Welcome to Krabi, Thailand
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Krabi, Thailand Source: Tourism Authority of Thailand
General
This seaside province is located in the Andaman Sea. The province is full of white sandy beaches, crystal clear seawater, beautiful islands, verdant forest with caves, and waterfalls, including more than 100 offshore islands.
Krabi is located 814 kilometres from Bangkok, covering an area of 4,708 square kilometres. From archaeological discoveries, it is believed that Krabi was one of the oldest communities in Thailand dating from the prehistoric period. It is also believed that Krabi was once the town of Ban Thai Samo, one of 12 royal cities that used a monkey as the town symbol. Krabi was a dependency town of the Nakhon Si Thammarat Kingdom. Another legend indicates that the town may have taken its name after the meaning of Krabi, which means sword. This may have stemmed from a legend that says an ancient sword was unearthed prior to the citys founding. Later, the sword became a symbol of Krabi.
The province consists of mountains, hills, plains, and mangrove forests, including more than 130 large and small islands. Krabi town has a 5-metre-long river, which flows through town and ends at the Andaman Sea in Tambon Pak Nam. There are several canals in Krabi including Khlong Pakasai (คลองปกาสัย), Khlong Krabi Yai (คลองกระบี่ใหญ่) and Khlong Krabi Noi (คลองกระบี่น้อย), all of them originate from Phanom Bencha mountain range, the highest mountain range in Krabi.
Krabi is administratively divided into 8 Amphoes (districts): Amphoe Mueang, Khao Phanom, Khlong Thom, Plai Phraya, Ko Lanta, Ao Luek, Lam Thap, and Nuea Khlong.
Attractions
Ao Nang
Ao Nang This bay is situated some 20 kilometres from town. Its white sandy beach stretches to the foot of a conspicuously prominent limestone range. Accommodation is available along the beachfront. Other facilities include diving shops, boats for rent and sightseeing by canoe. From Ao Nang, tourists may hire boats to visit nearby attractions such as Hat Rai Le, Tham Phra Nang located on the land to the east of Ao Nang, as well as other offshore isles such as Ko Poda, Ko Kai, Ko Mo and Ko Thap.
Hat Noppharat Thara
Hat Noppharat Thara This is a 3-kilometre long sandy beach located 6 kilometres from Ao Nang. The beach, paved with tiny seashells, was formerly called "Hat Khlong Haeng" by locals, which means dried canal beach. The canal will dry up during low tide and the area turns into a long beach. The headquarters of Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park are situated here. The park covers a large area both onshore and offshore.
Hat Tham Phra Nang
Hat Tham Phra Nang Accessible only by boat, this sweeping beach offers fine-grained white sand and crystalline waters, as well as magnificent jagged karsts. Although visitors flock to this beach year-round, it is still extremely pristine, and considered to be the most attractive in the area.
The Inner and Outer Phra Nang Caves, and Phra Nang Lagoon are close by, and offer some truly spectacular views. Accommodation is available over a wide price range. Despite the fact that it is reachable only by boat, this area offers plenty of recreational activities.
Khao Khanap Nam
Khao Khanap Nam Khao Khanap Nam is regarded as the symbol of Krabi. It sits before the city and can be visited by long tail boat from Chao Fa Pier. Travel time is about 15 minutes. From the boat, one climbs a staircase to see caves with stalactites and stalagmites. A boat can be rented at 300 baht per trip to visit Khao Khanap Nam, mangrove forests and Ko Klang fishery village.
Krabi Horticultural Centre
Krabi Horticultural Centre This agrotourism attraction, supported by the Department of Agricultural Exension, is some 20 kilometres from Krabi on the way to Amphoe Ao Luek. The centre covers a large area with a collection of local fruits, flowers and economic plants.
Mu Ko Phi Phi
Mu Ko Phi Phi Phi Phi Islands are located at an equal distance from both Krabi and Phuket, about 40 kilometres. Made up of six small and large isles, the main features are sheer limestone cliff and rock. Some offer beautiful beaches and coral reefs. The best time for a visit is between November and April.
Ko Phi Phi Don covers an area of 28 square kilometres. Laem Tong in the north offers beautiful marine nature. Diving can be done as well at Laem Hua Raket, Hat Yao and Hin Phae. A number of accommodations are available at Ao Ton Sai , and Ao Lo Da Lam .
Ko Phi Phi Le is a lovely island that covers an area of only 6.6 square kilometres. It is surrounded by limestone mountains and high hills with jutting cliffs. The sea is 20 metres deep and the deepest point in the south of the island is around 34 metres. Ko Phi Phi Le offers superb scenic bays such as Ao Pi Le, Ao Maya, and Ao Lo Sa Ma. In the northeast of the island is a large cave called Tham Viking. The cave was renamed "Tham Phaya Nak" or Serpent Cave by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej because of a stone resembling the mythical creature, which His Majesty saw when he paid a visit here in 1972.
The cave is considered sacred to locals who come here to collect swallow nests. Inside the eastern and southern parts of the cave are ancient colour paintings of elephants and various types of boats, including an Arabian sailboat, a European sailboat, a sampan, a Chinese junk, and a steamboat. It is believed the paintings were the works of sea merchants or pirates because the study of west-to-east ship routes indicates that this area may have been a stopover for boats seeking shelter from storms, transferring cargo or making repairs.
Ko Yung is north of Ko Phi Phi Don. The island has a stone beach in the east and small sandy beaches amid valleys. It is teeming with various kinds of colourful coral reefs.
Ko Phai is north of Ko Phi Phi Don and not far from Ko Yung. Marvellous beaches are in the north and east of the island. The bank of coral reefs with antler corals, in particular, stretches from north to south of the island. The best time to visit Phi Phi Island is during the monsoon-free season, which is from November to April.
Susan Hoi or Fossils Shell Beach
Susan Hoi or Fossils Shell Beach Situated at Ban Laem Pho, 17 kilometres from town. The area was once a large freshwater swamp, home to a kind of snail. Over eons dating from the Tertiary Age, about 40 million years ago, these snails lived and died by the million. Eventually, weather changes caused the swamp's disappearance, but by then the layer of fossilised snail shells was forty centimeters thick, resting on ten centimeters of lignite below which is the subsoil. Because of geographic upheaval, the fossilised shells are now distributed in great broken sheets of impressive magnitude on the seashore at Laem Pho.
Transportation
Bus
Non-air-conditioned buses and air-conditioned coaches leave for Krabi daily from Bangkoks Southern Bus Terminal. Air-conditioned buses, varying in 3 types, depart from Bangkok at the following times:
VIP Bus 6 p.m. and 6.30 p.m.
Standard 1 Bus 7.30 a.m., 7 p.m., 7.30 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Standard 2 Bus 7.30 p.m. and 8 p.m.
The schedule mentioned above may be changed. Please check a current schedule from the Southern Bus Terminal at tel: 0 2435 1199-200, Krabi Bus Station at tel: 0 7561 1804.
Car
- From Bangkok, drive on Highway No.4, passing Phetchaburi-Prachuap Khiri Khan-Chumphon-Ranong-Phang-nga-Krabi. The route is 946 kilometres from Bangkok;
- From Bangkok, drive on Highway No. 4, at Chumphon travel onwards on Highway No. 41, passing Amphoe Lang Suan, Surat Thani to Amphoe Wiang Sa, and then drive on Highway No. 4035 to Amphoe Ao Luek, and drive back to Highway No. 4 to Krabi. This route is 814 kilometres from Bangkok;
- From Phuket, drive on Highway No. 402 and No.4. The distance from Phuket is 185 kilometres or 4 hours.
Train
There is no direct train from Bangkok to Krabi. Visitors may take a train from Bangkok Railway Station to Trang or Thung Song, Nakhon Si Thammarat, and then ride a bus or a taxi to Krabi. For more information on trains, contact the State Railways of Thailand at tel. 1690, 223 7010, 223 7020 or visit www.srt.motc.go.th.
Air
Thai Airways operates daily services to Krabi. For more information, contact tel. 1566, 280 0060, 628 2000, Krabi Office tel: 0 7563 6543 or www.thaiair.com.
P.B. Air also flies to Krabi. For more information, contact P.B. Air Bangkok Office at tel. 0 2261 0220-5, Krabi Office tel: 0 7569 1942 or visit www.pbair.com.
| Recommended Hotels in Krabi
Lanta Sand Resort & Spa
279 Moo 3, Long Beach, Saladan,
Koh Lanta Yai, Lanta Island, Krabi 81150
Why is this hotel?
Surrounded by the unspoiled natural beauty of Koh Lanta, Lanta Sand Resort & Spa seduces with the hedonistic pleasures of a spa retreat and the promise of halcyon days in the sumptuous comfort of your own villa. Situated on the west coast of Thailand name Koh Lanta, Krabi.
The island of Lanta with its pristine reef teeming with technicolor corals and diverse marine life and crystalline waters, is one of the most photographed of Krabi Thailand . The island of Lanta was known long ago as "Pulau Satak", a name of Malayan origin meaning Long Beach Island.
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Hotels in Krabi Town
Hotels nearby Ao Nang, Nopparattara Bay
Hotels nearby Koh Lanta Yai, Klong Nin Beach, Klong Dao Beach
Hotels nearby Phi Phi Island, Laem Tong, Loh Ba Gao Bay, Ton Sai Beach
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