Understand
Krabi is a small city with a population of around 18,000. Located just upriver from the coast, it has no beaches and hence many visitors make a beeline for Ao Nang or Rai Leh (Railay).
Get in
Direct connections are by air and road; travellers can also take a train to Surat Thani and continue on to Krabi by bus from there.
By plane
Krabi International Airport (KBV) is about 10 km from the city limits, 15km from city centre, 40km from Ao Nang. Thai Airways operates daily direct flights to/from Bangkok, likewise Air Asia from March 1st 2006. Tiger Airways flies direct to/from Singapore nearly every day of the week and to/from Darwin on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Destination Air Shuttle,Thailand's only Seaplane service also routinely flies in and out of Krabi from Phuket and to all the outer islands.
The international departure tax surcharge is 500 baht; domestic departure tax is included in the price of the flight.
National Car Rental has a branch at the airport; motorcycle taxi rides are available outside the terminal.
Krabi Limousine (tel. +66-75692073) has a desk inside the terminal and provides "limousine taxi" (using large air-conditioned sedans) transport to Krabi for 500 baht; Ao Nang for 800 baht; Phuket for 2500 baht. Krabi.com offers taxi and minibus (minivans) for less however travellers have to make deposit payment of 200 baht online via credit card.
By train
By bus
Buses from Bangkok's Southern Bus Terminal (tel. +66-24351199) to Krabi take about 12 hours and depart as follows:
Buses also run from the east coast with connection to ferries to Ko Samui and onward. Choose your ticket carefully - the trip should take no more than three hours, but some travellers have endured ridiculous ten hour rides which included extensive "repair stops" right in front of restaurants coincidentally affiliated with the bus company... such hassles can be avoided by using state-run BKS buses instead of dodgy private operators.
Shuttle buses run between Krabi airport and Phuket airport several times a day. There are also regular buses that make the 2 hour run.
By car
Krabi is located on Highway 4. Shared pickup truck taxis from Ao Nang to Krabi are frequent and cost 50 baht.
By boat
Ferries run from/to Ko Phi Phi, Ko Jum and Ko Lanta daily. Most depart in the morning. Tickets can be purchased at the dock or from tourist offices and most local guesthouses and hotels. The normal passenger ferry does not start from the center of town anymore, but from a new passenger port about 3 km outside Krabi. Free taxi transfer to the pier should be included in the price of your ticket. If your boat starts from the old piers in the center of town (Chao Fah pier or Phi Phi pier), you are most likely on a more expensive and longer tourist boat ride.
The large displayed time-tables in the many travel agencies are just for show and the times are not to be taken literally. Ask.
Buy
There is a lot to buy in krabi, although there is no official tourist market in Ao Nang, there are many roadside stalls and shops selling the usual t-shirts, bags and shoes etc. However, Bangkok and the north of Thailand are far cheaper and people more inclined to barter than any of the tourist shops in Ao Nang. Krabi town, too, is far cheaper than any of the tourist resorts-- this is reflected in the price of food and drinks especially. There are two night markets in Krabi town that are worth a look, also a vogue department store where real items can be found cheaper than in in Ao Nang.
Buses run every ten minutes during the day from Ao Nang to krabi and every 30 minutes after dark and only cost 40 baht.
Eat
At night there is a charming night market close to the promenade next to the piers. Food is good and cheap, with Muslim influences. From time to time the town organizes shows on a small stage next to the market.
An even better market can be found on Soi (Lane) 10 in the centre of town. This market has plenty of fresh fruit and lots of authentic cooked food. Only a few places have menus, otherwise point and enjoy. This market does not sell alcohol.
There are several Italian restaurants of varying degrees of authenticity. Viva has Italian management and probably the best food.
Sleep
Get out
Krabi (กระบี่) is a town (thesaban mueang) on the west coast of southern Thailand at the mouth of the Krabi River into the Andaman Sea. As of 2005 the town has a population of 24,986. The town is the capital of Krabi Province and Krabi district.
Administration
The town covers the tambon Paknam and Krabi Yai of Krabi district, and is subdivided into 10 communities (chumchon).
Traffic
Since 1999 the town is served by the Krabi Airport west of the town. Passing through the town is Phetkasem highway (Thai highway 4).
Many tourists only travel through Krabi town to go to the more popular locations nearby, like Ko Phi Phi, Railay Beach, Ao Nang, Ko Jum, Phuket and Ko Lanta.
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