13 Wonderful Things To Do in Krabi, Thailand

Planning an adventure in Krabi, Thailand? Our traveller’s guide has got you covered!

We could just tell you about the good bits of Krabi.

The limestone karsts, the white sand beaches, the lush backcountry, the sunsets, and sweaty hikes to big Buddhas and Dragon backs, but that wouldn’t be fair on you or us.

The truth is that, arriving in Krabi’s busy coastal hub of Ao Nang after three great weeks on a well-curated choice of Thai islands, we both wanted to leave straight away.

If we hadn’t already booked a base there for six nights – way too long in hindsight – then we’d have cut our losses and gone elsewhere in the region, or hopped back on a ferry.

Ao Nang – a mass tourism holiday resort town – simply wasn’t a good fit for us or our travel style.

It was the version of Thailand we had been hoping to avoid.

Long-time readers and followers of Along Dusty Roads may remember our Instagram Stories bemoaning this, but it’s your first time on our travel blog, we want to reassure you: that mistake and those sour first (and second) impressions actually spurred us on to get out every day and discover several truly wonderful things to do in Krabi.

And that means this guide on the best things to do in Krabi isn’t just a generic cut-and-paste job like you may find elsewhere: we really think it will help you plan and carve out the best experience, and avoid some of the mistakes we made in this popular part of southern Thailand.

This is 13 Wonderful Things To Do in Krabi – including the best day trips, beaches, experiences, viewpoints, and hikes, plus our pick of the best accommodation, advice on getting around, and context-setting travel better tips to make the most of your stay.

Krabi | The Town vs. The Province

Firstly, it’s important to clear up a potential source of confusion and ruined trips.

Krabi is a province on the west coast of southern Thailand, 400 miles south of Bangkok, and one of the most popular parts of the country for backpackers and winter sun holidays.

Its capital is Krabi Town, but most travellers and tourists base themselves along the coast and criss-cross the region on day trips by rented scooter, taxi, or tours. Krabi Town is also a big transport hub, with Krabi Airport for in-bound domestic and international flights, the bus terminal, and multiple ferries + speedboats serving many Thai islands in the Andaman Sea.

The province is a staple on any southern Thailand itinerary, and travellers will usually spend a few nights there due to connections and necessity, or a few weeks through choice. The islands of Koh Phi Phi and Koh Lanta are also part of Krabi province, but usually viewed as destinations on their own terms relative to the mainland.

As ‘Krabi’ covers and includes more places and area than most think, and there is a distinct shift in vibe between Krabi Town, Ao Nang, Railay Beach, and several other areas, choosing the right base for your travel style and day trip plans is essential.

In this guide, we’ll help you make the right decision, but all of the activities we’ve shared can be done and enjoyed from any base in Krabi province!

Clear? Good!

The Tiger Cave Temple

A slightly chaotic journey through the backstreets of Krabi meant our sunset ascent toward a giant golden Buddha wasn’t particularly spiritual or mindful, but more of a breathless slog with twitching thighs and suncream-stung eyes.

But, at the top, the first sight of karst mountains bathed in a honey-orange glow to one side and the countryside never-ending to the other saw all aches quickly subside.

That was all the congratulations we needed for conquering the Tiger Cave Temple’s 1,260 steps.

The Wat Tham Suea monastery and temple complex is a 15-minute drive from Krabi Town, and shouldn’t be confused with infamous Tiger Cave Temple in Bangkok that specialised in barbarity and cruelty to tigers in the name of tourism.

The large site straddles three distinct worlds: an important spiritual temple for Thai Buddhists, an active centre for monks and nuns, and a tourist attraction due to remarkable panoramic views found atop the mountain with a massive Golden Buddha.

Whilst you can head up throughout the day, the colours and landscapes are most magnificent at sunrise or sunset.

Where + When | You can find the Tiger Cave Temple here on Google Maps, and it’s open from 6am to 6pm.

Arrive | We drove our rental scooter from Ao Nang (30 minutes), or you can opt for songthaews, taxis or join a tour with round-trip transport.

Plan | The view requires a walk up 1,260 very steep steps, with no lift, shortcut, or easier way up. Everybody who goes up, also has to come down the same way. The good news is that they really are just steps – solid, man-made, concrete, and well-maintained with metal handrails – but it is a sweaty, tiring climb that’ll take 20-40 minutes, and your calves will feel it the day after.

Know | Due to the Tiger Cave Temple’s holy credentials and the presence of monks and nuns across the complex, every visitor must dress modestly and act appropriately.

Read | How To Visit The Tiger Cave Temple in Krabi

Book | The pick of the bunch is this highly-rated sunset tour with hotel pick-up and drop-off

The Emerald Pools

These popular hot springs and pools are an hour’s drive from Krabi Town and the Tiger Cave Temple, and often paired with them. We did a lot of research into the Emerald Pools and marked them as ‘not worth the effort’. If they were just 20kms away, rather than 50km, then we would probably have tagged them on to the Temple or another day trip on our bike, but it was difficult to justify driving that far.

If the pools do appeal to you, and you won’t be renting your own wheels, then definitely consider joining a small-group guided tour that includes round-trip transport. We’ve shared several highly-rated options with departures from both Krabi and Ao Nang that, also include the Tiger Cave Temple and the Hot Springs:

· Tiger Cave Temple, Emerald Pool and Hot Springs Tour From Krabi

· Tiger Cave Temple, Emerald Pool and Hot Springs Tour from Ao Nang

A Day At Railay Beach

Looking for that quintessential paradise beach backdrop?

Look no further than Railay Beach!

Part of the mainland yet only accessible by boat or trail, it’s far from an undiscovered paradise, but remains an unmissable day trip from Ao Nang & Krabi Town. Despite the popularity and proximity to those two, the densely packed tropical peninsula feels closer in looks and vibe to the Thai islands.

Phra Nang is full-on travel goals and West Railay Beach is fantastic for sunsets, but Railay isn’t just a place to relax and sip cocktails.

It’s also a major rock climbing destination with a bunch of schools, whilst its assault course hike in the jungle to a secret lagoon is very memorable.

So, if we had known that in addition to the stunning beaches and dramatic limestone karsts, it had adventure, adrenaline, and a surprisingly decent level of accommodation and restaurants, we would definitely have rejigged our itinerary and spent a few nights there instead of just doing a day trip from Ao Nang.

The decision is yours.

Plan | We’ve shared all the details on how to get there and our favourite things to do in our Railay Beach Guide

Do | A super popular place for rock climbers, if you want to try it out, consider this highly-rated beginners rock climbing experience

Stay | Luxury travellers will love Rayavadee and those looking for a hidden away escape should check out Railay Great View Resort, whilst Bhu Nga Thani Resort & Villas offers a modern, resort style experience for the mid-range traveller.

Blanco Hideout Railay is our pick for young backpackers.

Know | Both sides of Railay become very busy from the mid-morning to the last regular longboats back to Ao Nang just before sunset, so we recommend day trippers take the first boat out at 8am to get the most out of it before it becomes too crowded.

Sunrise Coffees at Din Daeng Doi

Whilst the prospect of a ridiculously early alarm never appeals, Din Daeng Doi was worth getting out of bed at 5am.

The small site in the countryside offers breathtaking panoramic views across a multitude of karst formations in lush fields and, beyond the short, steep walk up to it, you really don’t have to put in much effort to reach them.

Whether you make it for the sunrise or arrive later, this place feels like a million miles away from other aspects of the travel experience in Thailand and still goes under the radar of most.

For us, that blissful, serene setting at the top makes it absolutely one of the best things to do in Krabi.

Where + When | Din Daeng Doi is open every day from 5.30am-7pm, and you can find the entrance here on Google Maps.

Arrive | By scooter, factor in 20 minutes for the drive from Ao Nang and 25-30 minutes from Krabi Town (longer if arriving before the sunrise). Otherwise, you’ll require a taxi or a tour.

Tickets | Entry is 50 baht for foreign adults, 20 baht for children. This is paid in cash at the ticket office by the small car park.

Know | You will be required to walk a short, steep dusty trail up to the viewpoints. It takes around 10 minutes and most travellers will manage it. We did see a sign for a ‘car up + down’ shuttle service (30 baht p/p) which will be ideal for less mobile travellers, but don’t have more details to share.

There’s a simple family-run viewpoint cafe at the top for breakfast and lunch, as well as a great cup of freshly brewed Thai coffee or a fruit shake. There are also various benches and observation decks for photos or to just sit, take in the views, and enjoy the peaceful environment.

Stay | We realised on the way out that there are a few basic cabins available, which would be a unique experience for one night and allow you to savour the sunset and be the very first up for sunrise (the best time to go). We asked the owner about them and unfortunately there’s no online option to reserve, but it’s 700 baht/night if you turn up.

Do let us know if you stay there or have more information for us to share!

Book | This tour includes pick-up at 5am in Krabi Town, Khlong Muang Beach or Ao Nang, and gets you to Din Daeng Doi for sunrise and breakfast.

Where To Base Yourself in Krabi

Choosing the right place to base yourself in the Krabi region will define your experience but, depending on your travel style, there are pros and cons to each.

Krabi Town / best for budget, transport links, day trips and authentic city life – but no beach

The Brown Hotel · Family Tree Hotel · Pak Up Hostel

Railay Beach / best for beaches and Thai holiday vibes – but not for day trips

Rayavadee · Railay Great View Resort · Blanco Hideout Railay

Ao Nang / best for package holidays and nightlife, but we really didn’t like it

K-Bunk Hostel · Hotel Adam · BlueSotel · Anana Ecological Resort · Pop In Hostel

Tubkaek & Klongmuang / best for a quiet, luxury beach base and serene vacation

The Tubkaak · Nakamanda Resort & Spa · Home Resort · Sand Beach Bungalow

Kayaking On Klong Root Clear Water Canal

After sunrise and coffee, we rolled into one of kayaking places on Klong Root without any expectations.

We left an hour or so later with a big smile across our faces.

A family-friendly activity, the kayaking route isn’t terribly challenging, wild, or physically strenuous, but it is very scenic throughout, particularly within the mangrove forest. Whilst a little naff and a little kitsch, heading out on the water together was enjoyable and at least worked off a bit of the pad Thai weight.

Want something more challenging and adventurous? Then you should check out the half-day‘Deep Mangrove and Canyon Kayak’ experience.

Where + When | The Klong Root canal is 5km from Din Daeng Doi, so it makes sense to pair the two activities. Alternatively, it’s just a 20-25 minute drive from Ao Nang and Krabi – find it here on Google Maps

For the best experience, try to head there in the morning and avoid crowded weekends.

Costs | It’s 300 baht for a two-person kayak, with no time limit (but you only need an hour or so).

There are two or three kayak companies by the road side, and we plumped for ‘Klongrood Kayaking Lazanya’ – here on Google Maps. The staff were friendly, they had lockers for valuables, decent equipment, and an abundance of cats to play with, so we’re happy to recommend them.

Know | The circular route is quite short and easy to follow, but it’s easy to get the kayak stuck on roots or tree stumps – just wiggle your bums a bit to get it loose, or ask someone for a nudge.

There’s a small area for swimming, but it’s often too crowded to take a dip.

There is the option to pay 100 baht extra for a guide to attach a kayak to yours and tow you, but it’s really not necessary and you’ll quickly get the hang of it all if you’ve never paddled before.

Book | You can simply turn up and pay, but if you don’t have transport consider this super popular tour with transfers from Ao Nang, or this combo option that includes a sunrise breakfast at Din Daeng Doi.

Krabi Town & the night market

On the eponymous river, Krabi Town is the capital of the region and offers a pleasant enough blend of the old, the modern, the local, and the international.

Nowhere near as touristified or congested as the holiday hub of Ao Nang a 20-minute drive away, your experience of it will really depend on what you’re here for:

· you might spend a day/night there because of how transport connections work out

· you might choose it as an alternative base for day trips in Krabi

· you might only visit it as a day trip from elsewhere in Krabi

· you might simply pass through on your way to or from somewhere else

It’s quite compact, and not too big on hustle and bustle, but has more than enough bars, cafes, places to eat, and snapshots of authentic Thailand to make it worthwhile.

Do | The Krabi Town Night Market is much heralded and, although more tourist-facing than we hoped for, for a first-timer in Thailand it will offer a really nice introduction to the country’s flavours and dishes. A lot of travellers go to the town specifically for this on the weekends, when the stalls, bars, and stages take over Soi Maharaj square (Friday to Sunday, 4pm-10pm – here on Google Maps). It’s not to be confused with the small daily market opposite the 7-11 nearby (maps) – which also calls itself the Krabi Night Market – where you can grab some really decent food until late.

Just round the corner from the market, there’s craft beer at Tankcraft (maps), and there are a few other places on that street for the evening and late-nightsocials. Alternatively, Factory Beer Garden is a popular spot.

Stay | If you are not bothered being on the beach and prefer somewhere that’s got a bit more local life to it, then Krabi Town is definitely one to consider as a base in Krabi. If we had known, for our travel style, we’d probably split our six nights in Ao Nang into three in Krabi Town to do day trips and then three chilling and climbing in Railay Beach.

Our hotel recommendations include The Brown HotelandFamily Tree Hotelbut backpackers should check out Pak Up Hostel or Sleep Easy Krabi.

Blu Monkey Hub is an excellent option for digital nomads.

However, if you’re primarily here on a fly + flop holiday you’ll probably prefer somewhere else after one or two nights, rather than the requirement to travel out and back each day.

Elephants & Krabi

We were truly shocked by how prevalent elephant tourism still was in Krabi.

Much effort has been made in the last decade to stop tourists viewing elephant riding as an acceptable activity, but it was still advertised a lot here. Beyond that, you’ll also see many places label themselves as a ‘sanctuary’ where you can wash and touch the elephant.

Although ethical elephant sanctuaries do exist in Thailand, many companies now falsely claim to be one in order to get the tourists in – and continue to treat these captive elephants badly and encourage human-to-animal interactions.

Nearly every tourist interaction with an elephant is underpinned by cruelty, and we urge you not to contribute to the problem during your time in Krabi. For more background, and to know the ethical sanctuaries from the pretend ones, check out this article: Thailand, Elephants, and Tourism.

Go Island-Hopping In The Andaman

The quintessential Thai travel experience is heading out island-hopping for the day, and Krabi is one of the best places to do it.

There are dozens and dozens of boats setting off from Ao Nang and Krabi Town every day, taking travellers out on the Andaman Sea in search of paradise beaches, unique karst formations, secluded bays, and swimming holes so clear it’ll make you want to cry.

The most popular island-hopping itineraries are:

The 4 Islands | Koh Poda, Chicken Island, Koh Tub, and Koh Mor

The 7 Islands | Ko Ya Wa Sam, Ko Ma Tang Ming, Chicken Island, Tup Island, Koh Mor, Ko Poda & Ko Rang Beach. Some tours visit Railay instead of one of the other islands.

The Hong Islands | Lagoons and beaches on the main island, plus Lao La Ding and Pak Bia Islands

With each, you’ll be able to swim and snorkel, grab some beach time, take many envy-inducing photos with stunning backdrops, and often have the option to kayak in the crystal-clear waters too.

It is also important not to totally idealise the experience though: this is one of the most popular things to do in Krabi, most are following a similar route, and the beaches do fill up with lots of other day-trippers and longtail boats in high season.

Know | There is a separate national park entrance fee of for most of the islands, and this is charged in addition to any tour or transport. For Koh Hong, it’s 300 baht for adults / 150 for children aged 4-11 years, whilst for the 4 & 7 Islands it’s 400 baht / 200 baht.

Bear in mind that Railay Beach is often included on the 4 & 7 island routes, so plan accordingly if you’re planning to visit it on your own day trip or be based there for a few nights.

Book | Tours typically last the whole day and include fresh fruits, drinks, and lunches of varying quality and abundance. They are usually by traditional longtail boat, and include round-trip transfers from accommodation in Krabi/Ao Nang.

You will see them offered all over the place, and we recommend trying to focus on one which guarantees small or maximum group sizes. The below all have fantastic reviews and free cancellation:

· This popular full-day tour to the Hong Islands includes lunch and snorkelling stops at Pakbia and Lao Lading. It has hundreds of excellent reviews.

· This 7-Island tour is an excellent choice if you want to make the most of your day as it spends the largest amount of time at sea, has lots of stops, snorkelling and includes a sunset BBQ dinner at Poda Island and the opportunity to swim with bioluminescent plankton under the moonlight. It’s also super popular.

· Alternatively, if you’d rather a slightly shorter trip but with a little more pizazz, consider this highly-rated option aboard a luxury long tail boat.

· This tour is an excellent option for those that would prefer a private experience, allowing you to pick from one of several different routes of different durations. The reviews are top notch and it includes lunch, drinks and snacks.

· Our top 4 Island tour pick is this full-day one. It’s really well-priced and includes snorkelling.

Alternatively, you can go DIY by heading down to the Longtail Boat Office in Ao Nang (here on Google Maps) and charter a boat do one of the island-hopping routes. The price for the island-hopping is per boat (2,000-5,000 baht), so only becomes cost effective if there are several of you or you want a private experience.

Another option is to go to the same office where you can get direct round-trip transfers to the Hong Islands and others for 300 baht per person (8am-4pm). The only snag is that they require a minimum of seven people in the boat, so if you don’t want to rent the entire thing, you’ll need to hope that others with the same plan also waiting.

Travel Tip //Given the levels of overtourism, and the inevitable divergence between Insta & Reality, we don’t recommend doing a day trip to Phi Phi from Krabi or joining a tour which tags it and the famous Maya Bay on to the standard 4 Islands route (like this one)

We also don’t suggest trying to visit Ko Tapu (Phang Nga Bay) – better known asJames Bond island– from Krabi.

Hike Dragon Crest Mountain

We collectively lost 8 kilos during our month in Thailand, with most of it sweated out on this hike.

Worth it? Abso-bloody-lutely.

The Dragon Crest Mountain hike is definitely one of the best things to do in Krabi, and should definitely feature on the itinerary of any active traveller in the province.

Also known as Khao Ngon-Nak Nature Trail, the 7.4 km ‘out-and-back’ route walk up to the summit offers unparalleled panoramic views over tropical rainforest, monolith rocks, the Andaman Sea and Thai island silhouettes – but you really have to earn it!

Where + When | Set within the Ko Phi Phi National Park (but not on the island), the start point is 30 minutes from Ao Nang, 40 minutes from Krabi Town – you can find the entrance car park here on Google Maps.

Open from 8am, the last entry to trail is at 2pm and all hikers must be out by 6pm.

Arrive | There are no public buses to the Dragon’s Crest start point, so we drove there on our scooter. Alternatively, you should arrange a taxi or tuk-tuk or opt for this trekking tour with lunch and round-trip transport

Costs | Cash-only entrance fee of 200 baht per person for foreign adults, and 100 baht for foreign children.

Know | We absolutely loved our experience of this hot, steep, and sweaty hike, but it did offer more of a challenge than we expected. Deceptively short in terms of distance – only 3.8km from the start to the summit – the trail is all up and has some very challenging terrain in parts; it is most definitely a workout rather than a leisurely walk in a national park.

Due to this, we do not recommend the Dragon Crest hike for children, unfit travellers, or anyone with mobility issues and, whatever your fitness level or experience, there are several important things to know before you arrive at the trailhead – get the details in our dedicated guide below.

Plan // How To Hike Dragon Crest Mountain in Krabi

Visit The Klongmuang Coast

On the western side of the province, the Klongmuang Coast is a quiet, more exclusive stretch along the Andaman Sea.

Fringed by powdery white sand, palm trees, and calm crystal-clear waters, it’s ideal for a relaxing beach day without the crowds and noisy longboats, or as a Krabi holiday base for those who prefer a peaceful, unhurried beachfront hotel or resort away from the type of atmosphere and overdevelopment you’ll find in Ao Nang.

It can be split into two areas.

The first is Klong Muang beach (maps) and Koh Kwang beach (maps + maps), very nice and right next to each other, but the latter becomes a sliver when the tide is in. We had a lovely lunch with a view at The Beach House (maps), and just note that it’s best to walk along the road to connect up the beaches than try to wade through the lagoon part at high tide! When choosing a spot for the day, you’re also best to avoid having the industrial pier at the far right side in your eyeline.

That area is dotted with upscale resorts, boutique hotels, and beach bungalows:

· Nakamanda Resort and Spais a gorgeous 5* beach front resort that is an ideal holiday escape but the similarly luxurious Varana Hotelmay suit those who are happy to sacrifice intimacy for exceptional facilities.

· Golfers will love Sofitel Krabi Phokeethra Golf and Spa Resort.

· Loy Chalet, Bliss Resort and Sand Beach Bungalow (which, as the name would suggest, is right on the beach) are excellent mid-range options.

The second area is Tab Kaek Beach, an enjoyable 5km drive further along the coast, just before the hill up to the Dragon Crest Mountain entrance.

This secluded enclave is a first draft pick for honeymooners and luxury travellers in Krabi, with three high-end resorts backing onto Tab Kaek: Banyan Tree, The Tubkaak, and Ritz Carlton’s Phulay Bay. These hotels are exceptionally beautiful, but given their price-tag, for most travellers will be a special occasion sort of hotel.

Amari Vogue is a really wonderful option is you still want luxury, but at a more affordable price point.

Alternatively, Krabi Home Resort is a really cute beach front option that has excellent reviews and can still offer rooms less than £150 in high season (and as little as £60 in low).

Regular backpackers can still enjoy the truly gorgeous setting for the day though! It’s very family-friendly, the water is great for swimming, has views of the Hong Islands, and there are no longboats clogging up the water – a great spot to turn up early and just sunbathe, swim, sleep, and destress on the sand.

We struggled to find parking and a public entrance as much was closed off or private for the hotels, but this is where to go (maps). There are a few affordable beach restaurants, with the rest being attached to the resorts.

Know // It’s a very pleasant 25-minute drive along the superb highway from Ao Nang, 35-minutes from Krabi Town, and closer to an hour from the airport. We did it by scooter, otherwise you’ll have to opt for a private transfer or taxi.

There may be boat transfers or connections from elsewhere in Krabi, but we’re not aware of them (do let us know in the comments!)

Ao Nang (or Not Ao Nang)

We’ll level with you: we should never have stayed in Ao Nang.

We won’t go on and on about it, but it’s the main tourism town in Krabi and not pleasant – or at least not for how we enjoy to travel. Whilst its natural setting by the Andaman enjoys some dramatic scenery, it’s got shopping plazas, McDonald’s, Starbucks, a Holiday Inn, various generic ‘international’ food restaurants, crap bars, constant traffic, and little soul. There’s also an obvious sex tourism element in the evenings at a lot of bars and massage parlours along the main road, and so the scummy type of tourist that attracts becomes quite apparent.

Its long beach is popular (maps) and once would have been a dream setting. It’s absolutely fine for a lazy day of sunbathing, but there are too many longboats along large sections of it, a lot of footfall from day-trippers going and coming back, and it can become too congested.

Basically, there are more enjoyable ones to prioritise, but its sunsets are exquisite.

We did find some positive sides to Ao Nang during our six nights at the popular Pop In Hostel but, based on our experience, we can’t recommend staying in the area, Hat Noppharat Thara, or on the long road leading down to Ao Nang beach. However, with the vast amount of accommodation and amenities there, you may still end up considering it as a convenient holiday base.

If you’re a backpacker, the most tolerable area we’d suggest is at the other side of the long entry road, as far away as you can get from the beach front development and shopping mall strips. It’s got more chilled out bars and restaurants, a different vibe, a few hostels, and more of a traveller set-up that could be a good option as a base doing most of the best things to do in Krabi.

A few of our top accommodation picks there include @Aonang Guesthouse, K-Bunk Hostel, De Loft Hotel, The Hangout Hostel and LaRio Hotel.

Go Diving

We learned over in Utila, Honduras – the most affordable place in the world to get your PADI – but Thailand is a close second in the list of countries where it doesn’t break the bank to blow some bubbles.

And there’s a lot of incredible diving to be had in Krabi.

Hin Daeng and Hin Muang, Koh Ha, and around the Phi Phi Islands contain some of the best sites with an abundance of coral, walls, excellent visibility, and marine life big and small. Some of those are best accessed from Koh Lanta (which is what we did), but some and several others you can also access by boat from Ao Nang.

If you’ve always dreamed of learning to dive – or just want to go under the water once to see what it’s like – then Krabi is a place you can finally make it happen. As well as multi-day PADI and SSI beginner scuba diving courses, dive shops all offer a ‘Discover Scuba Diving’ experience where you learn the basics in a day and go down with your instructor to depths of 12 metres!

Know // Most of the dive shops are based in Ao Nang, and that’s were their boats set off from too. As we focussed our Thai diving time on Koh Lanta and Koh Lipe, we don’t have a personal recommendation for a school. However, The Dive Ao Nang caught our eye when wandering around, and it has a good ethos with excellent reviews (it’s also right next to TAN Hostel x Cafe, which does the best coffee in Ao Nang and really good non-Thai breakfasts).

If you want to get another adrenaline kick, or do something fun, then consider booking this highly-rated beginner’s rock climbing experience on Railay Beach.

Visit Fossil Beach

Unless you’re really into geology, this won’t be the most memorable experience of your Thai adventure. And we’re not suggesting that you should go out of your way to look at these rocks over, say, swimming in the Hong Islands or rock climbing in Railay.

Fossil Beach is however one of only three of its kind in the whole world and FORTY MILLION YEARS OLD (give or take a few years), so certainly worth knowing about – and those who do tag it on to a day of exploring Krabi around can also fold in a couple of cool hippy beaches that few know about nearby.

There are three sites within the protected marine national park area, with the broken up slabs formed from millions of compacted gastropod fossils.

The site is popular with Thai tourists and school groups, and has several explainers in English on the geological significance. Entry is 200 baht for foreign adults and 100 for children (cash), which is frankly too much for what you can do and see, and most will only spend around 15 minutes walking around the site. Find the Fossil Beach here on Google Maps.

However, those who do drive out to this part of Krabi get to enjoy lunch or a few hours on Ao Nam Mao beach. This stretch is more wild and natural, backed by a few eco villas and small boutique hotels, and definitely looks and feels way more off-the-beaten track than many other beaches in Krabi.

We suggest pulling in to Joy Beach Thai Cafe (maps) and go from there.

Stay | This more remote area is also up-and-coming as a secluded alternative retreat in Krabi, with a few options likes Venice Krabi Villa Resort, Villa Cha-Cha, and Heaven View.

You’ll also be close to the alternative longboat departure point for Railay Beach, and Ao Nam Mao pier for onward ferries to the islands.

Escape To The Krabi Islands

If you’re currently planning your trip to Krabi, then you absolutely need to factor in some serious time off the mainland and include at least one of the wonderful islands of Krabi province.

That’s probably already in your thoughts, but the (fortunate) dilemma is that there are quite a few to choose from!

There are about 200 islands included in the province, but many are uninhabited islets and karsts jutting out the water that you’ll only go to on an island-hopping or diving day trip, so your focus should instead be on prioritising which you’re able to spend a few days or a week+ plus.

We had no interest in Koh Phi Phi – too done, too young, too crowded – and instead opted to split our time between Koh Lanta and Koh Jum (aka Koh Pu).

The former is large enough to suit everyone and has several amazing empty beaches, whilst the latter is very small, very relaxed, and very rustic, so better suited to a certain type of travel style.

Other contenders were Koh Yao Yai and Koh Yao Noi.

All of the above are easy to reach by ferry from Krabi (look + book via 12Go), and we recommend taking a look at our in-depth guide to decide which is best for you.

Plan | 13 Wonderful Things To Do in Koh Lanta & The Essential Koh Jum Travel Guide (published soon)

Join a Cooking Class

Here at Along Dusty Roads, we’re huge believers that a cooking class is one of the best ways to get that little bit closer to people and place wherever you travel.

And, in Thailand, why on earth wouldn’t you want to take some knowledge of how to cook their delicious food back home with you?

We decided to do our cooking class on the wonderful island of Koh Lanta but Krabi Town / Ao Nang area is a super popular alternative, and a fantastic way to spend a few hours if you’re on a shorter holiday and wanting a break from the beach.

You can find lots of cooking classes on offer from the seemingly hundreds of tourist agencies (most with a similar set-up), but if you’d like to get one booked in before your trip, the following are our picks, all with really excellent reviews:

· Thai Charm Cooking School. This four hour class allows you to choose up to five dishes and two desserts from an extensive menu.

· Smart Cook. Prepare and enjoy a delicious four course meal over four hours.

· Siam Cuisine. Choose four recipes to prepare.

· Ya Thai Cookery School Class. This super popular experience offers multiple classes per day.

· Thai Cooking Class With Market Tour. This is a fantastic option for those that would like to learn about Thai cooking from the very start by buying the ingredients yourself.

· If your days are action-packed but you’d still like to squeeze in a culinary experience, there we have found two cooking classes (this one and this one) that specifically run in the evening/night

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