Krabi
A mainland coast of limestone towers and 154 islands offshore, beaches reached only by long-tail boat, and four hotels with MICHELIN Keys between Phulay Bay and Koh Lanta.
- Arrival
- Krabi International · KBV
- To Ao Nang
- About 40 minutes by car
- Private jets
- Handled at KBV, 3,002 m runway
- Best time
- January to March
The city
Cliffs on the shore, islands beyond.
Krabi is the mainland side of the Andaman, where the limestone comes right down to the sand. At Railay the cliffs cut the beaches off from the road, so the way in is a ten-minute long-tail ride from Ao Nang, and climbers come from all over the world for the rock. Offshore lie 154 islands, from the Hong group to Koh Lanta in the south and the two Phi Phi islands.
The dry window is short: January to March, with less than 55 mm of rain a month, afternoons of 32 to 34 °C and the sea at 28 to 29 °C. From May the rains set in, and September brings more than 350 mm.
- Railay and Phra Nang Beaches walled in by cliffs, joined by a path under overhanging rock and reached only by boat.
- The Hong Islands An archipelago in Than Bok Khorani National Park, within reach of the beach at Tubkaek.
- Koh Phi Phi Two islands in a marine park of coral reefs, Phi Phi Le among them, where The Beach was filmed.
Arriving
Seven kilometres from town, forty minutes from the beach.
Krabi International lies about 7 km east of Krabi Town. Ao Nang is some forty minutes away by car. Rayavadee’s boats leave from Nong Nuch pier, also about forty minutes by road, and Pimalai on Koh Lanta is reached by way of Baan Huahin pier.
- Bangkok 1 h 10
- Ho Chi Minh City 1 h 30
- Malé 4 h 00
- Dubai 6 h 45 long-range jet
- Rome 12 h 05 long-range jet
When to go
January to March.
Afternoons run from 30 to 34 °C and the Andaman stays at 28 to 30 °C through the year. The dry spell is January to March, and February sees only 24 mm. The rains come with May, and from May to November each month brings 245 mm or more.
- 32° J 53 28°
- 33° F 24 29°
- 34° M 49 29°
- 34° A 124 30°
- 32° M 292 30°
- 32° J 245 30°
- 31° J 260 29°
- 31° A 246 29°
- 31° S 355 29°
- 31° O 325 29°
- 30° N 252 29°
- 31° D 108 28°
Where to stay
Four Keys on the Andaman coast.
Shown for information. We have no arrangement with any of these hotels.
- Phulay Bay, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve Three Keys for a beachfront of fifty-four pavilions and villa suites, each with its pool and its own butler.
- Banyan Tree Krabi Seventy-two suites and villas, every one with its own pool, within reach of the Hong Islands.
- Pimalai Resort & Spa A hundred and twenty-one rooms, suites and pool villas on Ba Kan Tiang Beach, with a jetty of its own.
- Rayavadee Pavilions in gardens behind three white-sand beaches, under limestone cliffs, reached only from the sea.
Where to dine
The best tables on the coast.
These are the fine-dining restaurants of Phulay Bay and Banyan Tree Krabi, on the coast west of town, confirmed on the hotels’ own pages; Sri Trang also heads Trip.com’s fine-dining list for Krabi.
- Sri Trang Trip.com, top fine dining in Krabi Southern Thai Phulay Bay, about 17 km west of Krabi Town
- Lae Lay Signature restaurant, Phulay Bay International and seafood Phulay Bay, about 17 km west of Krabi Town
- Saffron Signature restaurant, Banyan Tree Krabi Modern Thai Tubkaek Beach, about 18 km west of Krabi Town
Elsewhere in Thailand
More reasons to come.
- Bangkok The Grand Palace, and hotels along the Chao Phraya.
- Phuket The largest island, and the gateway to the Andaman Sea.
- Koh Samui Coconut groves and beach villas on the Gulf.
- Chiang Mai The old walled city of the north, and the hills around it.
- Hua Hin The royal seaside town, three hours south of Bangkok.
Flying to Krabi?
Choose how you arrive.
A Business or First Class seat on a scheduled airline, or an aircraft of your own. Tell us the date and how many are travelling, and we reply with one final price, our margin included.