Top 5 things to do in Krabi, Thailand.
By Pete | March 2023
If you are looking for things to do whilst in Krabi Thailand, then look no further, We have rounded up a list of our Top 5 Things to do in Krabi from our recent trip.
- Cooking Lesson with Ya’s Cookery School
- Hike up Tiger Temple Steps
- Dragon Crest Hike
- Railay Beach
- Spa Session at the Shellsea Hotel Otium Spa
Whether you’re looking for relaxation, adventure or culinary enlightenment we found Krabi to be stuffed full of things to do.
Our only problem was not having enough time to fit everything in while we were there.
The beaches in Krabi are second to none, with long stretches of soft white sand, you’ll be sure to find your favourite spot to catch a sunset at the end of a fun filled day.
We like to throw in a spot of adventure mixed in with our chilling.
You will find many hikes in the province to get you out of the towns and connecting with nature again.
Sometimes challenging, it’s a good way to get those feel-good endorphins going and work off all that irresistible Thai food.
If you can’t get enough of that yummy Thai flavour and want to take it home with you, there are many cookery schools in Krabi just waiting to share all their top tips and favourite recipes with you.
Discover our Top 5 Favourite things to do in Krabi, Thailand
Ya Cookery School
Number one on our Top 5 Things to do in Krabi list was a cookery class at Ya Cookery School, if you are in the Ao Nang area, we urge you to pay Ya a visit!
On our last visit to Thailand, we tried to fit in a cookery lesson, but unfortunately time did not allow. We knew this time it was a must, and we were lucky enough to find this gem of a school only 20 minutes from our hotel.
Ya’s claim to fame was a brief, but memorable moment on Gordon Ramsey’s Great Escape T.V. show. She shared her culinary knowledge with Gordon and her fun personality shone through on screen.
We got in contact with Ya to book ourselves in on a 1-day course at her school, and arrangements were made to collect us from our hotel.
On arrival you are welcomed in to her large open-air kitchen with many cooking stations and her friendly staff on hand.
“Chop-chop” “Bang-bang”
We chose the dishes we wanted to make and were given clear and fun instructions to ‘Chop-Chop’ and to ‘Bang-Bang’.
With a range of kitchen skills among the other students, no one was left behind as we all chipped into get the ingredients prepared.
The amount of food that we prepared was far too much for us all to consume, so left overs were taken with us to enjoy later on if we could manage!
We made fried spring rolls, curry pastes, fried rice, chicken holy basil, Chicken Coconut soup and of course Mango Sticky Rice.
A recipe book containing all the dishes we had made that day was handed out to each of us and we were then dropped back at our respective abodes.
We can honestly say that we had so much fun, from beginning to end and would highly recommend Ya’s Cookery School.
No matter what cooking ability you consider yourself to have, you will walk out with lots of delicious food and a big smile on your face.
Prices range from 1200bht to 1500bht depending on what programme you choose. This includes pick up and drop off to your hotel and a recipe book.
Tiger Cave Temple Hike
A 30-minute drive out of Ao Nang, you will find the mighty Buddhist temple Tiger Cave.
Arriving at this temple, stand in awe of this giant karst which towers over the temples below.
Look to the top and this will be your final destination, 1260 stairs will take you high up, rewarding you with a 360° view that goes on for miles and miles.
The 278-meter-high climb is best completed at the very start or end of the day as you’ll be grateful for the cooler air and fewer visitors.
Take your time as some of the stairs are steeper than others, especially as you start to reach the top.
The stair posts are numbered all the way to the top, which at times was a helpful boost we needed to keep going.
Reach the top and you will be thankful for the cooling breeze and the stunning view.
The temple consists of a large golden Buddha and other shrines, it is a peaceful place to catch your breath and quietly congratulate yourself on climbing all those stairs!
Be prepared for jelly legs on your way down and some of those steeper stairs will require your full attention.
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Dragon Crest Hike
Known locally as Ngon Nak, this hike will have you trekking along and up a cleared path through the jungle.
Be prepared for the fantastic sights and sounds of an immersive jungle experience, we spotted wild gibbons and interesting flora and fauna along the way.
The start of the hike is a short distance from Tubkaek Beach, head for a starting point on google maps Checkpoint Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, 6024, Nong Thale, Mueang Krabi District, Krabi.
There is a carpark and a small entrance fee to the park, we were aware that this didn’t used to be the case, but were informed that this was to pay for the maintenance of the pathways and forest so were happy to pay.
The hike should take around 4 hours in total giving time for refreshment stops and picture taking from the top.
There are many hotel choices to choose from, budget friendly to blow your budget luxurious.
Even if like us you only visit for the day, you will find activities such as kayaking, rock climbing and hikes through jungle and to the top of the Railay viewpoint.
The hike can be challenging in places, with jagged, rocky paths, protruding branches and on our visit, some fallen trees covering our route.
Be sensible and visit at the coolest part of the day, bring lots of water and wear supportive footwear.
Besides a tourist attraction, we were passed by determined Thais in trail gear, obviously working on their personal best as they ran up and back down before we even reached the top!
The top of the mountain provides magnificent views of the coastline and craggy islands below. A detailed map will help you to reference the landmarks in the distance.
To reach the famous Instagram spot featured on many influencer feeds, continue for 5 minutes beyond the final viewpoint. Climb up and over boulders and through woodland, and you will find a slab of rock, jutting out over the edge of the peak.
Railay Beach
One of Thailand’s most famous beaches, pre pandemic thousands of tourists visited this tropical paradise every year.
Our visit in February 2022 meant the tourist numbers were still sadly low, and tourist hot spots that we may have avoided for overcrowding now were desirable locations to visit.
We rode our scooter to the Ao Nang Pier and bartered with a captain of a long-tail boat to take us to Railay Beach before the sun topped over the limestone cliffs.
There is a kiosk at the pier where you can arrange a boat to Railay beach, as well as organised island hopping in the neighbouring small islands.
We arrived with the sight of an empty stretch of beach, and only a few people carrying supplies from the shore to the hotels on land.
If you are looking to stay at Railay beach please bear in mind that it is only accessible by boat, so factor this in if you are looking to get out and explore the rest of Krabi Province during your stay.
Spa visit at The Shell Sea Hotel
When visiting Thailand, you would be crazy not to have at least one massage while you’re there.Number 5 on our Top 5 Things to do in Krabi is visiting a spa, And when looking to indulge in some much needed relaxation we need not look far from our hotel.
The Shellsea Hotel and Spa is located in a quiet cove 10 minutes from Ao Nang, making it a convenient base point and relaxing getaway from the hustle and bustle.
The Otium Spa is nestled in the beautifully manicured gardens overlooking the Ocean.
As you step inside, the exquisite décor and heavenly smells of essentials oils will immediately relax your mind.
Tastefully appointed white washed treatment rooms are furnished with large, shaded windows and laying on the egg-shaped massage couch you will start to float away without a care in the world.
Your therapist provides you with a tiny bell, and with the soft chimes barely making a sound, she enters the room. Gentle muscle stretches combined with a perfectly pressured massage, all aches and pains from our previous days hike melted away.
The spa features a relaxation area, sauna and out in the pool area the is a jacuzzi with highly attentive staff to help you with your every need.
If your budget stretches, we thoroughly enjoyed our stay at The Shellsea Hotel and would highly recommend a stay here.
Obviously Krabi Province range reaches far beyond the area of Ao Nang, and if time permitted we would like to have explored a little deeper.
Have you got any favourites or secret discoveries in Krabi that you would recommend? We would love to hear from you in the comments below
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