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 Ao
Nang Beach
Ao Nang is located approximately
6 kilometers from Hat Noppharat
Thara and 20 kilometers from the
town of Krabi. A large bay with
scenic beaches and 83 small islands,
Ao Nang has several famous beaches
which include East Rai Le, West
Rai Le and Tham Phra Nang (cave)
which stretches to the foot of a
prominent limestone range. A boat
from Ao Nang Village can be hired
for sightseeing excursions around
Ao Nang, Hat Tham Phra Nang and
Hat Nam Mao, all of which are only
accessible by foot. Other offshore
isles such as Koh Poda, Koh Kai,
Koh Mo and Koh Thap, are popular
destinations that can be reached
by a rented boat from Ao Nang. An
abundance of colorful coral reefs
and lovely cartoon fishes make these
islands ideal for diving and snorkeling.
Ao Nang has recently emerged
as a 5-star tourist attraction due
to its numerous 4-5 star hotels
and boutique resorts complete with
facilities such as diving shops
and rental boats. Popular activities
include sightseeing by canoe along
the beachfront and paddling tours
by inflatable canoes or kayaks of
the coast and its mangrove forests,
islands and semi-submerged caves.
 Canoeing
& Kayaking
Canoeing and kayaking are two ways
to enjoy the spectacular seascape,
limestone cliffs and caves in Krabi's
waters as these sports allow visitors
to explore hidden offshore areas
at a more leisurely pace. Canoeing
and kayaking operators are available
at Ao Nang.
Diving
& Snorkeling
Like Phang-nga, Krabi offers a great
opportunity for diving due to its
numerous natural marine resources
including over a hundred offshore
islands. Dive shops around Rai Le
and Ao Nang provide dive trips as
well as rent diving and snorkeling
gear such as mask/snorkel/fin at
the rate of 150 baht per set per
day (with a deposit of 500 baht).
 The
advantage of diving from Ao Nang
is the nearby sites in the Poda
Island group, where water visibility
is better than that of the mainland,
but not as good as Phi Phi. There
are 15 dive sites off of Ao Nang,
all reachable with a 20 to 60-minute
boat ride. For experienced divers
there is a 50-meter long cave at
5-12 meters depth at Yawabon Island
behind Poda. The water visibility
is at its best from November to
April. Some Ao Nang dive shops close
during low season, May to October,
while some (Ao Nang Divers for instance)
remain open all year long. Two local
dives in the Poda/Yawasam group
cost approximately 1,900 baht. Four-day
PADI open water courses have risen
to 10,000 baht. For more information
contact either Seafan, Aquavision,
Poseidon, Phra Nang, Stingray, Ao
Nang Divers (in Krabi Seaview),
or Coral Diving (Krabi Resort).
Unlike Phi Phi, scuba dive operators
in Ao Nang close from May to October.
 Hat
Noppharat Thara
(Noppharat Thara Beach)
Located 6 kilometers from Ao Nang
is a famous 3-kilometer long white
sandy beach lined with dense casuarinas
and coconut groves. The beach, paved
with tiny seashells, was formerly
called "Hat Khlong Haeng", which
means dried canal beach by locals,
because the canal dries up during
low tide and the area turns into
a long beach. Situated 18 kilometers
north-west of Krabi, Hat Noppharat
Thara is in fact part of Hat Noppharat
Thara-Mu Koh Phi Phi National Park
and is the location of the Park
headquarters. This Park covers a
large area both onshore and offshore
and. Reservations for accommodations
on the beach should be made in advance
at the Forestry Department in Bangkok,
contact tel. (02) 5797223, 5795734,
or at Hat Noppharat Thara National
Park, P.O. Box 23, Amphoe Mueang,
Krabi 81000, tel. (075) 6347436.
Ferry services to Koh Phi Phi
are provided from this beach all
year round. This beach can be reached
by songt haew from the city at the
rate of 20 baht and to travel further
to Ao Nang, it will cost an additional
10 baht.
 Hat
Railay
(Railay Beach)
This beach is generally divided
into two sections, east and west.
West Railay provides visitors with
peace and quiet as it is a broad
sandy beach with fewer facilities
than Ao Nang.
East Railay which lies across
the peninsula from West Railay is
different from other beaches in
the area as it could actually be
classified as a mud flat, especially
during low tide. In addition to
remarkable views and mangrove forests
to the north of the beach, the main
attraction for visitors to Hat Railay
is the adrenaline pumping activity
of cliff climbing. The limestone
cliffs on the huge headland between
Hat Railay East and Tham Phra Nang,
as well as other nearby islands
provide world-class rock climbing
facilities against a stunning backdrop
of the sea with approximately 700
sport routes of mid to high difficulty
ratings.
 Hat
Tham Phra Nang
Accessible only by boat, this stunning,
pristine beach has fine-grained
white sand and crystalline waters
as well as magnificent jagged karsts.
This is a highly secluded picture
perfect beach that attracts thousands
of visitors year round but is able
to maintain its flawless appearance
and relaxing ambience.
This beach is the location of
the 5-star Rayavadee resort, a private
property that occupies 26 acres
of the beach and the only compound
located near Phra Nang Beach.
The Inner and Outer Phra Nang
Caves, and Phra Nang Lagoon, which
are located nearby offer remarkable
views against a stunning backdrop
and a range of accommodations to
suit every budget. Although these
attractions are accessible only
by boat, they still draw numerous
visitors for recreational and adventurous
activities such as diving, snorkeling,
hiking and rock climbing.
Khao Khanap Nam
Regarded as the symbol of Krabi,
 Khao
Khanap Nam are two mountains that
are roughly 100 meters tall, separated
by Maenam Krabi and located at the
entrance to Krabi city. Khao Khanap
Nam has beautiful caves with amazing
stalactites and stalagmites worth
exploring. In addition to natural
attractions, a large number of human
skeletons have been found here.
It is theorized that they are the
remains of people who came and established
a home at Kanab Nam, but were cut
off by an inundation and quickly
perished.
The mountains can be reached
by taking a 15-minute long tail
boat ride from Chao Fa Pier. For
visitors interested in a more extensive
excursion, it is possible to tent
a boat can be rented at 300 baht
per trip to visit Khao Khanap Nam,
mangrove forests and Koh Klang fishing
village.
Krabi
Horticultural Centre
Location: Mu 1, Thanon Phetkasem,
Tambon Khao Khram, Amphur Mueang,
Krabi 81000. Tel. 075-612913. Fax.
075-612913
This agro-tourism attraction,
supported by the Department of Agricultural
Extension, is approximately 20 kilometers
from Krabi on the way to Amphur
Ao Luek. The center covers a large
area with a collection of local
fruits, flowers and economic plants.
Facilities provided include a touring
route, demonstrative research plant
plots, parking areas, toilets and
beverages.
Note: There are also an agricultural
product promotion centre, herb gardens,
fisheries and mussel farms located
along the Krabi-Phuket route. Please
contact the Agricultural Promotion
Centre at tel. 075 612913 and Amphur
Tapput Agricultural Office at 075-599124
for more information.
Mu Koh
Phi Phi (Phi Phi Islands)
Regarded by travelers from all
walks of life as being among the
most beautiful tropical islands
of the world, Phi Phi Islands have
become one of the most popular tourist
attractions in Thailand. In addition,
the islands are famous as the location
where the movie "The Beach" featuring
Leonardo Di Caprio was shot. The
islands, together with the nearby
Noppharat Thara Beach, a total area
of 390 square kilometers, were recently
established as a national park.
 Phi
Phi Islands are located just 40
kilometers away from both Krabi
and Phuket. Thus, despite the fact
that both Noppharat Thara Beach
and Phi Phi administratively are
a part of Krabi Province, most tourists
think that Koh Phi Phi is part of
Phuket Province.
The islands and the coastal hills
are composed mainly of limestone
and are an extension of the limestone
mountain range in Phang-Nga Province.
The main characteristics of these
mountains and islands are their
steep cliffs, large caves and dwarf
trees growing out of the rock crevices,
like those in Phang-Nga Bay.
The island group is composed
of two rocky, tree-covered islets
Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Le. Phi
Phi Don, the larger islet to the
north, is well known for its fine
beaches and coral formations. Above
average tourist facilities and accommodations
are available along two beautiful
curved bays, namely Ton Sai Bay
and Lodalam Bay. Several shops at
Ton Sai can arrange diving and snorkeling
trips around the island or the nearby
islands - Koh Phi Phi Le, Koh Yung
and Koh Mai Phai.
 About
2 kilometers to the south is Phi
Phi Le. Contrary to Phi Phi Don,
this islet is uninhabited as there
is no beach area as the island descends
abruptly into the sea on all sides
and it is prohibited by the administrative
body. The main attraction is a large
cave about 3.2 square kilometers
in size known as Viking Cave derived
from one of the numerous drawings
on the wall which resembles a Viking
ship. The cave has a 10 to 15-metre
high ceiling which contains many
ledges inhabited by thousands of
swallows, thus a bird's nest collection
demonstration is a regular feature
of guided tours.
Ao Maya and Ao Lo Sama - Phi
Phi Islands scenic coves are favorite
snorkeling places while the sea
around the islands, especially the
southern part, which are deep and
full of coral formations are popular
diving spots. With its emerald crystal
sea, secluded beaches, mountain
cliffs, colorful coral reefs and
undersea life, Phi Phi is a paradise
in the Andaman Sea. The best time
to visit Phi Phi Islands is from
November to April, when the sea
is calm.
Koh Yung, an island to the north
of Koh Phi Phi Don, has a stone
beach on the east and small sandy
beaches amid valleys. In addition,
the island is teeming with diverse
colorful coral reefs. Koh Phai,
another island to the north of Koh
Phi Phi Don and not far from Koh
Yung, has spectacular beaches in
the north and east of the island.
The bank of coral reefs comprised
mainly of antler corals stretches
from the north to the south of the
island.
 Getting
to Koh Phi Phi
Phi Phi Islands which are equidistant
to Phuket and Krabi Provinces can
be reached by boat.
From Krabi
Chao Fa Pier: Passenger boats leave
Chao Fa Pier twice daily at 10 a.m.
and 2.30 p.m. The trip takes about
2.30 hours.
Ao Nang: There is one express
boat trip leaving daily at 9 p.m.
taking 40 min..
From Phuket
Many
tour companies in Phuket organize
one-day trips to Phi Phi Islands.
Tickets can be obtained from any
hotel.
 Rock
climbing
Apart from marine sports, Krabi
is also an ideal place for rock
climbing. Lines of sheer limestone
cliffs along Tham Phranang and Rai
Le beaches have challenged thousands
of climbers from all over the world
every year. The levels of difficulty
of the various routes vary, so even
the most inexperienced climbers
can experiment. Equipment, instruction
and guides are available at most
lodgings.
Sa
Kaeo
Within the Sa Kaew compound in Khao
Thong Sub-district forest plantation
area are eight small natural ponds
which is currently a major recreational
area for the local residents. Sa
Kaeo is 28 kilometers from town
on the Krabi-Nai Sa route (Highway
No. 4034).
Susan
Hoi or Fossils Shell Beach
Susan Hoi features a slab formed
from a huge number of embedded various
types of mollusks which can be dated
to approximately 40 million years
ago. This shell graveyard at Ban
Laem Pho was once a large freshwater
swamp, the habitat of diverse mollusks.
With changes on the surface of the
earth, seawater flooded the freshwater
swamp and the limestone elements
in the seawater enveloped the submerged
mollusks resulting in a homogenous
layer of fossilized mollusk shells
forty centimeters thick known as
Shelley Limestone. With geographical
upheavals, the limestone layer is
now distributed in great broken
sheets of impressive magnitude on
the seashore. The site is located
17 kilometers from the town.
 Thale
Waek (Separated
Sea)
One of Thailand's unseen highlights,
Thale Waek is situated along Koh
Dam Khwan. As the tide recedes,
the sea is gradually separated by
the white sand and limestone beach
that will appear to amazingly connect
the two islands at low tide. The
best time to visit Thale Waek is
5 days before and after the full
moon from December to beginning
of May. To visit Thale Waek, proceed
on Highway No. 4034 from the city,
then turn left and follow Highway
No. 4202 to Ao Nang.
Tham
Sadet
This beautiful cave adorned with
stalactites and stalagmites is located
at Ban Nong Kok, Tambon Sai Thai,
7 kilometers from town on Highway
No. 4034. "Sadet" means visit, and
the use of the term in the name
of the cave refers to the royal
visit to the site in 1909 by the
King Rama VI (at that time that
Crown Prince).
Wat
Sai Thai
The monastery is Krabi's central
temple and a local gathering point
during Buddhist events and weddings.
The main attraction in the temple
is an impressive reclining Buddha
image.
 Wat
Tham Suea
Wat Tham Suea, which literally means
tiger cave temple, is located in
the Khiriwong Valley amidst lush
forests and mountains with large
trees over a hundred years old approximately
9 kilometers northeast of Krabi
Town.
Aside from being the
site of a meditation center, the
compound is also a place of archaeological
and historical interest as excavations
have uncovered stone tools, pottery
remains and Buddha footprint crafting
molds. In addition, a cave in the
compound has what appears to be
tiger paw prints in the stone.
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