What excursions are available from Ao Nang?
From Ao Nang, set out to discover the most beautiful excursions in Krabi, from Railay to nearby islands, lagoons, snorkeling, temples, hot springs and postcard-perfect landscapes.
Passing through Ao Nang during your stay in Krabi and wondering what there is to do in the area? Discover the must-see excursions departing from Ao Nang. On the agenda: exploration of nearby islands and a visit to the hinterland.
Excursion to Railay Beach and Phra Nang Bay
Surrounded by limestone cliffs and lush vegetation, the Railay peninsula is among the region's must-sees. It's home to some of Thailand's most beautiful beaches: Railay beach and Phra Nang Bay.
Accessible only by sea, you can explore this wild region on a long-tail boat excursion (the traditional Thai boat) departing from Ao Nang. You can also take a ferry.
For your information, Railay beach refers not to one but several beaches: Railay East and Railay West. Phra Nang Bay is located further south on the peninsula.
On-site, numerous activities await you:
Phra Nang Cave: dedicated to Princess Phra Nang, this cave houses a sanctuary where you can observe a collection of wooden phalluses and lingams, a symbol of the Hindu god Shiva associated with fertility and virility.
Diamond Cave (also called Tham Phra Nang Nai): this cave is renowned for its impressive stalagmite formations. It's accessible from Railay East beach.
Bat Cave Railay: accessible from Phra Nang Bay, it offers a lovely viewpoint over the bay.
The lagoon and viewpoint: the peninsula is home to a lagoon and a viewpoint accessible via a hike of approximately 30 minutes (one way).
Kayaking: you can rent a kayak for a few hours to explore the Railay surroundings. You can even reach Phra Nang Cave from Railay West. It's also an opportunity for some snorkeling stops to admire the marine life of the Andaman Sea.
Rock climbing: For climbing enthusiasts, Railay is world-renowned as an excellent climbing site.
Four Island Tour Excursion
The four-island tour is, without a doubt, the most popular excursion departing from Ao Nang. As its name suggests, the excursion takes travelers to 4 nearby islands:
Koh Tup (or Koh Tub) and Koh Mor
Located southwest of Ao Nang, Koh Tup island is a small island with a paradisiacal feel. At low tide, a sandbar appears and allows you to reach other nearby islands, notably Koh Mor and Koh Kai. Crossing the sandbar even has a name: the Talay Waek (meaning "split sea"). In addition to enjoying the fine sandy beach, you can go snorkeling and freediving.
Koh Kai (Chicken Island)
Nicknamed Chicken Island, Koh Kai island rises like a limestone mountain emerging from the sea. It owes its name to the fact that the rock at its summit resembles a chicken's head. Surrounded by sublime coral reefs, you can go snorkeling and freediving.
Koh Poda
Although it's no more than a kilometer in diameter, Koh Poda is the largest of the 4 islands. Here too, you can enjoy a relaxing moment on the white sand, admire the karst landscapes and discover the marine life on a snorkeling or freediving excursion.
Railay
Though not technically an island, the Railay peninsula is often included as a stop on this excursion. You can discover Phra Nang Cave and its multiple phalluses, enjoy the peninsula's beaches, stretch your legs in the jungle, go snorkeling and kayaking...
Note: some excursions include a final stop at Phra Nang Bay to enjoy the sunset at the end of the excursion. It's also possible to request a night snorkeling option to discover a unique and magical phenomenon: bioluminescent plankton.
Good to know
To do the four-island tour, you can opt for a group excursion (in a speedboat or long-tail boat) or a private excursion by renting a long-tail boat.
As the islands are located in a national park, you'll need to pay an entrance fee to access them during a private visit. If you opt for a group excursion, the entrance fee is often included in the prices.
Excursion to Koh Hong Island
Located in Phang Nga Bay, Koh Hong island seems straight out of a postcard. It's characterized by impressive limestone cliffs in the middle of which sits a sublime emerald-colored lagoon.
During an excursion to Koh Hong, you'll be able to:
Enjoy white sand beaches around the lagoon or outside it;
Go snorkeling in the lagoon to admire the impressive aquatic fauna and flora;
Kayak to explore the lagoon considered one of Thailand's best kayaking spots. You can also paddle around the island;
Climb to the viewpoint to enjoy a 360° panorama of the surroundings.
Note that it's best to visit the lagoon at high tide to enjoy better conditions.
Good to know
Again, you can choose to visit Koh Hong on a group excursion or a private excursion. You can opt for a speedboat to get there faster and not waste time, or choose a long-tail boat excursion for more authenticity.
Excursion to Koh Phi Phi Island
Made famous worldwide for the beach of Maya Bay where the film "The Beach" with Leonardo DiCaprio was shot, the Koh Phi Phi archipelago fascinates with its exquisite landscapes.
Beyond discovering Maya Bay, a full-day excursion to Koh Phi Phi from Ao Nang will allow you to navigate between the islands of the archipelago, notably the two largest islands: Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Leh. It's in the latter that you'll find the Phi Phi Leh lagoon, one of Thailand's most magical places.
You can also reach other sites in the region such as Bamboo Island, go snorkeling, see monkeys at Monkey Beach, explore the Viking Cave...
Good to know
We recommend opting for a speedboat excursion so you don't waste time and can see as much as possible.
Discovery of the hinterland: Emerald Pool, hot springs and Tiger Cave Temple
For this final excursion, you won't be heading out to sea, but rather inland to discover 3 must-see sites in Krabi:
Wat Tham Suea or Tiger Cave Temple
Perched atop a hill, this Buddhist temple houses a golden chedi, caves (where tiger paw prints were allegedly found, hence its name) and a golden Buddha. To reach it, you'll need to climb 1,237 steps. But it's worth the effort since you'll enjoy an impressive view over Krabi.
The Emerald Pool of Sa Morakot
After the effort, time for some well-deserved relaxation with a swim at the Emerald Pool of Sa Morakot. Lost in the midst of the forest, this pool is accessible via a short hiking trail. Nearby, you'll also find two other natural pools: Glass Pool and Blue Pool (note: swimming is allowed in the former but forbidden in the latter).
Hot Springs (Hot Spring Waterfall)
The excursion will also take you to Krabi's hot springs where you can bathe in thermal water with temperatures around 35-40°C.
Good to know
Most excursions don't include the entrance fees for the Emerald Pool and hot springs. Budget 400 baht per adult and 200 baht per child for the Emerald Pool, and 200 baht per adult and 100 baht per child for the hot springs.
Key takeaways:
All the excursions mentioned are "classic" excursions. It's entirely possible to customize them based on your preferences.
Some excursions can be combined. For example, it's possible to visit Koh Phi Phi and discover Krabi's 4 islands during the same full-day excursion.
Furthermore, excursions can be done in a speedboat or long-tail boat (the traditional Thai boat). You can opt for group tours if you have a tight budget or private tours for more intimacy.
Don't hesitate to contact us to organize your excursion from Ao Nang according to your expectations and budget.
Frequently asked questions
Prices vary depending on the type of excursion: expect 800-1,500 baht for the four-island tour, 1,500-2,500 baht for Koh Phi Phi, and 1,000-1,800 baht for land excursions including the temple and hot springs.
The dry season from November to April offers the best conditions. Avoid the monsoon season from May to October for sea excursions.
Yes, most excursions are family-friendly. Be careful, however, with the 1,237 steps of Tiger Cave Temple, which can be challenging for young children.
