Just less than 2 hours flight away from Singapore, Krabi is an affordable and ideal place for a short weekend getaway. A lesser known cousin of Phuket, I found Krabi both idyllic and unpretentious. I would not recommend packing your schedule but instead just relax and enjoy the slower pace at the beach destination.
#1: Go island hopping or snorkelling
As a destination surrounded by many small islands, “island-hopping” becomes one of the key items in the travel to-do list at Krabi. Littered with towering limestone cliffs, it is quite an experience to admire the grandeur and tranquility at the sea on a long-tail boat. Most of the travel operators offer a “4-island” tour which goes to Chicken Island, Koh Tup, Koh Poda and Phra Nang Cave Beach. Typically, the boat will bring you to the island and you could snorkel or check out the caves at the area.
As the tour seemed crowded and quite commercialised (as revised by TheGirlAbroad), I went for a 4-island snorkelling tour which focused on bringing us to snorkelling sites near these islands. It was fun!
#2: Visit Railay Beach
Railay Beach is a tranquil and photogenic beach paradise where there is no road – only footpath and long tail boats. If you enjoy suntanning by the beach, you should totally go to Railay rather than the chaotic Ao Nang beach. Just a small peninsula where you could easily walk from one end to another in an hour, Railay is very laid back and relaxed. The water looks clearer too! The whole area is reminiscent of Ko Lipe – another island in Thailand.
Railay is easily accessed via long tail boat from Ao Nang beach. A one-way ticket only costs 200THB. Do remember to wear slippers because you will need to waddle through the shallow water when you get off the long tail boat before you can reach the sandy shore!
#3: Relax at Ban Sanai Resort
This was the resort I stayed when in Krabi and I highly recommend the resort to anyone who intends to go on a vacation there!
The resort is very private and quiet – yet it is just 5 minutes away from Ao Nang town. Ban Sanai offers free shuttle service to and from Ao Nang town. The resort is adorned with plenty of lush greenery and the staff were all very friendly and cheerful. We had a very relaxed stay there!
Not to mention, the amazing pool view of the Krabi limestone cliff.
#4: Sunset at Ao Nang Beach
Before you head straight for dinner, do remember to spend the golden hour by Ao Nang beach, to admire that amazing sunset with the soothing waves from the sea, with a glass of beer or coconut juice.
#5: Indulge in affordable massage and local food
Whilst a popular holiday destination, Krabi is still less discovered in comparison to Phuket. As a result, the cost of food and services in Krabi is a lot cheaper than other famous Thai tourist spots. An 1-hour Thai massage costs about 250THB and local food is inexpensive. There are also a couple of fine restaurants (e.g. Jenna’s) and hip cafes (e.g. Lion & Shark) in Ao Nang town.
If you have more time at Krabi, you could explore other undiscovered attractions through other activities, such as kayaking, hiking or rock-climbing! I wished I had more time (and energy) to complete them all!
