Krabi is a coastal province located in the south west of Thailand, some 800km by road from the capital, Bangkok. It is bounded by Phang Nga province to the north, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Surat Thani to the east, and Trang to the south. To the west lies the Andaman Sea.
Contrary to popular belief, and the frequent appearance of “Krabi Island” in Google search terms, Krabi is NOT an island, though there are plenty of islands in Krabi. The province is largely on the mainland, but there are also some 132 islands offshore that fall under its jurisdiction, several of which – including the Lanta Islands, Ko Phi Phi Don and Ko Jum – are inhabited. The province itself is split into eight administrative districts, called Ampur in Thai: Ao Luk; Plai Praya; Muang (which covers the main tourist destinations of Ao Nang, Railay, Krabi Town, Klong Muang and the Phi Phi Islands, seen below on the map); Neua Klong; Klong Thom; Khao Phanom; Lam Tup and Ko Lanta.
Click to see in more detail
The map on the left is a hand-drawn image; for interactive Google maps showing landmarks etc., please visit our Krabi maps page.
Where to stay in Krabi? A guide to the different areas in Krabi
There are eight main areas where tourism is concentrated in Krabi (not to be confused with the 8 districts above). Most are along the mainland coast, but there are also several inhabited islands that are tourist destinations in their own right.
Our guide to each area is designed to help you decide where to base your holiday in Krabi. Click on the links below to get more details and see which is suitable for the type of holiday you want.
The mainland
- Ao Nang – the main tourist centre
- Nopparat Thara – Ao Nang’s up-and-coming neighbour
- Railay Beach – hippy-chic, with an island feel
- Ton Sai Bay – backpackers’ and climbers’ hangout
- Klong Muang & Tupkaek – upmarket escape from the crowds
- Krabi Town – authentic Thai market town
The islands
The links to Phi Phi and Lanta will take you to our dedicated sites (note: not updated for a while).
- Ko Phi Phi – the ultimate crazy / beautiful destination
- Ko Lanta – for laidback lounging
- Ko Jum – the last get-away-from-it-all
- Ko Ngai – one of Krabi’s most pristine spots
Accommodation options by type
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