If you are staying a centrally located hotel (Ao Nang Beach, Nopparat Thara Beach, Klong Muang or Krabi Town) and plan to do organised group activities, you should not need to worry too much about getting around. All tours offer door-to-door pick up and drop off; and in the evenings, shops, restaurants and bars will be within walking distance.
If you have specific places you want to visit, however, or plan to explore independently, it will be necessary to take either public transport, or taxis / self-drive vehicles. Below we outline some of the options available.
Local buses, or song-taew, run throughout the day and are an excellent way of making a trip into or out of Krabi Town. There are some fixed stops, but you can hop on or off almost anywhere by ringing the buzzer inside. Similarly, if you’re not close to a bus stop, you can stand by the side of the road and flag one down, like a taxi. The price from Ao Nang to Krabi Town one way is 50 baht per person and you can flag down the bus anywhere along the main road through the village and at the beach. Journey time can be anywhere from 20 up to 45 minutes.
Motorcycle taxis can also be found in Krabi Town and are a fast, if hair-raising, way to get around. The drivers will take you anywhere – for a price, which is best to negotiate before you get on. In Ao Nang and Klong Muang, there are small open-sided vans (tuk-tuks) and motorbike sidecar taxis (sam-lor) everywhere, which will take you most places in the local vicinity for 20 – 50 baht per person. Because they charge per person, it is wise not to load too many people into the sidecar as they are not very stable – for more than 2 passengers, take 2 taxis, even if the driver insists it is okay.
There are also regular taxis, which people often hire as a ‘car and driver/guide’ on a daily basis for around 2500 baht, depending on where you wish to go. They will also take you from Ao Nang to the airport for 600 baht, to Krabi Town for 500 baht and to Phuket for around 2500 baht. Prices for many other destinations can be seen on the boards on the street where they congregate. In Ao Nang, find them outside Haagen-Dazs on the Beach Road, or at the entry to Soi 8, at the other side of the beach. Note: car taxis will not do short distances within the beach area itself.
If you’re planning a day out at sea, the traditional wooden longtail boats found on all mainland beaches are your best option for independent island hopping. There are also frequent ‘taxi boats’ running from Ao Nang to Ton Sai and Railay Beach. These wait until they have enough passengers (in theory 6 – 8, but they usually hold out for 10 or more) to depart. Buy coupons for the boats at the longtail boat ticket booths on either corner of the beach in Ao Nang. In Nopparat Thara, the booths can be found at the bridge (on the Ao Nang side) and in the car park (at the pier side).
Prices for trips are fixed by the boatmen’s club (i.e. are not able to be bargained down) and displayed on a board outside the ticket offices. The prices are the same all year round and children under 12 travel free:
Longtail boats can be chartered from the beach
Longtail boat prices
One way to Pai Plong, Ton Sai or West Railay / Phra Nang Beach: 100 baht per person.
Minimum 8 people required, or pay 800 baht to charter the boat.
After 6pm, prices increase to 150 baht per person / one way.
Return ticket from Ao Nang to:
Chicken, Tub or Poda Island: 300 baht per person
Minimum 6 people required for boat to depart.
You can also charter a boat with driver for your own use (not sharing with other passengers); buy tickets at the same booth. The prices below are per boatfor a 4 – 7 hour charter, carrying up to 6 adults; for more you will pay extra. Charter is available any time between 8am and 4pm; but you must return before dark (6.30pm) as the boats are not equipped with lights.
Poda Island and Chicken Island group beaches (4 Islands), half day: 1700 baht
Chicken, Tub, Mor, Poda Island and Phra Nang beach (4 Islands + Railay), full day: 2200 baht
Local islands snorkelling (rock islands of Koh See, Koh Haa and Yawasam / Yawabon, no beaches): 3000 baht
4 Islands + Railay + Rock Islands for snorkelling: 4000 baht
Koh Hong: 2500 baht
Koh Hong group (Koh Hong + Koh Pakbia, Koh Rai, Koh Lahding): 3000 baht
Bamboo Island (part of Koh Phi Phi group): 3800 baht
Koh Hong group + Koh Daeng (rock island) + 4 Islands: 5000 baht
Longtail boats can also be found at Nopparat Thara; Chao Fah pier in Krabi Town; Klong Muang; Ton Sai Beach; and Railay. Prices may vary slightly from those in Ao Nang, depending on how much closer to or further away from the destination you are. From these departure points you usually pay the driver directly upfront (no ticket booth), though the prices are fixed and will be listed on a board.
For independent exploration further afield, there are numerous private rental options. The cheapest is to hire a motorcycle (around 250 baht / day + petrol for an automatic scooter), although this is recommended only for those with previous experience, as insurance coverage for accidents – or theft – is never included and the roads can be dangerous. Make sure to bring a photocopy of your passport for any vehicle hire – never, ever rent from anyone who asks to take your actual passport as guarantee (this is illegal). Bicycles are also available for rent, for those fit or crazy enough to brave the heat.
Car rental is perhaps a safer, more comfortable option, especially if there are a few of you to share the cost – prices for an average saloon car can start from around 1000 baht per day from a local company, including insurance and with unlimited mileage. A few hundred baht extra will get you a much better maintained vehicle, often with GPS, from an international company such as Budget or National. Note: 4WD is not necessary at all in Krabi, as the road network is excellent and it is rare to have to go off-road. There are plenty of car hire desks on arrival at the airport; you can also book online in advance, or through your hotel.
Note: for information on getting around between the mainland and the islands in Krabi, please see our separate page on Krabi ferry schedules.
Related reading
- How to get to Krabi
- Krabi Airport
- Maps of Krabi
- What’s the best way to get from Krabi to Phuket? (and vice versa)
- Private boat charter in Krabi
- Addresses, maps and finding out where stuff is in Krabi
- Krabi – Lanta – Phi Phi – Phuket ferry schedules
- Getting to Tonsai Beach
- Getting to Noppharat Thara
- Getting to Klong Muang
- Getting to Koh Jum & Koh Siboya
- Getting to Railay Beach
- Getting to Ao Nang
- Getting to Krabi Town