© Istock/Fleck
© Istock/Fleck

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Day trips from Krabi: easy level

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One of the most popular locations in South Thailand for an active traveler, Krabi has a well-developed tourist infrastructure. Different levels of adventure are available, from extreme rock climbing to gentle boat tours. There are still plenty of attractions relatively undiscovered by the tourist crowd, but reaching those would require experience or at least decisiveness. For those who would rather take it easy, there is a number of less unusual but still exciting day trips.

© Istock/molchanovdmitry
© Istock/molchanovdmitry

Railay beach

Just a short boat ride away from Krabi town, Railay is a cluster of beaches on an isolated cape, cut off from the mainland by towering karst cliffs. It is usually full of visitors, but beautiful nonetheless, with long strips of sand framed by limestone pinnacles. There are also some nice walks in the area, leading to caves, viewpoints, and even a hidden lagoon - although this last one involves scaling a sheer wall.

Phra Nang Beach, Railay, Krabi
Phra Nang Beach, Railay, Krabi
Ao Nang, Mueang Krabi District, Krabi 81000, Thailand
© Istock/ideation90
© Istock/ideation90

Hong Island boat tour

Travel agents around Krabi offer a number of boat tours, the most exciting of which is probably the one to Hong Island. "Hong" literally translates as "room", and in this case refers to a large doline inside a karst islet. Tireless waves carved caves in the soft limestone for millennia, until the island got hollowed out, and the roof collapsed under its own weight. This created a lagoon surrounded by vertical walls, only accessible at low tide through an underground channel. There is a tiny crescent of a beach inside this hong, and the setting for a swim is perfect. The tour will also visit a few other islands, all with beaches and good snorkeling opportunities. There are other options, most of them centered on uninhabited islets, wild beaches, and weirdly shaped rocks. Some tours advertise swimming with luminescent plankton, but this is a matter of rare luck – do not hold your hopes high.

Ko Hong, Krabi
Ko Hong, Krabi
3MHH+68 Nong Thale, Mueang Krabi District, Krabi, Thailand
© Istock/Casper1774Studio
© Istock/Casper1774Studio

Boat tour upriver

A nice way to spend an afternoon is boat tour upriver from Krabi town. Boats depart from Chaofah jetty, visiting a couple of minor natural attractions, such as the twin karst pinnacles promoted as the symbol of Krabi, before arriving at Khao Khanab Nam caves. Two caverns hide a bunch of human bones - prehistoric, if you believe the official explanation. However, rumors suggest those may have been local fishermen stranded and killed during a major flood.

© Istock/Travel Wild
© Istock/Travel Wild

Tiger Cave Temple

Combining a Buddhist monastery with one of the best viewpoints in the area, Tiger Cave Temple is located further inland and requires land transportation to reach. If you prefer the easy way, travel agents offer day trips from Krabi by minivan, or you could do it yourself by taking a sequence of songtaews (passenger pickup trucks). The latter option will take most of the day. The temple itself is rather typical, with a sacred cave and a small army of Buddha statues, the biggest one overlooking the province from the top level of a karst mountain.  The views from up there are beautiful, but you would need your own wheels if you wish to stay for the sunset.

Wat Tham Seua, Krabi
Wat Tham Seua, Krabi
Krabi Noi, Mueang Krabi District, Krabi 81000, Thailand

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The author

Mark Levitin

Mark Levitin

I am Mark, a professional travel photographer, a digital nomad. For the last four years, I am based in Indonesia, spending here roughly half a year and travelling around Asia for the other half. Previously, I spent four years in Thailand, exploring it from all perspectives.

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