Krabi ThailandKrabi Thailand is our favourite resort for combining great restaurants, stunning scenery and relaxing days out.
Krabi is on the west coast of Thailand on the Andaman Sea, not too far from Phuket. The principle beach resort in Krabi is Ao-Nang. When I say beach resort, there is not really much of a beach on the resort but don't let put you off. Making up for this lack of beach is Ao Nang's location. It is surrounded by areas of natural beauty and all of them within easy reach by road or sea. The most convinient and fun way to get there is on a 'long tailed boat'. There are no shortage of them willing to ferry you out to any of the local beaches that take your fancy. If you are after plenty adventure and nightlife, Krabi Thailand is not the place for you. However, Ao Nang Krabi has found an ideallic balance between being too quiet or over commercialised. There are certainly enough restaurants and bars to keep you happy for a weeks or so on your holiday. If you stay longer then you may start running out of new places to visit in the evenings.
If that doesn't bother you, but you still want some daytime action, there are enough excursions to keep you busy for quite a while. Weather in Krabi ThailandKrabi's weather very similar to Phuket; both being Tropical Islands. The best times to visit are from November (the end of the rainy season) until Early March, just before it gets too hot. If your holiday is largely water sport related then the heat of April should not deter you. The resorts are open all year if you don't mind a holiday during the wet seasons (from July to October) when the amount of rain can be a lottery. Our Favourite Hotel in Krabi ThailandWe have only stayed in a few hotels in Ao Nang Krabi but the first we tried is still our favourite. The Thai Village Resort has some great pools and it is only a 3-4 minute 'tuk tuk' ride from the sea front. Don't make the mistake of choosing a great looking hotel in 'Krabi', always aim for Ao Nang if you want to be near the sea. Krabi town is a 30 minute taxi ride from the coast at Ao Nang. . Restaurants in Ao NangThe are a good mix of restaurant's catering for all tastes. The Thai seafood restaurants that we frequent are excellent and on occasions we visit one of the many Italian restaurants on the sea front for well done steak and a bottle of red wine. Most the restaurants are within are within and easy walking distance of the sea front.On the north side of the beach where the road turns inland, you can carry on walking to some restaurants that are built over the beach and enjoy the sound of the waves lapping in whilst you relax with a great meal and a beer. Just as a footnote, wine in Thailand is quite expensive compared to Western prices but I don't know why, or rather I have not found out. It can't be because they import it as Australian wine is cheaper in Europe than in Thailand. Maybe they just don't drink enough of it. Never mind, I'll have another Singha beer whilst contenplating that question. Attractions and Suggested Days OutWe go to Krabi Thailand for the scenery and tend to go on trips that will allow us to see some of the great rock formations on the exposed cliffs.
The easiest and cheapest option (if you can haggle) is to catch a long tailed boat from Ao Nang sea front; then you can more or less plan your own itinerary. There are plenty of other ways to enjoy your self, such as: Speedboat Tours of the IslandsThese are pretty much the same set of tours that you will get in Phuket due to their relative proximity, so forgive us for repeating the information on this page.These tours are available for half and full days out. We love them as it takes you to some of the more exotic Islands and you get an opportunity to snorkel in amongst shoals of tropical fish, even from the beach on some Islands. The half day trips are great if you can't get out of bed in the morning and they take you to some of the nearby Islands, so you still get to experience the snorkelling or relaxing on the beach. On the half day trips drinks, fruit and biscuits are provided, but on the full day trips you will also get a generous Thai buffet lunch on one of the Islands. The full day trips take you further afield to some of the more famous Islands such as Koh Phi Phi or James Bond Island. Personally I prefer not to go to James Bond Island as its tiny and once you get to the beach where they filmed it, there are so many tourist gift stalls that it loses it's magic. The infamous movie 'The Beach' was filmed on the Island of Koh Phi Phi Lee and the beach was re-landscaped to make it look 'exotic'. This is often one of the Islands you will visit on your day trip, however, it was a bit crowded when we last went due to it's fame. However, it is still a great place to visit so if you want to tick the box and show your friends, then it's one for the album.
Kyaking in Krabi ThailandYou have the option to explore some of the island caves (via a boat) or to explore the river. The Kyaks are pretty much unsinkable so its a nice safe day out. Personally I preferred the river trip, it lasted all day and you do feel slightly tired at the end. The trip takes you through some great mango groves and some huge gorges, probably the quietest place I have ever been to. You can hear the flutter of a birds wings from hundreds of meters away. Very tranquil DivingAs in Phuket, you can go on organised diving trips. For those of you with little or no experience, don't venture out on a cheap trip with some local fishermen, use a reputable diving school.There a plenty of good diving schools and instructors available who will give you professional lessons in a safe environment before you go to sea. Getting ThereKrabi has it's own local airport and the flight from Bangkok, where most people fly in from, takes less than an hour. The taxi ride from Bangkok may be cheaper for two or more of you but apaer from being uncomfortable, you waste a whole day of your holiday.Top Tip - When you get to your destination you will want to plan your holiday. All the major hotels have booking office where you can plan your excursions. There are booking offices everywhere in all the big resorts where you can negotiate a better rate for your trip. See more Thailand travel tips. Enjoy your holiday in Krabi Thailand Return from Krabi Thailand to Thailand Holidays
|
