Krabi a town in the lap of Nature…

I think the most crucial question is, “What are you looking for in Krabi? I can affirm without a doubt that Krabi will tick all the boxes a tourist can think of. Be it picturesque beaches to work on your tan. Or the colony of limestone mountains overlooking the turquoise blue sea creating magic in front of your eyes. The irresistible seafood available aplenty brings a state of contentment till the nightlife brings you back to your senses as you party hard. Thailand is known for its Spas and Krabi is no exception either. The list is endless, you name it and you will get it.

Krabi for me is a state of mind where I would love to dwell forever. It is about being lazy from the start to the end. Breakfast the most important meal to be enjoyed in leisure in the midst of nature. After that, a walk to the beach to find a solitary spot to be torpid is the motto. The day is spent interspersed between a swim, chatter, book, a cocktail and fresh food, till dusk descends on the land.

The end of the day has to be equally existing with good food, music and friends. The ritual of picking up fresh seafood will never feel monotonous, as you walk home sniffing the smell of barbecue. A quick shower and then friends turn up at the door to barbecue and break bread and wine till slumber puts us to rest. Does it sound like a dream? If Yes, then you have surely landed in Krabi!

Krabi is a foodie’s paradise. There are innumerable food joints catering to cuisines all over the world. Even my Indian vegetarian friends will have multiple options. There are also multiple Indian food joints that have opened up at Ao Nang and Krabi town. However, please excuse me for the food pictures on my blog. You have to give concession to a Bengali who could not have punished its tongue on a trip to Krabi

How to reach Krabi from Phuket?

• Krabi is located 165 Kms by Road and 70 Kms by Water from Phuket. There are 4 modes of transportations as illustrated below:

Mode of Transportation	Self- Drive	Taxi Services	Bus transport	Ferry Services
Approximate cost- Dec-2020	1500 Bath Approx. for 3 days Rental Additionally Insurance+Fuel+ Tolls	2100 Bath all inclusive+ Tips	150 Bath Per Person	700 Bath Per person onwards
Recommended website	Quee.com and Kiwitaxi– For booking of all modes of transport	Krabi Taxi	Walk to the bus stand and book your ticket. 06:20 AM to 05 PM	Rassada Pier 0830 AM to 3 PM – Ferry timings Tickets are cheaper online than at the ticket counter
Travel time	3 hrs	3 hrs	3 hrs	2.5 hrs+ Waiting time But getting a direct Ferry at the last moment can be daunting
Advantages	You can start and stop as per your whims and fancies	No worry of luggage. Pick up and Drop at your place of choice	Experience the country like a Local. The tourist buses are well air-conditioned to beat the Tropical heat	The view is mindboggling and surreal. Trust me you will not get tired of clicking on your camera
Disadvantages if any	Vehicle malfunction. But the towing services are excellent and thus please ensure you get an Insurance	The taxi drivers run on fixed schedule and thus they would not halt except for the designated stops	Time-consuming. Local transport required to travel from the bus stop to the hotel	Time spent waiting can be frustrating. Additional time and money spent in travelling to and fro the Pier to be accounted for. Seasickness can be a botheration and if the weather plays spoilsport the ride can be called off
Embarkment Point	Better to take it from the Airport/bus stand where you enter the city and drop it back while returning	Anywhere within city limit	Main Phuket bus terminal (N2)	Rassada Pier
Disembarkment Point	Better to return the vehicle to its point of origin	Anywhere within city limit	Krabi bus terminal– 12 Kms from Krabi city There are 3 -4 stops before the bus reaches the bus terminal thus you can get down which is near to your final destination	Klong Jilad
Remarks	The roads are excellent to drive, traffic signs are also in English. But, rent a GPS or use your mobile phone to navigate around. International Drivers License required	Ideal for a family with children. The cost becomes economical if 4 people travel together.	Please check the bus schedule online and then walk into the counter directly and book the ticket. Do not seek help from strangers who are willing to help for a few bucks.	It would be a good idea to take a day trip to Phi Phi Islands and then go to Krabi. In that manner, you can use the transport as a day outing and can also do a bit of Snorkelling. Dress accordingly. Please avoid if you have heavy luggage

Hot Spots to Stay at Krabi?

Krabi Town	Ao Nang beach	Railay Island	Klong Muang
Quite a happening place for partying the night out	The most commercial place in Krabi due to the wonderful beach and thus accommodation can be expensive	This is a car-free island, accessible only through water transport. It takes about 30 mins in a Longtail boat from Ao Nang beach. Would surely recommend staying for a night. There are four beaches Tonsai, Railay West, Railay East and Phra Nang which is quite picturesque but yet to be fully developed.	It is surely going to be the next tourist hotspot in Krabi. I have never stayed here but would like to check out in my next trip

Which is my personal favourite?

My personal favourite is Ao Nang beach. Its located about 20-25 mins drive from Krabi Town. This is one of the most happening and crowded beaches in Krabi. I prefer staying a bit away from the hustle and bustle of the beach. About a kilometre away there are excellent properties at almost half the price, which suits me perfectly fine. However, if you miss the beach you can be there in a jiffy any time of the day or night

There are 154 islands all across Krabi, accessible through a short boat ride away from the Ao Nang beach. It is quite easy to spot the longtail boat and the ticket counters. If you like to snorkel then you will be spoilt for choice. The staff at the ticket counter are extremely friendly and do not make any attempt to fleece the tourists. The experience of swimming with the fishes on the clear turquoise water of the Andaman Sea is a magical experience.

My favourite spot at Ao Nang beach is The Last Fisherman Bar. The entire surrounding seems like a world out of the fairy tales. There are large Limestone mountains keeping a vigil over the bay while the waves plays gleefully like a child in the sand. A drink with exotic seafoods is the perfect recipe for a relaxed holiday. To add to the relaxation are open-air massage beds which should be used liberally as it hardly costs a penny. But the quality of massage seems rustic although at the end feels magical.

After the rejuvenation, the mind might seek adventure and thus walking a trail beside the mountain will come in handy. There is a well-maintained walk board throughout the trail. Fortunately, it is not visible from the beach and thus remained a hidden gem. Try it before the sun sets as the trail opens up on the western side of the mountain. It is quite easy even for children to accomplish it, so families can try it out

Tourist attraction in and around Krabi

• Klong Thom hot springs
• Temple cave in Wat Tham Sua
• Khao Kanab Nam
• Krabi Town
• Shellfish cemetery in Susan Hoi
• Shopping at the Night market
• Krabi Elephant sanctuary
• Wat Kaew temple
• White water rafting

With each passing day, the list is getting ginormous. Of course, you cannot cover everything in a couple of days, thus pick and chose the basis of your interest. The Elephant sanctuary is my favourite place

Full day trip from Krabi

• Ko Phi Phi tours
• 4 Island day trip and 4 Island Sunset trip- Phra Nang, Tup Island, Poda Island and Chicken Island
• Hong Island tour
• Emerald Pool and Hot springs
• Ao Thalane Mangrove Kayaking

The most popular is the “Phi Phi Island Tour and thus I am leaving a note about it. The itinerary generally covers the following:

• Pick up from your hotel
• Transport to the Pier
• Island hopping and Snorkelling
• Lunch at one of the Resort
• Return back to Pier and transport back to your Hotel

Koh Phi Phi Don is the largest island in Krabi province and definitely one of the best on Planet Earth. I will not mind getting marooned in Phi Phi forever. If you feel the same you will have to stay in one of the resorts overnight. The timing and patience is the key. This covert operation needs to be executed during a power cut to avoid the prying eyes of CCTV cameras. As you walk hand in hand with your partner into the dark, the time will stop. The soft cold sand and the sound of the waves will give you company like a dog beside its master

If you venture too far and panic starts creeping in lookout for the stars to guide you back home. If it is cloudy the glittering light of the fishing boat will provide hope and direction amidst the pumping heart. While I should let you ponder and let your imaginations take wing with a disclaimer. This errand will be a memory if you do not get caught by the security. Also, wild animals and surely reptiles might think you are invading their privacy and can act in self-defence. Thus discretion recommended

The lagoons on the other side in Kohes Phi Phi Ley is excellent for snorkelling. The best among them is undoubtedly the “Maya Beach”. The Hollywood movie “The Beach”, starring Leonardo Di Caprio was shot here. The island was shattered by the Tsunami of 2004 owing to that was closed for renovation.

At present, just 2000 tourists are allowed and that too with proper paperwork and thus staying here requires prior planning. However, private boats are allowed close to the shore with police patrolling to ensure nobody swims to the island. The marine biodiversity in this water is a treat to watch. Thus, please dive in with a life jacket even if you do not know to swim. This leap of faith will not only get the adrenaline rush but will be an unforgettable achievement in your lifetime

I have written this blog more like a Tourist information manual. In case you need further information please feel free to leave your queries in the comment section. My team and I curate holidays for Thailand, so give us a shout at journey@metrotter.com if you are looking at our services. Have a fantastic time in Krabi!