Things to Know Before you go to Krabi – Full & In-depth Guide 2025

In this article, we are going to tell you everything you need to know before you visit Krabi in 2025. We absolutely love traveling in this area, and we have visited many times; this is such a beautiful and impressive destination.

Krabi is a stunning destination with plenty of amazing things to see and do. However, there are some important things that you need to know about and consider before you travel to Krabi.

The aim of this article is to tell you everything you need to know to help you plan and prepare for your trip so that you can make the most of your time in this unique and beautiful destination. You will also notice lots of helpful links in this article; these links take you through to other useful articles about Krabi on our website. This is to help give you more context and information so you can plan your trip.

PLAN YOUR TRIP – Amazing action-packed 3 day itinerary for Krabi

How can this article help you?  

The paradox of planning a trip is that it can be very stressful and time-consuming, even though you are feeling excited about visiting a stunning destination. Trying to put the pieces together about a mysterious destination can sometimes feel rather like doing a jigsaw puzzle with a blindfold on. Where do you even start? And how do you know what pieces go together if you can’t see the bigger picture?

We have written this guide to help reduce your anxiety and stress. Our aim is to make your planning as smooth and easy as possible. All of the information in this article is relevant, up-to-date, helpful, and as accurate as possible. So grab a cuppa, sit back, and let us help you get started! 

Why do we recommend a trip to Krabi in Thailand?

Full Guide Krabi vs Phuket – which destination is best for you?

If you’re planning to explore South Thailand, we strongly recommend that you take a visit to Krabi. There are lots of reasons to visit this area. Firstly, Krabi is situated in an excellent location close to Phuket. It is also a short minibus ride from Surat Thani. From here, you can connect with some beautiful islands (Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, and Koh Tao). Krabi is also a few hours from the beautiful Khao Sok National Park, so Krabi is an excellent hub for visiting other areas in South Thailand.

Another reason to visit this area: the landscape is absolutely spectacular. The steep karst hills and limestone cliffs create a very unique landscape, which is similar to Xin Ping in south China. If you are attracted to natural beauty and photography, then Krabi has plenty to offer. Krabi offers some of the best bits of north AND south Thailand in one destination. You have the jungles, hills, nature, and wildlife (north Thailand). You also have the islands, beaches, and coral reef (south Thailand).

Not only is Krabi beautiful and very convenient, but it is also packed with loads of amazing things to see and do. The variety of activities in this area appeals to a wide range of different travelers, whether you are an intrepid traveler looking for some jungle adventures or you are looking for a relaxing two-week holiday on the beach; this area really does have so much to offer.

Finally, as a popular tourist destination, Krabi also has excellent infrastructure, facilities, and amenities. There are plenty of shops, cafes, and restaurants. There are also lots of tour operators in the area who can help you book trips and tours and also help you with transport connections, so it is a very easy place to visit, travel, and explore.

How long should you spend in Krabi?

With so many amazing things to see and do, you really could spend a few weeks in Krabi and have an amazing holiday. However, if you’re planning to explore more of Thailand, you may be limited on time. It is possible to see all of the best things to do in the area with only three days. However, if you only have three days, you will need to have a very intentional and high-paced itinerary. Don’t miss our EPIC 3 day itinerary for Krabi – we show you all of the BEST bits and how to squeeze them into 3 amazing action-packed days. Also don’t miss this fantastic Krabi Day Trip.

If possible, we recommend allowing around 4 or 5 days to enjoy and explore this area more thoroughly. If you’re looking for a more chilled-out and relaxed holiday, we recommend spending one or two weeks in the area.

Find out more in our full guide – How Many Days Should you Spend in Krabi?

What things do you need to pre-book before your trip to Krabi? 

This is important! Don’t skip this section! 

If you are planning a trip to Krabi, you may be wondering what you need to arrange and pre-book beforehand. This is a pretty popular tourist destination; therefore, pre-booking accommodation, activities, and transport will make your experience smoother and decrease the chance of disappointment. Here are some of the things that we recommend pre-booking before you arrive in Krabi:

1 Accommodation (definitely pre-book)

2 Transport around Thailand (maybe pre-book) 

If you are traveling overland to Krabi, it is not necessary to book your accommodation before you arrive in Thailand. Traveling around Thailand is cheap, easy, and you do not need to arrange this a long time in advance. You can normally book minibuses and boats one or two days in advance, and there are plenty of small tour operators in all of the main tourist destinations in Thailand. So, if you haven’t booked your connecting transport between places in Thailand, don’t sweat it; this one can be left relatively late.

3 Transport around Krabi (probably don’t need to pre-book)

Don’t miss our full in-depth guide – How to Get Around in Krabi

We do recommend that you consider and plan your transport around Krabi. The cheapest and most convenient way to travel around the area is to rent a motorbike in Krabi. Motorbike rental starts at around 200 baht per day. If you’re planning to use motorbike rental, you don’t need to pre-book this in advance; there are plenty of places offering rental deals, and you can just show up and secure a bike very quickly.

Alternatively, if you’re planning to rent a car to travel around the area, then we do recommend contacting some local car rental dealers before you arrive and bargaining for a good price. The best way to do this is to find car rental companies on Facebook and contact them directly. 1,000 baht per day (around £20 or $25) is a fair price for car rental. Finally, if you’re planning to use a taxi to travel around the area, you do not need to pre-book this in advance; there are plenty of taxis around town, and you can also use the Grab taxi app to get good-priced taxi journeys in the area.

TOP TIP: If you’re planning to visit Tonsai and Railay beach, you will need to use a shared taxi boat. It is not possible to book these boats in advance; you just need to show up, pay for a ticket, and wait for the boat to fill up (with people, not water!). FIND OUT MORE – How to get to Tonsai and Railay Beach AND how to get around the Railay Beach area once you get there.

4 Tours and activities (don’t need to pre-book)

It is not essential to book your tours and activities before you arrive in Thailand. In fact, booking tours and activities online in advance is often a little bit more expensive than booking your tours through a local travel agent in Krabi. There are plenty of small travel agent offices around town, and you can normally book your tour a day or two in advance. The advantage of booking through a local tour operator is that you can bargain for a good price and ask any questions you may have. However, if you’d like to have your ducks in a row and get stuff booked online, we recommend using Klook. They offer some awesome tours in this area, and the prices are similar (and sometimes LOWER) than booking the tour through a local tour operator.

TIGER CAVE TEMPLE & EMERALD POOL – Great price & epic itinerary tour on Klook

ISLAND HOPPING TOUR – Epic 4 island trip on Klook – competitive price

What is the best way to get around in Krabi?

The best way to get around in Krabi depends on your itinerary, your budget, your needs, and your desire for convenience. 

1 Motorbike Rental (cheap & fun) 

The cheapest way to travel around Krabi is to use motorbike rental; it costs around 200 baht per day to rent a motorbike, and there are plenty of places offering motorbike rental deals around town. Always wear a helmet and take care on the busy roads, particularly on the outskirts of Krabi town. If you are using a rental motorbike to visit the Emerald Pool and the hot springs, be aware that this is a very long and tiring journey. Make sure that your travel insurance covers the use of a motorbike and that you are sufficiently qualified and experienced to drive in the area.

2 Car rental (good for families & convenient) 

Car rental is also a surprisingly affordable way to travel around Krabi, especially when you compare it to the cost of local taxis. A fair price for car rental in the area is 1,000 baht per day. The best way to get a good car rental deal is to contact dealers directly and bargain. Pre-booking a car rental online is likely to be more expensive, and you are also vulnerable to other unwanted surprises like hidden fees.

3 Local taxi (expensive but convenient) 

Another way to travel around the area is to use the local taxis; there are shared taxi buses called Songthaews. These are surprisingly expensive; it can cost as much as 200 baht, even for relatively short journeys around town. The drivers are generally unwilling to bargain, and it can be frustrating having to wait for these. As an alternative, you can actually use the Grab Taxi app in the area; this allows you to get fair local prices, and it is also a quick and convenient way to get around. To use Grab, you will need to have a local SIM card with some mobile data and download the app. Once you have registered an account, it is very quick and easy to order taxis.

4 Tours and trips (savvy & convenient) 

Finally, it is worth noting that if you are planning to book tours and trips in the area, hotel pick up and drop off are normally included as standard. So you may not need to rely on having your own transport too much, especially if the main activities you hope to do can be included in a pre-booked tour.

Prices in Krabi

In general, prices in Thailand are relatively low, especially compared to Australia, Europe, the UK, and the USA. So if you are visiting from any of these countries, you will find Thailand very cheap, and this includes the Krabi area. Thailand is also relatively cheap compared to other countries in Southeast Asia, and you get a lot for your money in Thailand.

However, relative to Thailand, Krabi is a pretty expensive area. Prices for food around Krabi are surprisingly high, and the quality is lower than many other areas around Thailand. For example, if you want to order some Thai food at a night market in Krabi, you are likely to pay as much as two or three times the price (compared to other areas of Thailand), and the quality is similar or lower than other areas of Thailand.

In fact, one of the cheapest ways to find food in the area is to shop at convenience stores like 7-Eleven. There are plenty of these convenience stores around Krabi. Accommodation and transport are also more expensive in this area compared to other parts of Thailand. For example, it is very hard to find rooms for anything less than £15 per night, and even at this price, accommodation is relatively basic.

Best Areas to Stay in Krabi

Don’t miss our FULL GUIDE to the best areas to stay in Krabi

If you’re planning to visit Krabi, you will probably be wondering which area is best to stay. We will summarize each of the options to help you make a decision.

1 Krabi Town

This is a relatively convenient and central area to stay. It is slightly cheaper than Ao Nang, and there is a good range of accommodation around the town. However, the vibe is not as nice as Ao Nang, and it is not set up as well for tourism. Beach access is not as easy in Krabi town.

2 Ao Nang Town

If you are visiting this area for convenient beach access and good vibes, then we recommend staying around Ao Nang. There is plenty of accommodation in the area, and there are also a lot of amenities and services for tourists. The main disadvantage of this area is that it is more crowded, and the increased tourism means less authentic local food.

FIND A PLACE TO STAY – check out our guide to THE BEST places to stay in Ao Nang town

3 Landmark Beach

This is located a short walk from Ao Nang beach, and the vibe is very similar to Ao Nang. There is a fun night market in this area (the Landmark Night Market). The prices are a little higher around here, but you can still find some good deals. This area also has a commercial feel with some western brand shops. There is even an Irish Bar.

4 Tonsai Beach

This is a beautiful and remote beach and has also a top spot for climbing. This area has a couple of cheaper guest houses (compared to Railay where you can only find expensive resorts). So if you are looking for a beautiful and tranquil stay in the area on a low budget, we recommend Tonsai.

5 Railay Beach

This is a very beautiful and iconic beach in the area; whether you stay on Railay Beach or not, we definitely recommend a visit. The main disadvantage is that the resorts are relatively expensive in this area, starting at around £100 per night. There is a reasonable selection of cafes and restaurants around this beach; however, food prices are higher than Ao Nang.

5 The Krabi District

If you want to escape the hustle and bustle and get away from the crowds of tourists, you may want to stay in the broader Krabi district. We don’t recommend doing this unless you have strong reasons. Most of the interesting things to see and do in the area are in close proximity to Krabi town and Ao Nang (except for the Emerald Pool & hot spring). Moreover, if you stay further afield in the Krabi district, there are fewer shops, restaurants, and amenities. ALSO, many tours and activities will not offer free pick up if you are staying out of town.

In summary, we recommend staying in Ao Nang or the Landmark Beach area unless you have good reasons to stay in a different destination. Ao Nang and Landmark are beautiful areas and are very convenient for activities and tours.

Is Krabi a Good Destination for Families?

Don’t miss our FULL GUIDE to family travel in Krabi

If you’re planning to travel to Thailand with kids, you will probably have very specific needs and goals. Doing anything with kids is notoriously challenging, so we recommend planning your trip carefully.

In our opinion, Krabi is one of the top destinations in Thailand for family travel. The area is very well set up for tourism with plenty of convenience stores, restaurants, cafes, and tour operators. This makes it very easy to enjoy the area. If you need to buy snacks, nappies, or wet wipes, then there are lots of 7-Eleven stores around. This is also a fantastic area to find activities for kids; taking boat rides to the islands is a lot of fun for families.

There are opportunities to connect with wildlife and animals; there are several elephant sanctuaries in the area which are fantastic for older kids. Krabi has plenty of opportunities for adventurous families to explore the area. Whether you want to kayak through a Mangrove Forest or go on an intrepid jungle adventure to the Emerald Pool and hot springs. There is also a lot of excellent family-friendly accommodation in the area.

Don’t forget to find a great Family Friendly Hotel in Krabi

When is the Best Time of Year to Visit Krabi?

Krabi is a beautiful and fun destination to visit any time of the year. You can find spells of beautiful dry, clear weather throughout the year, and you can also experience rainy days throughout the year. Rainstorms in this area tend to be relatively short and intense, and they normally pass in an hour or two. So a rainy day is unlikely to affect your itinerary too much.

The wettest months are September and October, and the driest months are from January to March. This is a beautiful area to visit, rainy or dry. In the wet season, sunsets can be very impressive in this area because the light reflects off the clouds. However, if you are planning to go snorkeling and swimming, the water is less clear during the rainy period.

Find out more in our FULL GUIDE on the Best Time of Year to Visit Krabi

Can You Find ATM Machines in Krabi?

There are plenty of ATM machines around Krabi, and ATM machines in this area generally accept international cards, especially if you are using Visa, Mastercard, or Maestro. There is a standard charge of 220 baht for international transactions, so we recommend maximizing your withdrawal limit and taking out money in larger lump sums (remember the charges add up each time you withdraw from a cash machine!) 

When you are using ATM machines in the area, you will also be asked whether you accept that exchange rate or whether you want to skip the conversion. If you are using a good international bank card that allows a fair exchange rate, we recommend skipping the conversion and letting your bank work out the exchange rate. In our experience, this has consistently been cheaper than letting the local bank do the conversion. Many shops and restaurants in the area also accept debit and credit cards (and you can often do contactless transactions). Some places may have minimum spending limits for this or charge a percentage fee for a card payment.

What Shops Are Available in Krabi?

One of the advantages of visiting Krabi is the shops, restaurants, and amenities in the area. Firstly, there are plenty of convenience stores around; 7-Eleven stores in the area tend to sell a wide range of very useful products, including snacks, drinks, fresh food, fruit, and a wide selection of toiletries. If you’re traveling with kids, you can easily buy nappies in 7-eleven stores.

There are also plenty of shops selling clothing and gifts; you can even find shops selling Western brand name clothes in the area. In some cases, these are fake versions of brand name clothing, and in other cases, you can find legit brand names such as Rip Curl, Billabong, and Under Armour. If you are paying high prices for brand name clothing, we recommend inspecting the clothing carefully to check the quality; remember you will not have the same level of aftercare and customer service compared to buying in your home country.

There are also plenty of bars in the area; this is particularly true in Ao Nang and the Landmark beach area. You can find cocktails, wine, and beer very easily.

What Are the Disadvantages of Visiting Krabi?

We have said lots of positive things about visiting Krabi; however, it is important to have the full picture so you can make an informed decision. If you have a couple of weeks in Thailand and you are looking for an enjoyable and adventurous trip, we recommend spending a few days in Krabi and then traveling to some of the other stunning destinations in the south of Thailand, such as Khao Sok, Phuket, Koh Phangan, or Koh Tao.

Krabi does have lots of amazing things to do; however, it is a relatively touristy and expensive area. There are fewer opportunities for authentic local experiences around Krabi. If you really want to experience some amazing Thai culture and local food, you will need to get off the beaten track and explore some other areas around south Thailand.

Not only does the popularity of this area push the prices up and the quality down, it also means that experiences are likely to be shared with many other people, and you will find it difficult to break away from the crowds. By going off the beaten track, you will be able to find more authentic local experiences and “have places to yourself” more frequently.

We don’t like to leave it on a negative note. Krabi is a fantastic place to visit in Thailand! There are loads of fantastic things to do in the area. Krabi is a very unique and beautiful landscape. We hope this article has helped you plan and get a better feel for the area.