Planning Your Trip to Krabi

Krabi is one of the best destinations in Thailand and is very tourist-friendly. This means you have plenty of resources to help you plan your 3 days in Krabi trip.

How to get around in Krabi

Krabi is a spread-out town. The airport is far from the city of Krabi and the tourist district of Ao Nang is far from these two. When traveling around Krabi it’s best to use the GRAB App. This is the equivalent of Uber or Lyft in the United States.

GRAB will get you around town very easily. However, Grab is not available at the Krabi airport.

How to get from the Krabi Airport to your accommodation

When you arrive at the Krabi Airport, the best choice to get to your accommodation will be by a van or private taxi. Just walk outside of the arrival gate and you will see a swarm of people trying to sell you on taking their transportation.

The vans can be shared or private. However, the shared vans can take substantially longer because they will drop off each passenger at their accommodation. As mentioned, Krabi Town is far from Ao Nang, so you may have to sit through this long drive.

If you are traveling in a group, definitely book a private van. Although it may be a bit more expensive, it will save you much time.

How Many Days in Krabi

When booking a trip to Krabi, 3 days is the perfect amount! No, I’m not just saying that because this is a 3 day in Krabi itinerary, I really mean it. Krabi is a beautiful destination with so much to see and do.

3 days in Krabi is the perfect amount of time to relax by the beach, experience adventurous activities, and take a day trip to a gorgeous nearby island.

However, if you have more than 3 days to spend in Krabi, consider yourself lucky! With a few extra days in Krabi, you will be able to experience the city more in depth and relax at these gorgeous beaches a little bit longer.

I wouldn’t recommend any less than 2 days in Krabi because it can be a far trek for some travelers and any less than 2 days here is just not enough time to experience it all. I’d recommend using your time more wisely.

Where to Stay in Krabi

When considering where to stay in Krabi, there are 3 popular districts, Krabi Town, Ao Nang, and Railay Beach.

Krabi Town is the downtown part of Krabi. This area is actually the most local and least touristy of the three areas. Here you will find a variety of restaurants and shops and a boat pier to book day trips. However, there is no easily accessible beach in this area.

Ao Nang Beach is the best area for tourists to stay in who want accessibility or affordable accommodations. It’s about a 25-minute drive from Krabi Town. Here you will find a variety of shopping and restaurants (although not as many as in Krabi Town), places to book day trips, the famous long-tail boats, and the beautiful Ao Nang Beach. I love this area because it’s very easy to get around, book tours, and has a lot to do. Not to mention, it’s on the beach! Here there are a lot of on-the-water restaurants that offer gorgeous views.

Railay Beach is the BEST place to stay when visiting Krabi. I absolutely loved my stay on this beach. Railay Beach is a beach that is only accessible by boat, so no cars are in this area. It’s actually a beach landlocked by the limestone cliffs! Staying on Railay Beach truly transports you to a beach paradise world where every day is truly a vacation. There is still a variety of shops and restaurants, but not nearly as many compared to Ao Nang and Krabi Town.

3 Days in Krabi Itinerary

This 3 days in Krabi itinerary takes you to see the best of Krabi with some flexibility for you to customize your adventure. From the beautiful beaches of Railay to day trips to the famous Maya Bay, Krabi is one of my favorite spots in all of Thailand. So, let’s dive into this perfect 3 days in Krabi itinerary! 

Day 1: Railay Beach

Day 1 of your 3 days in Krabi itinerary will be spent on Railay Beach. You’ll get to relax at the beach, hike, and see some monkeys!

Morning: Grab Breakfast and Explore Your Accommodations Area

Start your morning with some breakfast and explore the area that your accommodation is in. If you are in Ao Nang, you can walk along the beach and get settled in. If you are in Krabi town you can explore the town.

This is also a good time to book a tour for your Day 2 in Krabi. I recommend booking a Phi Phi Islands Day Trip or a Hong Islands Day Trip. Once your tour is booked, you will now have the freedom to enjoy your day knowing tomorrow is all sorted.

Afternoon: Explore Railay Beach

In the early afternoon, head to Railay Beach! If you are staying on Railay Beach, even better! There are so many incredible things to do on Railay Beach. Actually, it’s my favorite place in Krabi and one of my favorite places in all of Thailand.

How to get to Railay Beach

Getting to Railay Beach from Ao Nang and Krabi Town is very easy. 

From Ao Nang to Railay Beach, you will need to head down to the water. Once you are along the oceanfront, you will see many long-tail boats lined up. Purchase your tickets from just across the street. I recommend booking a one-way ticket and then sorting out your way home when you are ready to depart.

The long-tail boats run all day from sunrise to after sunset. So, you won’t need to rush to get on the boat. There’s also an abundance of them, and they run whenever guests arrive. It’s a quick 10-minute ride between these two stops.

From Krabi Town to Railay Beach you will need to find your way to the Krabi Town Pier. From here, there will be a line of long-tail boats and even a ferry boat. The boat journey from here is a quick 30 minutes. 

Things to do on Railay Beach

Once you arrive on Railay Beach, you have all day to explore this incredible island! Most likely, you will have time to complete most (if not all) of these activities on the list! So let’s dive into all the best things to do on Railay Beach, Krabi. 

• Railay Viewpoint Hike – This epic hike starts with a pretty intense rock scramble. You’ll want to be in good health to complete this hike. However, once you are past the rock scramble it’s a really nice hike with incredible views at the top. Please note, this hike is only open during the dry season. During the rainy season, it is closed.
• Phra Nang Beach – Phra Nang Beach is a gorgeous beach with incredible limestone rock formations. This is a perfect place to set up your things and relax for the day. Also here you can explore the famous Princess Cave or kayak to Ko Rang Beach.
• Snorkel – On Railay, you can spend time snorkeling at the beaches. While there are other incredible islands to snorkel on, this one is also good.
• See the Monkeys – Railay Beach is home to a lot of monkeys! And these monkeys are brave! Walk through the center of the island and you will find tons of monkeys. Be sure to hang onto your valuable … and maybe don’t bring any food. They are known to steal from you!
• Explore Diamond Cave & Phra Nang Cave – Railay Beach has some cool caves to explore. If you have never been to a cave before, this one may be worth your time for the cheap price. However, if you have been inside a cave before, I would recommend you spend your time elsewhere.
• Rock Climbing – Railay Beach is world-famous for its rock climbing. The rock climbing here is second to none. Actually, you will find many rock climbers who spend weeks on the island exploring and practicing. When you arrive on Railay, there are opportunities to book a rock climbing class. I learned how to rock climb on Railay beach and it was epic! I highly recommend trying this activity while you are here.

Evening: Dinner and Sunset on Railay

After you’ve completed a few activities on Railay Beach it’s time for dinner. On Railay, there is a ton of restaurants lined up along the beaches. Pick your choice on what you want to eat for dinner. A lot of the restaurants offer live music and good atmospheres as well.

I do highly recommend you eat dinner before or after the sunset, so you can spend the sunset on Railay Beach. The sunsets here are absolutely unmatched. On every visit, I found locals playing soccer on the beach which really added to the atmosphere.

The boats will run after sunset, however, it can be harder to catch them sometimes. I recommend you don’t stay too much past sunset or else you may have a harder time getting a longtail back to Ao Nang or Krabi Town.

Day 2: Day Trip to Nearby Islands

Day 2 of your 3 days in Krabi will be spent on a day trip to a nearby island. The two best options for day trips are to Phi Phi Islands or the Hong Islands. Both are really incredible day trips, so you can’t really go wrong. Let’s dive into what each one offers so you can make the decision that is best for you.

Phi Phi Islands Day Trip from Krabi

The Phi Phi Islands is the biggest and most famous day trip from Krabi. Actually, it can be done as a day trip from both Krabi and Phuket! Additionally, there are many accommodations on the Phi Phi Islands, which makes it a very popular tourist spot.

The Phi Phi Islands are most famous for “Maya Bay” which was featured in the 2000s movie, “The Beach” starring Leonardo DiCaprio.

This day trip is done via speed boat and takes just over an hour to get between the two spots. Along the way, they feed you, stop by beaches and other picturesque spots, and you get time to snorkel.

This day trip is a long day trip and takes most of the day. I did it twice from Krabi. The first time I booked a normal day trip to Phi Phi Islands that left at a standard time and went to all the big spots.

The second time, I booked an “early bird” tour. Which means we were the first ones out on the water and to Maya Bay. This was 1000% the better tour! Phi Phi Islands becomes very crowded, however, departing an hour or two earlier is perfect to beat the crowds and experience the island without the crowds.

I really love this day trip because of its picturesque views. I mean there is nothing like Phi Phi Islands.

Hong Island2 Day Trip from Krabi

WOW! I was shocked by how much I loved my Hong Island Day Trip. After having done the Phi Phi Islands Day Trip twice, I was unsure of how this would compare. However, I thought this trip more time spent at more peaceful beaches and lots of incredible snorkeling.

During the Hong Island Day Trip, you can book a group or private tour on a long-tail boat. I booked a private boat with 3 people, but I can imagine the group tours max out around 10-12 people, so it would still be comfortable too.

On this trip, your longtail boat driver takes you to the beautiful beaches on the Hong Islands. You will spend much less time on the boat and more time on the water. Additionally, riding in a longtail boat is always lots of time and a very Thailand experience.

Also on this tour, your final stop will be at Hong Island, where there is an awesome lookout point hiking trail. 

I really loved my day trip to the Hong Islands and would recommend it to anyone who wants to spend more time on beaches or has some extra time in Krabi.

Day 3: Explore Krabi

Your final day of your 3 days in Krabi is spent landside in Krabi. Krabi is a beautiful part of Thailand with its soaring limestone cliffs. You probably already got a glimpse of the beautiful drive from the airport to your accommodation.

Today’s the day to head out and explore. If you are comfortable driving a motorbike, this will be the easiest and cheapest way to get around. However, you can hire a private driver for the day or take a GRAB (Thailand’s Uber) around.

Krabi is full of beautiful Emerald Pools, elephant sanctuaries, hikes, and more. Let’s dive into the best things to do in Krabi.

Things to do in Krabi

• Hike Tiger Cave Temple – Tiger Cave Temple is the most popular hike in Krabi, with good reason. This hike is spectacular! However, it’s not for the faint of heart. This hike is intense with 1260 steps to the top. At the top, you will reach Wat Tham Suea. The temple at the top is beautiful and offers breathtaking views of Krabi. From the limestone cliffs to the ocean blue water, it’s a great view from the top. The hike is located really close to the airport.
• Emerald Pools – Admittidly, this is a full day tour. The emerald pools are a long drive from Ao Nang or Krabi Town, however they are totally worth it. Additionally, many of the tours offer a stop at tiger cave opportunity to hike to the top. The emerald pools are a unique and fun way to spend your day in Krabi.
• Krabi Town – Krabi Town is a fun, vibrant, and local part of Krabi. Here you will find a variety of restaurants and shops. It’s a good place to walk around and explore with your extra time.

Evening: Explore a Night Market

End your 3 days in Krabi by exploring a night market! Ao Nang beach has an awesome night market that gives you the opportunity to try a bunch of Thai street food. The night market usually starts around 4:00 pm and finishes at 11:00 pm. 

Final Thoughts on 3 Days in Krabi

When planning a trip to Krabi, 3 days is the perfect amount of time here. Krabi is a beautiful part of Thailand, that is often skipped over by tourists visiting Phuket or other islands. However, Krabi is one of my favorite places in the south of Thailand!

With 3 days in Krabi, you have enough time to explore the beaches, nearby islands, and day trips from Krabi. However, when planning your trip to Krabi it’s important to customize this itinerary to work for you and your travel style.