Reconnect with Nature in Krabi Thailand

Why Krabi

Krabi Thailand is one of the most beautiful places in the world. While you probably have seen and heard plenty about Phuket and Bangkok, Krabi is a quieter city on the bay with crystal clear turquoise water and mountainous islands doting the horizon. We came here while we were still living in Shanghai and it was such a needed escape after the hustle and bustle of city life!

Picture quintessential longtail boats waiting to take you island hoping, beach restaurants with fabulous Thai food, laid back accommodations perfect for relaxing, and my favorite part - an elephant sanctuary where your visit helps care for the elephants! If you are looking for a party scene then Krabi would not be the place I would recommend, but if you want to relax and enjoy one of the most beautifully places in the world with a cocktail in hand - here is the guide to Krabi for a perfect trip!

Once in a lifetime experience playing with a baby elephant in an elephant sanctuary!

Where to Stay

Staying near Ao Nang Beach in key when visitng Krabi, so you have access to the beach, restaurants and shops. Some resorts are beautiful but very isolated and you essentially are trapped and can only eat there! They know this, and charge accordingly too, plus you will miss out on the incredible local food. I can’t recommend the below enough (we stayed in both) and the location can’t be beat.

Ban Sainai Resort: One of the best places I’ve ever stayed while traveling is the Ban Sainai Resort. Picture a pool surrounded by lush vegetation with a drink in hand, luxe bungalow rooms with hammocks overlooking a lagoon, and huge spa bathtubs with jungle views. Seriously just book it if its available! 5 star place without the 5 star price tag

Centara Grand Beach Resort FABULOUS pool!

Centara Grand Beach Resort: This resort is incredible! Centara Grand Beach Resort in a private cove that feels like you have the best of Thailand to yourself and the pool is the cherry on top! To get to the main drag you take a quick and gorgeous walk through the monkey trail too which is part of the fun! If having a private beach and 5 star amenities is what you are after look no further, they even have private villas you can rent. Did I mention pool is fabulous with the best views of the mountains and water and water excursions leave right from the beach! You won’t want to leave this place

Must Do in Krabi

Island Hoping

Island Hoping via Longtail Boat: A must do to explore the real beauty of Thailand’s beaches is taking a Longboat out from island to island! Ao Nang Longtail Boat Service is a little hut right on Ao Nang beach where you can book a boat. Ginger tip: The best rate for the boat is coming with a group of 6 or waiting until others would like to join the boat too (we waited only a few minutes for this!) to pay 100-200 baht, otherwise they may talk you into a private ride which could cost 1000 baht. The captain will help you schedule your stops and tell you when to be back for pick-up times. I highly recommend choosing where you want to go in advance so you can tell them here are the places you want to see!

Read on to figure out what stops are calling your name!

Ready to embark on our next island adventure!

Railay Beach: Technically not an island but a stunning beach you can only get to via boat! We loved grabbing food at Raitalay Terrace which had tables right in the sand with views of the calm turquoise water and majestic cliffs. After lunch get some swimming in since this is one of the most beautiful beaches in all of Thailand!

Chicken Island: Our favorite island we visited! The island gets it’s name due to a chicken like rock protruding up from it, but the real highlight is the shallow sandbar that you can walk across to a different island! We took our time exploring, snorkeling and swimming in the shallow warm waters here. The snorkeling was great here too so bring your snorkel equipment on the boat!

James Bond Island: This island became famous after it was featured in - you guessed it - James Bond! The sharp cliffs make it visually stunning right in the center of all the islands. This island really made us feel like we were in an exotic paradise like we’d never seen before!!

See The Magnificent Phi Phi Island

Phi Phi Island: Including this here because it is an island, but not one I would take a long tail to! We are big scuba divers and took a dive boat for 1.5 hours before reaching the massive island. We did several dives around the base and really enjoyed the beautiful reefs and stunning landscape from the boat! The sheer cliffs plummet straight into the water so you can snorkel and dive right along the massive wall which was such a unique experience.

Ginger Tip: I do regret not spending more time at Phi Phi, and actually disembarking onto the island. There are amazing places you can spend the night and really get a feel for it, so if you have time I recommend it!

Hang Out With Elephants at a Sanctuary

A moment I will never forget, connecting with a baby elephant

Ao Nang Elephant Sanctuary: I am a massive animal lover and elephants in particular have my heart. I knew Thailand had elephants but let me tell you, I was very skeptical and did not want to encourage elephant mistreatment by visiting the wrong place. After a lot of research I came across the Ao Nang Elephant Sanctuary and it was exactly what I was hoping for!!

The elephants here taught only with verbal commands, and they sometimes have their own agenda and don’t listen which actually made me happy to see, they are living creatures and have a mind of their own! When you visit your payment helps feed and care for the elephants, and you can choose to help feed them, brush them, or like we did, give a baby elephant a bath in the river! It was incredible and we played together and splashed around. The little guy was rolling in the mud and having the time of his life. I loved learning from the local Thai people about the connection they share with elephants and how much respect they have for one another. They help each other out and its a two way relationship! This is a CAN’T MISS and worth going to Krabi just for this once in a lifetime experience!!

What to Eat

Incredible Pad Thai from a beach hut on Ao Nang

Thai Food, Thai Food, Thai Food: I typically have specific restaurants to check out, but in Thailand we just ate at random hole in the wall spots and it couldn’t have worked out better for us! We tried every type of Noodle dish, Curry and rice, and often asked the server what they recommended! This is a place to venture out of your comfort zone and eat what the locals do, and save some money for excursions and accommodations too!