Known as the Emerald of the Andaman Sea, Krabi enchants with its dramatic limestone cliffs, white-sand beaches and aquamarine waters. For a more laidback vibe, try quieter Koh Lanta, home to long, clean beaches, rainforest-cloaked hills and magical sunsets.
Krabi is the Thailand of popular imagination, with a coastline dotted with hundreds of small islands and limestone pinnacles towering over a turquoise sea.
A landscape built for adventure, with superb climbing opportunities (particularly at Railay Beach) and endless possible day trips to caves, temples, mangroves and waterfalls.
The provincial capital, also called Krabi, is a welcoming jumble of riverfront parks and old markets, with mangrove-lined shorelines to the east and craggy limestone outcrops on every horizon.
There’s good snorkelling to be had among the islands south of Railay, including Koh Poda and Chicken Island, as well as excellent diving among the Phi Phi Islands further south.
If you’re looking for a low-key island retreat then Koh Lanta in the south of Krabi province is just the ticket – an unspoiled drop of beach-fringed greenery in a peacock-blue sea.
Krabi is nature’s masterpiece. Famed for its cinematic beauty, it’s a destination where luxury doesn’t shout but unfolds gently, from secluded beach resorts to private longtail-boat charters exploring coral-fringed islets. The region’s iconic karst formations rise like ancient sentinels from the sea, most famously at Railay Bay, a haven for world-class rock climbing.
With its coral reefs, intricate cave systems and jungle-clad interior, Krabi invites exploration above and below the surface. The area is rich in wildlife and rainforest trails, yet still within easy reach of modern comforts. Krabi Town offers a low-key counterpoint with a lively restaurant and bar scene that celebrates the region’s bold, spicy cuisine.
Nearby Koh Lanta has a quieter feel. The thickly forested island has the longest beaches in the Karbi area and offers wonderful opportunities for diving, snorkelling, kayaking and hiking.
Rayavadee is set on the lush tropical Phranang Peninsula bordering the Krabi Marine National Park. Overlooking the Andaman Sea and surrounded by towering limestone cliffs, the resort is among the finest in Thailand.
Pimalai Resort & Spa commands a dramatic location in a secluded cove on the southwest coast of Koh Lanta. With just 121 suites and villas enveloped in 100 acres of rainforest-covered hills it is fronted by one of Thailand’s finest beaches.
Banyan Tree Krabi captivates directly on arrival, with a unique design to capture Andaman Sea island views and spectacular sunsets from the fresh and light private pool suites and villas.
Set in vast tropical gardens, Phulay Bay enjoys unrivalled views of one of the most extraordinary landscapes in Asia: the towering limestone sea-stacks of Phang Nga Bay in the Andaman Sea. Throw in spacious suites and villas, an infinity pool flanked by plush double-loungers, an extravagant spa and an array of great restaurants and you’ve all the ingredients for an exceptional Thai resort.
Set on Klong Muong Beach, the Dusit Thani Krabi Beach Resort offers easy access to the towering cliffs, vast forests, tumbling waterfalls and protected bays for which Krabi is rightly famous.