Emerald Pool
A spring-fed green pool you can swim in, an 800 m walk or a 1.4 km boardwalk loop from the gate. ฿400 for foreign adults, open 08:30 to 16:30.
Plan your visit
- Hours
- Daily 08:30–16:30
Book Popular Activities Online
Booking platforms like GetYourGuide give you instant confirmation and, on many activities, free cancellation — and you can read recent reviews before committing. Compare with local agencies for multi-day trips where negotiation might save more.
Finding your way around Emerald Pool
Layouts, fares and hours change. If something here has moved, use “Suggest a correction” at the bottom of the page.
From the gate to the Blue Pool
- The gate and parking lot
- Tickets are ฿400 for foreign adults and ฿200 for children, and a car costs ฿30. The direct path to the Emerald Pool starts here and is about 800 m.
- The nature trail
- A 1.4 km loop on a raised boardwalk through the forest, past streams and smaller pools, including the Crystal Pool. Quieter than the direct path.
- The Emerald Pool (Sa Morakot)
- The pool you're allowed to swim in, with toilets, showers and a small café beside it. Busiest from late morning, when the tour vans arrive.
- The Blue Pool
- About 400 m further on. Look only, because swimming is banned. Its path is open from about 10:00 to 15:30, and guides report it closes from May to October for the Gurney's pitta breeding season.
Getting there and around
- The sanctuary is about 60 km from Krabi Town, roughly an hour by car, and about 90 minutes from Ao Nang. No public transport runs out here, so come on a tour, by taxi, or in a rented car or scooter.
- The Khlong Thom hot stream waterfall is about 20 minutes away by car, and most tours pair the two for a half day inland.
Details
Full opening hours
Is this your business?Feature it
Tours that include Emerald Pool
Guided visits and day-tour combos that include Emerald Pool.
Why go, and how to do it well
Go early. The gates open at 08:30, and getting here then rather than at midday is the difference between a quiet green pool in the forest and a crowded one after the tour vans arrive. The Emerald Pool, Sa Morakot in Thai, sits in the Khao Pra-Bang Khram Wildlife Sanctuary in Khlong Thom, and its color comes from mineral-rich spring water running over limestone. It's the pool here you're allowed to swim in, so bring swimwear.
There are two ways in. A direct path of about 800 m runs from the parking lot to the pool, and a 1.4 km nature trail loops through the forest on a raised boardwalk, past streams and smaller pools including the Crystal Pool, named for its clear water. Both are easy walks, and the loop is the quieter and better one. There are toilets, showers and a small café by the Emerald Pool, so you don't need to carry much beyond water and sun cover.
Carry on about 400 m past the Emerald Pool and you reach the Blue Pool, a deeper spring whose minerals turn the water blue. You look, you don't swim. Swimming is banned there because of the soft bottom and the warm spring water, and its path is open only from about 10:00 to 15:30. Several guides also report that it closes from May to October for the breeding season of the Gurney's pitta, an endangered bird, so check at the gate in those months.
Entry is ฿400 for foreign adults and ฿200 for children, plus ฿30 to park a car, and the sanctuary is open daily from 08:30 to 16:30. It's about 60 km from Krabi Town, roughly an hour by car, and about 90 minutes from Ao Nang. No public transport runs out here, so you need a tour, a taxi, or a rented car or scooter. Most people pair it with the hot stream waterfall about 20 minutes away for a half day inland, and it's a good plan for a rainy day when the island tours are canceled.
Written by Mac Kiley · Updated Oct 2026
Tours that include Emerald Pool
Guided visits and day-tour combos that include Emerald Pool.
Stay within reach of Emerald Pool
SponsoredSearch Krabi hotels with your dates. Filter for free cancellation if you want to hold a room and decide later.
See hotels near Emerald PoolOpens Booking.com with your dates
Reviews from Google
Emerald Pool – A Must-Visit Natural Experience (Go Early!) Emerald Pool is a beautiful natural attraction and definitely a must-visit for both kids and adults. My biggest recommendation: go early. The gates open at 8:30 AM, and visiting in the morning makes a huge difference. By afternoon, it becomes very hot and extremely crowded, which takes away from the overall experience. From the main gate, there are two walking routes to reach the Emerald Pool: 800 meters – shorter and quicker 1000 meters – slightly longer but far more scenic and beautiful 👉 I strongly recommend choosing the 1000-meter walk, as it offers a much nicer nature trail and a more enjoyable experience. Inside the Emerald Pool compound, there are three pools: Emerald Pool – the only pool where swimming or bathing is allowed Blue Pool and Crystal Pool – strictly for viewing and photography only (no swimming) The trail from Emerald Pool to Blue Pool feels like a jungle walk and is very pleasant, especially for nature lovers. The entire area is clean and well maintained. There are clean changing rooms available, so don’t forget to carry your swimming clothes. Important things to note: Entry fee: 200 THB per person Personal food is not allowed inside the premises There is one snack and drinks shop inside, but unfortunately, the owner was quite rude, which slightly affected the experience. Overall, Emerald Pool is a wonderful natural attraction and truly a must-visit, especially for families. Plan it early, take the scenic route, and enjoy the calm beauty before the crowds arrive. ⭐ Highly recommended for all age groups!
A very special experience! We visited the Emerald Pool and Blue Pool. Upon arrival you have to pay the entrance fee to the national park, then make your way through the jungle paths leading to the Emerald Pool and Blue Pool. Luckily we chose a day that wasn’t too crowded, we arrived around 1 pm and most of the crowds had been gone already. There is a small cafe at the Emerald Pool, which you can also swim in. Showers and toilets are available nearby. The Blue Pool is stunning, deep blue water (no, it’s not a filter in those pictures!) and right in the middle of the jungle. Be aware that for theue Pool you must take a short walk right through the jungle.
This is a very cool, but at times difficult and dangerous activity to do. Perfect for the adventurous at heart. Definitely need shoes and a strong Will to get to the Emerald lagoon, lots of vertical climbs using knotted ropes down cliff faces, as well as back up again. Enjoy.
A sample of visitor reviews from Google. Read all 13,931 reviews on Google.
W7G9+27J, Khlong Thom Nuea, Khlong Thom District, Krabi 81120, Thailand
Open in Google MapsMore activities & tours nearby
All within a 5-minute walk of Emerald Pool.
Crystal Pool
Tips for Visiting Activities & Tours
Do Outdoor Activities in the Morning
Heat and humidity peak from noon to 3 PM. Schedule jungle treks, cycling tours, and outdoor cooking classes for early morning. Water activities are more flexible since you're in and out of the sea.
Emerald Pool: Frequently Asked Questions
Can you swim at the Emerald Pool?
Yes. The Emerald Pool itself is the designated swimming spot. Swimming is banned at the Blue Pool, and elsewhere in the sanctuary it's allowed only where signs say so.
How much is the Emerald Pool entrance fee?
฿400 for foreign adults and ฿200 for children, plus ฿30 to park a car. Thai nationals pay ฿30. The ticket covers the Blue Pool and the nature trail.
How long is the walk to the Emerald Pool?
About 800 m on the direct path from the parking lot, or 1.4 km on the nature-trail boardwalk loop. Both are easy. The Blue Pool is about 400 m further on.
How far is the Emerald Pool from Krabi Town and Ao Nang?
About 60 km and roughly an hour by car from Krabi Town, and about 90 minutes from Ao Nang. There's no public transport, so take a tour, a taxi or your own wheels.
Is the Blue Pool open all year?
Several guides report it closes from May to October for the breeding season of the Gurney's pitta, an endangered bird, so check at the gate in those months. When it's open, its path runs from about 10:00 to 15:30.
Is the Emerald Pool worth it?
Yes, if you're there for the 08:30 opening, before the tour vans. A forest boardwalk and a swim in spring water make an easy inland half day, especially paired with the hot stream nearby. At midday it's crowded and much less special.
When is the best time to visit Emerald Pool?
The best months to visit Krabi are November – April, with the most reliable weather. Crowds peak in December – February — going early in the day usually means fewer people. Months to think twice about: May – October (rough Andaman seas).
Also popular in Krabi
Tong Talay Seafood Buffet
Wat Suwan Khuha
Phra Nang Cave Beach
Chao Fah Park
Similar Activities & Tours across Thailand
Elephant Jungle Sanctuary Phuket
Pi Leh Bay
Mu Ko Lanta National Park
