Outdoors · Krabi · Thailand
8 best outdoor things to do in Krabi
Parks, viewpoints and open-air sights for the dry, bright days.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0
Quick answer
Start with Railay Beach, Maya Bay, Koh Phi Phi Leh and Four Islands tour. Together the 8 picks below take roughly 28–38 hours across 5 areas; 4 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 8
- Free entry
- 4
- Time to see them all
- 28–38 hours
- Areas
- Railay, Koh Phi Phi and Ao Nang
Outdoors in Krabi
Beach · Railay
1.Railay Beach
Arrive early by longtail from Ao Nang before the day-trip crowds; the viewpoint scramble needs proper shoes and is not for small children.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Views
- Couples
- Photo spot
- Free
- Outdoors
Beach · Koh Phi Phi
2.Maya Bay, Koh Phi Phi Leh
Choose an early-morning tour from Phi Phi or Krabi to avoid the peak crowds; the bay usually closes for a couple of months each year in the rainy season.
- Time needed
- Half to full day by boat
- Cost
- Expensive
- Iconic
- Nature
- Photo spot
- Views
Island · Ao Nang
3.Four Islands tour
Pick a longtail trip with a small group, and go on a day with low tide around midday to walk the Koh Tup sandbar.
- Time needed
- Half to full day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
- Iconic
Beach · Railay
4.Phra Nang Cave Beach
Come in the morning or late afternoon; at midday tour boats crowd the shoreline.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
- Kids
- Couples
Island · Than Bok Khorani National Park
5.Hong Islands
Go on an early tour to reach the lagoon before larger boats; it is best at higher tides.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
- Couples
Beach · Ao Nang
6.Ao Nang Beach
Walk to the quieter southern end for sunset, or take a longtail to Railay for better swimming.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Kids
- After dark
Beach · Noppharat Thara
7.Noppharat Thara Beach
Visit at low tide to walk out over the sandbars, and stay for the sunset.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Nature
Viewpoint · Noppharat Thara
8.Khao Ngon Nak (Dragon Crest) trail
Start before 7am to avoid the heat, carry at least two litres of water and avoid it after heavy rain, when it gets slippery.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Active
- Views
- Nature
- Outdoors
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Railay | Railay Beach and Phra Nang Cave Beach | Full day + Half a day |
| Koh Phi Phi | Maya Bay, Koh Phi Phi Leh | Half to full day by boat |
| Ao Nang | Four Islands tour and Ao Nang Beach | Half to full day + 2–3 hours |
| Than Bok Khorani National Park | Hong Islands | Full day |
| Noppharat Thara | Noppharat Thara Beach and Khao Ngon Nak (Dragon Crest) trail | 2–3 hours + 3–4 hours |
Booking and timing
Of these 8, 4 free, 1 low cost, 2 mid-priced, 1 expensive. Book ahead for Maya Bay, Koh Phi Phi Leh. The longest visit is Railay Beach; group the rest by area to save travel time.
- Maya Bay, Koh Phi Phi Leh: Most visits are by organised boat tour; national park fees are charged on top of tour prices.
How to fit them into 8 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Railay): Railay Beach, at least 6 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Railay): Phra Nang Cave Beach, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Koh Phi Phi): Maya Bay, Koh Phi Phi Leh, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 4 (Ao Nang): Four Islands tour, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 5 (Ao Nang): Ao Nang Beach, at least 2 hours.
- Half-day 6 (Than Bok Khorani National Park): Hong Islands, at least 6 hours.
- Half-day 7 (Noppharat Thara): Noppharat Thara Beach, at least 2 hours.
- Half-day 8 (Noppharat Thara): Khao Ngon Nak (Dragon Crest) trail, at least 3 hours.
The best months to be outside
- February: highs of 33°C (91°F), about 3 rainy days, very busy crowds. The driest month, with flat seas and clear water for snorkelling.
- January: highs of 32°C (90°F), about 5 rainy days, very busy crowds. Dry, sunny and calm; peak season, so book boat trips and Railay hotels in advance.
- March: highs of 34°C (93°F), about 6 rainy days, busy crowds. Hot and still dry; excellent for island-hopping and climbing in the mornings.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Ao Nang — Main beach resort town with hotels, restaurants and the boat pier
- Railay — Car-free peninsula of cliffs, climbing and beaches
- Noppharat Thara — Quiet casuarina-lined beach just north of Ao Nang
- Klong Muang and Tubkaek — Secluded resort beaches with views of the Hong Islands
- Koh Phi Phi — Dumbbell-shaped island of party beaches and turquoise bays
More of Krabi
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Krabi?
Railay Beach. West Railay's curve of white sand is framed by vertical limestone cliffs, with longtails anchored offshore and sunset views across the Andaman Sea.
+Which of these are free in Krabi?
Railay Beach, Phra Nang Cave Beach, Ao Nang Beach and Noppharat Thara Beach.