Krabi
11 September 2024
Krabi, a province in southern Thailand, is known for its limestone cliffs, clear waters, and access to destinations like Koh Phi Phi and Railay Beach. There are all kinds of tours that depart from the Aonang area. This area is home to some of the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen.
Day 1
- Railay Beach
- Ao Nang Beach
From Phuket, we took the 3 hour bus ride to Krabi. We chose not to take a boat ride because boat travel can be unpredictable. The boat’s comfort and the ocean’s swell are impossible to predict before arriving. The sun set while we drove. We drove through the kind of karst country I always imagined I’d see in Southeast Asia. We passed majestic limestone mountains and pinnacles, I could not look away from the view the whole time. After we got to the bus station, we waited for another 20 minutes for a Grab to drive us another 30 minutes to our hotel. We arrived at the hotel, checked in, and had only been there around 5 minutes when Brando arrived. He flew in from Cambodia and had just arrived from the Krabi airport.
Our hotel was located very close to Ao Nang Beach. We found a boat operator and signed up for a longtail boat ride to Railay Beach. We waited at the beach until we had a full boat, then departed.
Railay Beach
Railay Beach was gorgeous. The sun occasionally peeked out from behind grey clouds, but we mostly had cloudy skies. We considered a cool and easy rock climbing mission but ended up not doing it. That’s mainly because I was having a hard time remembering how to belay people from the top of the climb and then belay them down a rappel. It’s been a while, and I am out of practice. I’ve only done basic, single-pitch sport climbing for a while. I do wish we had done it, though. If I get the chance to return, I’ll be ready! You can climb to a cave and then hike through it to get to Phra Nang Beach on the other side.
Because we visited during the low season (rainy season), the beach was mostly empty. I’d be curious to see for myself what Railay Beach looks like in the high season. The water was slightly murky, and the overcast skies sap the color from the ocean. Still, I was impressed with how beautiful the beach was.
Walking from the beach inland brings you into a small, one-road village. Most of the buildings are restaurants, but there are also shops for souvenirs, rock climbing gear, and water sport rentals.
Phra Nang Beach
From Railay, we walked to Phra Nang Beach. The walk is flat and relatively short. We walked down the beach looking for a spot to spread out. We set up in the shade of a tree and then continued walking along the beach.
Out in the water, close to shore, is a tall limestone rock. We swam out to the nearby island to check it out. Brandon found a spot to climb up the rock. He scrambled up a ways, then thought better of it and came back down because it seemed sketchy. We hung out at the island for a while, then swam back.
At the end of the day, I found a secluded place to fly my drone. I hate that flying drones is against the rules in so many places in Asia. I assume tourists have ruined it for everyone by launching and flying their drones close to people.
We packed up our things and walked back along the beach towards the trail. On the way, we found our favorite monkey again, the dusky langur! It was sitting in a tree hanging over the sand. We took plenty of photos before leaving him to eat the young leaves and bulbs off the tree. We later saw a troop in a bigger tree next to the trail.
There were so many restaurant options in town. We settled on an Indian restaurant right across from our hotel called Tandoori Nights. We all enjoyed our food, the Google reviews didn’t lie on this occasion.
Day 2
- Lao Lading Island
- Pakbia Island
- Hong Island
Lao Lading Island
Lao Lading Island, the first stop on the Hong Island tour, is a small, secluded cove surrounded by towering limestone cliffs and lush vegetation. The beach is beautiful but quite small. There is a small area roped off where swimming or snorkeling is allowed, but there isn’t a whole lot to see underwater.
It’s here where I forgot my beloved rainbow sandals that I had worn nearly every day for 2 years. The bottoms were completely worn smooth, and the leather on the top was broken and worn down in a few places. They were a hazard to walk in on any kind of smooth terrain and were close to death, but it hurt to let them go.
Pakbia Island
Pakbia Island, the second stop, was where we stopped for breakfast. It was decent. This island consists of a series of sandbars that connect smaller islets, creating a unique landscape that changes with the tide. Because this spot was less scenic than the last island, many visitors took the chance to lay on the sand for much of the time. I walked along the sand and got some photos of some of the neighboring islands.
Hong Island
Hong Island, the final and best stop, was the highlight of the tour. It’s known for its beautiful beaches and hidden lagoon, accessed through a narrow entrance in the cliffs. The main beach has fine white sand and crystal-clear water. It is surrounded by limestone cliffs on either side. The Hong island beach might make it into my top 10 beaches in the world list.
It was raining off and on the whole day, which wasn’t ideal. But I didn’t mind the rain much. I chilled in the water while Brandon and Indi did a hike to the viewpoint. I couldn’t do it because the perforated metal steps were too painful to walk on barefoot. I sat in the shallow water and mourned the loss of my sandals.
I saw a water monitor come out of the forest and charge a Spanish guy who was getting too close for a photo. It retreated into a rocky area when a group of tourists surrounded it to take pictures.
For the best view on the island, you can climb a series of metal stairs to the Hong Island Overlook. It is a short but steep hike leading to a viewpoint of the Andaman Sea and the surrounding limestone islands. A series of staircases and pathways take visitors to the top of the rock for a beautiful view. The hike takes about 20 minutes and is best done in the morning or late afternoon to avoid the midday heat.
After chilling in the shallows for a while, we got the call to return to the boat. Before returning to town, the captain sailed to the other side of the island to enter the lagoon. The water is a unique green color and very shallow. We all stayed in the boat, the ship did a loop, exited the lagoon, and set out to return to town.
We got the craving for a steak dinner and found a steakhouse on Google Maps. We had to walk about 15 minutes from our hotel, and the restaurant is a little off the beaten path, but it’s well worth the short walk. We loved everything. If you’re visiting Krabi and considering splurging on a nice meal, I highly recommend Carnivore Steak & Grill.
It costs around $25.00 USD/pax for a big meat platter to share, with each of us ordering multiple smoothies. It was amazing! The meat was delicious, and the watermelon smoothie blew my mind. Like summer in a glass. It reminded me of a summer I spent in North Carolina.
Next time
On our next adventure, we take a boat to see the famous limestone islands of Koh Phi Phi.
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