Noppharat Thara GPS coordinates (west side): N 8.045165, E 98.779147
The main (east-side) beach of Nopparat Thara is located around 20km from Krabi Town and 25km from Krabi airport. The airport bus route goes along the main beachfront road; fares are the same as to / from neighbouring Ao Nang Beach (150 baht per person); taxis will also charge 600 baht to / from the airport.
Tuk-tuks can be found outside most beach area hotels. They charge a flat rate 40 baht per person to Ao Nang Beach for a 2 – 5 minute drive. Hotels further out in Klong Haeng village usually provide their own shuttle service to and from the beach and Ao Nang.
There is a local bus service (song thaew) to and from Krabi Town – the same one as passes through Ao Nang – that costs 80 baht per person and takes around half an hour each way.
At the end of this beach, on the mouth of the river that divides Nopparat Thara in two, is the Ao Nang pier. This is the departure point for most day trips in the area. There are also direct ferry connections from here to the islands of Phi Phi and Phuket, as well as Lanta in high season. Longtail boats can be chartered to visit the local islands.
The other (western) side of Noppharat Thara beach, also known as “Pan Beach”, is 30km from Krabi Town and about 15 – 20 minutes drive from Ao Nang. It is also possible (before 6pm) to take a longtail boat across the river from and to the Ao Nang side of the beach; this takes about 10 minutes.
Once you are at Pan Beach, there is no way out, other than by taxi or private transport – if you are staying for more than a couple of days, it is therefore worth renting a car or moped to get around.
View a map of Noppharat Thara Beach in relation to Ao Nang.