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Malacca
Straits | Ao Chalong | Kata
Beach | Phi Phi | Krabi
Krabi
 The
stunning beach and sea-mountain scenery of Krabi is now
famous, with many visitors extolling some of the beaches here
as amongst the most beautiful in the world. This is a geographic
extension of the karst sea mountains of Phang Nga, reaching south
into deeper, clearer waters and thus offering fine snorkelling
and diving.
In the northeast monsoon season anchorages here are quiet, though
the region is completely exposed during the southwest monsoon.
First discovered by cruising yachties and the backpack traveller
set some years ago, it has now developed ashore, with many bungalows
hotels and restaurants.
A few larger hotel groups have opened resorts. Krabi town, with
provisioning of a similar standard to Phuket available, can be
accessed from Phra Nang by longtail boat or dingy, or by road
from the roadhead at Ao Nang.
Ao Nang
Koh Sam - Anchor in sand just south of the pair of islands
in depths of around 4 metres. The water is very clear, and the
shallow water can easily be spotted. This is an excellent overnight
stop in the northeast monsoon season.
 From
here you can take your dinghy up the river, keeping close to the
western shore at the entrance. Once over the bar, the water is
deeper and the river is bounded by sandy beaches. The entrance
is also suitable for speedboats and shallow draft vessels. Inside
the river are two small jetties used by small local boats. On
the west bank is a small bungalow resort development and on the
east bank a road provides access to the main road to Krabi.
Ao Nang - This wide, shallow bay lends a secure haven
in the northeast monsoon season, with anchorage in about
5 metres well offshore.
 Ao
Nang is important due its access to the main road to Krabi, though
it is the beauty of the beaches on the peninsula immediately south
that have made Krabi world famous. Rock walls forbid the road’s
access to these beaches. Resorts, bungalows, shops and restaurants
are found along the beach-front road at Ao Nang. Telephone, transport,
and all the usual amenities of a small resort are available.
Transfer by vehicle to Phuket Island takes about 3 hours, or
a little less to Phuket airport. Cars for this trip can usually
be found near the resorts. The normal bus service into Krabi town,
about 20 kilometres away, is a ‘songtaew’, a small truck with
benches in the back.
LAEM NANG
 Rai
Le - Anchorage is in 4 - 5 metres on sand in the centre of
the bay, well offshore. However, if available, it is better to
take one of the several moorings laid in the centre of the bay.
This bay has spectacular stacks of rock which form headlands
to the north and south.
In the shade of the coconut palms which fringe the beach, cheap
restaurants and bungalow accommodation tend to be frequented by
budget travellers, who contribute to the generally easy going
ambiance.
There are also some very comfortable private houses set back from
the beach, at the north end, which can be rented on a daily basis.
Extending out into the bay at the southern end of the beach is
a reef, easily seen in the clear waters, and a magnet for snorkellers.
Going right on the beach, you will find longtail boats for hire;
there is no access to this area by road due to the enclosing rock
walls.
Tum Phra Nang - Just around the corner from the tall stack
which forms Koh Nang is the most strikingly attractive palm-fringed
bay in the region.
 Anchorage
with reasonable swinging room is possible for 3 or 4 vessels in
5 – 6 metres on a sandy bottom, in the northeast monsoon season.
Between Koh Nang and the beach is a colourful coral reef, excellent
for snorkelling.
This passage is definitely impassable for keel-boats, and even
for dinghies it’s advisable only at high water, whatever the activities
of the local longtail boats might seem to suggest.
There is a famous cave at the south end of the beach with a colourful
phallic shrine inside. Lots of rocky overhangs and outcrops offer
themselves for exploring.
Behind the beach lies the Dusit Rayavadee deluxe resort, with
100 pavilions in a spectacular coconut-grove setting. Only check-in
guests may use hotel facilities. There is no access by road.
A new activity is now thriving in this location on the steep
sided limestone pillars - sport rock climbing.
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