Krabi and Ao Nang Guide: Where to Stay, Railay by Boat, Island Days

Base yourself in Ao Nang, Krabi's busiest and most developed beach town. Railay sits behind Khao Nang Mountain, so access is only by boat. Landing on Ko Phi Phi Don, Ko Phi Phi Le or Ko Mai Phai carries a THB 400 special charge for a foreign adult. Expect the rainy season from mid-May to mid-October.

Stay in Ao Nang if this is your first visit: it is Krabi’s most developed beach, and Railay next door can only be reached by boat. Island tours leave straight from Ao Nang’s beaches and pier.

For a quieter island nearby, see the Koh Lanta guide.

Ao Nang, Railay or Krabi Town

• Ao Nang suits a first visit, as the most developed beach, a long stretch fringed by palm trees.
• Railay suits climbers, a craggy peninsula with several small beaches and an important rock climbing destination.
• Krabi Town is the administrative capital and a common entry point by boat or plane.

Ao Nang is at its busiest in high season, roughly 1 November to 30 April. Come in low season and the town is relatively deserted, with many places shutting or restricting their hours.

Getting here

By air, you land at Krabi International Airport, about 40 km from Ao Nang. Arriving by bus, you reach the terminal at Talad Kao, about 5 km north of the town centre. By sea, the hub is Klong Jilad Pier, Krabi’s main passenger ferry terminal. From Ao Nang, the pier at Nopparat Thara Beach is your gateway to the Phi Phi Islands and the Hong Islands.

Railay by longtail

Railay is blocked by Khao Nang Mountain, so you go by longtail from the beach at either end of Ao Nang Beach. Expect wet feet, because depending on the tide you are expected to walk several metres into the surf before boarding. Read the fare on the posted board, and ask at the counter what a return ticket costs.

Most longtails land at Railay West, a fine white sand beach with shallow water. Phra Nang, on the southern tip, has the same fine white sand. Railay East is the mangrove side and not good for swimming or sunbathing.

Island tours and park fees

Your park fee depends on the park the tour enters. A foreign adult pays THB 400 at Ko Phi Phi Don, Ko Phi Phi Le and Ko Mai Phai, and a child pays THB 200. In the group 2 parks, Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi and Mu Ko Lanta, a foreign adult pays THB 200 and a child THB 100.

Vehicle fees come on top. A child here is aged 3 to 14 or no taller than 140 cm. Tour prices are set by each operator, so ask whether the park fee is in the tour price or collected separately.

Rainy season and closures

The rainy season runs from mid-May to mid-October, and the southwest monsoon brings heavy cloud and rain, especially along the coasts. Check any August or September island plan against the closures. Maya Bay, Loh Samah and Lo Ko bay on Phi Phi are closed from 1 August to 30 September. Koh Lawa Yai, Ao Khian and Koh Boi Yai in Phang Nga Bay close for the same dates.

Koh Rok, in the Koh Lanta national park, closes earlier, from 1 June to 30 September.

For a safe swim, pick a designated beach, where Thailand keeps lifeguards on duty and runs a flag system. Follow all warning signs, red flags above all, because people have drowned in strong riptides, especially in monsoon season. Jellyfish stings can be fatal, and the creatures come close to shore in the rainy season.

Tiger Cave Temple

Tiger Cave Temple is a proper climb, with 1,260 stairs to the summit. Pace yourself, as some stair risers are more than a foot (30 cm) high. Monkeys roam the lower stairs and temple grounds.

Krabi to Koh Phi Phi

The ferry from Klong Jilad Pier to Tonsai Pier takes 2 hours. The 09:00 boat reaches Tonsai Pier at 11:00 for an adult fare of THB 450, and a later sailing leaves at 13:00. The fare 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 there, but booking ahead is smarter in high season. The full Krabi to Koh Phi Phi ferry guide has the timetable.

Safety

Save 1155 for the tourist police hotline, 1669 for a medical emergency and 191 for the Royal Thai Police. Never hand your passport over as a guarantee, for example to a motorcycle or jet-ski rental business. Never leave drinks unattended or accept drinks from strangers.

Read the tourist police guide and the emergency numbers list for more. To plan by season, see Best Thai Islands by Month.

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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.

Prices, timetables and opening hours change; check with the operator before you travel. See how guides are checked.

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