Krabi has all the right ingredients for romance: balmy tropical weather; breath-taking scenery; secluded beaches; and luxurious hotels and spas. Indeed, if you can’t get in the mood for love here, your relationship is probably doomed. But of course even the most ardent of Lotharios can use a few insider tips on setting the scene.
Stepping out
First of all, avoid the organised tours – at least for one day. These tend to pack the boat or minivan to capacity, leaving little time to yourselves. Instead, hire a taxi for the day (available on the beach road in Ao Nang, Klong Muang or Tubkaek), or charter a longtail boat to take you out to the islands. Prepare a picnic lunch (you can buy ice in most supermarkets to keep the wine chilled) and ask the driver to park far away from the crowds – there’s always a beach just around the corner in Krabi.
If your loved one is not into being wooed, try a twosome in a kayak. For an active couple, paddling a sea canoe in tandem through silent mangroves and towering canyons is a surefire bonding experience. Drive to Bor Thor pier (near Ao Luk) in the early afternoon, after the tour groups have left, and rent a kayak and guide for a couple of hours filled with surprise and discovery.
Chilling out
Krabi, of course, is also the perfect place for inactivity. And what could be more romantic than a pampering session à deux in a hideaway spa? Spas offering packages for couples include Boossabakorn Day Spa in Ao Nang, as well as many hotel spas – try Vogue Resort, Centara or Ao Nang Villa Resort. In Railay, the Bayview Spa in Railay Bay Resort has a private spa suite overlooking the beach; and most of the upmarket Klong Muang & Tubkaek hotels have excellent, if pricey, spa facilities. If in Krabi Town, head for Maritime Park’s Adora Spa, set on a romantic lake.
Dining out
To round off your romantic day, a sunset dinner will be de rigueur. The hilltop restaurants in Ao Nang will be packed, often with groups, so instead try a more intimate setting alongside the sea at the beachfront “Seafood Street” in Ao Nang; Wang Sai Seafood on Nopparat Thara Beach; or Khao Thong Terrace in Ao Thalane, a peaceful spot offering Thai food and fantastic views over Phang Nga Bay. You may even like to take a sunset dinner cruise.
Romantic dining later on in the evening can also be found in The Last Fisherman beach bar in Ao Nang, with its nightly barbecue and tables on the sand overlooking the water, or in the beautifully lit pavilions of Ruen Mai restaurant in Klong Chilat.
For those who are looking to get engaged in Krabi, you will find most hotels, restaurants and even tour guides are very happy to accommodate and even help to manufacture the right romantic circumstances in which to pop the question. It is best to make such arrangements face-to-face on arrival. If you plan to surprise your beloved out at sea however, do book ahead for a private boat.
Read more: our pick of romantic restaurants in Krabi