Krabi is a province on Thailand's Andaman coast, east of Phuket across Phang Nga Bay, known for the limestone karst scenery along its shoreline and islands. The name covers several distinct places: Krabi Town, the provincial capital and transport hub on a mangrove river; Ao Nang, the main resort beach town; and the Railay peninsula, a set of cliff-ringed beaches with no road access at all.
The province is also a main jumping-off point for the Andaman's best-known islands, including Koh Phi Phi and Koh Lanta, and its airport makes it the natural second gateway to the region after Phuket.
Getting there
Krabi has its own international airport (KBV), about 15 km east of Krabi Town, plus long-distance buses and boat connections along the coast.
From Bangkok
Flight
1h 20mDirect flights run through the day from both Bangkok airports on AirAsia, Nok Air, Thai Lion, Thai Vietjet, and others. The airport sits between Krabi Town and the coast, with shuttle buses and taxis onward to Ao Nang.
Check schedules on 12Go →Bus
10–12hOvernight coaches run from Bangkok's Southern Terminal (Sai Tai Mai) to Krabi Town's bus terminal, arriving in the morning.
Check schedules on 12Go →Train + bus
~14hThere is no railway to Krabi. Sleeper trains reach Surat Thani, with connecting buses crossing the peninsula to Krabi in about 2.5 hours more.
Check schedules on 12Go →
Krabi airport receives a modest set of international routes, mostly regional (Kuala Lumpur, Singapore) plus seasonal charters; long-haul itineraries generally connect through Bangkok.
Airport transfer · From the airport, shuttle buses and taxis run to Krabi Town (about 15 minutes) and Ao Nang (30–40 minutes). Railay has no roads: longtail boats leave from Ao Nang's beachfront (10–15 minutes) and from Krabi Town's Chao Fah pier (about 45 minutes).
Weather by season
Krabi shares the Andaman calendar with Phuket: dry and calm from November to April, wet from May to October under the southwest monsoon. The island boat trips and Railay's beaches are at their best in the dry months; in the monsoon, seas roughen and some crossings pause.
Year-round climate
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Conditions by month
Seasonal averages for the Andaman coast. Tap through to the monthly weather guide for detail.
Dry season
Nov–AprCalm seas, clear water, and every boat route running. December to February is the peak; Railay accommodation books out well ahead.
Hot months
Mar–MayThe hottest stretch, with the first storms building from late April. Seas usually stay workable into May.
Green season
May–OctMonsoon rain in bursts, rougher seas, and lower prices. Longtails to Railay keep running in most weather, but outer-island trips become weather-dependent. September and October are wettest.
Where to stay
Where to stay
Where to stay in Krabi
Krabi is a coastline, not a single town: the hub, the resort strip, the roadless peninsula, and the quiet beaches all work differently. Tap an area to compare.
Ao Nang
Main resort townBest for: The widest choice of hotels, restaurants, and tours
The province's main beach town, with a long beachfront road of hotels, restaurants, and tour agencies. Its own beach is ordinary by Krabi standards, but it is the departure point for the longtails to Railay and the island tours, and everything is walkable.
On the map
- Ao Nang beachfront
- Nopparat Thara Beach
Hotels to shortlist
Centara Grand Beach Resort Krabi Splurge
On its own cove north of the strip.
Aonang Cliff Beach Resort Mid-range
On the hill above the beachfront.
Budget guesthouses line the roads running inland from the beach.
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Getting around
White songthaews run fixed routes between Krabi Town and Ao Nang, and Grab and Bolt operate around both. Scooter and car rental are widely available, and the coast road from Ao Nang up to Klong Muang and Tubkaek is an easy drive.
Railay is the exception: it has no roads and no vehicles. Longtail boats shuttle from Ao Nang beach in 10–15 minutes and from Krabi Town's Chao Fah pier in about 45 minutes through the mangroves. Fares are fixed per person and boats leave when full; paying out the empty seats buys an immediate departure. Boats run into the evening but not all night.
Things to do
- Railay & Phra Nang. The peninsula's beaches and the Phra Nang cave shrine are among the most photographed spots on the coast, and the cliffs above them are Southeast Asia's best-known rock-climbing area.
- The four-island tour. Longtail and speedboat day trips loop Poda, Chicken Island, Tup, and Phra Nang, the island group closest to Ao Nang.
- The Hong Islands. A quieter archipelago to the northwest with an enclosed lagoon and a panoramic viewpoint, closest from Tubkaek.
- Tiger Cave Temple (Wat Tham Suea). A forest temple northeast of Krabi Town whose 1,260-step staircase climbs to a summit Buddha with a view over the whole province.
- Emerald Pool & hot springs. An inland pairing about an hour from town: the Emerald Pool forest spring and the Klong Thom hot spring waterfall.
- Khao Khanap Nam. The twin karsts flanking the river at Krabi Town, reached by a short longtail hop, with a cave and viewpoint.
Local character & practical notes
Krabi Town is a working provincial capital rather than a resort, with morning markets, riverside night markets, and boat traffic through the mangroves. It stays predominantly local in feel even at the height of the season.
The province has a large Thai-Muslim population alongside its Buddhist communities, visible in the mosques along the coast road and in the local food; expect some restaurants to be halal and alcohol-free, and dress modestly away from the beach areas.
Longtail fares to Railay are posted at the Ao Nang ticket kiosks and priced per person. In the monsoon the boats shift from Ao Nang's beachfront to the more sheltered Nopparat Thara river mouth.
Going deeper
Opinion & first-hand guides to Krabi
This page keeps to the facts. For recommendations and first-hand takes, these blog posts go further.
Blog · June 12, 2026
Krabi travel guide: beaches, limestone cliffs, and where to base yourself
Krabi is a province, not a beach. Where you stay changes the trip entirely. Here's how to navigate it.
Blog · June 12, 2026
Railay Beach, Krabi: how to get there and what to expect
Railay is cut off from the mainland by limestone cliffs. Getting there takes 15 minutes by longtail boat. Here's what you find when you arrive.