A review of Ao Nang and Krabi (Thailand)

Ao Nang and Krabi province review

This is a review of the Nine Thipthara hotel and the town of Krabi and associated tourist spots around.

The word Thailand is popularly associated to night life , parties etc. , and its surprising to actually find a place thats not really that crowded , yet offers you amazing sightseeing spots around by way of pretty amazing beaches , lagoons ,  temples , mountains , fields and all that beauty that Thailand has to offer. And yes, it certainly does have its fair share of night markets, street food, shopping , pubs , beach cafes , that you’d need to make your holiday complete !!

At just over an hours flight away from Bangkok , Krabi is well connected by flight via 4-5 regional airlines that fly the sector. There are multiple flights in a day, so connections shouldn’t be a problem. Greenery and nature beckon even before you land. Beautiful mountain tops , lush fields , valleys and streams below await you. Krabi international airport is perhaps one of the quaintest and prettiest i’ve ever seen. De-boarding to taxi is like 10 mins tops. There are a couple of pretty decent cafes and souvenior shops though should you need it. Krabi town is roughly 25 kms from the airport. The resorts are however spread , i guess the nearest one was like 5 mins from the airport and from that point on there were quite a few all along the way even before we got to Krabi itself. Ao Nang and Noppathara beach area has a number of hotels, soMe budget some more upscale. It may be more convenient to book a hotel closer to the town , mainly for accessibility reasons, but if you do not mind the 15-20 shunt to town, there are quite a few resorts located outside of the main town itself. Ao Nang beach  is well equipped with Souvenior shops , restaurants and cafes, money exchanges, tour operators for local tours etc. The noppathara beach main road is a main promenade of Krabi. Take a walk along this road for an amazing sunset experience, this road also is dotted with souvenior shops , eateries ranging from your fast food joints to Indian , middle eastern to local thai cuisine and everything in between. And Of course there’s lots of mini marts including 7/11 for your convenience shopping. Or simply visit one of the beach cafes along the beach front and chill on a beer and some snacks. And perhaps end with a signature dessert of Thailand , Coconut Pudding. There are also many massage centers here if you’d like to get one done.

Tours we did:

HONG ISLAND TOUR

Hong island is simply amazing ! A part of a group of thousands of little islands , this tour is a must do , if you are looking for an island experience but at the same, want to stay clear of throngs of crowds like what Phi Phi or Koh Lanta / Koh Samui may offer. The tours takes you to 3 islands. Typically lunch is organized on one of the islands (mostly its the second one they visit). Each of the islands is unique. All have a beautiful beach face , the limestone rock mountains majestically rising in the backdrop, and in between a typical tropical rainforest. The beaches are themselves amazing and make for a perfect wading , swimming or snorkeling experience. At hong island, you get all of the experience so recommended is to try out all , the beach , snorkeling , rainforest walk and if available, rock climbing as well. They usually give you 2 hours at the Hong island so its possible to cover all of the above. At some point during the boat trip, they also cover a lagoon , which is absolutely stunning. Limestone rock mountains on all sides and an emerald pool in the center. Makes for a great photo shoot opportunity. One tip though, do carry extra water with you if possible. One can get quite dehydrated with the salt / sea water and of course the heat and they only give you a single bottle of water per person. I would also recommend to take the speed boat rather than long tail boat mainly because of the time it takes is shortened and also , in the event there’s bad or rough weather and seas a speed boat is probably a better bet.

EMERALD POOL / HOT SPRING / CAVE TEMPLE

This tour takes about an hours drive from the city to reach the hot springs and emerald pool area. Its a nice drive though through mountain sides and valleys. Lots of greenery all along the Krabi countryside. You also pass Krabi town along the way. The first stop is the hot spring, its pretty crowded so its tough to get a spot even if you arrive early cos someone would have beaten you to it. There is however a make shift pool while entering , which has water from the spring pumped into it and if you don’t get a spot at the natural spring you can head to this heated pool. We did that and it was pretty good. The area is clean , with a children’s park and play area within. Next stop is the emerald pool, again quite crowded but its bigger in size so you may more easily find yourself a spot to relax. A tip though, do try the nature trail at least one way back to the ticket counter, its well worth the experience while its longer than the usual path. Some nice spots to click along the way. The last of the stops is the cave temple. And boy this is a workout !! The prize of climbing the 1200 steps it takes to reach the top is of course the peace and tranquility you experience at the cave temple at the top in addition to the amazing viewpoints from the hill top. But the climb is arduous and certainly not recommended if your not up for it , or traveling with a child or have a fear of heights cos there are points along the way where you see a sheer 100 mts drop while climbing or descending the stairs. Very important though is do not forget to carry adequate water with you as there is none available after you start the ascent. Even if you do not go to the top though, there is a sprawling and beautifully maintained temple complex at the base itself. There are also a number of souvenior shops and some selling eats and drinks. Beware of monkeys though that are prowling around to steal food and drinks from tourists.

KAYAKING AT AO THALANE

Ao Thailand kayaking is around 30 mins drive from Ao Nang , a beautiful drive that takes you through the valleys and vast palm plantations. The kayaking itself is very pretty as it takes you through the Ao Thalane mangroves and rainforests. You can opt for a half day or a full day kayak tour. Services of an instructor are also optional.

I got this tour organized through a company called Rungtawan. (Again I visited them at their outlet and arranged for the same, and got a great deal). 

Krabi travel Tips:

Firstly , regarding weather and season. While its known that June to Oct are rainy months, I would say if you are ready to beat an occasional shower , September and October are great to visit Krabi and I guess Thailand in general ! The weather is largely cloudy , with intermittent sun and showers making for perfect sightseeing weather. Tour operators take good care of your safety if conditions become rain or stormy. Of course, not so great if you are looking to sun bask :)

At Krabi airport , if possible , go with a shared mini van , Its more economical, safe and comfortable as well. You could get one for as less as 150 TB per head. The taxi operator service at Krabi airport has both types of service, private and shared.

Tourist services are best availed from Krabi town. Again its way way cheaper than having it done from or through your hotel. In fact, if your going off season, or not so peak season, don’t book in advance as you’ll get a generic rate. Visit the tour operators in person and you can pretty much bargain a really decent discount with them for the same trip and experience. Loads of tour operators on the Noppathara beach main road and Ao Nang beach main road.

If you are not so fond of spicy food, request the waitor for the same. In general chilli be it raw or sauce is added to most foods including salads. Do not miss out on a Thai curry and Pad Thai experience though.

A trip to Thailand isn’t complete without a massage. Range of massage centers , again depending on rate and type.

Try souvenir shops in the bylanes or along the road leading to the beach. Its much cheaper there when compared to the shops on the beach front road, for pretty much the same stuff.

Being polite is key. Street vendors and massage centers / eateries may try to draw you in by catching you on the footpaths as you walk along. However they aren’t particularly forceful and politely ask. Its important to return the favor and be polite in return. However communication (English) can be a problem so do try and learn a few Thai phrases so you can get your way around but beyond that its kinda tough.