Things to do in Krabi
Attractions and distractions
Attractions and distractions
Krabi province offers plenty of things to do, particularly appealing to outdoors lovers, while riverside Krabi town offers its own laidback charms and fantastic food.
In Krabi town, get yourself hungry and be sure to spend time at centrally located Maharaj Market, selecting dishes from among the hundreds of authentic curries, soups and fried seafood you’ll find—it’s a world away from the bland food on the nearby islands.
The view from Wat Tham Sua. Photo: David Luekens
The easily visited Wat Tham Seua is a highlight for many people staying in Krabi town. If you can manage all 1,237 steps—and the brazen water-thieving monkeys that hang around on them—a breezy platform affords magnificent views of mountains, cliffs, rivers, city and sea.
Across the river from Krabi town, bucolic Ko Klang has preserved the old ways of Southern Thai Muslim culture. This small, car-free island is surrounded by rivers, canals, mangrove forest and the Andaman Sea while its interior is blanketed in rice fields. The island is a prime birdwatching spot and the island is said to be the home of the inventors of Thailand’s iconic longtail boat.
You’ll have probably already spied Khao Kanab Nam, two 100 metre-high limestone outcrops that rise from the sides of the Krabi river. A boat trip to explore the caves and mangroves here is also worth your time.
Out on the river near Krabi. Photo: David Luekens
Start your exploring at Than Bok Khorani National Park (50 kilometres north of Krabi town) by taking a dip in the pools of the park’s eponymous waterfall—the waters are believed to have therapeutic properties—or make your way to Tham Phi Hua To, or “Ghost Head Cave” where human remains more than 3,000 years old were found here in the 1950s. If you need a further taste of old-growth jungle, Khao Phanom Bencha National Park, named for a 1,350 metre-high peak, is your place.
Tie in a visit on the same day to Tha Pom Khlong Song Nam, or “Two Water Canal”, another refreshing dose of natural beauty. Though it’s not home to a waterfall, the area is arguably even more beautiful, and interesting, than Than Bok Khorani.
Last but not least, the most popular spot for kayaking in Krabi province is Ao Tha Len (or Thalane), a small bay that puts you within paddling distance of canals snaking through mangroves, sea caves and limestone cliffs.
For many, the allure of Krabi town comes mainly from convenience and affordability. This does not mean there’s nothing to do. Though we’d get bored before long if not launching day trips to outlying attractions, the town has enough minor sights and river scenery to keep you busy for a day. ... Read more about A day in Krabi town .
Whenever the conversation turns to Krabi, the question of where exactly to go comes up quickly. This is a large province containing several popular destinations along with attractions that don’t get as much attention, but can be equally (or more) rewarding. It’s also possible to hit some notable spots found beyond Krabi’s provincial borders. ... Read more about Day trips from Krabi town .
Women in handmade batik skirts crack open roasted cashews. An old man teaches his grandson how to carve a boat. Fresh fish are laid out under a heavy sun, goats and water buffalo grazing in the fields. Across the river from Krabi town but a world away from mass tourism, Ko Klang has preserved the old ways of Southern Thai Muslim ... Read more about Ko Klang .
The pair of 100-metre-high limestone outcrops known as Khao Kanab Nam rise from either side of the Krabi river to form a key part of the area’s natural scenery. Virtually any visitor to Krabi town will glimpse the rocks and their signature tilted shapes from afar, but a boat trip to explore the cave and surrounding mangroves is worth the ... Read more about Khao Kanab Nam .
Best known for tremendous views from a clifftop chedi reached by an exhausting stairway, Wat Tham Seua is a forest temple founded by famous Thai monk, Ajahn Jumnien. The “Tiger Cave Temple” stands as a major tourist attraction, meditation venue and monkey village. ... Read more about Wat Tham Seua (Tiger Cave Temple) .
The namesake mountain of Khao Phanom Bencha National Park rises to 1,397 metres, sourcing the Krabi River and contributing much to the province’s scenery. This is your place if looking to cool off at a waterfall and take a walk through the jungle without straying too far from Krabi town. ... Read more about Khao Phanom Bencha National Park .
Visitors to Than Bok Khorani National Park can take a dip in an emerald waterfall before kayaking to view haunting 3,000-year-old cave paintings. Spanning a sharp ridge of limestone mountains and coastal mangrove forest in northern Krabi province, the park makes for a worthwhile day ... Read more about Than Bok Khorani National Park .
The most popular spot for kayaking in Krabi province, Ao Tha Len (also spelt Thalane) is a small bay that puts you within easy paddling distance of a network of canals meandering amid mangroves, sea caves and vertical limestone cliffs. Most visit as part of a tour from Ao Nang or Krabi town, but those who are comfortable on a motorbike can do it all independently. ... Read more about Kayaking Ao Tha Len .
Up in the northern reaches of Krabi province, Tha Pom Khlong Song Nam, or “Two Water Canal”, is a refreshing dose of natural beauty that’s far off the usual tourist ... Read more about Tha Pom Khlong Song Nam .
Sra Morakot, or “Emerald Pool”, is the main draw in a distinctively beautiful forest protected as part of a wildlife sanctuary in Khlong Thom district, 60 kilometres southeast of Krabi town. Most visitors hit this natural travertine pool in conjunction with Nam Tok Ron, a hot-spring waterfall that flows nearby. ... Read more about Emerald Pool and Khlong Thom hot springs .
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