To see & to do in Krabi

Attractions

Krabi has a wealth of National Parks to explore. Not just the islands with their secluded beaches and picturesque scenery, but also the interior. Jungle covered mountainous crags and winding valleys offer great sightseeing and trekking. Take a look below...

National Parks

Than Bokkharani National Park
This popular mainland spot lies between Krabi and Phang Nga, in Ao Luk district. A cool forest shades a number of pools and waterfalls, providing the ideal location for picnics and swimming. Bring your own snacks or sample from local vendors set up to cater for the local people who flock to this spot on weekends.

Khao Phanom Bencha National Park
About 20 kms north of Krabi town on the mainland, this densely forested park hosts many scenic spots. Tham Khao Ping, a cave lying 3 kms from the Park Office, features large stalactites and stalagmites. There are 3 picturesque waterfalls, including Nam Tok Huoy Saday - a 1.2 km walk from the National Park Office, Nam Tok Klong Hang - 10 kms from Khao Phanom District Headquarters, and Nam Tok Ton Hahn - 16 kms from the Khao Phanom District Headquarters. Ideal for hiking.

Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Koh Phi Phi National Park
West of Krabi town, this park covers an extensive area of mainland beaches and over 80 islands, including the Phi Phi islands - and spreads across the districts of Ao Nang and Pahk Nam. Places of interest include Hat Noppharat Thara Beach, Ao Phra Nang Beach, a mountain cave containing a shrine dedicated to the spirit of a resident goddess (Phra Nang) Ko Poda and Ko Gai, and Susaan Hoi (literally "Shell Cemetery")

Mu Koh Lanta Marine National Park
Located in the southern most point in Krabi province, this park covers the greater area of Lanta Island and numerous surrounding islands. Koh Lanta Yai - the main island - is the National Park's headquarters and is the home to several communities of the Chaolay or Sea Gypsies. See beaches for further information about Koh Lanta.

Caves

Ao Luk District
Along the Ao Luk-Laem Sak Road, approximately 2km from the district offices are 2 caves, Tham Lod Neua and Tham Lod Tai. The latter is a long narrow limestone tunnel with stalactites and stalagmites and a boulder shaped like the quarter moon lying on its side. The cave can be visited when the water is low by longtail boat. Nearby is Tham Prah cave, the site of the Khao Prah Suhn Yah Tah Rahm Meditation Centre, and Tham Petch cave, named because the cave's walls are of a stone that reflects light like a diamond, which in Thai is called pet.

Tham Phi Hue To/Hualok is a large cave with many grottos and prehistoric drawings of animals and people. Accessible by boat from the town pier, the cave rests on a hill surrounded by water and mangroves.

Tham Sua or "Tiger Cave" is located about 5 kilometres north of Krabi Town. Inside the cave there are what appear to be tiger paw prints in the stone. Also the sight of a famous forest temple (see below).

Tham Sadet is located at Ban Nong Kok, Tambon Sai Thai, 7 kilometres from the town on Highway No. 4034. It is a beautiful cave with stalactites and stalagmites. In 1909 the future King Rama VI visited the cave here, earning it the title "Sadet" indicating the presence of royalty.

Ao Nang Area
At Ao Nang, within 10 minutes walk of Rai Leh Beach east, is the Outer Princess Cave or Tham Phra Nang Nok, and the more recently discovered Inner Princess Cave or Tham Phra Nang Nai, believed by local fishermen to be the home of a mythical sea princess. Inside the cave is a hidden pool - Sa Phra Nang - reached via a trail into the mountain side.

Koh Lanta Area (Lanta Island)
In the centre of Koh Lanta Yai are a series of caves called Tham Mai Kaew, reached by a jungle trek through rubber plantations and entered from a small entrance of rocks. Local guides can lead you through the caves to a cavern pool, with plenty of stalactites and stalagmites to see along the way.

Phi Phi Islands
A popular spot on Phi Phi Ley is the Tham Phraya Nak or Viking Cave, containing prehistoric paintings alongside more recent pictures of modern ships. The cave is best known for its Swiftlet nests, which are collected by locals as a major ingredient for the gourmet dish "Birds nest soup."

Temples

Wat Tham Seua
Around 5 km from Krabi Town is Wat Tham Seua or the Tiger Cave Temple, built into a long shallow limestone cave, and shaded outside by natural forest. Many other caves can be found in the mountains surrounding the monastery. The area has been the site of archeological findings including stone tools, pottery shards, and unfired clay holy images, dating from prehistoric into historic times. The temple also runs a meditation centre.

Wat Klong Tom (Temple and Museum)
In the Klong Tom district, east of Krabi town, this temple museum hosts a collection of ancient stones, bronze tools, coins, pottery, decorations and beads which are reputedly to be more than 500 years old.

Forests and Wildlife Sanctuaries

Khao Phra - Bang Kram Wildlife Sanctuary (Khao Nor Chuchi)
In the region bordering Krabi's Khlong Thom district and Wang Wiset district of neighbouring province Trang, the Khao Phra-Bang Kram Wildlife Sanctuary (Khao Nor Chuchi) is a lowland forest area sheltering a diverse range of flora and fauna. Some resident species of plants and animals found here are extremely rare, and the area is believed to host more species of birds than any other forest reserve in Southern Thailand. Prevalent among the bird species to be found are Gurneys, Black-breasted Pitta, Chestnut-collared Kingfishers, Black Hornbills and Crestwood Partridges.

Thung Teao Forest
Located in the area of Khao Pra-Bang Khram no-hunting zone next to the Bang Teao Village, is a 2.7 km forest trail - the Thung Teao Trail - which begins and ends at the Khao Nor Chuchi Sanctuary Headquarters. Information can be obtained from the no-hunting zone office at Ban Bang Teao.

Landmarks

Khao Kanab Nam
Rising from the water, this 100 metre high hill is accessed by boat from the town pier - approximately a 15 minute trip. Regarded as the symbol of Krabi, the hill features a staircase leading to caves with stalactites and stalagmites, and as legend would have it, the site of past civilisation (human skeletal remains having been recovered here).

Susaan Hoi (Shell Cemetery)
At Cape Laem Poh, some 20km by road from Krabi Town, is a site where fossilized shells lie in great concrete-like slabs along the shoreline. The fossils date back to when the area was a large freshwater swamp and these little creatures lived and died by the million. The thick layers of shells that remain after millions of years form one of only three similar sites in the world.