Krabi holidays

GMT +7 hours

Thai. English is widely spoken at beach resorts.

Baht

Beware of pickpockets. Leave valuables in the hotel safe and only carry the essentials.

Fossils Shell Beach
Thought to date back 40 million years, at this shell graveyard a layer of fossilised mollusk shells is scattered along the shore in broken sheets.

Tiger Cave Temple
Set in a lush jungle valley, monks worship at this Buddhist temple. There’s a cave onsite where you’ll see what appear to be tiger paw-prints.

Tham Phet
One of many caves in and around Krabi, this natural wonder is lined with sparkling stone that creates glittering reflections. In front of the cave is an enshrined Buddha image.

Khao Khanap Nam
These two mountains are teeming with natural attractions, including beautiful caves riddled with stalactites and stalagmites.

Khao Pra-Bang Khram Wildlife Sanctuary
Follow a nature trail and look out for rare birds including the black hornbill. Here you’ll also find Emerald Pool, a hot spring pool perfect for a dip.

Waterfalls
Krabi boasts some breathtaking waterfalls including Namtok Ron Khlong Thom, Namtok Hin Phoeng and Namtok Khlong Haeng.

•   Ao Nang has a stretch of white-sand beach lapped by clear water.
•   Railay Beach sits against the backdrop of a limestone cliff and is a great place to try rock-climbing.

•   You need a full EU 10-year passport. We recommend that the expiry date is at least six months after your arrival back in the UK.
•   You only need a visa if you’re staying longer than 30 days (29 nights), and you can get one from the Thai Embassy.

November
Andaman Sea Festival
Marking the beginning of the tourist season, this celebration includes watersport contests, boat races and cultural shows.

•   Explore department stores and small shops selling clothes and crafts.
•   Between Phruksauthit Road and Maharaj Road you’ll find a vibrant market selling fresh local produce.
•   Browse one of the night markets for exotic fruit and tasty food.
•   Visit The Beach Plaza, a shopping centre selling everything you can think of and serving Thai cuisine and western fast food.

11½ hours

Land sports
Tee off at the nine-hole Pakasai Country Club, go rock climbing and hire a mountain bike.

Watersports
Go sea canoeing, kayaking, fishing and scuba diving.

Food
•   Most hotels offer American, English and continental breakfasts, and you may find western-style fast food outlets, snack bars and ice cream parlours.
•   Thai cuisine is a spicy mix of noodles, curries, sweet-and-sour dishes, slow- and fast-cooked ingredients, exotic spices and condiments.
•   Head to Ao Nang’s seafood centre for mouth-watering fresh delicacies. In this tourism hub you’ll also find a range of international cuisine including Italian, Japanese and Indian.
•   Krabi Town is the best place to try authentic Thai food.

Drink
•   Don’t drink the tap water or ice – stick to bottled mineral water or purified water in hotels.

Dialling code
+66 75

Religion
Theravada Buddhism. Minority religions include Islam, Christianity, Hinduism and Sikhism.

Etiquette
•   Thais revere their royal family, so never express disregard for it.
•   Outward expressions of anger are regarded as crude and boorish.
•   Each Buddha image - large or small, ruined or not - is considered sacred. Never climb onto one to take a photograph or do anything that might show lack of respect.
•   Public displays of affection between couples are frowned upon. Westernised Thai couples may hold hands but that’s as far as it goes in polite society.
•   It is considered rude to point your foot at a person or object.
•   Never pat a Thai on the head – they see it as the highest part of the body, both literally and figuratively.

No vaccinations are compulsory but some are recommended. For more detailed and up-to-date information, contact your GP or a specialised vaccination centre.

•   Dress neatly in all religious shrines - never go shirtless or in shorts, hot-pants or other scanty attire.
•   Take off your shoes when entering private Thai homes, chapels that house Buddhist images, and mosques.

•   Head to an all-night beach party in Ton Sai or let your hair down in Railay’s raucous east-side bars.
•   You’ll find authentic local nightlife in Krabi Town, with karaoke bars, nightclubs playing Thai tunes and pubs featuring live music. If you fancy something a bit quieter, expats have also set up some small, western-style bars here.
•   Ao Nong beach is at the centre of Krabi nightlife, with hotel dinner shows and bars playing live music and showing live sport.

Wat Khlong Thom Museum
Discover relics including stone tools, coins, pottery and beads dating back over half a century.

Tip porters and hotel staff if you’re happy with their service. If a service charge isn’t added to your restaurant bill, tip 10-15%.