Krabi 2025 | Your Essential Travel Guide
- Fletch
- Apr 28
- 6 min read
Updated: May 22
Discovering Krabi, Thailand: Your Gateway to Tropical Adventure
Tucked away on the Andaman Sea in southern Thailand, Krabi is a coastal province that blends dramatic limestone cliffs, turquoise waters, lush jungles, and a laid-back vibe that makes it irresistible to travellers from around the world. And oh my gosh did I mention how beautiful it is!? Whether you’re dreaming of island hopping, rock climbing, or just kicking back on powdery beaches, Krabi is the perfect launchpad for adventure and relaxation alike. We share everything you need to find the best accommodation, how to get to and around Krabi, Thailand and beyond, as well as gems that you won't want to miss.
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Where is Krabi?
Krabi is located on Thailand’s southwestern coast, just east of Phuket, and is part of a region known for its breathtaking natural beauty. It’s a province made up of mainland territory and over 150 islands, including world-famous names like Koh Phi Phi and Koh Lanta. The provincial capital, Krabi Town, serves as a local hub, while areas like Ao Nang and Railay Beach are more popular with tourists seeking beachfront stays and outdoor fun.
How to Get to Krabi
There are several easy ways to get to Krabi depending on where you're starting from:
✈️ By Air
Krabi has it's own International Airport - Krabi International Airport (KBV) and flying into Krabi is the most convenient option, with direct domestic flights from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and other Thai cities, as well as international routes from places like Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, and even seasonal flights from Europe. We flew into Krabi from our Singapore trip before heading on to our Thai island base. Check our Flights checker page for up to the minute prices and other flight stuff. Krabi airport is only around 15 km from Krabi Town itself so you may wish to base yourself in Krabi itself. And about 25 km from Ao Nang which is a popular place for travellers and tourists with lot's to see and do there. If you value your beautiful beach life, then may we suggest Railay as your Krabi area base because it's so beautiful there. To get to Railay requires a little further travel by Longtail boat rise (10mins - I'll share all details for you below in this guide) But Railay beaches are just perfection. We chose to stay in Ao Nang as there were a few places we wanted to visit on the mainland and we opted to just do day trips to Railay Beach without all our luggage to enjoy the beautiful beaches there. It's important to note: Railay is attached to the mainland but it only accessible by boat because the limestone cliffs make it impassable to get over by land. And as such you get that 'island life' feel. If you only have 2 week holiday and you love beach life (I would recommend Railay beach area to stay rather than Ao Nang as the beaches are better). But if you want to be close to the action and very connected, with a more resort feel and lot's of accommodation options - then Ao Nang is better.
🚌 By Bus
Long-distance buses run daily from Bangkok’s Southern Bus Terminal, taking around 10-12 hours to reach Krabi. This is a more budget-friendly option and gives you a chance to see some of Thailand’s interior landscapes along the way. We took the overnight bus from Krabi at 3pm to Bangkok which arrived the following morning at 6am. We managed to get some sleep on the bus so it helped us budget, but I would not recommend this with younger kids. Ours at the time were 16 and 8 and very used to travel life and bedding down wherever. If you have young children and attempt this journey, I salute you, and you are absolute warriors (or crazy!). We book all our Krabi / Ao Nang to Bangkok bus tickets online via 12Go.
🚗 By Car
Driving from Bangkok to Krabi takes approximately 10 hours, and the roads are well-maintained. If you're coming from Phuket, the drive is just about 2.5–3 hours via a scenic coastal route. And driving around Krabi is easy and the roads are good. Need a car check out DiscoverCars . You can hire scooters from many places once in Krabi. Your accommodation can help you with this or there are many rental places on most roads. Check out Si's handy Renting a Scoot in Thailand Video + Blog Post.
⛴️ By Ferry
If you’re already in Phuket, Koh Lanta (as we were), or Koh Phi Phi, ferry services are a popular and scenic way to get to Krabi again always online via 12Go. This is our go to booking platform for Thailand ferr's boats. Ferries dock at various points, including Krabi Town and Ao Nang, depending on the provider. We travelled to Krabi from our villa in Koh Lanta Island which is an island just off Krabi and to get to Ao Nang Krabi we took a taxi from our villa, which drove us to the ferry and then across to the mainland, then we continued onwards in our taxi from Koh Lanta straight to Ao Nang. Taxi drive to ferry took 30 minutes, ferry ride took around 10 mins from Koh Lanta to Krabi and taxi from port to Ao Nang took around 50 mins drive. The whole trip cost 2500 Baht approx £55.
Essential Information Before You Go
Currency: Thai Baht (THB). Credit cards are accepted in larger hotels and restaurants, but it’s good to carry cash for smaller shops and local markets. We use Wise and Monzo to ensure free withdrawals and cash transfers at the best prices.
Weather: Krabi has a tropical climate. The dry season (November to April) is the best time to visit, especially for beachgoers. The rainy season (May to October) can still be pleasant but is more suited for travellers seeking fewer crowds.
Language: Thai is the official language, but English is widely spoken in tourist areas.
Transportation: Songthaews (shared red trucks) and tuk-tuks are common for getting around. You can also rent motorbikes or hire private drivers for convenience.
Health & Safety: Krabi is generally very safe for tourists. Sunscreen, mosquito repellent (Our top tip: the pink one in all 7-11's is the best!), and staying hydrated are musts due to the tropical weather.
Krabi isn't just a single destination—it's a collection of experiences waiting to happen. From its jungle-cloaked inland areas to island-dotted horizons, Krabi offers something for every type of traveler.
LOVE THIS? Check Out: The Ultimate Krabi Guide
Next up: The Best Things to Do in Krabi - Now that you know how to get there and what to expect, let’s dive into what makes Krabi truly unforgettable. Stay tuned for a roundup of the top things to do, from hidden beaches to high-flying adventures.
Coming up next: More on our Thailand adventure and how to experience this country on a budget (even with kids!).
Want help planning your 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:
On YouTube:
💡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 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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