What you will see in Krabi
Krabi is the mainland province next to Phuket, across Phang Nga Bay. “Krabi tour” covers two quite different days, so decide first which one you want.
| Tour type | What you see | How you travel | Park fee per DNP (foreigner) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Krabi mainland | Emerald Pool, hot waterfall, Tiger Cave Temple, caves | minivan | the Emerald Pool is not in the DNP table, ask your seller |
| Krabi islands | Railay, Phra Nang cave, Ko Poda, Ko Kai | speedboat from Phuket | THB 200 (Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi) |
| Islands + Phi Phi | the above plus Phi Phi | speedboat | THB 400 for Phi Phi Don, Phi Phi Leh, Ko Mai Phai |
| Ko Hong (Krabi) | the lagoon and beaches of the Hong islands | speedboat or longtail | THB 300 (Than Bok Khorani) |
The Emerald Pool (Sa Morakot) is a natural turquoise pool in the forest of Khlong Thom district, 70 km from Ao Nang. You can swim in it, and it is the main stop of the land tour.
Tiger Cave Temple (Wat Tham Suea) is a Buddhist monastery near Krabi town. The Phuket Tour program gives you the option to climb to the Buddha statue and viewpoint at the top of the hill. Stairs lead to the top, and the climb is hard going in the heat.
Railay is a peninsula of limestone cliffs cut off from the road network: OpenStreetMap shows no road to the beach, so everyone arrives by boat. Phra Nang beach and cave are next door and belong to Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park per DNP.
The land tour, step by step
This is the Mysteries of Krabi day as Phuket Tour runs it in October 2026:
- 06:00 hotel pickup, over Sarasin Bridge to the mainland
- 08:30 forest park with the Emerald Pool, time to swim
- 10:00 forest walk
- 10:30 hot waterfall in the jungle
- 11:30 lunch
- 13:00 Tiger Cave Temple, optional climb to the hilltop viewpoint
- 15:30 cave with stalactites and stalagmites
- 16:30 photo stop with elephants
- 17:00 departure for Phuket
You can skip the elephant stop. We do not recommend photos and contact with elephants at roadside camps; the Phuket elephants guide explains why.
For comparison, Civitatis runs the same loop from Ao Nang in 9.5 hours: about 2.5 hours at the Emerald Pool and the nearby Blue Lagoon, about an hour at the hot springs, then Tiger Cave Temple. From Phuket, add the drive both ways.
How long it takes and when to go
The land tour fills the day: pickup at 06:00, departure from Krabi at 17:00. Drive times without traffic, OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap data:
| From → to | Distance | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Phuket Old Town → Ao Nang Beach | 181.9 km | about 2 h 45 min |
| Patong → Ao Nang Beach | 185.4 km | about 2 h 50 min |
| Phuket Old Town → Emerald Pool | 220.5 km | about 3 h 30 min |
| Ao Nang → Emerald Pool | 70.8 km | about 1 h 15 min |
| Phuket Old Town → Than Bok Khorani | 130 km | about 2 h |
Route to Ao Nang on OpenStreetMap. There is no official sailing time to the Krabi islands. For comparison, DNP says a boat from Chalong Pier in Phuket to Phi Phi takes about 2 hours.
DNP describes Krabi’s climate as rainy from May to December and dry from January to April, wettest in July and driest in February. The land tour works all year; boat tours are often cancelled in the rainy season.
From the DNP 2026 closure table and status page on 17 October 2026:
| Site | Closed |
|---|---|
| Maya, Loh Samah and Loh Ko bays (Phi Phi Leh) | every year 1 August-30 September |
| Diving and snorkelling off the west side of Ko Kai (Ao Khang Khao) | since 16 May 2026, still in force on 17 October 2026 |
| Ko Yung | indefinitely |
| Khao Phanom Bencha summit trail | every year 16 May-30 September |
| Khao Chang Mop mangrove trail (Than Bok Khorani) | temporarily, since 28 February 2026 |
Park fees
| National park | Foreign adult | Child |
|---|---|---|
| Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi (Railay, Phra Nang, Ko Poda, Ao Nang) | THB 200 | THB 100 |
| Same park, Phi Phi Don, Phi Phi Leh, Ko Mai Phai | THB 400 | THB 200 |
| Than Bok Khorani (Ko Hong) | THB 300 | THB 150 |
| Khao Phanom Bencha | THB 100 | THB 50 |
Source: DNP fee table, revision of 2 June 2023, current in October 2026. The Emerald Pool is not in the DNP table. Phuket Tour lists tickets as included in Mysteries of Krabi. Keep your receipts until the end of the day.
What to bring
- Swimwear and a towel for the Emerald Pool or the islands
- Clothes covering shoulders and knees for Tiger Cave Temple
- Comfortable shoes if you plan to climb to the summit
- A dry bag for your phone and sunscreen on the sea tour
- Water: the program involves plenty of walking in the heat
- Cash for fees if they are not included
Who should skip it
- People who get car or seasick. The land tour means 5-6 hours in a vehicle, the sea tour crosses open water
- Pregnant travellers and anyone with back problems on the sea tour. A speedboat slams hard in waves
- Anyone wanting a whole day on one beach. The tour is a string of short stops; for beach time, stay in Krabi a couple of nights
- Anyone who struggles with stairs in the heat. You can skip the Tiger Cave summit and wait below
How to choose a Krabi tour
- Land or sea. By road you depend less on the weather; by speedboat you see Railay and Phra Nang
- What is in the program. Sellers give the same name to different routes, so check the stops one by one
- Fees. Ask whether national park fees and the Emerald Pool entry are included
- Elephants. If there is an elephant stop, check that you can skip it
- Pickup and return. A 06:00 start means you get back to your hotel late in the evening
- Children’s age. The Civitatis tour from Ao Nang takes children from 8; ask other operators
Other trips are in the Phuket day trips guide, and the bay between Phuket and Krabi is covered on the James Bond Island page.
FAQ
What Krabi tours run from Phuket?
Two main kinds. By road: a minivan to the Emerald Pool, a hot waterfall, Tiger Cave Temple and caves in Krabi province. By sea: a speedboat to Railay, Phra Nang cave, Ko Poda and Ko Kai, sometimes combined with Phi Phi. Note that DNP closed diving and snorkelling off the west side of Ko Kai on 16 May 2026, and the ban was still in force on 17 October 2026.
How far is Krabi from Phuket?
By road it is 181.9 km and about 2 h 45 min without traffic from Phuket Old Town to Ao Nang Beach, 185 km from Patong, and 220 km, about 3.5 hours, to the Emerald Pool. These are OSRM calculations on OpenStreetMap data.
Can you do Krabi as a day trip from Phuket?
Yes, that is how the tours work, but it is a long day: pickup at 06:00 and departure from Krabi at 17:00 (Phuket Tour). For a Railay sunset, rock climbing or simply a beach day, move to Krabi for a night or two.
Can you swim in the Emerald Pool?
Yes. Swimming is in both the Phuket Tour program and the Civitatis tour from Ao Nang, which allows about 2.5 hours for the Emerald Pool and the nearby Blue Lagoon. Bring swimwear and a towel. The Phuket Tour program does not mention the Blue Lagoon, so ask.
How do you get to Railay?
Only by water. OpenStreetMap shows no road to Railay Beach; the nearest road is about 2 km away behind the cliffs. Boats leave from Ao Nang, and sea tours from Phuket arrive by speedboat.
How much is the entrance fee for the Krabi islands?
Ko Poda, Phra Nang cave, Railay and Ao Nang are in Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park: THB 200 per foreign adult and THB 100 per child. Phi Phi Don, Phi Phi Leh and Ko Mai Phai cost THB 400 and 200. Ko Hong (Krabi) is in Than Bok Khorani National Park, THB 300 and 150.
When is the best time to visit Krabi?
DNP says the dry season runs from January to April and the rains from May to December, peaking in July. Boat tours are cancelled more often in the rainy season, while the land tour to the Emerald Pool is far less affected by the weather.
Sources
- Phuket Tour. Mysteries of Krabi tour program (in Russian)
- Civitatis. Tiger Cave Temple, Emerald Pool and Krabi Hot Springs (tour program from Ao Nang)
- DNP. Current national park closure status (17 October 2026)
- DNP. Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park
- DNP. Than Bok Khorani National Park
- DNP. National park entrance fees for individuals, revision of 2 June 2023 (CSV)
- DNP. National park closure table 2026 (data as of 7 January 2026)
- OpenStreetMap, OSRM route: Phuket Old Town → Ao Nang Beach
- OpenStreetMap, OSRM route: Patong → Ao Nang Beach
- OpenStreetMap, OSRM route: Phuket Old Town → Emerald Pool
- OpenStreetMap, OSRM route: Phuket Old Town → Than Bok Khorani
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