Krabi in brief
Krabi (กระบี่) is a mainland province, not an island. Visitors stay in three kinds of places: by Ao Nang and Klong Muang beaches on the mainland, on the Railay peninsula, reached only by boat, and on Koh Lanta island in the south of the province. Krabi Town sits on a river mouth and has no beach. Areas for living and property values are on the Krabi page.
| Where to stay | What for |
|---|---|
| Ao Nang | a first trip: beach, boats to Railay and the islands, 33 minutes from the airport |
| Railay | 1-3 days by the cliffs without cars |
| Klong Muang | a quiet beach and resorts, a car helps |
| Koh Lanta | long beaches and the driest winter, a ferry on the way |
| Krabi Town | closer to the airport and Klong Jilad pier, no beach |
When to go to Krabi
The dry season runs from December to April, the rainy season from May to November. Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) normals for the province’s two stations:
| Month | Krabi Town, mm | Rainy days | Koh Lanta, mm | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December | 90.3 | 11.1 | 64.6 | start of the dry season |
| January | 96.8 | 7.7 | 31.0 | almost no rain on Lanta |
| February | 35.9 | 4.3 | 24.1 | the driest month |
| March | 108.4 | 8.3 | 69.0 | hot, mean maximum 34.7 °C |
| April | 142.2 | 12.7 | 121.6 | rain becomes more frequent |
| May-July | 210-225 | 17.5-17.6 | 228-289 | rainy season |
| August-September | 273-286 | 18.2-19.2 | 319-342 | Maya Bay closed 1 August-30 September |
| October | 292.9 | 20.6 | 297.5 | the wettest month at Krabi Town |
| November | 198.6 | 17.5 | 148.4 | transition month |
Temperatures barely change: monthly averages range from 26.8 to 28.8 °C at Krabi Town. In the rainy season boat trips are cancelled in rough seas, while mainland sights stay open all year.
What to see in Krabi
| Place | What it is | DNP fee for foreigners |
|---|---|---|
| Railay and Phra Nang beach | cliff-lined peninsula, boat only from Ao Nang | 200 baht (Phra Nang is in the park) |
| Poda, Chicken and Tub islands | islands off Ao Nang, the four-island trip | 200 baht |
| Phi Phi Don, Phi Phi Le, Bamboo Island | outer islands of the same park, Maya Bay | 400 baht |
| Hong islands | lagoon and beaches in Than Bok Khorani National Park | 300 baht |
| Koh Rok, Koh Ngai, Hin Daeng | islands and reefs of Mu Ko Lanta National Park | 400 baht |
| Emerald Pool (Sa Morakot) | natural pool in the forest of Khlong Thom district, swimming allowed | not in the DNP table |
| Tiger Cave Temple (Wat Tham Suea) | monastery near town, stairs up a hill to a Buddha statue | no DNP fee |
Fees per the DNP table, 02.06.2023 edition, in force in October 2026. Children pay half.
Maya Bay. The bay on Phi Phi Le closes every year from 1 August to 30 September; in 2026 it reopened on 1 October (Time Out Bangkok, 29.09.2026). Swimming has been banned there since the bay reopened in January 2022. More in our Phi Phi guide.
Closed in 2026. Per the DNP closure table for 2026: snorkelling and diving off the west side of Chicken Island closed from 16 May 2026, and the summit trail of Khao Phanom Bencha closes every year from 16 May to 30 September. Before you go, check the DNP park status.
Getting there and around
| Route | km | Time without traffic |
|---|---|---|
| Krabi airport (KBV) to Ao Nang Beach | 27.7 | 33 min |
| Phuket airport (HKT) to Ao Nang Beach | 156.9 | about 2 h 25 min |
| KBV airport to Saladan pier, Koh Lanta | 75.8 | about 1 h 40 min without waiting for the ferry |
| Ao Nang to the Tiger Cave Temple | 22.8 | 27 min |
| Ao Nang to the Emerald Pool | 70.8 | about 1 h 15 min |
OSRM estimates on OpenStreetMap data, 17.10.2026. Longtails to Railay and the islands off Ao Nang leave from the beach; boats to Phi Phi and Lanta leave from Klong Jilad pier near town. Boat fares and timetables change with the season; we found no official price list online and do not publish one.
Day trips to Krabi from Phuket are covered in our Krabi day trip guide.
FAQ
When is the best time to visit Krabi?
December to April. Under TMD normals for Krabi station, February has 35.9 mm of rain over 4 days, January 96.8 mm and March 108.4 mm. Koh Lanta is drier still: 24-31 mm in January and February. From May to November it rains on 17-21 days a month.
Is it worth going to Krabi in October?
If you are going for the sea and islands, December is better: October is the wettest month at Krabi Town (292.9 mm, 21 rainy days). Maya Bay is open by October, from 1 October in 2026, but boats are cancelled in bad weather. Mainland sights such as the Tiger Cave Temple and the Emerald Pool work all year.
What is the weather like in Krabi in November?
It is a transition month. TMD normals give Krabi Town 198.6 mm of rain over 17.5 days and Koh Lanta 148.4 mm over 15 days. That is much drier than October but not yet the dry season, which starts in December.
What can I see in Krabi in 3 days?
Day one: Railay and Phra Nang beach by longtail from Ao Nang. Day two: Poda and Chicken islands or Phi Phi by boat. Day three: the mainland, with the Tiger Cave Temple near town and the Emerald Pool 71 km from Ao Nang. With time to spare, the Hong islands lagoon.
How much are national park fees in Krabi?
Per the DNP table, 02.06.2023 edition, for a foreign adult: Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi 200 baht, 400 baht on Phi Phi Don, Phi Phi Le and Bamboo Island; Than Bok Khorani (Hong) 300 baht; Mu Ko Lanta 200 baht, 400 baht at Koh Rok and Hin Daeng. Children pay half. Keep the receipt with you.
Can you swim at Maya Bay?
No. The national park has banned swimming at Maya Bay since the bay reopened in January 2022; visitors land via a pier in Loh Samah Bay. The bay closes every year from 1 August to 30 September.
Where should I stay for a holiday in Krabi?
Ao Nang is easiest for a first trip: boats to Railay and the islands leave from here and the airport is 33 minutes away. Railay suits 1-3 days by the cliffs, Klong Muang a quiet stay with a car, Koh Lanta long beaches and a dry winter. The areas are compared on the Krabi page.
How do I get to Krabi from Phuket?
By road it is 156.9 km from Phuket airport to Ao Nang, about 2 hours 25 minutes without traffic by OSRM. By sea there are ferries and island tours; timetables change with the season and are best checked with the operator.
Sources
- TMD. Climatological Data of Thailand for 30 Year Period (1991-2020), Krabi (48 563) and Ko Lanta (48 566) stations
- DNP. National park entrance fees for individuals, 02.06.2023 edition (CSV)
- DNP. Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park
- DNP. Than Bok Khorani National Park
- DNP. National park opening and closure status
- DNP. National park closure table for 2026 (B.E. 2569)
- Time Out Bangkok. Maya Bay reopens October 1 after annual closure (29.09.2026)
- Bangkok Post. Jan 1 reopening of Maya Bay confirmed
- OpenStreetMap, OSRM route: Ao Nang Beach to the Emerald Pool
- OpenStreetMap, OSRM route: Ao Nang Beach to Wat Tham Suea
- OpenStreetMap, OSRM route: KBV airport to Ao Nang Beach
- OpenStreetMap, OSRM route: Phuket airport (HKT) to Ao Nang Beach
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