | Maya Bay, Koh Phi Phi Leh | Kilim Karst Geoforest Park mangrove tour |
| 4 | Four Islands tour | Pantai Cenang beach |
| 5 | Hong Islands | Seven Wells Waterfall (Telaga Tujuh) |
Food compared
| Krabi | Langkawi |
|---|---|
| Gaeng som | Nasi lemak |
| Gaeng tai pla | Laksa Kedah |
| Khua kling | Ikan bakar |
| Khao mok gai | Roti canai |
Which is cheaper?
Krabi and Langkawi cost about the same: a mid-range day is roughly $70–$150 in Krabi and $80–$160 in Langkawi (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Krabi on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Krabi and Langkawi are about 217 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 5 days in Krabi and 5 in Langkawi.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Krabi or Langkawi cheaper?
Neither is clearly cheaper: a mid-range day costs about $70–$150 in Krabi and $80–$160 in Langkawi (estimates).
+Is Krabi or Langkawi better for a first trip?
Pick Krabi for Railay Beach, Limestone karsts and day trips, or Langkawi for SkyCab and Sky Bridge and Mangrove tours.
+How far is Krabi from Langkawi?
About 217 km in a straight line.