Solo travel · Krabi · Thailand
Solo travel in Krabi
How to enjoy Krabi at your own pace.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Maksym Kozlenko, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Krabi is easy for solo travellers: Ao Nang and Tonsai have hostels and sociable bars, and group boat tours, climbing courses and kayak trips make it simple to meet others. Many solo travellers base themselves in Tonsai.
Key facts
- Base
- Tonsai
- Getting around
- Boat
- Emergency number
- Police 191, ambulance 1669, Tourist Police 1155
- Language
- Thai
Solo travel tips
- Join a climbing course at Railay or Tonsai to meet other travellers.
- Group island tours are cheaper per person than chartering a longtail alone.
- Phi Phi has a party-hostel scene; Lanta is better for a quieter solo stay.
- Tell someone your plans before hiking Khao Ngon Nak or the Railay viewpoint alone.
- Keep valuables in a dry bag on boat trips.
Where to stay
$ · Best for budget, solo travellers and quiet stays
Tonsai
Tonsai, reached on foot from West Railay at low tide or over a jungle path, is a small bay of simple bungalows, climbing shops and laid-back bars at the foot of limestone walls. It is the centre of Krabi's climbing community.
- Good
- Cheap stays; Direct access to climbing routes; Sociable climbing scene
- Watch out
- Basic facilities; Beach is rocky at low tide
- Nearby
- Railay, Climbing walls
Great on your own
Beach · Railay
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
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
Religious site · Krabi Town
Tiger Cave Temple (Wat Tham Suea)
Start the climb at first light with plenty of water; cover shoulders and knees, and keep food away from the monkeys.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Active
- History
Viewpoint · Noppharat Thara
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
Experience · Railay
Rock climbing at Railay and Tonsai
Climb in the morning when walls are in shade, and choose a school with recent, well-maintained equipment.
- Time needed
- Half to full day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Active
- Outdoors
- Views
Nature · Ao Luek
Than Bok Khorani National Park
Combine a swim in the park's freshwater pools with a guided kayak trip to the painted caves.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- History
- Outdoors
- Kids
Meeting people
- Krabi Town night market — Eat like locals at the riverside stalls: southern curries over rice, grilled squid, roti and fresh juices.
- Seafood dinner by the sea — Pick your fish from the ice at a seafood restaurant at Noppharat Thara or Lanta Old Town and have it grilled with chilli and lime.
- Ao Nang — Bars along the beach road and side streets, with live music and cocktail bars.
- East Railay and Tonsai — Relaxed reggae-style bars with fire shows in the evening.
Sensible precautions
Rip currents are strong on west-facing beaches during the May–October monsoon, so obey red flags. Scooter accidents are common, and wading to longtails at low tide can be slippery. Monkeys at the Tiger Cave Temple and on Railay will grab food and bags.
- Emergency number
- Police 191, ambulance 1669, Tourist Police 1155
- Staying connected
- Tourist SIMs are sold at the airport and convenience stores; coverage is good in Ao Nang and Krabi Town but patchy on some islands and around Railay's cliffs.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Krabi good for solo travellers?
Krabi is easy for solo travellers: Ao Nang and Tonsai have hostels and sociable bars, and group boat tours, climbing courses and kayak trips make it simple to meet others.
+Where should solo travellers stay in Krabi?
Tonsai: Rustic climbers' bay next to Railay.