Emerald Pool Krabi – In-Depth Visitor’s Guide 2025

The Emerald Pool in Krabi is a truly unique and wonderful place. We absolutely loved visiting the Emerald Pool. However, when we were researching, we found a lot of inaccurate and mixed information online. So, we wanted to produce a helpful and up-to-date guide to enable you to plan your own trip to the Emerald Pool in 2025.

In this article, we are going to help you plan your own independent, intrepid adventure to the Emerald Pool. We hope that this article saved you time, money, and stress when you are planning your trip. We’ve used our own first-hand experience and research to pull this article together.

In this guide we have included all the things you need to know, such as prices, opening times, facilities, transport information, and much more. We have also included a map of the area to help you navigate between the beautiful pools and give you an idea of the facilities and amenities available in the area.

Please read this article carefully. There is some very useful information in here. We wish this had been available to us before we visited.

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Emerald Pool in Brief

• Visiting time: 2 – 4 hours
• Journey time: 1.5 hours each way
• Price: 400 baht adults and 200 baht kids
• Things to see: Crystal Pool, Emerald Pool (swim) and Blue Pool
• Things to bring: Swimming kit & towel
• Opening hours: Open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Blue Pool 10:00am – 3:30pm)

The Emerald Pool can be a little confusing, as there are lots of pictures online linked to the Emerald Pool and lots of mixed information. So, we just wanted to clear things up before we go into detail. If you are looking to visit the Emerald Pool, there is one entry ticket that allows you to explore an area with several beautiful pools. The first pool is the Crystal Pool, and you are not allowed to swim or bathe in this pool.

The second pool is the Emerald Pool, and swimming and bathing are allowed in the Emerald Pool. The third pool is called the Blue Pool, which has an impressive and intense blue hue. Swimming and bathing are not allowed in the Blue Pool. In many cases, if you are researching online, you will see pictures of the Blue Pool tagged as the Emerald Pool. This can be very confusing. The Emerald Pool is larger and has a less intense turquoise color, while the Blue Pool is smaller and has a very intense blue color.

Where is the Emerald Pool Located?

The Emerald Pool is located around 70 kilometers to the east of Ao Nang (by road). The journey generally takes around 1.5 hours each way. The Emerald Pool is located in a remote section of the jungle close to the border of the Krabi and Trang provinces. Navigating to the Emerald Pool is relatively easy because there are road signs in English along the route. You can also use navigation apps to help you find the location. The roads are high quality and well-paved all the way from Ao Nang to the Emerald Pool.

Is it Worth Visiting the Emerald Pool in Krabi?

In our opinion, it is well worth a visit to the Emerald Pool in Krabi, especially if you have never visited a location like this before. Visiting the Emerald Pool will appeal to anyone who loves jungle adventure, nature, wildlife, wild swimming, or photography. We really enjoyed our time at the Emerald Pool, and our kids had a lot of fun swimming there. We would highly recommend it if you have time in your schedule. The Emerald Pool is relatively expensive relative to other attractions in Thailand. It is also important to be aware that you will need to allow a full afternoon or a full morning to visit the Emerald Pool, so it will take a large chunk out of your itinerary.

What is the Best Way to Get to the Emerald Pool in Krabi?

Don’t miss our FULL GUIDE to The Best Ways to Get Around in Krabi

There are several different ways to get to the Emerald Pool in Krabi. Here is a summary of the different ways.

1 Rent a motorbike

The cheapest way to get to the Emerald Pool is to rent a motorbike and ride. The motorbike ride is likely to take at least an hour and a half, and this can be pretty tiring. We don’t recommend attempting a long journey like this unless you have a little bit of experience on Thai roads and with motorbikes. The route for Highway out of Krabi town can be pretty crowded and fast-moving in sections. Motorbike rental is very cheap in the area.

You can find plenty of places offering bike rental starting at 200 baht per day (roughly £4 or $5). Many hotels, guest houses, and hostels offer bike rental, or you can also find dedicated bike rental dealers in the area. If you’re planning to stay for longer, you could also try to negotiate a cheaper rental deal. You will probably need to leave a deposit if you rent a bike. We also strongly recommend wearing a bike helmet in the area.

Find out more about bike rental in Krabi

2 Rent a car

Another way to get to the Emerald Pool is to rent a car and drive. There are plenty of small local rental dealers who will be able to offer a good deal on car rental. We were able to rent a car for 1,000 baht for one day (£20 or $25). This is a pretty reasonable price to aim for. If you rent a car in the area, you will need to show a driver’s license, and an international driver’s license is preferred but not essential.

They will also ask for a deposit. It can feel a bit nerve-wracking handing over a large cash deposit, but this is standard. Make sure that the deposit is listed on the car rental contract. We also recommend that you take photos of any damages to the car before you take the keys. It can be a little challenging driving in the area, especially around Krabi town. Using a car rental to get to the Emerald Pool is a particularly good option for families.

3 Go by taxi

Another way to get to the Emerald Pool is to use a taxi. A private taxi for this journey is likely to be very expensive. We recommend sharing the cost across a group if possible. Make sure that it is clear that you are looking for a return journey and also agree on the waiting time. We recommend allowing a few hours to enjoy the Emerald Pool area. Expect to pay around 2,000 – 2,500 baht for a return trip to the Emerald Pool by a private taxi.

4 Book a tour

Another way to visit the Emerald Pool is to book onto a tour. There are plenty of small tour operators situated around Ao Nang and Krabi Town. They will be able to book you onto a local tour. The way this works is that you can barter for a good price and check exactly what is included. If you are happy, then you need to pay the tour operator, and they will write out a receipt and take note of your hotel name.

They will also give you a waiting time for pickup. All you need to do is be available at the reception of your hotel at the pickup time. The whole process can feel a little unnerving because you have prepaid. Don’t be concerned; this is just the way that local tours work in the area.

If you prefer to have your ducks in a row, you can also book Emerald Pool tours online in advance. This tour on KLOOK is a great price and also includes Tiger Cave Temple.

How Much Does it Cost to Visit the Emerald Pool?

The entry tickets for foreigners to the Emerald Pool are as follows:

• Adult (18 years and older): 400 baht (£8 or $10)
• Child (4 – 17 years old): 200 baht (£4 or $5)
• Infants 0 – 3 years: FREE

What Are the Opening Times at the Emerald Pool?

The Emerald Pool is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

If you are planning to visit the Blue Pool, you will need to follow a trail from the Emerald Pool for around 0.6km. The start of this trail (at the Emerald Pool) is closed at 3:30 p.m. every day. So, you need to depart from the Emerald Pool no later than 3:30 p.m. to visit the Blue Pool.

What Facilities Are Available at the Emerald Pool Krabi?

From the car park and entrance, the walk to the Emerald Pool is around 1 km, and it is likely to take around 10 or 20 minutes. When you get to the Emerald Pool area, there is a sheltered pavilion area with lockers and first aid. There are also toilets nearby. Locker rental costs 20 baht with a 100 baht key deposit. The Emerald Pool has wooden steps to help you get into the pool. Be aware that the wooden walkway around the pool is often slippery.

Can You Buy Food and Drinks at the Emerald Pool in Krabi?

It is not possible to buy food and drinks at the Emerald Pool. However, there are plenty of cafes, shops, and restaurants situated at the car park and along the street that leads to the entrance of the Emerald Pool area. We recommend buying any food and drinks that you need before you enter the Emerald Pool site. There is a good range of food and drinks available, including barbecue chicken and fish. Thai restaurants serve a range of Thai food, including noodles and Thai curries. You can also buy snacks and drinks in the area.

Are There Any Additional National Park Fees to Visit the Area?

There are no national park fees to visit the Emerald Pool. All required fees are covered in the cost of the entry ticket. There is a small fee to park in the car park located at the entrance to the Emerald Pool. It costs 15 baht for a motorbike to park and 40 baht for a car to park.

If you do read conflicting information online about this, it is the case that there were national park fees in the past. However, there are no longer any national park fees to visit the Emerald Pool or the hot springs in the area. So, don’t get confused by old information that you read online.

Can You Swim at the Emerald Pool in Krabi?

The great news is that you can swim in the Emerald Pool. In fact, this is a very beautiful place for swimming. The water is crystal clear, and you can even see small fish swimming in this pool. The Emerald Pool is a consistent depth of around 1.4 meters. The water is reasonably warm, and you can easily swim for a few hours without getting too cold. It is particularly clear if you visit at quiet times, for example, just after a rainstorm or early in the morning when the site has just opened. If you love swimming underwater, we do recommend bringing some goggles. The Emerald Pool itself is the only pool that you can swim in this area. The Crystal Pool and Blue Pool are not open for swimming or paddling.

How Much Walking Do You Need to Do to See the Emerald Pool?

If you plan to visit the Emerald Pool, you do need to be prepared to do a little walking. The walk from the entrance to the Emerald Pool is around 1 km and takes roughly 15 or 20 minutes. You can either walk directly down a gravel road or follow a wooden walkway through the jungle. We recommend taking the jungle route because this is very beautiful, and the distance is very similar. The jungle walkway route also passes the beautiful Crystal Pool.

If you want to visit the Blue Pool, remember that you need to start the trail before 3:30 p.m. You will need to walk a further 0.6 km to reach the Blue Pool. Navigation in the area is very easy; there are plenty of signs in English to show you which way to go. Even when you reach a junction in the path, you can go both ways to reach the Emerald Pool, so it is very hard to get it wrong with navigation in the area.

What is Accessibility Like at the Emerald Pool?

The Emerald Pool is accessible to prams and wheelchair users. The paths are well-worn and pretty smooth, and there are not any steps or significant obstacles along the way.

Is the Emerald Pool Suitable for Families?

Yes, not only is the Emerald Pool suitable for families with kids, but this is also one of our top pick activities for families in the area. Unfortunately, there is a long drive to reach the Emerald Pool, and this can be a little tedious for kids. However, the area itself is very beautiful and adventurous. We visited with our kids aged six, three, and an infant of eight months old. We all enjoyed the water at the Emerald Pool. If you are visiting with kids who enjoy swimming, we recommend bringing along some goggles and allowing plenty of time.

There is also a small river next to the Emerald Pool; this can be a lot of fun for kids to play as well. We found the environment to be clean and pretty safe with kids. If you are visiting with young kids who are not able to swim, recommend supervising them very carefully by the pool. There are no handrails or fences, and the wooden walkway can be pretty slippery. If you are visiting with kids, we also recommend bringing along some kid-friendly snacks. We mentioned that there are plenty of food options near the entrance, but a lot of these options are local Thai food, and your kids may not appreciate this food. As always, we recommend coming prepared with an arsenal of snacks and drinks for your kids.

LEARN MORE – In depth guide to Krabi with kids

What is the Best Time to Visit the Emerald Pool?

If it fits into your itinerary, we recommend getting to the Emerald Pool nice and early in the morning. Aim to arrive around the opening time of 8:30 a.m., and you will be able to experience this beautiful area at its most quiet and tranquil. However, if you have a more packed itinerary, you may not be able to make it until later in the day. It is still a lovely place to visit in the afternoon. Just remember to arrive at the Blue Pool trail before 3:30 p.m. if you want to visit the Blue Pool.

You can visit the Emerald Pool throughout the year. If you visit in the months of September and October, the chance of rain and storms is highest. This is a very beautiful area even in a thunderstorm. There was a large thunderstorm when we visited, and we found it to be particularly atmospheric and enjoyable. If you are looking to visit during a dry and sunny time of year, remember to bring sun protection. We recommend visiting between January and March for the best conditions.

Find out more about the weather and seasons in Krabi.

Packing List for the Emerald Pool

Packing lists are obviously a highly personal thing; however, we wanted to share an example of a packing list to help give you some inspiration and ideas for what you may want to bring to the Emerald Pool.

• Dry sack to keep your valuables safe and dry.
• Some cash. It is not possible to use cards in this area.
• Phone, if possible, with offline maps and GPS enabled.
• Swimming kit. If possible, wear your swimming kit underneath your clothes to save you finding somewhere to change when you arrive.
• Swimming goggles.
• Dry clothes.
• Hairbrush, moisturizer, and any other toiletries you may appreciate.
• Snacks and a water bottle
• A raincoat or umbrella 
• Sun protection (SPF 50 sun cream is recommended in the tropics)
• Mosquito repellent (particularly useful after you have been in the water)
• A waterproof camera.

What else is there to see and do in the area?

If you are visiting the emerald pool, we recommend taking time to see the beautiful crystal pool and the stunning Blue Pool. After you visit the emerald pool, you can also drive over to a natural geothermal hot spring. This is a lovely area to take a geothermal dip, immersed in the beautiful jungle. On the way to the emerald pool, you may also be interested in visiting the impressive tiger cave temple. There is a stunning temple on top of a challenging mountain with amazing views of the area. Allow a few hours to enjoy this.

Suggested one-day itinerary for visiting the emerald pool

Here is a suggested one-day itinerary, including a visit to the emerald pool. We would recommend this itinerary if you only have a few days in Krabi. If you have more time, we recommend leaving the tiger cave temple for a different day and setting off to the emerald pool earlier in the morning.

7:00 a.m. – Breakfast and an early start.

8:00 a.m. – Visit the Tiger Cave Temple and trek to the top of the mountain.

10:00 a.m. – Set off to the emerald pool.

11:00 a.m. – Arrive at the emerald pool and get some lunch.

12:00 p.m. – Walk to the emerald pool and enjoy swimming and bathing.

1:00 p.m. – Walk to the blue pool and enjoy some photography.

2:00 p.m. – Set off to the hot springs.

4:30 p.m. – Set off back to Krabi or Ao Nang.

6:00 p.m. – Arrive in Krabi or Ao Nang and have dinner.

We have recommended visiting the hot springs after visiting the emerald pool. Remember, if you want to get to the Blue Pool, you need to set off along the trail before 3:30 p.m. The hot springs are open until later in the afternoon, which means it is better to leave them to visit second.

Alternatively, here is a fantastic action packed Krabi Day Trip including the Emerald Pool