Krabi Mainland

Related article: Krabi

Characteristics: Limestone cliffs, mangrove forests, beaches, temples, villages

Important Note: Thailand prohibits import and export of ivory even if it is for personal consumption or as souvenir, and tourists are strongly advised not to buy ivory or ivory products. Taking ivory or ivory products outside Thailand is illegal. Offenders could get a jail term of up to 10 years or a fine of up to four times the value of the item or both penalties, and could face arrest at their country of origin. (Thai Ivories and Elephant Legislations)

Temples:

• Wat Suwan Kuha: This temple is locally known as Wat Tam (Cave Temple). It is nestled in a limestone mountain, Suwan Kuha. This is a part of a complex of caves incuding Tam Yai, Tam Jaeng, Tam Meud and the Tam Kaew caves. The entrance is at Tam Yai, the largest cave at 20 x 40 metres and the lowest level. A 20 THB entry fee is charged for those who wish to go inside the cave, which is a kind of donation to the temple hence to be paid on spot by cash. The entire cave is decorted with Lai Kram and Benjarong tiles. This cave serves as a wihan where several Buddha images are enshrined. The principal Buddha image is a 15-metre-long Reclining Buddha. In another cave, there are royal initials of kings and members of the royal family, such as King Rama V the Great, King Rama VII and Queen Rambhaibarni, King Rama IX the Great, etc. The area in front of the cave is the feeding ground of many monkeys. The cellar contains stalactites and stalagmites. Except for the cellar, which was indeed very nice, nothing much is interesting here.

Suwan Kuha stalactites and stalagmites

• Tiger Cave Temple: Wat Tham Suea is a Buddhist temple, north east of Krabi. The naming of the temple has many legends associated with it. Some say a certain monk witnessed many tigers during his meditation there during the late 20^th centuries, while some say a huge tiger used to stay there. Links are also made to the discoveries of tiger paw prints on the cave walls and the resemblance of the cave bulge to a tiger’s paw. The temple has around 1237 steps leading to the summit. The view from there is said to be breathtakingly beautiful. As in most of the temples in Thailand, clothes shorter than knee length are not allowed inside the temple complex.

Entrance to the Tiger Cave Temple

Beaches:

Crab Statue, Ao Nang beach

• Ao Nang beach: Most popular beach to stay in Krabi and the starting point for most of the island trips. Quieter during the day with most of the crowd gone for the trips, the beach area gets lively during the night when you can enjoy some shopping or head to a pub or indulge in beauty services.

• Fossils beach: The Gastropod fossil site seems to be the only coastal shell fossil site in the world. It is also one of the three shell cemeteries worldwide. The entry fee is 200 Baht. Visit during the morning, because during high tide, most of the sites will be covered under water

• Ao Nam Mao beach: Extension to the Fossils beach. You can do horse riding here (experienced). Beautiful views. Accessible from Ao Nang via local bus, tuk tuk and long tail boat; and from Krabi town via Songthaew.

• Railey beach: Accessible via ferry from Ao Nang, this beach has beatiful white powder sand. West Railey or the Sunset beach is the access point for long tail boats from Ao Nang. The accommodation here is more expensive than the East Railey or the Sunrise beach, where the views are not so nice and the beach looks rather worn out. The nightlife, however is rather quiet in the West beach rather than the East one, which is famous for wild parties. The best beach of the peninsula is the Phra Nang Bay on the most southerly tip of Railey. Besides swimming and sunbathing, another activity that attracts people to this beach is rock climbing. Courses are available to be booked from the climbing schools at the beach itself.

• Klong Muang beach area: Consists of three beaches: The first one is the Ao Siew, whose southernmost point is the beautiful Hang Nak cape; The second beach is Klong Muang, which has wide sandy stretches to the south, and home to an industrial pier is the narrow strip of sand curving round to the north; The last one is the beautiful Tupkaek Beach. As all the hotels around here are located directly on the shore, with only indirect public access, the beaches are effectively private, and only for the use of the resorts’ clients. Good for escaping the tourist crowd of Ao Nang and Railey beaches.

• Nopparat Thara beach: Adjacent to Ao Nang is the 5 km long Nopparat Thara beach. One of the piers for boats departing to Phi Phi, Lanta, Phuket and Hong islands, this beach is split into two halves by a river.

Rainforest:

• Hot Water Springs: Namtok Ron Khlong Thom waterfall is in a shaded forestry with numerous hot springs joining the cool streams on a slope forming lovely cascades of warm water with a temperature of 40-50 degrees Celsius. There are many hollow tubs caused by the running water from the thermal springs. The mineral salts of the hot spring are said to ease several ailments. The admission fee is 10 baht per person, which is generally included if you take trip. There is optional buggy service from the entrance for 20 Baht per person. The place is congested with too many people showing up for the bath with least personal space.

On the way to hot water springs

• Emerald Pool: As the name suggests, Emerald Pool is a bright emerald coloured natural pool filled with spring water. It can be reached via a forest trail of about a kilometre. You can swim and relax in the Emerald pool, which is slightly less congested than the hot springs and you get a bit of more personal space here. The backdrop is also quite scenic. There is another bright “Blue Pool”, 600 meters further upstream. This trail is a bit muddy and more slippery. The blue coloured pool, surrounded by the trees with the sunrays piercing through the leaves and branches make the place worth a visit.

Emerald Pool

Activities:

• Elephant Camp: Not far from the Tiger Cave temple is the Elephant camp, where you can take an elephant ride.

• White water rafting and ATV: For this, you need to travel a bit further, about 1.5 hours to Phang Nga Rafting Base camp on the Songpaek river. Other activities here include ATV, Flying Fox, Elephant trekking, Zip lining, etc.

• Cycling: If you are comfortable with cycling, you can cycle your way to the villages and beaches in Krabi those are off the beaten path.

• Trekking: You can go for trekking through the 4 Km long jungle trail of the Dragon Neck Mountain.

• Horse riding: Recommended for experienced rider. In Ao Nam Mao beach.

• The Seventh Heaven: Huge fairy tale themed outdoor park located on a hillside very close to the Ao Nam Mao Pier. The entry fee is 100 Baht per adult. Well, to be frank, I would not recommend this one unless you are accompanying children. There is a hilltop restaurant, overlooking the Krabi river. The view is good.

Seventh Heaven park

Shopping:

• Krabi Outlet Village: This is an expensive place for shopping here. But, if you are keen on buying branded (international or local) stuff, you might want to have a look.

• Local markets: Held in different villages every day, usually from early afternoon to early evening. The markets in Ao Nang (Mon, Tue, Fri), Ao Nam Mao (Wed) or Klong Haeng (Thu, Sat) villages are good.

• Night markets: There are two daily night markets in Krabi Town. One is opposite to City Hotel on Soi 10 Maharat Road, with excellent street food stalls serving delicious local foods and desserts.The second is more like an open air food court on Khong Kha Road, next to the old Chao Fah pier.

• Krabi walking street market: Walking Street market are held weekly on Friday, Saturday and Sunday – 6 pm – 9:30 pm. Certain streets are closed to traffic and stalls are lined up along the length and breadth of the area. Here you can take a walk and explore the variety of shopping items including souvenirs, handicrafts, clothes, fashion accessories, shoes. One section is dedicated for local food and drinks stall, including bars. They also have art and caricature stalls, game stalls and tattoo stalls. Then, there is a stage for musical performances with tools and tables where you can sit and enjoy your food along with the performance.

Getting Here:

You can fly to Krabi International airport. From there, there are regular buses to Krabi town and Ao Nang operating at pretty good frequency. Alternately, you can book shuttle cars in advance.

Getting Around:

1. Bicycles or motorbikes: One of the most popular means of getting around
2. Songthaew: A songthaew is a passenger vehicle in Thailand, adapted from a pick-up or a larger truck and used as a shared taxi or bus. It literally translates into “two rows” from the two bench seats fixed along either side of the back of the truck. Some have a third bench put down the middle of the sitting area. Sometimes, when the vehicle gets full, passengers would sit with the support of the extended boards at the end of the vehicle (which is quite a risky arrangement I feel).
3. Samlor: The samlor (sam is three, lor is wheel) is a rickshaw which is pedalled by the driver or driven using motor bike while the passenger sits in the back

Happy Panda Notes:

1. Tours: Although there are many tours operators covering these areas, it is recommended to explore them on your own, using public transports, cycle or motorbike.
2. Shopping: For clothes, the entire stretch of shops lined at and near the Ao Nang beach area are quite good. They have a lot of options to choose from and you can bargain for the best deal. For souvenirs, however, Krabi Walking Street offers better options to choose from. The price is also quite good.
3. Eat out: While the restaurants in and around Ao Nang beach offers different cuisines to suit any kind of taste buds, Krabi Walking Street and night market food stalls offer varied range mouth-watering local favourites.
4. Foods / snacks: Pad Thai, Mango Salad, Papaya Salad, Yam kai sam, Tomyam soup, mini pancakes of different flavours
5. Desserts: Coconut ice cream
6. Drinks: Bamboo cocktails (available only at Krabi Walking Street)