To be honest, I didn’t know what to expect going into my trip, but after visiting Krabi, I genuinely think it might be one of the most underrated destinations in Thailand.

What honestly shocked me toi start was just how CLEAN and green it was. Not to mention, everything felt far less chaotic than I expected and even getting around felt calm compared to some other major tourist destinations in Southeast Asia. I expected hectic traffic and sensory overload, but Krabi felt a lot more relaxed and really easy to navigate.

Krabi somehow manages to be both relaxing AND adventurous at the same time. One minute you can be floating through crystal clear water surrounded by limestone cliffs, the next you’re kayaking through mangroves, climbing caves, getting a Thai massage or eating mango sticky rice overlooking one of the best views you’ve ever seen.

It also feels far less overwhelming than some of the busier tourist destinations in Thailand, making it SUCH a great option for families too.

Whether you’re travelling with toddlers, teens or just planning a couples trip, there’s honestly so much to do.

So here are some of my tips and recommendations if you think Krabi sounds like your vibe!!

Best Time To Visit Krabi

Krabi is warm year round, but the best time to visit is generally during the dry season from November to April.

The rainy season usually runs from May to October. But in saying that, I went early May and we hadly had rain, just the odd storm in the afternoon but that was it!! And honestly, that was fine, it’s still warm and I love a good thunderstorm!!

If you don’t mind a little rain, travelling during shoulder season can also mean fewer crowds and cheaper accommodation.

Humidity however? Present. Constantly. So don’t bother with any hair tools, waste of time. Just embrace it 😉

Getting There

While there is currently no direct flight (hint hint airlines, make this happen please). Getting to Krabi from Australia is actually much easier than I expected.

You can fly from most Australian capital cities including Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth via Bangkok, Phuket or Singapore.

From there, you take a short domestic flight into Krabi Airport.

If you collect Qantas Points, this route can actually be REALLY good value too.

You can often redeem Qantas Points on both Qantas and Jetstar flights into each of those hubs. Then simply book a cheap short flight across to Krabi.

I have seen seen Jetstar reward flights to Thailand from around 18,000–25,000 Qantas Points one way (+ taxes), which can make family travel so much more affordable.

You can also use Klook to pre-book airport transfers, tours, island hopping and activities before you arrive. I use it constantly while travelling and you can use my code Getting There ✈️

Getting to Krabi from Australia is actually much easier than I expected.

You can fly from most Australian capital cities including Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth via Bangkok, Phuket or Singapore. From there, you take a short domestic flight into Krabi Airport.

If you collect Qantas Points, this route can actually be REALLY good value too. You can often redeem Qantas Points on both Qantas and Jetstar flights into each of those hubs.

Then simply book a cheap short flight across to Krabi.

I have seen Jetstar reward flights to Thailand from around 18,000–25,000 Qantas Points one way (+ taxes), which can make family travel so much more affordable.

Where To Stay

During my trip, I got a great opportunity to see a few properties, all of which were amazing and showcasing differant offerings, here are my picks…

Amari Vogue Krabi

This is where I stayed and I absolutely loved it. Peaceful beachfront location, stunning sunset views and a really relaxing luxury feel without feeling too over the top. It has several resturants, a beach front bar and opens right out to the beach and is a strunning spot to see the sunset!!

Super afforable option too!!

Banyan Tree Krabi

If you want something a little bougier, this is IT. Absolutely stunning luxury resort vibes with incredible restaurants, private pool villa options and some of the best views in Krabi.

It is located right next to Amari, and is the last property before the national park. Each room has it’s own pool and there are some very lux offerings like their 3 bedroom penthoiuse which would be amazing for groups or large famlilies.

They also have an incredible tree top resturant you HAVE to try!!

Sofitel Krabi Phokeethra

A really great all-rounder option, especially for families. Large resort, beautiful pool area for kids and a good balance between luxury and family-friendly facilities. It also has a golf course attached if that is your thing.

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Getting Around

One thing to know before visiting Krabi is that distances can actually be quite far between beaches, resorts and attractions. Krabi Airport is also quite far from many of the main resort areas like Ao Nang and Tubkaak Beach.

Because of that, I personally wouldn’t recommend relying on scooters or bikes unless you’re very confident and staying close to everything. And because Krabi has so many amazing activites and beautiful communitioes to visit, car is the best option!!

The easiest ways to get around are wither private drivers or hiring your own car, whatever suits you best. Most hotels can organise transport really easily and honestly it makes the trip SO much more relaxing.

Long tail boats are also basically the “local Uber” for beaches and islands and this is how you will get around the islands. A lot of Krabi’s best spots are only accessible by boat, which honestly just adds to the magic of the whole place.

Things You Must Do In Krabi

Island Hop The Famous 4 Islands

One of the absolute highlights of Krabi. Book a traditional long tail boat tour to explore Koh Gai (Chicken Island), Koh Tub, Koh Mor and Koh Poda. Try and time it with the tide, as you can actually walk between 2 of them at low tide, it’s so cool!!

Visit Railay & Phra Nang Cave Beach

Accessible only by boat, this was one of the most beautiful beaches I’ve ever visited. Giant limestone cliffs, soft white sand and crystal clear water everywhere.

Go Rock Climbing

Krabi is actually famous for rock climbing, especially around Railay Beach and Phra Nang Cave Beach. I personally didn’t do it while I was there, but we saw heaps of people and it looked SO fun!!

Kayak Through Mangroves At Khao Garos

One of the most peaceful experiences of the trip. Exploring the mangrove eco-system by kayak felt like stepping into another world and was such a beautiful way to experience nature. Make sure you see the Ghost Face Hill and Window Cave of Ancient Cavemen – it was SO cool.

Do A Thai Cooking Class 🌶️

One of my favourite ways to experience a destination properly. Getting out to visit the local communities and experience their culture and cuisine – was incdredible!!

Book A Spa Treatment 💆🏼‍♀️

Thailand just does wellness differently. We visited Aonang Princeville Villa Resort for a traditional Thai massage and honestly it was life changing – most relaxing 2 hours of my life!!

Have Dinner At Lae Lay Grill 🌅

An incredible restaurant overlooking the cliffs and ocean. Perfect for sunset dinner and one of those places where you could accidentally stay for hours. They have a super extensive cocktail menu too if your keen.

Visit Banyan Tree Krabi For Sunset Drinks

Even if you’re not staying there, it’s worth visiting. The views are unbelievable and the whole resort feels incredibly luxurious. The foyer it’s self is so insane, and the perfect spot for a sunset photoshoot!!

Stop At Kuan Nom Saow Restaurant & Viewpoint 🥭

This place deserves more hype. Amazing panoramic views over Krabi and genuinely some of the best mango sticky rice I’ve ever had. They also had the most adorable kitty just waiting to give me cuddles.

The owner is also so lovely and they also offer roof top camping accomodation, however, I draw the line at camping LOL

Visit Hong Island

Even though I personally didn’t get to do the Hong Island tour this trip, it is HIGH on my list for next time. The island is famous for its unreal emerald water, dramatic limestone cliffs and hidden lagoons, and it’s also where scenes from the newest Jurassic World movie were filmed. Which honestly tells you everything you need to know about how insanely beautiful it is.

Most tours include island hopping, swimming, snorkelling and kayaking through the lagoon, and it looks like one of those places that genuinely doesn’t feel real in person.

Collect Thailand’s National Park Passport Stamps

I thought I’d mention, one of the coolest things I discovered in Thailand was that they actually have a National Park passport system where you can collect stamps from different national parks around the country.

Our guide had one and I was OBSESSED. It honestly felt like a real-life adventure passport and such a fun incentive to explore more of Thailand’s nature and national parks.

You can pick one up for free and then collect stamps as you visit different locations. Considering how many incredible beaches, islands, mangroves, caves and protected natural areas Thailand has, I just thought it was such a clever idea and such a memorable keepsake from a trip too.

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