Ao Nang Travel Guide for First-Timers (Krabi, Thailand)

Ao Nang in Krabi province serves as a great starting point for exploring Thailand’s beautiful islands and paradisiac beaches in the Andaman Sea. In this Ao Nang travel guide, we’ll share essential things you should know before going to Ao Nang in Krabi, and 10 best things to do.

Recommended reading: One-Month Thailand Itinerary

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What is Included in this Guide?

Throughout this Krabi (Ao Nang) travel guide, we’ll cover the following topics. You can use the links below to quickly navigate to the sections that interest you the most.

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Things to Do in Ao Nang, Krabi

Wondering how to spend your time in Ao Nang, Krabi? Here’s a list of the 10 of the best things to do in Ao Nang, Krabi.

1. Go For a Stroll at the Ao Nang Beach

The first thing we did when we arrived at Ao Nang was to check the main beach, the Ao Nang beach.

Unfortunately, Ao Nang beach was very disappointing. The water had a grey color and didn’t seem clean. There was sewage coming into the water in several places. It’s not a place that I would choose for a beach vacation. This was our first impression of Thailand’s beaches. That was definitely not what we were expecting.

However, I still recommend going for a stroll to check out the surrounding landscape with limestone cliffs—it’s beautiful, regardless of the water. That’s why I recommend only going for a stroll and not for a swim.

2. Hike the Monkey Trail

Next to the Ao Nang Beach, there’s a small trail where you can spot Dusky Leaf Monkeys (also called the spectacled langur—because it looks like they have glasses). These monkeys are so cute, and they only eat leaves, so they will not bother you or rob you like other monkey species you usually find in Thailand.

The Dusky Leaf Monkeys are considered an endangered species, so seeing one of them is a real treat. The monkeys are usually concentrated at the final part of the trail, but can be seem anywhere else. Make sure you don’t make noise and are aware of your surroundings to find them.

Tip: the trail includes some slippery steps, so make sure you bring some comfortable shoes. Don’t go on your flip flops like I did.

3. Explore the Railay Beach

The Railay Beach only accessible by boat, it’s a great place to explore and spend a morning or afternoon. There are several boat services that will take you to the Railay Beach and back from Ao Nang—it’s a short and easy ride.

One of the most popular activities to do at the Railay Beach is rock climbing due to the unique shape of the limestone cliffs.

Tip: did you know that you can spend the night next to the Railay Beach? There are several hotels nearby. There is also great infrastructure with several restaurants, shops, and small supermarkets. If you’re looking for a more laidback vibe away from the crowds, this can be a good option.

Next to the Railay beach, you cannot miss the famous Phra Nang Cave, where you’ll find wooden carvings shaped like phalluses. Local people visit this sacred place to seek blessings for fertility and safe childbirth.

4. Watch the Sunset at the Ao Nang Beach

The Ao Nang beach, facing to the West, is a great place to watch the sunset. Grab some drinks and snacks and wind down watching the sunset.

Even though it was not the most spectacular sunset I’ve seen, it was actually pretty good. After sunset, make sure you don’t miss the fire show.

5. Watch the Fire Show at the Ao Nang Beach

Every day, at sunset, around 6:30 PM, there’s a fire show at the Ao Nang Beach. Just search on Google Maps for “Ao Nang Fire Show”, and you’ll easily find the place where it takes place.

The Fire Show in Ao Nang is among the best I’ve ever seen. I hadn’t done much research about it beforehand, so I wasn’t expecting much. However, I was pleasantly surprised! We watched the show on two different days, and each time it was different and performed by different artists. Be sure to leave a tip at the end, as the show is truly worth it—don’t miss out!

6. The 7-Island Tour

The 7-island or 4-island tour is one of the most popular tours from Ao Nang, Krabi. This tour includes visiting a nearby group of islands in the Andaman Sea off the coast of Krabi province.

If you want to learn more about this tour, you can read our article: The 7-Island Tour in Ao Nang, Krabi – What to Expect.

Usually, the 7-island or 4-island tour includes the following places, but might vary slightly depending on the operator:

• Tup Island (Koh Tup): connected by a sandbar to nearby islands that you can see during low tide;
• Poda Island (Koh Poda): known for its white sand beach with crystal clear blue water;
• Chicken island (Koh Gai): known for its unique rock formation resembling a chicken’s head;
• Railay beach: beautiful beach with beautiful limestone cliffs landscape;
• Phra Nang Cave: sacred cave associated with fertility.

One of the highlights of this trip, is that if you opt for the sunset tour, it includes snorkeling with bioluminescent plankton at night. It really is a wonderful experience.

You can check the activities below if you want to book your tour in advance using GetYourGuide.

7. The Hong Islands Tour

The Hong Islands Tour is a great alternative to the 7-island tour. It includes visiting a group of islands between Krabi coast and Ko Yao Noi island. These are considered the most beautiful islands in Krabi province.

The main highlight of this tour is Hong Island, known for its distinctive half-circle shape and stunning white sand beach. Don’t forget to visit its breathtaking panoramic 360º viewpoint.

8. Spend the Day at a Nearby Island

Even though the Ao Nang beach is a total failure in terms of what to expect of a paradisiac beach, there are plenty of beautiful nearby islands with crystal clear blue water and white sand. Consider spending a day or half a day at a nearby island. You’ll easily find boat services at the “Ao Nang Boat Service Point” or at other tour agencies in Ao Nang.

From the “Ao Nang Service Point”, you can get a boat to:

• Poda Island, or Chicken Island, or Tub island (300 baht two way per person): we’ve been to all of them on the 7-island tour, but I recommend the Poda island. It’s the biggest and most beautiful out of the three.
• Hong Island (500 baht two way per person): even though we’ve not been there due to bad weather, I’ve heard very good feedback about it and it has a stunning 360º panorama viewpoint. Might be a good alternative to the tour.

If it was today, I would have skipped the 7-island tour, and would have spend some more quality time at either the Poda island or the Hong island.

9. Phi Phi Islands Tour

If you have the time, consider spending at least a couple of days in Koh Phi Phi Don. You won’t regret it (that’s what we did and we truly recommend it). However, if you have limited time, you can also visit the Phi Phi islands from Ao Nang on a tour.

The Phi Phi Islands are probably the most famous group of islands in Thailand. Usually, most tours visit Phi Phi Don (inhabited island) and Phi Phi Leh.

Phi Phi Don is the only inhabited island of the Phi Phi islands group and even though it’s super touristic, it’s truly beautiful with great beaches and viewpoints with amazing panoramic views.

Phi Phi Leh is most known for the beautiful Maya Bay, featured on the movie “The Beach” starring Leonardo DiCaprio. Maya Bay is stunning. I have no words to describe how beautiful it is. I was truly impressed. Besides Maya Bay, make sure you don’t miss Phi Leh Lagoon (or Phi Leh Bay)—the crystal clear emerald water is just out of this world.

The Phi Phi islands are some of the most famous places in Thailand, so all places of interest will be crowded. However, all places really exceeded my expectations regardless of the amount of people.

Related article: Koh Phi Phi: Things to Do and Tips for First-Timers

10. Hike to the Top of the Tiger Cave Temple

The biggest “attraction” of the Tiger Cave Temple is climbing the 1260 steps to the top of the mountain, where you’ll have a spectacular 360º view of Krabi, including the beach. The entrance to the Tiger Cave Temple is free, but giving a small donation is encouraged.

Going to the Tiger Cave Temple was not on our plans, but a cloudy weather day made us go there instead of the beach—I’m so glad we went there, because it surprised me so much. If you like a good physical challenge, I truly recommend climbing the 1260 steps to the top.

Make sure you’re in relatively good condition because it’s definitely challenging with the high temperatures and humidity. There’s even a screening point at the start where you can check if you’re in good health condition before going to the top.

Tip: you’ll probably find several monkeys on your way to the top. Make sure you don’t take food with you or have visible plastic bags and make sure your backpacks are properly closed.

On this place, there’s also a small hiking trail through the jungle, where you’ll find several small caves with Buddha images, and beautiful giant trees.

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8 Things To Know Before Going to Ao Nang, Krabi

In summary, here’s just a list of quick things you should know before going to Krabi:

1. You’ll want to stay near the Ao Nang Beach and not in Krabi town;
2. The main beach, Ao Nang Beach, is a disappointment;
3. Consider spending half a day at a nearby island instead of going on a tour;
4. If you go on tours, buy them at local agencies—you’ll get better prices;
5. You don’t want to miss the fire show;
6. Don’t miss the bioluminescent plâncton experience;
7. Long tail boats are slow and very noisy—for more comfort, prefer a speedboat;
8. The 7-island tour is overrated, and the Hong Island tour is probably a better option;

How to Get To Krabi?

Krabi has a good infrastructure in terms of transportation. Depending on your place of origin, you can reach it by bus, airplane or by boat.

It has its international airport, which makes it super convenient if you want to get there from Bangkok, , or any other domestic city. You can easily find cheap flights from AirAsia or Thai Vietjet, for example. From the airport, there are cheap transfers that will take you to your hotel in Ao Nang or Krabi town.

Related article: Bangkok Ultimate Travel Guide for First-Timers

There are also good infrastructure by land, with different combinations of bus, minivan and train. For example, the Surat Thani is the closest train station to Krabi, requiring a subsequent taxi or bus journey. You can use the 12GoAsia website to check different transportation options and connections.

Many nearby islands provide transportation to the Krabi mainland via ferry, long-tail boats, speedboats, or taxi services.

How Many Days in Ao Nang, Krabi?

The amount of days you’ll spend in Krabi will greatly depend if you’re just passing by before going to some of the nearby islands or if you’re using it as a base for day trips to explore the islands of the Andaman Sea.

If you’re lucky with the weather, two to three days are a good amount of time to explore Ao Nang, visit a nearby island, going on a island hoping tour and even going to the top of the Tiger Cave Temple. I recommend spending at least a couple of nights in Phi Phi Don. If you’re short on time, add one more day at your stay in Krabi and visit the Phi Phi islands on a day trip.

Related article: The 7-Island Tour in Ao Nang, Krabi – What to Expect

How to Get Around Krabi?

If you stay close to the Ao Nang beach, and you are interested mostly in beach/water activities, you can easily reach most places of interest by foot.

To get to nearby islands, there are several speedboat or long-tail boat services near the Ao Nang Beach.

If you want to get a little further away, you can consider renting a motorbike or use a Taxi/Grab. There are also several Songthaews (local buses) near the Ao Nang beach that go to Krabi town.

Best Time to Go to Krabi?

For more pleasant weather consider going between November and March. Avoid the months of June to October because of heavy rainfall. We went in November and we had a mix of good weather, clouds, and light rain.

Where to Stay in Krabi?

In Krabi you’ll want to stay near the Ao Nang beach and not in Krabi town if you intend to explore the beach and nearby islands.

You can also stay near Railay Beach for one night, but you’ll need a boat to get there. Depending on your accommodation, a boat transfer might be included. Many people say it’s a unique experience to stay right by Railay Beach, and enjoy its peaceful and quiet vibe after sunset and in the early morning.

Here are some suggestions in Ao Nang:

• Aree Tara Ao Nang Krabi ($)
• Phu Pha Aonang Resort & Spa ($)
• Holiday Ao Nang Beach Resort, Krabi ($$)
• Avani Ao Nang Cliff Krabi Resort ($$)

If you prefer to stay in Railay beach for a night, here are some options:

• Avatar Railay ($)
• Railay Garden View Resort ($)
• Bhu Nga Thani Resort & Villas Railay ($$)
• Rayavadee ($$$)

We stayed at the Ibis Styles Ao Nang, and we were pleasantly surprised. We got a pretty good price for the quality of the hotel. It had a nice pool outside, great facilities and was only 10 minutes walking to the Ao Nang Beach.

Where to Go From Krabi?

From Krabi, you can easily reach the following popular destinations:

• Phi Phi Islands: we greatly recommend spending a couple of nights in Phi Phi Don—read our Phi Phi Islands Travel Guide;
• Phuket: known for its nightlife, it’s also a great place to use as a base for island hopping (James Bong Island Tour, Tour to the Similan Islands, etc.);
• Khao Sok: a beautiful National Park with a lake where you can sleep on an overwater bungalow;
• Ko Samui or Ko Pha Ngan: popular beach destinations in the Gulf of Thailand;
• Koh Lanta: beautiful local island with great snorkeling day trips—read our Koh Lanta travel guide;
• Koh Lipe: one of our favorite islands—we recommend a stop in Koh Lanta to split the travelling time and make the journey less tedious.

Related article: Two Months Traveling in Southeast Asia: Our Itinerary

Wrapping Up

We hope our Ao Nang Travel Guide helps you plan your time in Thailand. We have other Thailand travel guides you may find useful:

Preparing a Trip o Thailand? Take a look at our One-Month Thailand Itinerary.

Finally, you can use our links to book accommodation and activities and find cheap flights. You won’t pay more and you’ll be supporting our work.

Thanks for reading.