Things to do · Krabi · Thailand
16 best things to do in Krabi
16 sights and experiences ranked for a first visit, with honest notes on time, cost and crowds.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: User:Mikecleggphoto from www.travelanddestinations.com, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
The essential sights in Krabi are Railay Beach, Maya Bay, Koh Phi Phi Leh and Four Islands tour. Of the 16 picks below, 8 are free, 0 work on a rainy day and 7 suit children. Allow about 5 days to see the highlights without rushing.
Key facts
- Top sight
- Railay Beach
- Free sights
- 8
- Good on a rainy day
- —
- Time to see the highlights
- 5 days
At a glance
| Sight | Area | Time needed | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Railay Beach | Railay | Full day | Free |
| Maya Bay, Koh Phi Phi Leh | Koh Phi Phi | Half to full day by boat | Expensive |
| Four Islands tour | Ao Nang | Half to full day | Mid-priced |
| Phra Nang Cave Beach | Railay | Half a day | Free |
| Hong Islands | Than Bok Khorani National Park | Full day | Mid-priced |
| Tiger Cave Temple (Wat Tham Suea) | Krabi Town | 2–3 hours | Free |
| Ao Nang Beach | Ao Nang | 2–3 hours | Free |
| Noppharat Thara Beach | Noppharat Thara | 2–3 hours | Free |
| Khao Ngon Nak (Dragon Crest) trail | Noppharat Thara | 3–4 hours | Low cost |
| Ao Thalane mangrove kayaking | Ao Thalane | Half a day | Mid-priced |
| Rock climbing at Railay and Tonsai | Railay | Half to full day | Mid-priced |
| Than Bok Khorani National Park | Ao Luek | Half a day | Low cost |
| Fossil Shell Beach (Susan Hoi) | Ao Nang | 1 hour | Low cost |
| Krabi Town night markets | Krabi Town | 2 hours | Free |
| Lanta Old Town | Koh Lanta | 2 hours | Free |
| Wat Kaew Korawaram | Krabi Town | 30 minutes | Free |
The 16 best things to do
Beach · Railay
1.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. Walking paths link it to East Railay, Phra Nang Cave Beach and the climbing walls, and a steep, muddy scramble with ropes leads to a viewpoint and hidden lagoon.
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
The cliff-ringed cove made famous by the film The Beach reopened in 2022 after a long closure to let coral and sharks recover. Boats now land at the back of the island, visitors walk in on a boardwalk, time on the sand is limited and swimming is not allowed. Blacktip reef sharks are often seen in the shallows.
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
- Book ahead
- Most visits are by organised boat tour; national park fees are charged on top of tour prices.
- Iconic
- Nature
- Photo spot
- Views
Island · Ao Nang
3.Four Islands tour
The classic Krabi boat trip visits Koh Poda's white-sand beach, the bird-shaped Chicken Island, Koh Tup, where a sandbar links two islets at low tide, and Phra Nang Cave Beach. Longtail and speedboat versions leave from Ao Nang and Noppharat Thara every morning.
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
A short walk from Railay along a cliff-side path, this small beach has fine sand, clear water and overhanging cliffs. Princess Cave at one end is filled with carved wooden offerings left by fishermen, and climbers scale the walls above the sand.
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
North of Ao Nang, Koh Hong hides an enclosed lagoon reached by kayak or boat through a gap in its cliffs, with a sheltered beach and snorkelling nearby. Tours combine it with neighbouring islets and a viewpoint climb on Koh Hong.
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
Religious site · Krabi Town
6.Tiger Cave Temple (Wat Tham Suea)
About 8 km north-east of Krabi Town, this forest temple has meditation caves and a stairway of more than 1,200 steep steps to a summit shrine with a golden Buddha and 360-degree views over karst peaks and the coast. Monkeys roam the lower levels.
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
Beach · Ao Nang
7.Ao Nang Beach
Ao Nang's main beach stretches below karst headlands, with longtails pulled up on the sand and a promenade of restaurants and bars behind. It faces west, so sunsets behind the offshore islands are the main event.
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
8.Noppharat Thara Beach
This long, tree-shaded beach just north of Ao Nang is part of a national park and far calmer than its neighbour. At low tide, sandbars and rock pools appear, and families picnic under the casuarina trees.
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
1.Khao Ngon Nak (Dragon Crest) trail
A steep forest trail of about 4 km climbs from near Noppharat Thara to a rocky outcrop with a view over Ao Nang, the coastline and the islands. It is one of the most rewarding hikes in the province.
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 · Ao Thalane
2.Ao Thalane mangrove kayaking
North of Ao Nang, guided kayak trips paddle through mangrove forests and narrow channels between limestone cliffs, where you may see monkeys and kingfishers. The water is sheltered, so it suits beginners and families.
Book a trip timed with the tide, which decides which channels are passable.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Nature
- Active
- Outdoors
Experience · Railay
3.Rock climbing at Railay and Tonsai
Railay and Tonsai have hundreds of bolted limestone routes, from beginner walls by the beaches to overhanging stalactite routes. Climbing schools run half-day and full-day introductory courses and deep-water soloing trips.
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
4.Than Bok Khorani National Park
In Ao Luek district, this park protects mangroves, emerald pools fed by forest springs and caves such as Tham Phi Hua To, whose walls hold prehistoric paintings and are reached by kayak or boat through the mangroves.
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
Historic site · Ao Nang
5.Fossil Shell Beach (Susan Hoi)
About 17 km from Krabi Town at Laem Pho, slabs of fossilised freshwater snail shells, tens of millions of years old, emerge from the shoreline at low tide. A small visitor area explains the geology.
Check the tide table and go at low tide, when the slabs are fully exposed.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Nature
- History
- Off the beaten path
Market · Krabi Town
6.Krabi Town night markets
Krabi Town's riverside Chao Fah area hosts an evening food market most nights, and a larger walking-street market with food stalls, crafts and local performers runs on weekend evenings. Both are aimed mainly at local families.
Go hungry and try roti, grilled seafood and southern curries; prices are lower than in Ao Nang.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- After dark
- Shopping
Historic site · Koh Lanta
7.Lanta Old Town
On Koh Lanta's sheltered east coast, the island's former trading port is a single street of wooden Chinese shophouses and stilt houses over the water, with seafood restaurants on the piers and a community of Chao Leh sea gypsies nearby.
Visit in the late afternoon and stay for a seafood dinner on a pier over the water.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Food
- Off the beaten path
Religious site · Krabi Town
8.Wat Kaew Korawaram
Krabi Town's main temple is a white-and-blue building reached by a staircase flanked by naga serpents, with murals inside. It is a quiet stop when exploring the town.
Combine it with lunch at a local restaurant and a walk on the riverfront promenade.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- Off the beaten path
Pick by interest
| Interest | Best picks |
|---|---|
| History | Tiger Cave Temple (Wat Tham Suea), Than Bok Khorani National Park, Fossil Shell Beach (Susan Hoi) and Lanta Old Town |
| Views | Railay Beach, Maya Bay, Koh Phi Phi Leh, Tiger Cave Temple (Wat Tham Suea) and Khao Ngon Nak (Dragon Crest) trail |
| Outdoors and nature | Railay Beach, Maya Bay, Koh Phi Phi Leh, Four Islands tour and Phra Nang Cave Beach |
| Food and markets | Krabi Town night markets and Lanta Old Town |
| After dark | Ao Nang Beach and Krabi Town night markets |
| With children | Phra Nang Cave Beach, Four Islands tour, Ao Nang Beach and Noppharat Thara Beach |
What to book ahead
- Maya Bay, Koh Phi Phi Leh: Most visits are by organised boat tour; national park fees are charged on top of tour prices.
Plan the rest of your trip
Questions travellers ask
+What is the number one thing to do 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.
+What can you do for free in Krabi?
Railay Beach, Phra Nang Cave Beach, Tiger Cave Temple (Wat Tham Suea), Ao Nang Beach and Noppharat Thara Beach. More free things to do.
+What is there to do in Krabi at night?
Ao Nang Beach and Krabi Town night markets are best after dark.