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If you are planning to visit Krabi you may be looking for some unique and underrated activities to perfect your itinerary. In this article, we’re going to share our favorite 4 hidden gems in Krabi. Read on to discover more about one of the best sunrise spots in Thailand. Keep reading to learn more about kayaking in a crystal-clear mirror lake. Or, if you love adventure, find out more about an intrepid jungle trek to a secluded paradise lagoon. Alternatively, let us entice you to explore one of the most unique cafes you have ever visited hidden in the beautiful jungle.
Finding hidden gems in Krabi in 2025 is increasingly challenging because this place is becoming so popular, and the high levels of tourism mean that most spots are pretty busy. However, if you are looking for adventure and you are willing to explore a little further, you can still find some amazing hidden gems in the area.
Each of the hidden gems that we share offers something unique and will appeal to different types of travelers. For each of the hidden gems that we share, we will give you top tips on how to get there, when to visit, and we will also include key information such as prices.
LOOKING FOR A UNIQUE PLACE TO STAY? – Check out these Unique Boutique Hotels in Krabi
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FIND OUT MORE AMAZING THINGS TO DO – Don’t miss these Fantastic Things to do in Krabi
Map of the BEST hidden gems in Krabi
What do we mean by “hidden gems” in Krabi?
We just wanted to share an important note before you read on. When we are talking about “hidden gems”, we are not talking about completely undiscovered places that no has ever set foot! If you want to find hidden gems like this, then we don’t recommend reading articles online! Take a bus to the middle of nowhere and just explore the wild – old school. If a place is popular & easy to find (for example the Emerald Pool & Blue Pool, we wouldn’t count this as a hidden gem – although it is definitely a gem!)
So what do we mean by “hidden gems”. Each of the places that we recommend in this article are hidden gems because they are destinations that most travellers miss. And it is genuinely sad that they miss these places. You may still bump into other people at these hidden gems (in Krabi you probably will see other people in these places!) But they rarely get crowded – and this is an accomplishment in a popular area like Krabi. When we are talking about “hidden gems” in this article, we are talking about places that are under-rated and most people do not visit. We are talking about places that will make you genuinely grateful that you visited.
Now, if you really do want to get off the beaten track and find some quieter places in Krabi here are a few suggestions:
- Wat Pho Luean (peaceful and remote temple)
- Kuan Nom Saow viewpoint (stunning viewpoint in the hills)
- Khao Phanom Bencha National Park (stunning waterfalls and remote jungle)
- Phi Hua To Cave and surrounding mangrove forest (stunning cave river in north Krabi)
- Saline Hot Spring Klong Thom (less visited hot spring in South Krabi province)
These places are more remote and hard to get to. This naturally keeps the crowds away. So these places are quiet hidden gems.
Ok, so now we’re clear on terminology lets share some epic hidden gems in Krabi…
1. Stunning Sunrise Viewpoint
Don’t miss our full guide to the Din Daeng Doi sunrise viewpoint
This one deserves a place at the beginning of our list. The Din Daeng Doi sunrise viewpoint is absolutely marvelous. This is genuinely one of the best sunrises we have ever seen (and we have seen our fair share of sunrises around the world). The magnificent Din Daeng Doi Viewpoint has a breathtaking view over the iconic karst landscape. Watch the sunrise as mist swirls in jungle valleys. This is an amazing spot for photography or to just sit back, relax, and take a moment.
There is a small cafe situated here which is open nice and early, so you can enjoy a tasty breakfast and a hot drink while you watch the sunrise. What’s more, this destination rarely gets crowded. There are always some people up to see the sunrise at this spot, but the atmosphere is genuinely very peaceful and calm. In our opinion, taking a visit to the Din Daeng Doi sunrise viewpoint can fit into an itinerary of any length. All you need to do is get an early start around 5 am. The sun rises around 6 am in Thailand. You will probably be leaving this area by 7 am and you can carry on with your itinerary.
What is the best way to get to the sunrise viewpoint?
FULL GUIDE to the Best ways to get around in Krabi
If you plan to see the sunrise at Din Daeng Doi, we recommend planning your transportation in advance. If you have your own method of transport (such as a bike rental or car rental), you can just get up nice and early and drive here. There is a small car park, and it is fairly easy to navigate to this area. The roads are well paved all the way to the car park.
Once you reach the car park, there is a short walk, around 10 minutes up a hill. We recommend bringing a torch if you’re planning to do this walk before sunrise. If you are relying on the taxi, we recommend making a deal with a taxi driver at least one day in advance so that you can get an early pickup. Remember to agree on the price for the round trip and also on the waiting time. 500 baht – 800 baht is a reasonable price range for this trip by private taxi (£10 – £16 or $12 – $20).
How much does it cost to visit the sunrise viewpoint?
There is a small entry fee to visit the Din Daeng Doi viewpoint. This costs 50 baht for adults (just over £1 or £1.20) and 20 baht for kids (£0.40 or $0.50).
2. Unique Jungle Tree House Cafe
Don’t miss our full guide to the Jungle Tree House Cafe in Krabi
Now for one of our favorite hidden gems in Krabi – the unique and charming Jungle Treehouse cafe (local name “Baan Ton Mai”). This place really is a hidden gem in Krabi; it is rarely busy and massively underrated. We would recommend a visit to the Jungle Treehouse cafe even if they did not serve outstanding drinks and food (which they do, in fact, serve). So why do we love this place so much? The Jungle Tree House Cafe is an extensive cafe immersed in the beautiful tropical jungle next to a jungle river. It has garden pathways, ponds, canopy walkways, and a large treehouse.
A visit to the Jungle Treehouse cafe is a fantastic way to connect with nature and appreciate the beauty of the south Thai jungle. We are very impressed by the innovative and creative menu at this cafe; the food is genuinely outstanding, and the quality is very high. If you are taking a visit to the Jungle Treehouse cafe, we recommend bringing along some mosquito repellent. Also, take care when you are exploring the paths around the garden; we saw several giant golden orb-weaver spiders hanging out on their webs. If this hasn’t put you off, then we strongly recommend a visit to this unique and fascinating cafe.
What is the best way to get to the Jungle Treehouse cafe in Krabi?
The good news is that the Jungle Tree House Cafe is relatively easy to access from Ao Nang or Krabi town. Depending on exactly where you are staying, the drive is only likely to take around 10 or 20 minutes to get here. If you have your own transport, there is roadside parking; alternatively, you could take a taxi here, which is only likely to cost around 150 – 200 baht (£3 – £4 or $4 – $5).
How much does it cost to visit the Jungle Treehouse cafe?
There are no entry fees to visit the Jungle Tree House Cafe. We do, however, recommend buying some food and drinks here. On average, the price of food and drinks at the Jungle Treehouse cafe is slightly higher than other cafes in the area; however, we think it is well worth the cost. Drinks range in price from 90 baht – 120 baht (around £2 or $2.50), and food ranges in price from 100 baht – 800 baht (£2 – £16 or $2.50 – $20).
3. Secluded Paradise Lagoon
Don’t miss our in depth guide to Princess Lagoon
If you love intrepid jungle adventures, then we think you will love this one in Krabi. You can take a trek to a beautiful and impressive secluded lagoon situated in a deep natural basin. The lagoon is called Princess Lagoon. It is situated in the jungle (near Railay East Beach and Phra Nang Beach). Princess Lagoon is a very beautiful hidden gem. This iconic lagoon is surrounded by steep jungle-covered cliffs all of the way around, and light floods into the area, creating a beautiful eerie paradise feel.
If you have researched things to do in Krabi, you may well have heard about the beautiful Princess Lagoon, so you may be wondering why we consider this to be a hidden gem in Krabi. We have included this as a hidden gem because very few people actually make it all of the way to the lagoon itself. In order to reach the lagoon, you need to be pretty fit, confident, and strong. If you are able to make it to the Princess Lagoon, you will probably have the place to yourself, even if there are many people attempting the trek. The lagoon is literally secluded deep in the jungle, and few people make it all of the way to the lagoon.
What is the best way to get to Princess Lagoon?
The best way to get to Princess Lagoon is to start your journey using a shared taxi boat, which costs 100 baht per person each way. You will need to take the taxi boat from Ao Nang to Railay Beach. Check out our FULL GUIDE – How to get to Railay Beach from Ao Nang
From here, you need to walk to the footpath leading to Phra Nang Beach. Halfway along this footpath, you will see a dizzyingly steep trail with a rope to help you ascend. Here is the start of the challenging trek to Princess Lagoon. The jungle trek to Princess Lagoon is extremely challenging, and we only recommend attempting this if you are fit, strong, and confident.
Make sure you are well prepared with good walking shoes and never attempt this trek during or shortly after the rain. The first part of this trek leads up a very steep hill; you can use the rope to help you ascend. When you reach the top of the steep hill, you will see a trail in front of you leading down the hill, and the rope continues down the section to help you descend.
The descent to Princess Lagoon is even steeper and more challenging than the ascent that you have just done. There are four sections of vertical down the climb where you will need to use the climbing rope along with a few footholds and handholds to help you get down. Always take care and don’t push yourself beyond your limits; this area would be very hard for a rescue team. We recommend allowing a few hours for this expedition.
How much does it cost to visit Princess Lagoon?
Like all of the best things in life, it is free to visit Princess Lagoon; there are no entry fees, tickets, or permits required to visit this area. The only cost is your transportation cost. Remember, it costs 100 baht each way to take a boat from Ao Nang or Krabi Town.
4. Beautiful Mirror Lake Kayaking
Find out more – The BEST places for Kayaking in Krabi
And last but definitely not least, if you are looking for stunning hidden gems in Krabi, then we highly recommend an early morning visit to the beautiful Klong Root Clear Water Canal. This stunning kayaking spot opens at 7 am, and it is pretty close to the sunrise viewpoint. So if you are being clever with your itinerary, you could catch the sunrise at Din Daeng Doi and then visit Klong Root for some early morning kayaking. It costs 300 baht to rent a kayak for two people, and there are no time limitations, so you can keep the kayak as long as you like.
The kayaking route is around 1 kilometer. If you visit early in the morning, you are likely to have this place entirely to yourself. At this time, the sunlight is absolutely gorgeous, and the water is likely to be completely still, reflecting the mountains like a magnificent mirror. Again, this is not a hidden gem because it is entirely undiscovered; however, this is relatively underrated, and it is amazing that you can get a place like this completely to yourself by visiting early enough in the morning. So if you are into photography or videography, grab an early start and get yourself over to the Klong Root Clear Water Canal.
What is the best way to get to the Klong Root Clear Water Canal?
This area is relatively remote, and it is easiest to access with your own transport, especially if you are planning to visit early in the morning. If possible, we recommend renting a motorbike or a car and driving here yourself. However, if you’re not able to use your own transportation, you could also take a taxi from Krabi or Ao Nang.
You can either barter for a good price taxi with a local driver or use the Grab Taxi app to order a taxi online. This should allow you to get a fair and reasonable local price for your taxi. To use the Grab Taxi app, you will need a local SIM card and some mobile data. A taxi to the Klong Root Canal is likely to cost around 200 – 300 baht each way. You may also need to pay a little more if you would like your driver to wait while you go kayaking.
How much does it cost to visit the Klong Root Kayaking Spot?
There are no entry fees to visit this area; however, you will need to pay for kayak rental if you want to explore by kayak. It costs 300 baht to rent a two-person kayak, and there are no time limits on how long you can keep the kayak. This is one of the most affordable places for kayaking in the area, so if you are hoping to do some kayaking in Krabi, we definitely recommend a visit to this place.
