Destination guide
Things to Do in Ao Nang
Longtails off the sand to Railay and the islands, and a night market every evening
The best thing to do in Ao Nang is get on a boat. A ฿100 longtail from the beach takes you to Railay and Phra Nang in 10 to 15 minutes, and the Four Islands and Hong Island boats leave from the same sand. Between boat days, walk the Monkey Trail over the headland to Pai Plong, watch the sunset from Ao Nang Beach, and eat at the Landmark night market, which runs every evening. Tiger Cave Temple, Dragon Crest and the Ao Thalane mangroves are all within about half an hour by road.
Below are sixteen things to do, ranked, with where each boat leaves from, this year's hours and prices, a plan for the rainy season and what to skip. For the rest of the province, from the Emerald Pool to Krabi Town, my things to do in Krabi guide has the full list.
Arriving in Krabi
Where to stay in Krabi
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Key Facts
The boats are the budget
Railay is ฿100 each way. A Four Islands day runs ฿750–1,200 plus a ฿200 park fee, Hong Island ฿1,200–1,400 plus ฿300, and a Phi Phi day ฿1,300–1,600 plus ฿400. Park fees are usually collected separately in cash, so ask what's included before you pay.
Three places to catch a boat
The longtails to Railay and the islands leave from the ticket booths on Ao Nang Beach. The Phi Phi ferry and speedboats leave Nopparat Thara pier, at the west end of the beach. When the sea is rough, use the Ao Nam Mao speedboat to Railay, a few minutes east, which runs every 30 minutes all year.
Most of the land is free
The beaches, the Monkey Trail and the night markets cost nothing to get in. Dragon Crest is ฿200, Din Daeng Doi ฿50–100, and recent visitors report a ฿50 charge at Tiger Cave Temple.
Start early
Phra Nang is quiet before 10:00, Tiger Cave's stairs are easiest at the 06:00 opening, and Dragon Crest stops admitting hikers at 14:00. Save the late afternoon for the beach, when the boats thin out and the sun goes down over the islands.
Songthaews to Krabi Town cost ฿60
The white songthaews run between Ao Nang and Krabi Town for ฿60 by day and ฿80 after 18:00. For Tiger Cave, Dragon Crest or Klong Muang, take a Grab or rent a scooter for the day.
The 16 Best Things to Do in Ao Nang
Ranked by how much I'd prioritize each one on a first stay of about four nights in Ao Nang. The boat days come first because they're the reason to base yourself here, and the list mixes in the walks, markets and short drives that fill the days in between.
1. Railay and Phra Nang Beach, 15 minutes by longtail
The best half dayRailay is a peninsula with no road in, and the longtail from Ao Nang Beach is how almost everyone gets there. Buy a ticket at the booths on the beachfront for ฿100 each way, wait for the boat to fill, and you'll step off into the shallows on Railay West. From there it's a short walk across to Railay East and on along the cliff path to Phra Nang.
I proposed to my wife on Phra Nang Beach in 2023, and Railay is still one of my favorite trips in Thailand. Go before 10:00, because from late morning every Four Islands boat in the province stops at Phra Nang. Shared boats run from about 08:00 to 18:00, and the evening fare rises to about ฿150. My Railay Beach guide has the four beaches, the viewpoint and where to stay if you'd rather spend a night.
- Getting there
- Longtail from the booths on Ao Nang Beach, or the Ao Nam Mao speedboat (฿150) when the sea is rough.
- When to go
- Leave at 08:00 and come back for sunset.
2. The Four Islands and the Thale Waek sandbar, Off Ao Nang, by longtail or speedboat
The classic boat dayKo Poda, Chicken Island, Tup Island and Phra Nang, with snorkeling in between. The trick is the tide. At low water a sandbar rises between Tup and its neighbors and you walk between islands through ankle-deep sea, which is why departure times move with the tide table. Longtail versions run ฿750–1,000, speedboats ฿1,000–1,150, and the ฿200 park fee is extra.
To do it yourself, longtails from Ao Nang Beach run to Ko Poda alone for about ฿300 return once six people sign up, coming back around 16:00. The sandbar gets crowded after 10:00, so I'd pay for an early departure.
- Getting there
- Tours pick up at Ao Nang hotels or leave from the beach.
- When to go
- The first clear morning of your stay, timed to low tide.
3. The Monkey Trail to Pai Plong Beach, The south end of Ao Nang Beach
A free walk to a quiet coveA short path of wooden steps and walkway climbs the headland at the south end of Ao Nang Beach, beside the Centara Grand, and drops down a steep staircase to Pai Plong, a small cove with far fewer people than the main beach. It takes 10 to 15 minutes each way and costs nothing.
Long-tailed macaques live in the trees along the way and grab anything loose, so keep food zipped away and don't feed them. The steps get slippery after rain. The resort manages the beach, but it's open to the public during the day, so walk over in the morning and come back before dark.
- Getting there
- Walk to the end of the beach past the Centara Grand, or take a longtail for five minutes.
- When to go
- Early morning, before the heat.
4. Hong Island, About 30 minutes by speedboat, north
The lagoonThe best alternative to the Four Islands, with an enclosed lagoon you enter through a gap in the cliffs, a white-sand beach with snorkeling off it, and a viewpoint at the top of a 15 to 20 minute stair climb. Tours run ฿1,200–1,400 by longtail or speedboat, and the ฿300 park fee is often extra.
The lagoon entry depends on the tide, and the kayak versions let you paddle it rather than motor through, which I'd pay the difference for. The viewpoint is open from 08:30 to 16:30.
- Getting there
- Tours from Ao Nang, Nopparat Thara and Railay.
- When to go
- A calm morning between November and April.
5. Sunset on Ao Nang Beach, The beachfront road
The eveningAo Nang Beach is about 1.4 km of sand facing the islands, and it's better as a launchpad and an evening walk than a swimming beach, with longtails coming and going all day. At sunset people spread out along the sand to watch the boats against the karsts, and the fire shows start after dark.
Mornings are the other quiet slot, when the promenade is empty. Tour sellers line the beach, so compare prices or book through your hotel before you commit.
- Getting there
- Walkable from most of Ao Nang's hotels.
- When to go
- The hour before sunset.
6. Ao Nang Landmark Night Market, Opposite Nopparat Thara Beach
Dinner any nightThe big food market, open every night from 17:00 to 23:00 and cooking by about 18:00. Most Thai dishes cost ฿70–100, five skewers about ฿100 and a small beer ฿70–100, with live music on the stage and fire shows on weekends.
Treat it as dinner rather than shopping, and read the seating signs, because there's a beer zone and alcohol-free zones. It's about 2 km up the beach road from the middle of Ao Nang, ฿80–90 by Grab or tuk-tuk.
- Getting there
- Grab or tuk-tuk up the beach road, or a 20 to 30 minute walk.
- When to go
- After 18:00.
7. Tiger Cave Temple (Wat Tham Suea), About half an hour inland
The view, if you can climbAbout 1,260 steps climb to a golden Buddha and a 360-degree view over Krabi's karsts. Most people take 30 to 60 minutes up, some risers come close to knee height, and there's a water tap at the top. The temple at the foot of the hill, a working forest monastery, is worth the trip even if you skip the stairs.
It's open 06:00 to 18:00, and recent visitors report a ฿50 cash charge for foreigners. Go at opening or in the last two hours, cover your shoulders and knees, and keep food away from the macaques on the lower steps.
- Getting there
- Grab or scooter. Tours pair it with the Emerald Pool.
- When to go
- 06:00, before the heat.
8. Kayaking the Ao Thalane mangroves, North of Ao Nang
A boat trip that rarely cancelsFlat, sheltered channels through mangroves and limestone canyon walls, paddled in stable tandem kayaks with a guide. Half-day trips with hotel pickup run ฿900–1,200 and suit complete beginners.
Because the mangroves are sheltered from the swell, this is the boat trip that still runs in the rainy season. The tide changes the water, so ask your operator when they go out.
- Getting there
- Hotel pickup, or drive to Ao Thalane pier.
- When to go
- A morning, any season.
9. Noppharat Thara Beach, West of the Ao Nang headland
A quieter beach walkThe long beach that runs on from Ao Nang past the western headland, about 3 km from the center, shaded by a line of trees and much calmer than the strip. It belongs to the national park, and the mainland beach is free.
Check the tide before you plan a swim. At low tide the sea goes out a long way and the shallows turn murky, which is when the beach is better for a walk and the crabs on the flats.
- Getting there
- A short Grab or songthaew up the beach road.
- When to go
- Late afternoon at high tide.
10. A day on Koh Phi Phi, From Nopparat Thara pier
Maya BayDay tours (฿1,300–1,600 plus the ฿400 park fee) do Maya Bay, the Pi Leh lagoon, Monkey Beach and snorkeling off Bamboo Island. Book the earliest departure, because Maya Bay is far quieter before the main wave of boats, and remember it closes from 1 August to 30 September.
To stay a night instead, the Ao Nang Princess ferry leaves Nopparat Thara pier at 09:30 and takes about two hours (฿650 with hotel pickup), and Bundhaya's speedboats cross in about 50 minutes for about ฿900. My Krabi to Koh Phi Phi guide has every departure.
- Getting there
- Hotel pickup, or Nopparat Thara pier at the west end of the beach.
- When to go
- The earliest boat, November to April.
11. The Dragon Crest hike, Near Tubkaek, northwest
The best viewpoint you earnA 3.7 km trail through forest to a rock ledge over the coast and the islands. Count on three to four hours round trip, steep in places but a trail rather than a climb, with ฿200 entry in cash.
The gate opens at 08:00 and stops letting hikers in at 14:00. I'd be there at opening, with shoes that grip and more water than you think you need, and I'd skip it after heavy rain.
- Getting there
- Grab or scooter to the trailhead near Tubkaek Beach.
- When to go
- 08:00, November to April.
12. Sunrise at Din Daeng Doi, Nong Thale, 20 to 30 minutes by car
SunriseA hilltop viewpoint over Krabi's limestone peaks and forest. The gates open at 05:30 and the sun comes up around 06:00 to 06:30, so leave Ao Nang at about 05:00 and bring a flashlight for the 10 to 15 minute walk up.
Entry is ฿50 to ฿100, the higher figure including a ride up the hill, and a small café at the top sells drinks and roti. It's open until 19:00, so it works for sunset too.
- Getting there
- Grab or scooter. Arrange the ride back before you go up.
- When to go
- Sunrise.
13. Klong Muang Beach, 15 to 20 minutes northwest
A quiet beach dayA long, quiet beach backed by resorts, facing west toward the Hong Islands, so sunset is the main event. The water is shallow and calm in the dry season and best at high tide. At low tide you can walk most of the way out to the small island offshore.
There's little to walk to beyond a few beach bars, which is the point. Bring water shoes for the shells and coral fragments, and arrange your ride back, since there's no public transport worth relying on.
- Getting there
- Grab or scooter up the coast road.
- When to go
- An afternoon into sunset.
14. A Thai cooking class, Ao Nang
A rainy morningCooking with Dao runs about five hours with a market visit and only four or five students, so it fills up in season. At Ya's Krabi Thai Cookery you choose your own dishes and take home a cookbook. Either way, you eat what you cook.
- Getting there
- Both are in Ao Nang. Most classes pick up from hotels.
- When to go
- Book a few days ahead in high season.
15. Following Giants Elephant Sanctuary, Khao Khram, inland
Elephants, no ridingA no-touch sanctuary for 14 rescued elephants, with no riding, bathing, feeding or shows. You watch the herd in open country with a guide. The 90-minute visit is ฿1,700 for adults and ฿950 for children, and the half day ฿2,750 and ฿1,750 with free transfers from Ao Nang.
Book at least 12 hours ahead for the 08:30 programs, or you'll be asked to make your own way there.
- Getting there
- The sanctuary's transfer from Ao Nang.
- When to go
- Morning.
16. A Thai massage, Ao Nang
After a boat dayMassage shops sit three to a block in Ao Nang. Massage Corner hands you a card to mark where you want work and how hard, and Royal Palm Spa's therapists get named in review after review. Both are open from 10:00 to 23:00, so a late slot after a day on the islands is easy, though I'd book ahead from November to February.
- Getting there
- Walkable from the beachfront.
- When to go
- Evening, after the boats.
Ao Nang Boats, Sights and Markets, Hours and Prices
| What | Open or departs | Cost | Go |
|---|---|---|---|
| Longtail to Railay | About 08:00–18:00, leaves at about 8 people | ฿100 one way, about ฿150 in the evening, private about ฿600–800 | 08:00 |
| Ao Nam Mao speedboat to Railay | Every 30 minutes, 08:00–18:00, all year | ฿150 one way, ฿250 return | When the sea is rough |
| Four Islands tour | Times follow the tide | ฿750–1,200 + ฿200 park fee | Low tide, early |
| Longtail to Ko Poda | Leaves at 6 people, back about 16:00 | About ฿300 return + ฿200 park fee | Morning |
| Hong Island tour | Day tours, viewpoint 08:30–16:30 | ฿1,200–1,400 + ฿300 park fee | Calm morning |
| Phi Phi day tour | Early departures | ฿1,300–1,600 + ฿400 park fee | The first boat |
| Ao Nang Princess to Phi Phi | 09:30 from Nopparat Thara pier | ฿650 with hotel pickup | Book the day before |
| Monkey Trail to Pai Plong | Daylight | Free | Early morning |
| Ao Nang Landmark Night Market | 17:00–23:00 daily | Dishes ฿70–100 | After 18:00 |
| Night Market Place | 17:00–22:00 daily | Free entry | Near opening |
| Blue Mountain Market | 17:00–23:00 daily | Free entry | After 18:00 |
| Ao Nang Wednesday Night Market | Wed 16:00–20:00 | About half the Landmark's prices | 16:00 |
| Ao Nang Local Market | Mon, Tue, Fri 13:30–19:00 | Meals under ฿100 | Afternoon |
| Tiger Cave Temple | 06:00–18:00 daily | ฿50 cash reported | 06:00 |
| Dragon Crest | 08:00–14:00 entry | ฿200 | 08:00 |
| Din Daeng Doi | 05:30–19:00 daily | ฿50–100 | Sunrise |
| Ao Thalane kayaking | Half-day trips | ฿900–1,200 with pickup | Morning |
| Following Giants | Programs from 08:30 | ฿1,700 (90 min), ฿2,750 (half day) | Morning |
| Shell Cemetery (Susan Hoi) | 08:00–17:00 daily | ฿200 (Thais ฿40) | Low tide |
| Massage Corner, Royal Palm Spa | 10:00–23:00 daily | Varies by treatment | Evening |
Hours come from each place's Google listing in our records and can change on Thai holidays. Boat fares are the site's own figures from the Railay, Krabi and Phi Phi guides. National park fees are usually paid in cash on the day.
Boat Days From Ao Nang, and Where Each One Leaves
Ao Nang has no single pier, which confuses a lot of first visits. The longtails to Railay, Pai Plong and the Four Islands leave from the sand in the middle of Ao Nang Beach, where the boat club booths sell paper tickets. Buy there, not from the driver. A low tide or a rough sea can move the Railay departures up the coast to Nopparat Thara.
Nopparat Thara pier, at the west end of the beach, is where the bigger boats go from, the Ao Nang Princess ferry to Phi Phi at 09:30 and the speedboats that follow it. Most island tours collect you from your hotel and take you to whichever beach or pier they're using that day, so you rarely need to know which one.
When the sea is up, two other piers matter. The Ao Nam Mao speedboat crosses to Railay East every 30 minutes all year, and Ao Thalane, north of Ao Nang, is where the mangrove kayak trips start and where the speedboats to Koh Yao Noi leave.
The Seven Islands Sunset and Plankton Trip
The one boat trip that leaves in the afternoon. Seven Islands tours sail out of Ao Nang with a swim stop and come back after sunset, and on dark-moon nights a plankton swim turns every stroke into light. Operators schedule around the moon, so check the dates before you build an evening around it.
What to Do in Ao Nang When It Rains
From May to October the southwest monsoon brings regular downpours, often in the afternoon, and rain on 15 to 19 days a month, with September and October the wettest. The sea is the bigger problem. Island tours cancel when the swell builds, so book them for your first clear morning rather than your last day, and leave a spare day.
Plenty still works. The longtails to Railay run on most days, and the Ao Nam Mao speedboat is the steadier crossing. The Ao Thalane mangroves are sheltered, so the kayak trips rarely cancel. A cooking class fills a wet morning, the Ao Nang Local Market is roofed, and the massage shops stay open until 23:00. Inland, the Emerald Pool and the hot springs are at their fullest in the rains, and Tiger Cave Temple's stairs are best in the early morning, which is often dry. Hotels run 30–50% cheaper.
Things to Do in Ao Nang at Night
Ao Nang's evenings start on the beach at sunset and move to the markets. The Landmark market runs every night, Night Market Place and Blue Mountain Market are closer to the strip, and on Wednesdays the local market beside the 7-Eleven runs from 16:00 to 20:00 at about half the Landmark's prices. My Krabi night markets guide has every market by day of the week.
For a drink, Bamboo Beach Club turns from a pool-and-loungers day club into a DJ and fire-show night after sunset, and Boogie Bar, open from 15:00 to 01:30, is the easygoing bar where people actually talk to each other. The walking street behind the beach has the shops, restaurants and bars. For Muay Thai, the Ao Nang Landmark boxing stadium beside the night market holds fight nights several times a week, and Bull Muay Thai, on the Khao Kaeo road, takes drop-in students for its training sessions.
On a Friday, Saturday or Sunday, take the songthaew to Krabi Town for the Walking Street market, 17:00 to about 22:00. The songthaew is ฿80 after 18:00, and in low season it only runs in daylight, so plan on a Grab back.
Arriving in Krabi
Top-Ranked Hotels in Krabi
The top of my ranked list of the 10 best hotels in Krabi. Each button opens the hotel on Booking.com with your dates filled in.
#2Sofitel Krabi Phokeethra Golf & Spa Resort4.7 (3,574 reviews)
Luxury resort near Krabi combining a championship golf course, full-service spa, and tropical grounds.
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#4Anana Ecological Resort Krabi4.7 (1,619 reviews)
Eco-minded resort in Ao Nang offering spa treatments, private pool suites, and a calm retreat with easy beach access.
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#5The Tubkaak Krabi Boutique Resort4.7 (1,506 reviews)
A beachfront boutique resort in Krabi offering pool villas, bay views, two restaurants, and a spa.
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Things to Do in Ao Nang With Kids
Ao Nang is an easy base with children, because the boats leave from the beach and the restaurants are a short walk away. The Four Islands by speedboat is the best family day, with short hops, shallow snorkeling and the sandbar walk. Following Giants charges ฿950 for a child on its 90-minute visit and includes transfers on its longer programs, and the Landmark market's covered seating and alcohol-free zones make dinner easy.
Keep small hands away from the macaques on the Monkey Trail and at Tiger Cave Temple, and leave the temple stairs and Dragon Crest for older children. Klong Muang's shallow water at high tide is calmer than Ao Nang's busy middle stretch.
What to Skip
Skip swimming in the middle of Ao Nang Beach at peak hours, when longtails are landing and leaving all along it. Swim at Pai Plong or out on the islands instead. Skip the Shell Cemetery at high tide, because the fossil slabs are underwater and you've paid ฿200 to look at the sea. Check the tide table first, or leave it off the list.
Don't buy a Railay ticket from a freelance tout, use the boat club booths. Don't book an island tour for your last morning in the rainy season, when a canceled boat leaves you no second chance. And skip any elephant camp that offers riding. Following Giants and the other no-riding sanctuaries are the ones to pick.
How Many Days in Ao Nang, and Where to Stay
Four nights covers it. One day for Railay and Phra Nang, one for the Four Islands or Hong Island, one for Tiger Cave or Dragon Crest with the Monkey Trail and a market in the evening, and a spare day for the weather or Phi Phi. If Railay is the reason you came, I'd spend two of those nights on the peninsula and the rest in Ao Nang.
Stay in the center to walk to the beach, the boats and dinner, or at the Noppharat Thara end for quieter evenings. My where to stay in Krabi guide compares Ao Nang with Railay, Krabi Town and Klong Muang, with hotels in each.
Krabi Airport (KBV) → Ao Nang
Getting in from the airport
Shared vans from Krabi airport to Ao Nang are ฿150–200, but they drop passengers hotel by hotel. A private car on 12Go is door-to-door in about 40 minutes for ฿700–800.
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Plan the rest of Krabi.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Things to Do in Ao Nang.
As Krabi's main beach town and the base for its boat trips. Longtails leave the beach for Railay and the Four Islands, tours collect from Ao Nang hotels for Hong Island and Phi Phi, and the town has the widest choice of hotels, restaurants and night markets on the Krabi coast.
By longtail from the ticket booths on Ao Nang Beach, ฿100 a person each way, 10 to 15 minutes, from about 08:00 to 18:00. The evening fare is about ฿150. When the sea is rough, the speedboat from Ao Nam Mao pier runs every 30 minutes to Railay East for ฿150.
About 10 to 15 minutes each way, from the south end of Ao Nang Beach by the Centara Grand, over the headland to Pai Plong Beach. It's free, the steps down to Pai Plong are steep, and it's slippery after rain. Keep food away from the macaques.
It's fine for a dip but not the best swimming in Krabi, because longtails land and leave along it all day. Swim away from where the boats come in, or go to Pai Plong, Railay West, Phra Nang or Klong Muang at high tide.
Longtail tours to the Four Islands leave from Ao Nang Beach, and the Phi Phi ferry and speedboats leave Nopparat Thara pier at the west end of the beach. Most tours pick you up at your hotel, so you rarely need to find the pier yourself.
Yes. The Ao Nang Landmark Night Market, opposite Nopparat Thara Beach, runs every night from 17:00 to 23:00, and Night Market Place and Blue Mountain Market are open every evening too. The cheaper local markets run on set days, Wednesday evenings beside the 7-Eleven and Monday, Tuesday and Friday afternoons at the Ao Nang Local Market.
Kayak the Ao Thalane mangroves, which rarely cancel, take a cooking class, book a massage, or go inland to the Emerald Pool and the hot springs. The longtails to Railay run on most rainy-season days, but island tours cancel in rough swell.
Four nights is about right, with a day each for Railay, an island tour and Tiger Cave or Dragon Crest, plus a spare day for the weather. Three nights works in the dry season if you skip Phi Phi.
Ao Nang for a beach trip, because the boats, the beach and the restaurants are all on foot. Krabi Town has no beach and is 25 to 30 minutes away by songthaew, but it's cheaper and closer to the airport.
Where to stay in Krabi
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Written by
Mac Kiley
I lived in Bangkok for four years and traveled the country from there. The guides are my own opinions, written the way I'd explain them to a friend planning a trip.
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