WHAT TO DO IN KRABI

The karst of the matter

Small, provincial capital turned international travel hub, Krabi serves up a slice of everything Southern Thailand is famous for: emerald seas, palm-fringed beaches, soaring karst cliffs, excellent food, and a laid-back culture. With an international airport, quick access from Bangkok or Phuket, and so many island getaways close at hand, you probably won't spent much time in Krabi Town itself. But if you're arriving direct from an international flight, you might want to pull up a beach chair and stay awhile. Ao Nang, Krabi's main resort beach, can remedy any jet lag with a healthy dose of sun and sea. Once you're ready for action, explore the nearby Ao Luk sea caves and mangrove lagoons by kayak, or learn how to rock climb at legendary Railay Beach. Visit Tiger Cave Temple for a dash of traditional culture; or head inland to Waree Raksa Hot Spring and Spa, set in a peaceful rainforest. For all its creature comforts, Krabi mainly serves as a gateway to the Andaman Islands, particularly the popular Phi Phi Islands and the divers' paradise of Koh Lanta. Heading toward Phuket from Krabi, cruise beneath the dramatic limestone cliffs of Phang Nga Bay, taking in Koh Tapu (aka James Bond Island), Hong Island, and Koh Phanak. You could get to most of these by ferry, but a private speedboat tour ensures you receive top-notch service and makes the most of your vacation time. As a bonus, your guide will know the best—and least-crowded—snorkeling spots along the way.

The climate of Krabi

Situated in Thailand, the province of Krabi experiences tropical monsoon climate conditions, also known as the Am type according to the Köppen climate classification. Placed near the equator, this region experiences little change in temperature throughout the year, with monthly averages ranging from 30°C (86°F) to 34°C (93.2°F). Moreover, sea temperatures remain very warm, fluctuating between 28°C (82.4°F) and 30°C (86°F) in the entire span of a year.

It is rainfall that marks the significant changes in Krabi's weather throughout the year. The rainy season, which lasts from May to November, sees significant rainfall with precipitation volume peaking in September at 355mm (13.98"). This coincides with high daylight values, staying above 12 hours from April to August. However, sunshine hours drop during this period, indicating a higher presence of cloud cover.

Meanwhile, between December and April, the rain gauge sees significantly less action, signifying a dry season. March registers the lowest rainfall at 24mm (0.94") despite nearly identical daylight and sunshine hours compared to other months.

Observing the UV index, it demonstrates consistently high values throughout the year. It reaches the peak at 12 from March to September, representing a cause for fair skin individuals to take protective measures against excessive sunlight exposure.

The best time to visit Krabi

Discerning travelers aiming to experience Krabi's tropical ambiance at its finest may want to consider visiting between December and March. During this period, the weather in Krabi is mainly dry and temperatures range from 30°C (86°F) to 34°C (93.2°F). The sea temperature remains inviting at 28°C (82.4°F) to 30°C (86°F). Rainfall drastically decreases compared to the other months of the year, thus lessening the probability of travel disruptions caused by weather conditions.

The worst time to visit Krabi

Travelers may face the most challenging weather conditions in Krabi from May to November when the monsoon season sets in. Particularly, September holds record rainfall at 355mm (13.98"). Besides, the sunshine hours reduce considerably, disparaging chances for sunbathing and other outdoor activities. Despite high sea temperatures and daylight hours, frequent rains may limit recreational beach activities.

Spring weather in Krabi

In Krabi, the spring season, recognized as March through May, harbors escalating temperatures, reaching up to 34°C (93.2°F). While March observes the lowest rainfall, by May the rainy season sets in, and precipitation increases to a substantial 292mm (11.5"). Sunshine hours notch down revealing the onset of the monsoon, nevertheless, the sea remains consistently warm at around 29°C (84.2°F) to 30°C (86°F).

Summer weather in Krabi

The summer months from June to August in Krabi are marked by the continued monsoon season. The high temperatures hover around 31°C (87.8°F) to 32°C (89.6°F), and the rainfall remains heavy with typical monthly measurements from 245mm (9.65") to 260mm (10.24"). Despite prolonged daylight hours reaching its climax at 12.6 hours in June, the reduction of sunshine hours to six per day signals the deciding influence of the monsoon on weather conditions.

Autumn weather in Krabi

Krabi's monsoon characteristically lingers into the autumn months from September to November. The temperature diagonal decreases slightly to stay between 30°C (86°F) to 31°C (87.8°F) whereas rainfall peaks in September with 355mm (13.98"), gradually diminishing towards November. Even though daylight hours start to decline, the sea temperature remains steady in the range of 29°C (84.2°F).

Winter weather in Krabi

The winter months from December to February in Krabi represent the advent of the drier season with rainfall levels taking a downward plunge, culminating at a low of 24mm (0.94") in February. Temperatures though continue to stay balmy, ranging from 31°C (87.8°F) to 34°C (93.2°F). The sea maintains favorable temperature for swimming at 28°C (82.4°F) to 30°C (86°F). Clearer skies prevail, translating into longer sunshine hours and encouraging outdoor explorations.

Krabi hotel recommendations

Here are a few suggestions for hotels in Krabi.

Each Krabi hotel recommendation below links to the hotel page at Agoda.com, a large online hotel booking website.

It’s hard to recommend hotels but all the suggestions below are hotels that we have either stayed at ourselves or that come highly recommended by our friends.

Ao Nang hotel suggestions

Most holiday makers stay in Ao Nang.

The Phra Nang Inn is an old favourite with a perfect beach front location.

In the same area is the Ao Nang Villa resort.

Away from the beach and very good value is the Marina Express Fisherman Hotel. 

Another lower-budget resort in a lovely jungle setting is the Green View Village resort.

For backpackers there are plenty of hotels to be found with cheap dorm rooms in the area north of Ao Nang mosque.

Haad Nopparat Thara hotel suggestions

In high season Ao Nang can feel a bit crowded. You can find more tranquility by staying on any one of the beaches nearby. Haad Nopparat Thara (or Hat Nopparathara) is just over the headland from Ao Nang but has a much quieter feel. Get a resort near the beach and eat at one of several beach side restaurants. This area is very convenient for the pier if you have day trip tours booked and you are not far from Ao Nang. The Holiday Inn takes a bit slice of the beach from real estate. Our recommendation in this area is the Centara Anda Devi Resort, but there are several other options in the same street. We really like the local, walking distance to two beaches and lots of eating options. The Centara feels like a 4 star resort at 3 star prices and the staff are the best.

Khlong Muang beach and Tub Kaek Beach

These two beaches offer an escape from the masses at Ao Nang but are still not isolated. There are some luxurious resorts here like the Amari Vogue, the Phulay Bay and the Nakamanda.

We think that Khlong Muang is a better beach than Tub Kaek beach. While it is secluded there are enough local places to eat that you won’t feel trapped by your resort.

A cheaper option on Khlong Muang beach is Pine Bungalow.

Railey beach resorts

We are not fans of Railey beach. It’s beach exploited by over development, with too many resorts crammed into a very small space. It’s also inconvenient for doing tours because it’s only accessible by longtail boat. The Sand Sea resort is an old favourite in prime location on Railey west beach.

Krabi Town hotel suggestions

If you are just transiting through the area you may stay a night in Krabi town and there are plenty of cheap clean hotels to rest your head. Krabi town is the provincial capital and does not have a beach. It’s nice to stay close to the river, try the Apo Hotel.

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Thai culture is predominantly an Indian culture, though many inhabitants of Krabi are descended from Chinese immigrants. While Buddhism defines much of Thailand's culture overall, Krabi is an eclectic mix of Muslim, Buddhist, and Chinese-Thai influences, with a small number of gypsies. Krabi's citizens celebrate a number of Chinese holidays and its Muslim population observes its share of rituals.  

The culture may seem, to the outsider, contradictory at times. While overall, there is an unstated mutual respect based on Buddhist traditions, partiality is shown to different sets at different times. For example, the elderly are generally deferred to, except in the presense of a monk, in which case, the monk is favored. So, status more than age is the standard adhered to. Women are generally on the lower rungs in regard to societal rank. 

Agriculture plays a large part in Krabi society, which is predominantly rural. Originally, Krabi was established as a source of elephants for  nearby Bangkok. Rubber, coconut, and pineapple plantations eventually covered much of the surrounding area, and was Krabi's major industry long before tourism.