When relocating to a certain region, you’d want to settle down in the best places, the happening places, and places that have so much to offer to make your living in the area easy and fun. When it comes to Krabi, determining the best places to live can be challenging, especially when it is your first time being in the city, hence, the primary objective of this article is to provide you with the necessary info to help you make the right choice.
Where Should I live in Krabi?
There are about six major neighborhoods in Krabi, they are; Ao Nang, Krabi Town, Ton Sai Bay, Nopparat Thara, Klong Muang & Tupkaek, and Railay Beach. In addition to these mainland neighborhoods, we have islands such as Ko Phi Phi, Ko Jum, and Ko Ngai. To help you decide where to live in Krabi, we will go through each of these neighborhoods in detail.
Ao Nang
Ao Nang is the center of tourism in Krabi. And for most people, choosing Ao Nang as the town to live in would be the obvious choice. This part of Krabi is the most developed and filled with lots of hotels, restaurants, spas, resorts, and shopping centers. The majority of persons who visit Krabi stay in this part of the city due to the wide range of accommodation offers and its strategic position which makes exploring other parts of Krabi easy.
The Majority of activities that go on in Ao Nang happen near the major road that is close to Nopparat Thara Beach and Ao Nang beachfront. Here and along the side of the street, you will see lots of ATM machines and banks, tour agents, shops selling cheap clothes and souvenirs, and restaurants serving different types of cuisines including seafood and international dishes. You will also find lots of hotels, beauty salons, spas, and bars.
Although the Ao Nang beach can be accessible by everyone, no residential buildings on Ao Nang’s major road have direct access to the sand due to its position. However, everyone can have exclusive views of the beach – the sunset view is spectacular.
Ao Nang becomes calm and quiet during the day because that’s when the majority of residents go out for tours, time at the beach, island shopping, etc. It gets busier at sunset, especially along the beach road where you can find lots of restaurants, bars, and shops.
Krabi Town
This town is the capital of Krabi and is located at the river’s mouth. It is a typical Thai market town, small, and ever-bustling. During the early days, the sea and river in this region used to be the hub for fishing activities which was the major industry in Krabi, until commerce and services trooped in.
Being the capital of Krabi, this town is home to major banks, centrally located department stores, and supermarkets. In the daytime, it becomes very busy, and at night, a crowd of mostly young people is often seen at live music clubs, karaoke bars, and affordable pavement eateries.
The old Muslim community of Klong Hin village and the Thai-Buddhist community makes up the majority of the population in Krabi town, however, the Thai-Chinese community is the original occupants. Krabi town is regarded as one of the friendliest regions in southern Krabi. Here, you will also find a few westerners who are mainly retirees and teachers. This region is also where one can find a bona fide Thai experience and a wide range of accommodation options, from dorm rooms to five-star establishments.
It may be in your best interest to note that they are no beaches in Krabi town, however, its neighboring towns are Klong Muang and Ao Nang, which can be easily accessed by boarding local buses. Also, Krabi town is connected to ko Phi Phi, ko Jum, and Koh Lanta, all of which can be accessed from the piers.
The attractions in Krabi town can be seen on the river; an island of traditional fishermen and farmers called Koh Klang which is located at the opposite bank, the wetlands protected by RAMSAR, and a mangrove forest at the estuary. Tourists who come here often pay visits to the local fishing communities and go kayaking in the mangrove.
Ton Sai Bay
Due to the consistent rise in the cost of accommodation in west Railay and Ao Nang, both locals and travelers are gradually relocating to Ton Sai Bay which is located in the middle of the two towns. Before making this destination your choice of stay, it is important that you know it is far more inaccessible when compared to Railay and Ao Nang, however, this is how its occupants like it. When it is monsoon season, the wave and water levels become high enough to make safe passage a problem. During low tides, long tail boats get tied far from the shores making it difficult for passengers to get off to dry land.
The Ton Sai beach is very beautiful and surrounded by steep limestone cliffs. However, its sand is not as fine as other neighboring beaches, and the low tide seasons make silt and basin of rocks visible. During high seasons, Ton Sai Bay often experiences high traffic which often includes boats and foot, however, the part that is calm and quiet is at the far end, close to Railay.
The main activity in this part of Krabi is climbing, others include playing Frisbee and patronizing bars. Also, a few dive schools and kayak rental services can be seen around, which makes it possible to paddle to Railay if you have the energy. In addition to these activities, base jumping off cliffs is new and meant for only the brave. The majority of the occupants of Ton Sai Bay are in either their early 30s or 20s, however, there’s a growing presence of families and older persons.
Nopparat Thara
Nopparat Thara is a long beach that is next to Ao Nang and is split into halves by a ferry pier and a river called Klong Haeng which translates to ‘Dry River’. The most developed area of Nopparat Thara is the side that’s surrounded by the major coastal road with proximity to Ao Nang.
There’s a growing presence of development in Nopparat Thara which is rapidly spreading into Haeng Village in the form of guesthouses, apartments, and hotels. Along the beach road, you will find lots of simple accommodations which include Ayodhoya Suites; a big complex with a style that makes it look like a Thai palace. Also, there are new guest houses, a holiday in, and lots of affordable bungalows that spread into the backside of the beach and close to the local boxing stadium. Construction sites are very common and you may end up living next to one as development in this part of Krabi is ongoing.
The majority of persons who live in Nopparat Thara often commute to Ao Nang using local buses (tuk-tuks) to dine and drink. This does not mean there are no decent bars and restaurants in Nopparat Thara, some of them can be found near the Holiday Beach complex and Deang Plaza, even at the end of the beach. The strategic positions of these restaurants and bars make it possible to eat and drink just a few steps away from where you live.
Klong Muang & Tupkaek
North of Ao Nang is Klong Muang & Tupkaek, a stunning and beautiful beach. Its views of the Andaman Sea are breathtaking and give the sense of unwinding, not to mention the views of the coastal access to the protected and beautiful marine park. One can find three beaches in this part of Krabi; the beautiful Tupkaek Beach, and Klong Muang Beach; has two sides, one of which stretches to the south and is wide and sandy, and the other stretches towards the north and has a narrow strip of sand; the third beach is Ao Siew, which is home to Hang Nak, a cliff top location that was selected by the royal Thai family for the construction of their holiday residence.
Accommodations in this part of Krabi are of the same characteristics, they are self-contained, private, and luxurious. Unlike the Hotels in Ao Nang town, some in this region do have direct access to the beach which is the biggest flex of these hotels. The environs of these hotels include spas, restaurants, and pools. Guests are provided with literally everything they could ever want, making it even harder for them to want to leave these hotels.
Klong Muang is a Muslim community, and as such halal food is always available. For persons who can’t afford a four-star hotel without breaking the bank, there are a few budget-friendly, locally-owned guesthouses and bungalows located on the main road. On the other hand, Tupkaek Beach is just a ten to twelve-minute drive away from Klong Muang. Here, there are no villages, which makes it look like a wilderness as people are not often seen outside of their hotels.
Railay Beach
South of Ao Nang is Railay, spelled as Rai Leh, a mainland peninsula that’s almost fully surrounded by the sea and has lots of limestone cliffs that make it impossible for roads to be constructed. Being cut off from major roads, it can only be accessible by long-tail boats, which makes it seem like arriving at a real island. This part of Krabi is well-developed and features beautiful designs of low-rise buildings.
The two main beaches in Railay are without doubt the main attraction in this area due to their magnificent strips of sand. There are perfect for taking world-class pictures and sending them as postcards. These beaches are gently curved, long, and slop down to the emerald water. Behind craggy and towering rocks are coconut palm trees that serve as frames for the beach. These beaches are truly magnificent.
Due to the small size of Railay, it takes about 10 minutes or less to move from one end to the other. Also, it would be correct to say that all accommodation complexes are close to the beachside. The majority of the big and luxurious resorts in this town can be seen on the west side. The restaurants, reception areas, and very expensive rooms of these hotels have proximity to the sand. Because these beaches are stunning, they attract lots of people and as such it gets a little noisy during the daytime, especially as departure and arrival points for long-tail boats are mounted here.
Koh Phi Phi Island
Forty-two kilometers away from Amphoe Mueang, is Koh Phi Phi Island. It is located in the middle of the Andaman sea and is home to Maya Bay, a world-famous beach. Koh Phi Phi Island features other islands such as Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Leh, with each of them having spectacular scenery. The former is filled with restaurants, bars, and hotels, while the former is completely uninhabited.
Arriving at these islands is easy and will require embarking on a day’s trip from Koh Lanta or Khao Lak by boat. It takes about two hours to arrive at Ph Phi Don using a slow ferry from the city of Phuket, however, boarding a fast ferry can reduce your arrival time by half.
Koh Phi Phi island is blessed with breathtaking beaches, turquoise water filled with marine life of different colors, and magnificent rock formations. Hundreds of visitors flock to the pristine shores of Phi Phi Don island. Living in Phi Phi Don will be like living in paradise.
Ko Jum Island
This island is located between Koh Lanta and Krabi town. It is a small island with the southern part dominated by scrubland and rubber plantations. The northern area is covered with some 400-meter-high peaks of Koh Pu. Bungalow resorts can be seen along the west coast where there are rocky beaches.
There’re only a few attractions on Koh Jum Island. Furthermore, there’s only a diving school, but no tour agencies in the area. This part of the world has a laid-back atmosphere with little to no pressure to do anything. It is ideal for people who want all their time themselves. If the idea of slow living isn’t something you fancy, then you’d want to go with the areas in Krabi that have lots of tourist activities.
There’s no trace of nightlife in Ko Jum. By ten o’clock, the majority of the residents are already in bed and surrounded by mosquito nets. This village has only one bar, and the people here prefer to drink within the vicinity of their resort. They place their tables and chairs close to the sand in positions they can receive the cool breeze coming from the sea.
Of course, living here will require engaging in certain activities to remain healthy. To do so, day trips are available to certain locations like Phi Phi, Koh Ha, or Koh Rok. Alternatively, an organized group of persons can charter a long-tail boat and head over to Phi Phi Leh for some snorkeling experience. Also, people can go kayaking along the east coast of Ko Jum (the Krabi River) or use bicycles to explore the inland. These bicycles can be easily rented. Depending on your taste, other exciting activities may include fishing under the supervision of a fisherman or hiking to the top of Koh Pu.
Ko Ngai Island
Also known as Ko Hai, it is often mistaken as a part of the ‘four islands’ group of Trang because of how close it is to Trang. Officially, it is a part of the Krabi province and can be easily accessible from Koh Lanta and Pak Meng. It is small in size and often not visited by people during weekdays, however, this destination is flooded with tourists who journey to see the area’s renowned attraction during the weekends.
There exists lots of resort activities along the sandy beach of this triangular-shaped island. The atmosphere here, at the beach, is laid-back and lovely and makes visitors not want to live. The water has an astonishing color, and the sand is white and soft. Also, the views at the beach are scenic and include other neighboring islands.
As earlier mentioned, arriving at Koh Ngai Island will require embarking on 46 minutes to 1-hour journey from the pier in Meng Pak, Trang. An alternative transportation method will be boarding a ferry en route from Koh Lanta. Do note that there are no ATM machines in this part of Krabi, so it is advisable to come with lots of cash that can cover your every need.
Conclusion
At this point, you should already have an idea of where to live in Krabi. You can either live on the mainland or on beaches, however, some beaches are uninhabited. The most popular location in Krabi is Ao Nang town, the residents here are of mixed race because it is the tourism headquarters of Krabi. Also, Ao Nang is a well-developed and bustling town and has lots of accommodation options to choose from. More calm and secluded options include Krabi town and Koh Ngai Island.
