Krabi itinerary

Plan 01

1 day in Krabi

1. 01

   Day 1: Ao Nang and Railay

   Take an early longtail from Ao Nang to Railay, swim at West Railay and walk the short path to Phra Nang Beach and its cave shrine before the midday boats arrive. Have an early lunch on the peninsula, then return by boat in the afternoon. Rest at your hotel and finish with an evening walk and a vegetarian dinner in Ao Nang.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Ao Nang	A base for 2 to 5 nights; a few hours for an evening walk	Easy	November to March; evenings for the promenade

   Pace: All the stops today are easy on the legs.

Plan 02

2 days in Krabi

1. 01

   Day 1: Railay and Phra Nang

   Longtail from Ao Nang to Railay in the morning. Swim at West Railay, walk to Phra Nang Beach and watch the climbers. Return in the late afternoon and rest before an easy dinner in Ao Nang.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Ao Nang	A base for 2 to 5 nights; a few hours for an evening walk	Easy	November to March; evenings for the promenade

   Pace: All the stops today are easy on the legs.

2. 02

   Day 2: Island trip or inland

   Choose either a morning boat tour to the Poda group of islands or, if the sea is rough, an inland day at the Emerald Pool. Leave time for a rest after lunch.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Emerald Pool (Sa Morakot)	2 to 3 hours on site; half a day with the drive	Moderate	Arrive near opening time; November to March is driest

   Pace: Moderate walking today — plan a sit-down break between stops.

   With parents at Emerald Pool (Sa Morakot): A boardwalk of about 800 metres leads from the car park, which is flat but long for some. The pool floor is uneven and slippery, so wading is easiest with water shoes and a handrail or a companion's arm.

Plan 03

3 days in Krabi

1. 01

   Day 1: Railay and Phra Nang

   Longtail to Railay early, with swimming at West Railay and a walk to Phra Nang Beach. Back to Ao Nang by mid-afternoon for a rest and dinner.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Ao Nang	A base for 2 to 5 nights; a few hours for an evening walk	Easy	November to March; evenings for the promenade

   Pace: All the stops today are easy on the legs.

2. 02

   Day 2: Island boat day

   Take a Poda and Chicken Island trip on a calm morning, or the longer Hong Islands trip if everyone is fit. Check the park fee, lunch and life jackets when you book.

3. 03

   Day 3: Krabi Town and the inland side

   Visit Wat Kaew Korawaram in the morning, then drive to the Emerald Pool for a shaded walk. If it is a Friday, Saturday or Sunday, finish at the weekend night market in Krabi Town, then return to Ao Nang by songthaew or taxi.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Wat Kaew Korawaram	45 minutes to 1 hour	Moderate	Morning or late afternoon, when it is cooler
   Emerald Pool (Sa Morakot)	2 to 3 hours on site; half a day with the drive	Moderate	Arrive near opening time; November to March is driest
   Ao Nang	A base for 2 to 5 nights; a few hours for an evening walk	Easy	November to March; evenings for the promenade

   Pace: Moderate walking today — plan a sit-down break between stops.

   With parents at Wat Kaew Korawaram: Reaching the main grounds involves a staircase, so older visitors should go slowly and rest on the way. The grounds above are mostly level. Shade is limited at midday.

   With parents at Emerald Pool (Sa Morakot): A boardwalk of about 800 metres leads from the car park, which is flat but long for some. The pool floor is uneven and slippery, so wading is easiest with water shoes and a handrail or a companion's arm.

Read before you go

Guides for the stops on these routes

Pacing

Pacing a Krabi trip for parents and children

• Base yourself in Ao Nang, where the main street is flat and clinics, restaurants and boat piers are close. Railay and the islands are better as day trips.
• Boat boarding means wading and stepping on to small boats. Choose calm mornings, sit near the middle, wear a life jacket and keep a hand free.
• Skip the Tiger Cave Temple stairway if anyone has knee, heart or breathing problems. The lower grounds and Wat Kaew Korawaram are easier temple visits.
• Plan one outing a day and a rest after lunch. Heat and humidity are high all year, and Thai rain arrives quickly.
• Carry travel insurance with medical cover. Krabi Town has public and private hospitals, but treatment is paid for at the time, and serious cases may need transfer.
• Bring any regular medicines in original packaging with a prescription, and a hat, sunscreen and rehydration salts.

Krabi with elderly parents: the full guide →