Ao Nang Beach
The town beach and the boat station of Krabi's coast: where most island days and every Railay trip begin.
15 places
Krabi's beaches, compared
The beaches of the mainland and of Railay side by side: how you get there, what it costs to get in, and when to go.
Krabi's beaches split into two families: the ones you can drive to, around Ao Nang, and the ones you can only reach by boat, on the Railay peninsula. That single fact decides more about a beach day here than the colour of the sand.
The table below compares them on what changes a plan, then each beach has its own page.
Compare at a glance
| Places | Access | Entry | Time to allow | Best time | Distance (from Ao Nang) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ao Nang Beach | By road | Free | An hour, or a whole stay | Late afternoon, for the light on the cliffs | 0 km |
| Railay West | By boat only | Free | Half a day at least | Morning, before the day boats arrive | 3 km |
| Phra Nang Beach | On foot from the road | Free | Two hours to half a day | Early, before the island tours stop here | 3 km |
| Nopparat Thara Beach | By road | An hour, or half a day | At low tide, when the sandbar comes out | 2 km | |
| Klong Muang Beach | By road | Half a day, or a quiet stay | At high tide, for swimming | 7 km | |
| Railay East | By boat only | As long as it takes to walk through | At high tide, when the water covers the mud | 3 km | |
| Tonsai Beach | By boat only | A few hours, or a stay if you climb | Around low tide, if you walk over from Railay West | 2 km | |
| Tubkaek Beach | By road | Half a day, or a quiet stay | Late afternoon, looking out towards the islands | 13 km | |
| Long Beach, Koh Lanta | By road | Several days, as part of a stay on Lanta | From November to April, when the boats from Krabi run | 52 km | |
| Pai Plong Beach | On foot from the road | A few hours | Around low tide, when Ao Nang is too shallow to swim | 1 km | |
| Ao Nam Mao | By road | A stop on the way to Railay | High tide, if you want to swim | 4 km | |
| Long Beach, Phi Phi Don | By boat only | National park fee | Half a day, or a stay | November to April, when the sea is calm | 34 km |
| Klong Dao Beach, Koh Lanta | By road | Several days, as part of a stay on Lanta | From November to April, when the boats from Krabi run | 50 km | |
| Klong Nin Beach, Koh Lanta | By road | Several days, as part of a stay on Lanta | From November to April, when the boats from Krabi run | 60 km | |
| Kantiang Bay, Koh Lanta | By road | Several days, as part of a stay on Lanta | From November to April, when the boats from Krabi run | 66 km |
Railay West
The swimming beach of the peninsula without a road, between two walls of limestone.
Phra Nang Beach
The beach at the foot of the cliffs at the end of Railay, with the cave shrine to the sea princess at one end.
Nopparat Thara Beach
The long, tree-lined beach next to Ao Nang, inside the national park, with the ferry pier at its far end.
Klong Muang Beach
A quiet resort beach west of Ao Nang, rocky at low tide: better for a calm stay than for a busy beach day.
Railay East
The sheltered side of Railay: a mangrove shore and mudflats where the boats from Krabi Town land, not a beach to swim from.
Tonsai Beach
The rockier, more rustic bay beside Railay West: a base for climbers and backpackers, reached over the rocks at low tide or by a jungle path.
Tubkaek Beach
A long, quiet curve of sand facing the Hong Islands, with few longtails and upmarket hotels set behind it.
Long Beach, Koh Lanta
One of the beaches on the west coast of Koh Lanta, also called Phra Ae: a place to stay on the island rather than a day trip from Krabi.
Pai Plong Beach
A small bay over the headland from Ao Nang, reached by a short jungle path with steep stairs: quieter water, and monkeys on the way.
Ao Nam Mao
A quiet mangrove-fringed bay with the pier for Railay East: the sheltered way onto the peninsula, not a swimming beach at low tide.
Long Beach, Phi Phi Don
The swimming beach of Phi Phi Don, round the headland from Ton Sai, facing Phi Phi Leh, with a reef offshore for snorkelling.
Klong Dao Beach, Koh Lanta
The northernmost of Lanta's west-coast beaches, closest to Saladan: calm, shallow water and plenty of places to stay, popular with families.
Klong Nin Beach, Koh Lanta
A long beach in the quieter southern half of Lanta, with a small village behind it: a beach day rather than a beach scene.
Kantiang Bay, Koh Lanta
A curved bay in the south of Lanta, also called Ba Kantiang, with few resorts and some snorkelling at its southern end.
See these places with us
Railay
Rock climbing introduction at Railay
- Beginners' course, ages 5 and up
- Pickup available
- Best for
- Complete beginners, including families with children aged 5 or over
- Skip if
- Someone in your group is 4 or younger, or you already climb
Railay
Half-day rock climbing at Railay
- Morning or afternoon class
- Pickup available
- Best for
- A first try at climbing on Railay's limestone, with an instructor
- Skip if
- You already climb and want a full day on routes of your choosing
Krabi
Bioluminescent plankton night swim
- Night swim
- Pickup available
- Best for
- A night out on dark water, ideally near the new moon
- Skip if
- Dark water worries you, or you need the glow guaranteed
Ao Nang
Four islands by longtail, with lunch
- Longtail boat, shared or private
- Sandbar walk at low tide
- Best for
- A first island day close to Ao Nang, at an unhurried pace
- Skip if
- You want Phi Phi or a long day far offshore
Things to do · the beaches
Krabi beaches
Krabi has beaches you drive to and beaches you reach by boat, beaches for a swim and one, at Railay, that turns to mud at low tide: the tide and the season decide more than the sand.
Things to do · Ao Nang
Ao Nang
Where most Krabi trips are based and most days out begin: the beach and its tide, what is within walking distance, which boat leaves from where, and what to do when the sea keeps the boats in.
Things to do · Railay
Railay
Railay is reached only by boat. Which boat, where it lands you, what to see once you are there, and whether to sleep on the peninsula or come for the day.
Where to stay
Where to stay
Ao Nang for convenience, Railay for the cliffs, Krabi Town for a Thai town, Klong Muang for quiet: the base you pick decides how your days start.
Common questions
Which Krabi beaches can I reach without a boat?
Ao Nang and the beaches along the mainland coast. Railay West and Phra Nang are only reached by boat, because no road crosses the cliffs.
Is Railay East a swimming beach?
No. It faces mangroves and mudflats, and at low tide the water goes out a long way. People land there by boat and walk across to Railay West.