8 Best Activities to Do in Krabi, Thailand: Beaches, Islands & Hidden Gems
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Thailand has always remained as one of the most popular tourist destinations in Asia and for good reason! Krabi has been known to be one of Thailand’s most relaxing and peaceful destinations for its islands, beaches, jungles, limestone cliffs, and cultural sites at the same time a great place for adventure with its elephant sanctuaries, hot springs, strenuous Tiger Cave Temple hike. We will go through some of the best activities and some hidden gems that you can add to your itinerary for those planning a trip to Krabi, Thailand! At the end, we will also give you some tips to keep in mind when visiting Thailand.
Best Things to Do in Krabi, Thailand
There is so much you can do in this tropical destination in southern Thailand. Whether you want adventure in your travel plans or just want to take it a little bit more easy, we will provide you with some of the most popular activities that we have personally done and some that we wish we would have explored! We feel certain that you will love your experience when trying these activities for yourself. However, we do still reccomend to do a little bit of your own research before going through with the experience! Here is our list of the top 7 things to do in Krabi, Thailand:
1. Relax at Railay Beach
One of the best beaches in Krabi would have to be Railay Beach. This is located on a tiny peninsula surrounded by limestone cliffs. This beach is accessible by boat only for that reason (15-20 minutes from Ao Nang). There are two main beaches in the area, East Railay and West Railay, which are connected by a walking trail. There are many restaurant and bars in the area if you are looking for places to eat! There is also a special beach called Phra Nang Cave, which is a major attraction here. Rock climbing is a huge thing in Railay Beach due to the giant cliffs, and there are many companies around this island that offers classes and cater to all skill levels, whether you are a beginner or advanced!
2. Take a Day Trip to Phi Phi Islands
Another popular island to visit near Krabi is Phi Phi Islands! This is a beautiful area with soft white sand and clear warm waters! You can take a tour, which will pick you up from Krabi, and go around to different popular areas including Maya Bay (featured in the movie “The Beach”), Monkey Beach, and different areas of Phi Phi Islands!
Full Day Phi Phi Islands Tour with Lunch from Krabi
3. Explore the Hot Springs and Emerald Pool
One of our favorite activities was a full-day jungle tour, which included relaxing in natural hot springs in the jungle and swimming in the Emerald Pool! This definitely made for a relaxing experience while taking in the nature of the jungle. You can also hike a little bit of a distance from Emerald Pool to see the Blue Pool (not allowed to swim), which was incredible to see!
All Day Krabi Jungle Tour (Hot Spring Water, Emerald Pool, Tiger Cave Temple)
4. Climb the Tiger Cave Temple (Wat Tham Sua)
As part of the tour from the last activity, Tiger Cave Temple is the final destination that you will go to visit from the All Day Krabi Jungle Tour! This is a strenuous 1,260 step stairway that you will need to climb to see beautiful panoramic views as well as the temple. Keep in mind that you do not have to take part in climbing the stairs during this tour. We barely made it, but managed to reach the top to see the Tiger Cave Temple!
All Day Krabi Jungle Tour (Hot Spring Water, Emerald Pool, Tiger Cave Temple)
5. Go Island Hopping on a 4-Island Tour
Similarly to the Phi Phi Islands Tour, the 4-Island Tour is another great activity to do while you are in Krabi, Thailand! Sail on a longtail boat while you stop at various islands such as Chicken Island, Poda Island, and Tup Island. You will also be able to snorkel in the oceans near the island as well as have a lunch picnic on one of the beaches! This is definitely a romantic activity to do if you are on a honeymoon. Be sure to bring an extra 400 baht per adult (or 200 baht per kid) for national park fees, as this particular tour does not include them like the others listed.
From Krabi : Private Luxury Longtail Boat
6. Visit an Elephant Sanctuary
A must do in Thailand for animal lovers would be to visit an Elephant Sanctuary! This was hands down one of the best experiences we have ever done, and it is what really made our trip special! It is an incredible experience to take care of these majestic creatures and the staff treat them very well! Definitely make time during your stay in Krabi to fit in this bucket list item!
Krabi: Elephant Bathing Session at Krabi Elephant Shelter
7. Kayak Through Ao Thalane Mangrove Forests
One of the hidden gems in Krabi is Ao Thalane, which you will be able to kayak through the Mangrove Forest. This is a very scenic forest and definitely one for nature lovers! Whether you are an experienced kayker or a complete beginner, this is definitely one experience you want to check out if you are traveling to Krabi!
Krabi: Kayak Adventure Through Ao Thalane Mangrove Forest
8. Participate in a Cooking Class
If you love Thai food like us, this is something special to do, whether or not you love to cook! We learned how to make basic Thai dishes from pad thai to papaya salad to mango sticky rice! Scheduling an evening for a cooking class added a nice touch to our Krabi itinerary as well as our whole Thailand experience!
The Best Cooking Class at Thai Charm Cooking School in Krabi
Additional Bonus Tips for Visiting Krabi
- Thailand has a wet (“monsoon”) season as well as a dry season. For the best weather experience, try to book around November to April (dry season) when it rains less. We personally traveled to Thailand in the summer (during the wet season) and still had a great time regardless! Just don’t forget to pack ponchos!
- Consider your lodging location when scheduling activities! You can stay in Ao Nang where you have beach access and also Krabi Town which has more local culture in the area. However, if you decide to stay on an island resort (like we did), keep in mind that these types of resorts can only be accessed by boat and will have a boat transfer schedule, so the tours will not be able to pick you up at the resort, rather they will meet you at the pier.
- As far as transportation, there are many longtail boat drivers that can take you around the islands for baht. Many of the fares will vary. Similarly, there will be various tuk-tuks and taxi drivers in Krabi to take you around the roads. Be caution of scams as many of these drivers like to overcharge. Grab (rideshare) is another option to get around. However, we have found that it is sometimes not always reliable and can take a little while to find a driver. This was our main source of transportation around Krabi.
Conclusion
We hope this gave you some inspiration when planning your itinerary to Krabi, Thailand! As you can see, there is a lot you can do in this area of Thailand, from rock climbing in Railay Beach, walking the steps up to Tiger Cave Temple, and island hopping on a longtail boat to bathing Elephants, relaxing in natural hot springs, and learning how to make a pad thai dish! Whether you want adventure or relaxation, there is an activity for you.
Our time in Krabi was wonderful for us, and these 7 experiences really enhanced our trip! We would definitely do all of these activities again if we ever had the chance, especially the elephant sanctuary!
