Top 10 Travel Tips for Krabi, Thailand (July 2024)

Overview

In July/August 2024, me and my family travelled to Thailand for the first time. We visited Krabi and Bangkok for a total of two weeks. Krabi is a coastal city with a huge Muslim population On this Island, almost 40% of the population are Muslims. They cater a lot for the Muslim community and Krabi is home to a diverse population of Thai and non-Thai nationals. Krabi is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Thailand and is renowned for its white sandy beaches and natural landscapes.

1. Travel and logistics

There are various travel options in Krabi. Travelling Songthaew in Krabi Town – like a bucky bus service is a good experience as it drives a fixed route between Krabi Town and Ao Nang (Beach). There are fixed pick-up places but you can also flag them on the street. On the songthaew there is an indication what the destinations are. A fixed pick-up point in Krabi Town is on the Utara Kit Road on the river, just past the corner of the River View Hotel. Approx price: 50 – 100 baht per person. We stayed in the Ao Nang stretch of Krabi. Tuk-tuks are handy to get around locally and cost effective. Grab and Bolt are two good options for taxis. We hired a car for 2-3 days through a local contact. Car hire prices are very cheap but just do your research beforehand. Average cost varies from £10 – £30 a day for a budget car hire. On sea, there are various options of travel: Longtail boats are very popular and you can take in the breathtaking scenery as you travel. A motorbike sidecar taxi (below) is another good option, especially for a family of three.

2. Sim card and data

Similar to Bangkok, it is more cost effective to buy an e-sim as opposed to using your data with the mobile phone operator you currently have. Look into an Asia e-sim / Holafly and purchasing an e-sim in Thailand is cheaper than pre-purchasing from the UK! Airalo is another good provider of e-sims but works out more costly than a local e-sim purchased in Krabi. There are outlets at Krabi International airport and nearby shops who sell phones and data packages. Do your research beforehand and do check if your phone is compatible with e-sims as some smartphones do not allow an e-sim to be installed but rather, a physical sim has to be installed.

3. Sightseeing and Excursions
Krabi is famous for its impressive karst scenery and breathtaking white sand beaches, where you can enjoy a variety of water sports and outdoor activities. It is also known for numerous marine parks and rainforests with abundant wildlife, mangroves, caves, and waterfalls. Its coral reef vistas are also one of the world’s most beautiful, which makes the city a great spot for coral diving. Ultimately, island hopping is a must in Krabi and exploring its various islands. Krabi is made up of approximately 200 islands.

The Emerald Pool in Krabi is a MUST-DO in Krabi. Despite the long ride to the attraction, it is well worth the travel. You can imagine the natural pool is as clean and clear as a private swimming pool. Just have to be careful of the slippery rocks along the pool side. The entrance fee for Emerald Pool is 200 Baht for adults and 100 Baht for children. Emerald Pool is the most popular of several natural springs in the area for swimming and relaxing in its cool waters. The pool’s emerald color changes to turquoise during the day under the influence of changing temperature, minerals, and limestone leaching from the hillside.

You can visit any of these islands individually by paying for a longtail boat from Ao Nang Beach. A return trip will cost around 300 BHT (you can research and haggle with local providers). The boat however won’t be private, so you’ll need to wait for others to turn up before you can head off. There are options for private boat hire if you wish. ‘Chicken Island’ (pictured above) was a unique experience as the island is shaped in the shape of a chicken! You can spend 1 or 2 full days to visit the various islands in Krabi.

According to most travel reviews, the best islands near Krabi include: Phi Phi Islands (particularly Phi Phi Don), Koh Lanta, Koh Poda, Hong Island, Bamboo Island (Koh Phai), Chicken Island (Koh Gai), Koh Jum (Koh Pu), and Koh Rok. This popular tour takes you to four picturesque islands: Koh Poda Island, Chicken Island, Ko Tup Island, and Phra Nang Cave Beach. Visitors can enjoy activities like snorkelling in crystal-clear waters, sunbathing and exploring the unique limestone formations. The Din Daeng Doi viewpoint is worth the trek and the panoramic views of Krabi are breathtaking!

4. Food & Drink
Krabi is home to a wide variety of halal food. There are several Halal restaurants and food stalls in the area catering to the diverse gastronomical preferences of its residents and tourists. The Ao Nang stretch has plenty of halal food options. Outside the main Ao Nang Mosque, they host a range of regular food trucks which serve halal street food. The food stalls have a good range of options and it’s all pretty cheap! Various snacks from 20B and around 40-80B for a meal (ie fried rice or salad). We went twice and it wasn’t too busy either time to find a seat in the small seating area. There are a range of halal restaurants situated across the Ao Nang stretch.

5. Mosques and Islamic Education
There are several mosques situated around Krabi. Khlong Muang Mosque is a mosque in Krabi, Thailand that’s known for its architectural beauty and tranquility and the Ao Nang Central Mosque is a popular option for both tourists and nationals. Despite the 60/40 split of Buddhists and Muslims in Krabi, it’s beautiful to see the community cohesion and peaceful co-existence amongst both faiths in Krabi. Several mosques in Krabi even facilitate community and outreach work with non-Muslims throughout the year, especially in Ramadan.

6. Hotels & Accommodation
In Bangkok, we chose to stay at the Holiday Inn Ao Nang Krabi which was situated very close to the beach stretch. Enveloped in a lush hillside by Ao Nang Bay, Holiday Inn Resort Krabi Ao Nang Beach is the perfect contemporary escape for families, couples and friends to come together to relax and recharge. The Kids Club is open daily and there’s plenty of activities for kids to get involved with. They have a gym, pool and massage/wellbeing services on site. The hotel was very family friendly and the service was excellent throughout the stay. There was a wide range of breakfast options (including halal) and the location was very convenient. It’s handy to have a hotel which is close to the beach front and main island hopping pick up and drop off points.

7. Money Exchange
The currency of Thailand is Thai Baht. It is more cost effective to exchange your pounds in Thailand for better rates but do take a small amount of funds as emergency so that you have some local currency when you arrive in Krabi. There is no specific company to visit for money exchange but looking around for the cheapest rates is always the best option. Obviously, money exchange rates fluctuate daily so you just have to check on a daily basis for the best rates!

8. Shopping
Vogue Shopping Center It is one of the largest Krabi shopping malls, attracting both tourists and locals for its vast collection of clothing, accessories, and home decor items. Inside the mall, you can find well-known brands, both international and Thai, making it a great place to shop for modern fashion. We didn’t visit too many shopping centres as we explored the island and lots of water based activities but there are some really cool small pop up shops which sell clothing, souvenirs and other day-to-day necessities items.

9. Research & Language
It’s handy to make a brief plan of what you wish to explore in Bangkok prior to visiting. Even if it’s a one-page bullet pointed list. Research which excursions or activities you have to pre-book due to popular demand in peak periods. Also, compiling a list of the most common Thai phrases tourists use in Thailand is very handy as not all locals speak English!

10. Useful links
Below are some useful links you may wish to check out when planning your visit to Krabi!

Fun things to do in Krabi Town – ThailandMagazine.com

20 Fun Things to Do in Krabi, Thailand (2024)