All the destinations in one table
| Destination | What you see | How long | Season | Not for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ao Nang | beach, boats to Railay and the islands, Nopparat Thara pier | 2 hours to a day | year round, boats may be suspended in rough seas | anyone who wants quiet |
| Railay and Phra Nang | cliffs, beaches, a shrine cave, climbing | half a day, 15-minute boat | best December-April | anyone with a pushchair or heavy luggage |
| Tiger Cave Temple | about 1,260 steps to a golden Buddha | 2-3 hours | year round, climb in the morning | people with bad knees |
| Emerald Pool | a warm forest pool, a hot waterfall | 2-3 hours on site | year round | anyone who wants quiet |
| Hong islands from Ao Nang | lagoon and beaches of the Hong islands | see the destination page | see the destination page | see the destination page |
| Koh Rok | islands of Mu Ko Lanta National Park | see the destination page | see the destination page | see the destination page |
| Koh Lanta | an island at the south of the province | see the destination page | see the destination page | see the destination page |
Durations and hours from Thai Holiday Guide, Civitatis and Phuket Tour as of 18.10.2026, distances by OSRM on OpenStreetMap data. Checked 18.10.2026.
By boat from Ao Nang
Ao Nang is the main point for sea days: longtails wait right on the beach, and ferries and boats to farther destinations leave from Nopparat Thara pier.
- Railay and Phra Nang. A peninsula with no roads, about 15 minutes by boat. West Railay for swimming, Phra Nang with its shrine cave, East Railay with mangroves
- The Hong islands. A lagoon and beaches in Than Bok Khorani National Park, 300 baht for foreigners per DNP
- Koh Rok. Islands in a zone of Mu Ko Lanta National Park, 400 baht for foreigners per DNP
- The four-islands route. Koh Poda, Koh Tup and Koh Kai, covered in the excursion from Phuket
Across the mainland
Mainland trips depend less on the weather and are taken in the wet season too.
- Tiger Cave Temple. A monastery 22.8 km from Ao Nang (27 minutes by road), free entry, hours per the guide 06:00-18:00
- Emerald Pool. 70.8 km from Ao Nang (about 1 h 15 min), 400 baht for foreigners, swimming only in the main pool
- Khlong Thom hot waterfall. Separate from the sanctuary, with its own ticket, covered on the Emerald Pool page
The tour from Ao Nang that combines the pool, hot springs and temple takes 9 hours 30 minutes per the Civitatis programme.
Koh Lanta
Koh Lanta lies at the south of the province. The Mu Ko Lanta National Park fee for a foreigner is 200 baht, and the zone of Koh Rok, Koh Haingi, Koh Ha, Hin Daeng and Hin Muang is 400 baht per the DNP table. Details and the route are on the destination page.
From Phuket
Many of these places are also reached from Phuket. By road it is 156.9 km and about 2 h 25 min from Phuket airport to Ao Nang by OSRM.
- Krabi in one day. A mainland tour or the islands by speedboat
- Railay from Phuket. By ferry to Ao Nang and a boat to Railay
- Krabi’s four islands. Poda, Tup and Kai
- The Hong islands from Phuket. Speedboat or catamaran
- Phi Phi. A national park in Krabi province, 400 baht fee
For an overview of trips from the island see the guide to excursions from Phuket.
Park fees and tickets
A foreigner pays the fee at the entrance if it is not in the tour price. DNP asks you to keep the receipt in case of inspection.
| Place | Covers | Foreign adult | Child |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi | Ao Nang, Railay, Phra Nang, Poda | 200 baht | 100 baht |
| Same, Phi Phi Don, Phi Phi Le, Bamboo Island | Phi Phi | 400 baht | 200 baht |
| Than Bok Khorani | Hong islands | 300 baht | 150 baht |
| Mu Ko Lanta | Koh Lanta | 200 baht | 100 baht |
| Same, Koh Rok, Koh Haingi, Koh Ha, Hin Daeng, Hin Muang | Koh Rok | 400 baht | 200 baht |
| Khao Pra-Bang Khram Wildlife Sanctuary | Emerald Pool | 400 baht (Matichon) | 200 baht (Thai Holiday Guide) |
Source: DNP table, edition of 02.06.2023, checked 18.10.2026. The sanctuary is not in this table. Tiger Cave Temple is free.
Which excursions in which months
By TMD normals (Krabi station, 1991-2020) the driest month is February (35.9 mm) and the wettest October (292.9 mm), and from May to November it rains 17-21 days a month.
| Months | What to choose | What to note |
|---|---|---|
| December-April | any destination | high demand, crowds at Railay peak December to February (Visit Thailand Today) |
| May-September | the mainland: Tiger Cave Temple, Emerald Pool | boats may be suspended in rough seas |
| October-November | the mainland, short trips to Railay on calm days | October is the wettest |
How to choose an excursion
- A day at sea or on land. The sea is best in the dry season; the mainland works year round
- What is included. Transfer, lunch, park fee, entrance tickets: Civitatis and Phuket Tour list them in their programmes
- Departure time. A tour from Phuket leaves around 06:00; from Ao Nang pick-up is on the coastal road
- Children’s age. Civitatis takes children from 8 on its Ao Nang tour; ask other operators
- Cancellation terms. What happens if boats do not run in rough seas
How to avoid scams when buying a tour on the street is covered in the article on scams. For a province-wide guide with seasons and areas see holidays in Krabi.
FAQ
Which Krabi excursions should I book first?
If you are based in Ao Nang for a week, people usually take one sea day (Railay and Phra Nang or the Hong islands), one mainland day (Tiger Cave Temple and the Emerald Pool) and keep a spare day for weather. In the wet season from May to November start with the mainland: it does not depend on waves.
How much are the national park fees in Krabi?
Per the DNP table (edition of 02.06.2023) for a foreign adult: Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi 200 baht, 400 on Phi Phi Don, Phi Phi Le and Bamboo Island, Than Bok Khorani (Hong islands) 300, Mu Ko Lanta 200, the Koh Rok zone 400. Children pay half. The Emerald Pool is not in the table: per Matichon (14.11.2025) it charges foreigners 400 baht separately.
What can I do in Krabi in the wet season?
The mainland: Tiger Cave Temple and the Emerald Pool. Thai Holiday Guide notes that from May to October boats to Railay may be suspended in rough seas, while buses and minivans on the mainland are less affected. October is the wettest month, 292.9 mm by TMD normals.
How do I do a Krabi excursion from Phuket?
There are four formats: a mainland day tour to Krabi, Railay from Phuket, the four-islands route and the Hong islands. By road it is 156.9 km and about 2 h 25 min from Phuket airport to Ao Nang (OSRM). Programmes with departure times are described on each trip's page.
Which excursions suit children?
Railay by boat in 15 minutes and Phra Nang beach, and the Emerald Pool with its shallow parts. Tiger Cave Temple is hard: some steps are over 30 cm. Operators set ages: Civitatis takes children from 8 on its Ao Nang tour, and Phuket Tour uses a child category of 4-11.
Do I need cash on excursions?
Yes: Emerald Pool tickets are sold for cash (Thai Holiday Guide), ATMs at Railay are limited and unreliable, and the park fee is collected on site if it is not in your tour price. DNP asks you to keep the receipt for the rest of the day.
Sources
- DNP. Entrance fees for individuals in national parks, edition of 02.06.2023
- DNP. Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park (park page)
- DNP. Opening and closing status of national parks
- Matichon. DNP director-general orders toilets and showers at Sa Morakot fixed (14.11.2025)
- TMD. Climatological Data of Thailand for 30 Year Period (1991-2020), Krabi station (48 563)
- Thai Holiday Guide. Ao Nang (updated June 2026)
- Thai Holiday Guide. Railay Beach (updated June 2026)
- Thai Holiday Guide. Wat Tham Suea (Tiger Cave Temple) (updated October 2026)
- Thai Holiday Guide. Sa Morakot (Emerald Pool) (updated July 2026)
- Visit Thailand Today. Princess Cave (updated September 2026)
- Civitatis. Tiger Cave Temple, Emerald Pool and Krabi Hot Springs (tour programme from Ao Nang)
- OpenStreetMap, OSRM route: Phuket airport HKT to Ao Nang beach
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