Krabi and Ao Nang Guide: Railay by Boat Only, Phi Phi Fee THB 400
Base yourself in Ao Nang, the busiest beach town in Krabi. Khao Nang Mountain blocks Railay, so access is only by boat. A foreign adult pays a special charge of THB 400 to land on Ko Phi Phi Don, Ko Phi Phi Le or Ko Mai Phai. The rainy season runs from mid-May to mid-October.
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Ao Nang is the convenient base, and Railay is the boat-only beach next door. Ao Nang is about 15 km from Krabi Town. Island tours leave from its beaches and pier.
Ao Nang, Railay or Krabi Town
Pick the base first, because access to Railay is only by boat.
| Base | Fits | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Ao Nang | First visit, easy tours | Krabi’s most developed beach, a long beach fringed by palm trees |
| Railay | Climbers, quiet evenings | A craggy peninsula with several small beaches, an important rock climbing destination |
| Krabi Town | Transport, local base | The administrative capital and a common entry point by boat or plane |
Ao Nang is busiest in high season, roughly 1 November to 30 April. In low season many places shut or restrict their hours, and the town is relatively deserted.
Getting to Ao Nang and Krabi
Krabi International Airport is about 10 km from the city limits, 15 km from the city centre and 40 km from Ao Nang. Bangkok Airways advertises Krabi flights from THB 1,200.
Krabi buses use the bus terminal at Talad Kao, about 5 km north of the town centre. Klong Jilad Pier is Krabi’s main passenger ferry terminal, a few kilometres south of Krabi Town.
The pier at Ao Nang (Nopparat Thara Beach) is a gateway to the Phi Phi Islands and the Hong Islands.
Railay by longtail
Railay is on the tip of a peninsula blocked by Khao Nang Mountain, so access is only by boat. Longtail boats arrive and depart from the beach at either end of Ao Nang Beach.
There is no pier at that beach. You are expected to walk several metres into the surf before getting on a boat, depending on the tide. Expect wet feet at the landing.
Check the posted board for the fare before you board. Ask for the price of a return ticket at the counter.
Which Railay beach
Railay West is a fine white sand beach with shallow water, where most longtails arrive from Ao Nang. Phra Nang is a fine white sand beach on the southern tip of the peninsula.
Railay East is the mangrove side, used by longtails to and from Krabi, and not good for swimming or sunbathing.
Island tours and national park fees
Koh Poda lies within Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, Krabi. The fee follows the Department of National Parks group of the park you enter, in force from 7 June 2022.
| Park | Foreign adult | Foreign child |
|---|---|---|
| Ko Phi Phi Don, Ko Phi Phi Le, Ko Mai Phai (special charge) | THB 400 | THB 200 |
| Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi, other sites (group 2) | THB 200 | THB 100 |
| Mu Ko Lanta (group 2) | THB 200 | THB 100 |
| Than Bokkharani (group 3) | THB 300 | THB 150 |
| Ao Phang Nga (group 3) | THB 300 | THB 150 |
| Khao Phanom Bencha (group 1) | THB 100 | THB 50 |
A DNP notice of 19 September 2022 adds special charges at some sites in five parks, including Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi and Mu Ko Lanta. The listed prices do not include vehicle fees. A child is aged 3 to 14 or no taller than 140 cm. Children under 3, disabled people and monks are exempt.
Tour prices are set by the tour operator. Ask whether the park fee is in the tour price or collected separately.
Season, closures and swimming
The southwest monsoon covers Thailand from mid-May to mid-October and brings heavy cloud and rain, especially along the coasts. Krabi is on the west coast of the south.
The start of the rainy season can come 1 to 2 weeks early or late. Opening of some sites can change with the weather.
Park closures
Maya Bay, Loh Samah and Lo Ko bay on Phi Phi are closed 1 August to 30 September. On the Koh Lanta national park, Koh Rok is closed 1 June to 30 September. Koh Ha and Hin Muang-Daeng are closed 1 August to 30 September.
Phang Nga Bay national park closes Koh Lawa Yai, Ao Khian and Koh Boi Yai from 1 August to 30 September. The Andaman marine parks have opened for the season.
Swimming and longtails
Thailand has lifeguards on duty at designated beaches and operates a flag system. Follow all warning signs, especially red flags. People have drowned in strong riptides, especially in monsoon season.
Jellyfish can swim close to the shore, particularly in the rainy season from May to October, and stings can be fatal. Boats can sink or collide, usually through overloading, poor maintenance or rough seas in monsoon season.
Tiger Cave Temple
The stairway to the summit now has 1,260 stairs. The top of the stairs is at 278 metres elevation. Some stair risers are more than a foot (30 cm) high.
Monkeys roam the lower stairs and temple grounds. Friendly monkeys also interact with visitors on the east side of Ao Nang beach.
Krabi to Koh Phi Phi
The Andaman Wave Master ferry from Klong Jilad Pier to Tonsai Pier takes 2 hours. It leaves at 09:00 and reaches Tonsai Pier at 11:00, and the adult fare is THB 450.
A second ferry leaves at 13:00 and reaches Tonsai Pier at 15:30. The price covers the ferry only, not land transfers in Krabi, Lanta or Phi Phi.
Check in at the pier 30 minutes before departure. You can buy a ticket at the pier, but the operator recommends booking ahead, especially in high season.
Tigerline serves Phuket, Krabi, Ao Nang and Phi Phi. Ao Nang (Nopparatthara Pier), Klongjilad Pier and Tonsai Pier are Seatran Discovery booking stops. Read the full Krabi to Koh Phi Phi ferry guide.
Safety and tourist police
Call 1155, the tourist police hotline for crimes involving tourists. There is a tourist police station for Krabi. A medical emergency is 1669, and the Royal Thai Police number is 191.
Do not hand your passport over as a guarantee, for example to motorcycle or jet-ski rental businesses. Do not leave drinks unattended or accept drinks from strangers.
Read the tourist police guide and the emergency numbers list. For the month-by-month view, see Best Thai Islands by Month.
Not confirmed: Railay longtail fare: no posted board is confirmed, so read the board at the Ao Nang beach counter before you board. Tiger Cave Temple entry and opening hours are not confirmed, so ask at the gate. Krabi airport taxi and bus fares are not confirmed, so check the counter in arrivals.
Common questions
Should I stay in Ao Nang or Railay?
Ao Nang is Krabi's most developed beach, a long beach fringed by palm trees. Railay is on a peninsula blocked by Khao Nang Mountain, so access is only by boat.
How do I get from Ao Nang to Railay?
By longtail boat, which leaves from the beach at either end of Ao Nang Beach. You are expected to walk several metres into the surf before getting on, depending on the tide.
How far is Krabi airport from Ao Nang?
Krabi International Airport is about 40 km from Ao Nang and 15 km from the city centre.
How much is the national park fee for island tours?
Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi and Mu Ko Lanta are group 2 parks, so a foreign adult pays THB 200 and a child THB 100. The rates date from 7 June 2022. Ko Phi Phi Don, Ko Phi Phi Le and Ko Mai Phai carry a special charge instead: THB 400 for a foreign adult and THB 200 for a child.
Which months are the Andaman seas rough?
The southwest monsoon runs from mid-May to mid-October and brings heavy cloud and rain, especially along the coasts. The rainy season runs from mid-May to mid-October.
Is Maya Bay open all year?
Maya Bay, Loh Samah and Lo Ko bay on Phi Phi are closed 1 August to 30 September.
How many steps are there at Tiger Cave Temple?
The stairway to the summit now has 1,260 stairs. Monkeys roam the lower stairs and temple grounds.
How much is the ferry from Krabi to Koh Phi Phi?
The Andaman Wave Master ferry costs THB 450 for an adult and THB 350 for a child. It leaves Klong Jilad Pier at 09:00 and 13:00.
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