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Located on the western coast of southern Thailand, Krabi has slowly become one of the most sought after destinations in the country. With its offshore islands, limestone cliffs and soft white sand beaches, this destination is replete with rejuvenating qualities. Here is your guide to making the most out of your vacation to this popular Thai island, with a compilation of some of the best experiences it has to offer.
Situated about 3km from town, the Wat Tham Sua temple is situated on a hill top at 309 metres and is one of the most sacred sites in Thailand. It is also an important meditation centre. The temple is situated on a limestone cliff that can be reached by a steep climb through 1260 steps. It takes anywhere between 25-45 minutes. The steps are constructed with natural rock and concrete and the climb is sprinkled with a few golden pagodas on the way. Reach the top to take in breathtaking panoramic views of the sea as well as the surrounding areas and breathe in the fresh air.
These two steep 100 metre limestone hills are situated on the mangrove lined Pak Nam Krabi River and the larger of the two hills is inundated with pre historic remains and cave paintings. Take a boat to reach the caves. On alighting and trekking to the caves, you will find walls adorned with paintings of Neanderthals, stalagmites and stalactites, and human remains. There is also an ironic and cheeky art installation of the skeleton of a prehistoric giant by a Taiwanese artist.
You can also opt for exploring nearby fishing villages on the boat you have hired or head back straight to Krabi once done exploring the caves.
No travel guide for an experience of Krabi is complete without a mention of one of the most popular spots in Thailand. The Phi-Phi islands come under the administrative jurisdiction of Krabi and are a group of six islands. They are only a full day trip away from the latter and consist of colossal limestone formations, great diving sites and white sandy beaches. The Maya Bay, Monkey Beach and Bamboo islands are some of the most famous beaches in the world and a tour of them is also filled with a lot of snorkelling stops. This destination is heaven for beach lovers and is the perfect place to go for a swim if you are a water baby.
Believed to be one of only three such sites in the world, Susan Hoi is an archaic shell cemetery, situated about 17km from Krabi. The 200 metre long stretch has exhibits of fossils believed to be millions of years old. The coastline is covered in dense concrete and these slabs are made up of thousands of fossilised snail shells. There are a total of three sites on the beach from where you can view these fossil beds, all of which offer different views depending on the time at which you visit them.
While everyone is engrossed in exploring the beaches and the nightlife of Krabi, you can choose to immerse yourself in the town’s calming side with a visit to the Thung Teao Forest Natural Park. The medley of colours is what grabs the visitor’s attention as you set foot in the park and the tall trees touching the skies provide it with an air of seclusion. The Park is home to rare species of birds like Pita Gurney and a variety of flora.
The central attraction of the Park is the crystal lagoon, which derives its name from the effect the waters produce and is the perfect spot to take a relaxing swim. This eco tourist spot forms the heart of the natural park. It is one of Thailand’s few remaining tropical forests so make sure you don’t litter around.
