Ao Nang in Krabi | The Perfect Base for Exploring Thailand’s Andaman Coast

One of the most popular and convenient beach towns in the Krabi province of Thailand, a stay in Ao Nang will be a great base for exploring. Or a holiday destination for those that like to have lot's to see and do.

Ao Nang, Krabi: The Perfect Base for Exploring The Best Beaches in Thailand’s Andaman Sea

Nestled between jungle-clad limestone cliffs (synonymous of Krabi) and the sparkling Andaman Sea, Ao Nang is the kind of place where flip-flops are the dress code and the biggest decision of the day is whether to go island hopping or have another mango smoothie. Ao Nang is a laid-back beach town in Krabi province, Ao Nang has evolved from a quiet fishing village into a vibrant travel hub, offering a bit of everything—beach, nightlife, culture, and easy access to Thailand’s most stunning islands. But note: It is a tourist spot and don't expect anything other than that.

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If you're planning a trip to Krabi, here’s why we think Ao Nang deserves a spot on your itinerary. We're not huge fans of touristy places but with Ao Nang there is a balance that can be found. And the best thing about Ao Nang really comes down to it's location. It's perfectly placed to explore. And offers convenience that makes all of this easy. Read more...

But before you do - checkout our first impressions of Ao Nang video here to see more of the town from our eyes as first timers and what were our initial impressions here

So, even though Ao nang is pretty busy and is a tourist destination, you really wouldn't come here for peace and tranquility - there are so many places for that in Thailand (and in Krabi you can easily get to Koh Lanta which is perfect if tranquility and the quieter side of life appeals - we lived in Koh Lanta for 1 month so search up our Koh Lanta stuff in the search bar above if sleepy is your thing). With Ao Nang - You can be right in the thick of the action, or like us, choose to stay slightly out of the way, but close enough to walk 10 minutes to the centre. To get that balance. We stayed in Ao Nang for a full week to do just that (in our 2 month Thailand 2025 visit) and see all of the amazing places Ao Nang is in close proximity to. So where exactly is Ao Nang?

📍 Where Is Ao Nang?

Ao Nang is located about 20–30 minutes from Krabi International Airport and 15 minutes from Krabi Town. It's Krabi’s most developed beach town and serves as the main tourist centre of the region. Its strategic location makes it the ideal base for day trips to Railay Beach, Phi Phi Islands, Hong Islands, and many more jaw droppingly nearby beautiful gems. In fact some of the worlds most beautiful beaches are accessible right from this one spot.

🏝 What to Expect in Ao Nang

Even though Ao Nang is touristy and does get busy, Ao Nang still has a blend of relaxed beach life you can find and has tourist-friendly convenience. The main beach in Ao Nang is nicer than we thought it was going to be too. It's wider and longer than we expected which gives it it's non-congested feel. The sand is cleaner and softer than we were expecting too. It's really all in all quite nice. But you're not going to Ao nang for it's beach! There are far too many around here that will knock your socks off to warrant spending any real length of time at Ao nang Beach. But if you wanted to, you could do and have a very nice holiday at that. Keep reading to find out the best beaches to visit in Ao Nang. But the main beach is somewhere that you should definitely visit because there's plenty to do there.

The town sits along a gently curving beach that get's busy during the day with boats. It's very noisy with boat engines, so we didn't spend any time there to relax and unwind for beach days. If you are planning to base yourself in Ao Nang, then it's good to have such an interesting and big beach close by to take a morning walk along the big path that lines the beach. There's a lot going on at the beach too to get involved in, such as beach yoga and it's also good to watch the world go by and watch the boats and people coming and going from their boat tours. At night the beach lights up with fire shows and it's somewhere holiday makers can have a great holiday. The beach itself is backed by lush hills and dramatic limestone cliffs.

While Ao Nang Beach itself isn’t the most jaw-dropping in Thailand, it’s a lovely place for a sunset stroll and a quick dip. And you do get really great sunsets here. What makes it shine best of all though is definitely its proximity to some of Thailand’s best beaches (and the world!), many of which are only a short longtail boat ride away.

Ao Nang is also compact enough to walk almost everywhere, yet there are taxi's available and Grab operates here too to book so it makes things easy. It's also jam packed with restaurants, massage shops, tour offices, beach bars, and markets. So there's just lot's to do to keep you busy.

✈️ How to Get to Ao Nang

By Air: Fly into Krabi International Airport (KBV), then grab a taxi, shared shuttle, or private transfer to Ao Nang.

By Boat: If you're coming from islands like Koh Phi Phi or Phuket, ferries arrive at Nopparat Thara Pier, just minutes from town. Get a Grab on your phone so you can book a taxi which can drive you to your hotel which should only cost between 130THB - 400THB (£3 and £9) depending on how far out you are staying.

-By Road: Buses and minivans from nearby provinces like Phuket, Surat Thani, or Trang drop off travellers in Ao Nang or Krabi Town.

🌅 Things to Do in Ao Nang (there's a lot!)

While many travellers use Ao Nang as a springboard for exploring nearby islands, as we did. There's plenty to enjoy right in town and many people just come to Ao Nang for their 2 week holiday and are very happy doing so because of the amount of things to do right on the doorstep of your hotel / accommodation including:

1. Relax on Ao Nang Beach

It may not be Thailand’s most famous beach, but it's actually a great spot to unwind, enjoy a beachfront massage, or sip a cold drink as the sun sets behind distant islands. The sand is soft once it dries out and the water is ok. It's not crystal clear because of the boats but is fine for a refreshing dip. You also get awesome sunsets on this beach and it's a nice beach to sit and watch from 4pm onwards to catch a sunset and fire show before heading to a street market for food.

TIP: If you walk along the beach towards the left to to limestone cliffs, you'll get to Monkey Trail (a wooden creaky stepped trail) where you will find monkeys sat around and follow this on further and you will get to another more beautiful beach (paid entrance)

The trail itself is free so a good little exercise to do with kids. It'll tire them about because the steps are tiring in the heat. And depending on the time of day you visit, there are monkeys on the path.

2. Hop on a Longtail Boat

Boat taxis line the beach ready to whisk you away to nearby Railay, Tonsai, or Phra Nang Cave Beach — all just 10-15 minutes away and absolutely stunning.

3. Go Shopping at Ao Nang Night Market

From elephant pants and souvenirs to tasty street food, the Ao Nang Landmark Night Market (open on weekends) is a lively spot for dinner and local flavour.

4. Try Rock Climbing or Snorkelling

Book a half-day tour to climb the limestone cliffs of Railay or explore the coral reefs around nearby islands.

5. Pamper Yourself

Ao Nang has no shortage of massage parlours and spas — perfect for relaxing after a day of exploring.

6. Watch a Fire Show at Night on The Beach

As the sun sets you'll see the Thai boys setting up for their nightly show on the beach. Choose your favourite spot and watch the show for free. Just tip a little to show your appreciation after.

🍽 Where to Eat in Ao Nang

You’ll find everything from local Thai joints to pizza, Indian curry, and vegan cafés. For a true taste of southern Thailand, don’t miss Massaman curry, seafood pad Thai, or grilled fish at one of the beachfront restaurants. Prices are more expensive here because it is tourist destination, but we found the prices to be ok considering. You can get a family meal for 4 for 1000 BHT around £22 which is pretty amazing all things considered. Especially if you are used to ridiculous UK prices. We struggle to eat out in the UK for less than £100 with a family now. Prices are more on the seafront.

Some local favourites include:

- Jenna’s Bistro & Wine – Upscale with a chill vibe

- Cuckoo’s Nest – Great Thai food, vegetarian options

- Lae Lay Grill – Elevated dining with sea views

🏨 Where to Stay in Ao Nang

Ao Nang offers so much accommodation for every budget — from budget hostels and boutique hotels to beachfront resorts with infinity pools.

- Budget: Slumber Party Hostel, Glur Hostel

- Mid-Range: Deevana Krabi Resort, Krabi Resort

- Luxury: Centara Grand Beach Resort (only accessible by boat), The L Resort

Final Thoughts

Ao Nang is not the quietest or most secluded place in Krabi, but in our opinion it strikes a perfect balance: beachy and relaxed with enough buzz to keep things interesting. If you like to party, there's many places to find different types of party. If you like a few quiet drinks in an evening, there are many places to stop off at for a relaxed drink. Whether you’re planning your adventures or winding down after a day of island hopping, Ao Nang gives you everything you need—and then some.

If you're planning on touring many places in Thailand, say for a month of travel. Then Ao Nang is somewhere you might want to stay in for 3 nights to be able to fit in the many stunning islands around.

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Coming Next: The Best Beach Hopping Tour to Do in Krabi (we think so anyway)

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Want help planning your Ao Nang and Krabi adventure? Let me know in the comments & I can help you create the perfect itinerary for you. I hope you found this post helpful. In the meantime keep up with our daily updates below and use our travel planning tools below to get best prices for flights, hotels and more:

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💡HELPFUL PLANNING TOOLS FOR YOUR THAILAND TRIP 💡

✈️ - FLIGHTS - We use this flight checker to search the best flight tickets fall or our Thailand flights. We used this flight checker to get flights from Singapore to Krabi  Ao Nang with the best prices at the time. Then we took the bus from Krabi to Bangkok. Then onwards to Chiang Mai via the bus also. Use to check dates and flight costs to Bangkok Airport (International and Domestic) now or go to our Flight Planning Page fore more

🚌🚆🚇 - TRAVEL - We took the overnight bus from Krabi to Bangkok that left Krabi at 3pm and arrived in Bangkok the following morning at 6am. Then onwards from Bangkok to Chiang Mai via the day time bus that set off from Bangkok at 10am and arrived in Chiang Mai at 8pm. Both booked via 12Go.

🏨 - ACCOMMODATION - We use this hotels checker to search hotels and accommodation for our Thailand trip. Use to check dates and costs to hotels and hostels in Thailand now or go to our Accommodation Planning Page for more

🧭🗺️👣 - THAILAND TOURS & GUIDES - We use Get Your Guide for all of the trips in Thailand. But we also love Klook too. TIP: Use both to compare offerings as trips will be different.

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