Where to base yourself
Ao Nang has the widest choice of hotels, restaurants and tour desks and the easiest logistics. Railay West and East have mid-range and upscale resorts on a car-free peninsula. Ton Sai is basic bungalows, climbers’ cafés and limited electricity at the cheapest places. Krabi Town has guesthouses, the weekend walking street and the riverside night market. Quieter beaches such as Klong Muang and Tubkaek, north of Ao Nang, suit travellers who want a resort and a view of the Hong Islands.
Climbing: what to expect
Routes are graded on the French scale and beginners’ courses stay on climbs of about 5 to 6a. A half day is enough to learn to tie in, belay and get up three or four routes; three-day courses teach lead climbing. Bring thin socks if you dislike hire shoes, and avoid the middle of the day on sun-facing walls. Deep-water soloing — climbing ropeless above the sea from a boat — is offered by Railay operators in calm conditions for confident swimmers.
Food and drink
Southern Thai cooking is hotter and more turmeric-yellow than what you may know from Bangkok: look for gaeng som (sour fish curry), khua kling (dry-fried curry mince), grilled seafood and roti with curry for breakfast in Muslim-run cafés. Krabi Town’s night markets are the best-value place to try them. Much of the local population is Muslim; alcohol is sold in tourist areas but not everywhere.
Money and costs
ATMs and exchange booths are plentiful in Ao Nang and Krabi Town; Railay has a few ATMs that sometimes run dry in high season, and Ton Sai is close to cash-only. As a rough guide, shared island tours are among the cheapest in the Andaman, while private longtail charters are priced per boat and are good value for groups of four or more.
Safety and responsible travel
- Swim inside the roped areas at island stops; longtail propellers are exposed.
- Do not feed monkeys at Railay, Ao Thalane or the Tiger Cave Temple — they bite and steal.
- Take nothing from the reefs or beaches, and use reef-safe sunscreen in the national parks, where some chemical sunscreens are banned.
- In the wet season, red flags on west-facing beaches mean dangerous rip currents.
- See our responsible travel guide for park fees and marine-park rules.
Sample plans
1 day: Railay sampler
Early longtail from Ao Nang to Railay West. Half-day climbing course in the morning, lunch on the walking street, then Phra Nang Cave Beach as the day-trippers leave. Stay for sunset on Railay West and take a boat back before dark.
3 days: rock, sea and mangroves
Day 1 as above. Day 2: Four Islands or Hong Islands by longtail or speedboat. Day 3: morning kayaking at Ao Thalane, then the Tiger Cave Temple stairway in the cooler late afternoon and dinner at Krabi Town’s night market.
5 days: Krabi and the islands
Add a full day inland to the Emerald Pool and hot springs, then take the ferry to Koh Phi Phi or Koh Lanta for a night or two — or reverse the order and finish on Railay with a second, longer climbing day.
