Krabi itinerary 5 days: Ao Nang, Railay, Phi Phi Islands and Tiger Cave

The airport is 40 minutes away by van. After check-in, walk down to the beach and follow the seafront to the southern end, where limestone cliffs drop into the sea and the Railay boat counters sit: check tomorrow's first departure. An hour and a half, with a swim.

Walk 1.5 km northwest along the beach road to Noppharat Thara, the national park headquarters and much calmer than Ao Nang. At low tide you can walk the sandbars out to the islets. The sun sets around 6pm. Head back to central Ao Nang for dinner.

Longtails leave from the southern end of Ao Nang once eight people are on board and take 15 minutes; the ride costs about THB 100 by day. Arrive early, before 9am, to have the beach almost to yourself. Railay has no road: the cliffs cut the peninsula off, which is why climbers come from all over the world. Two and a half hours on the beach.

Cross the walkway to Railay East, five minutes, and follow the path under the cliff to Phra Nang. The princess cave at the end of the beach holds fishermen's offerings. On the way is the viewpoint trail: a steep 20-minute climb with ropes and red mud, trainers only. The descent to the hidden lagoon is dangerous and worth skipping.

Be back at Railay West by 6pm: after that boats get pricier and rarer.

Speedboats leave Ao Nang or Noppharat Thara pier around 8.30am and reach Phi Phi Le in an hour. Viking Cave is seen from the boat: entry is banned because swiftlet nests for bird's nest soup are harvested there. Fifteen minutes.

Just south, Pileh Lagoon is an almost enclosed inlet of calm green water. This, not Maya Bay, is where tours stop to swim and snorkel. Forty-five minutes.

Maya Bay closes every year from 1 August to 30 September and reopened on 1 October 2026. Boats no longer enter the bay: they dock at the Loh Samah pier on the other side, and a boardwalk leads to the sand. Swimming is banned, you can only paddle, and the visit lasts about an hour.

Tours continue to lunch on Phi Phi Don and are back in Ao Nang around 3pm. The THB 400 park fee is sometimes not included: ask before you pay.

Hire a car with driver for the day and leave at 7am: the temple is 30 minutes from Ao Nang, and the climb of more than 1,200 steps takes about an hour, best done before the heat. At the top are a golden Buddha and 360-degree views over the limestone hills. Entry is free; cover shoulders and knees, carry water and keep food away from the monkeys.

An hour southeast by car brings you to Khlong Thom. A 1.4 km forest trail reaches the Emerald Pool, warm green water you can swim in, and continues 800 metres to the Blue Pool, where swimming is banned and the colour depends on the rain. Entry is THB 400 and it opens at 8.30am; arrive before 11am, when tour groups fill the water.

Seven kilometres away is the Khlong Thom hot spring waterfall, where thermal water runs down stone steps. Return to Ao Nang mid afternoon.

Check out and drive to Krabi Town, 30 minutes. The white temple sits at the top of a staircase guarded by nagas, and the hall has colourful murals. Half an hour, free.

Walk 700 metres to the town pier and agree on a longtail to the two limestone hills guarding the river mouth, Krabi's emblem. The boat stops at a stalactite cave and returns through the mangroves. An hour and a half, price per boat agreed at the pier.

The airport is 25 minutes from town. Flights to Bangkok take 1h20.