Trip report 26-29 November 2006

Hi everyone, I just got back from Krabi 2 days ago and I thought I%26#39;d share my experience here.

We rented a 1.5L automatic economy car from Budget and started the drive in the late morning to Krabi from Phuket, where we had stayed for 2 nights. We got to Phang Nga pretty easily and stopped at a quiet town named Tha Dan to take a longtail boat tour around Phang Nga bay (as recommended by the friendly staff at Budget%26#39;s Patong office). There were only 2 tour operators around the jetty at that time as it was already 2pm. 1 guy quoted us 1000baht for halfday rental and the other quoted 2000baht. We were a bit too tired to haggle so we went with the 1000baht tour (for 2 people). We got to see some rocky cliffs, caves with ancient drawings, as well as James Bond Island and Koh Pannyi (Sea Gypsy Village). The trip took 2.5 hours, with only 1 stop at Koh Pannyi for a quick lunch. Pity we didn%26#39;t have time for Koh Hong. After the trip, we were quite eager to get to Krabi before sunset.

Once there, we had problems locating Ao Nang beach and hence kept circling round Krabi town. We stopped to ask for directios and met a nice Thai lady at a small tour agency who told us that some of her guests were taking a cab to Ao Nang beach within the next few minutes and she said we should follow the vehicle. It started to get dark and we did manage to find Ao Nang after all, despite losing sight of the cab halfway. Plus there weren%26#39;t many street lamps lining the area between Krabi town and Ao Nang beach. Locating our hotel Krabi La Playa (I%26#39;ve written a review of it here on TA) was a bit tricky as it was situated inside a small alley, which we missed twice.

Nevertheless, it was a scenic drive and the roads were paved well, except for an area some distance from Krabi town, where it was under construction. Watch out for lots of mud, potholes and makeshift road dividers. The directions from Phuket to Phang Nga, and Phang Nga to Krabi town were very distinct so it was an easy drive. We were fortunate enough not to have encountered many ';F1 drivers'; along the way! Budget%26#39;s car came topped up with a full tank of fuel so we didn%26#39;t have to worry anything. When we returned the car we had used up 3/4 of the tank. Topping up cost us just 700baht.

The next morning we drove to the Gastropod Fossil Beach or Shell Cemetery (about 20 mins from Ao Nang) but didn%26#39;t get to see much. There was a view point you could enter but there is an ';entrance fee'; of 200 baht per person. We figured that since we wouldn%26#39;t be allowed on the beach anyway, we should just take some scenic photos and be on our way. Next we headed to the Hot Springs in Klong Thom, without realising that it was actually quite a distance away (about 45 mins). We were due to return the car at Budget%26#39;s office in Ao Nang office in an hour so we didn%26#39;t spend much time at the Hot Springs but we had a nice dip in the 40 deg cel water. We would have driven to the Crystal Pool nearby if we had more time.

After returning the car at Ao Nang, we hopped onto a longtail boat to Railey for 60 baht each. We had lunch at West Railey before walking to the east side and on to Phra Nang Cave beach, which we enjoyed the most. We watched sunset on the boat back to Ao Nang and then it started to rain. We walked back to our hotel drenched but happy!

The next morning we couldn%26#39;t wake up early enough to go on the 4 Island Tour (450 baht per person by longtail boat) so we went to Ao Nang beach and hired a longtail boat for half a day at 1000 baht (actual price 1500 baht). We went snorkelling behind Chicken island and alighted at the front beach where during low tide was connected to Tup island by a long strip of sand. Snorkelling and sunbathing at Tup was our favourite as it was the least crowded of all islands and the water was unbelievably clear. Next and last stop was Poda island, which was nice but the most crowded of the 4 islands.

On our last day in Krabi, we checked out the hotel, leaving our luggage with the front desk. We decided to visit Nopharat Thara beach but it was super low tide and there was a strong smell coming from the area. We took another tuktuk to the end of Ao Nang beach (further down from Golden Beach Resort after Ao Nang Villa) and sunbathed for a while. The tide was higher then and we managed to have a swim. Next it was time to head back to the hotel for a quick shower (the hotel gave us a spare room to shower in) before hopping into a cab to the airport for 500 baht. There are signs along the streets of Ao Nang where you can hire/pre-book a cab and the prices are the same everywhere).

For meals, we had good and cheap local fare at a hawker stalls area next to our hotel which was only opened at night. We also dined at 2 seafood restaurants by the beach which weren%26#39;t expensive, as compared to the seafood restaurants in Singapore. Along the way there were many pushcart stalls selling delicious pancakes for 15-20baht each. Shopping in Ao Nang was alright but there weren%26#39;t many shops as compared to Phuket or Samui. They all sell the same things but you could buy them at slightly cheaper prices than at Phuket and Koh Samui.

Overall it was a very exciting trip and we enjoyed Krabi a lot more than Phuket. The limestone cliffs/karsts looked magnificent and driving/swimming near them was an eye-opening experience for us city dwellers! Lol! We hope to return next year. Thanks to all who answered my questions on this forum before my trip! And to those heading to Krabi, enjoy yourselves. You%26#39;ll have a blast!

Trip report 26-29 November 2006

Thank you so much dys for writing your Krabi trip report!

We are heading over there next March so I found your information very useful indeed.

Now for a few questions if you don%26#39;t mind.

How much did it cost to hire the budget car and would you drive yourselves if you went again or get a driver to take you? We are thinking of booking someone to drive us to Krabi and back.

I have read that it costs to get into the mineral springs? Are they on the way from Phuket to Krabi or in a different direction altogther?

I hadn%26#39;t heard of Tup island so will make a note of that in my little book - thanks.

Did you find hiring the longtail just for yourselves better than going with a tour? Were you able to keep away from the visitors that way?

I have read about the yummy pancakes - we can%26#39;t wait!

I am really excited now - many, many thanks for all the detailed information. It is much appreciated.

Nicky

Trip report 26-29 November 2006

Dys,

It seems not many JBR%26#39;s get posted here so it was great to hear yours. Can%26#39;t wait, we are going this December.

NiceNicky,

We have booked a driver (based in Phuket) to collect us from Krabi to take us to Phuket, it costs around 2500 baht. I will post on my return.

Sarah

x

Thanks Sarah,

will keep an eye out for your report!

Nicky

Hey guys, I%26#39;m glad you found the info useful coz I thought I wrote a bit too much!

Nicky, here are my answers:

1) It costs 1590baht to rent the car (a new Toyota Yaris) at Patong including insurance, plus 535 one way return fee (for drop off at Ao Nang) and 214 for excess coverage. I would do the drive again coz we had a lot of fun and we%26#39;d be more confident the next time round. We did think of hiring a driver (we were quoted 2800baht) but I guess we wanted some privacy and basically a great sense of adventure, if you like!

2) There are a couple of mineral springs around. The one we visited in Klong Thom cost us 90 baht per person and 20 baht for parking. You won%26#39;t be passing by this one while driving from Phuket as it is halfway between Krabi and Trang (southwards from Krabi). I suggest you study the maps and plan your route if you do decide to drive, and take note of the attractions/view points along the way, so that you know where to stop and what to see. My friend who had lived in Trang was shocked to find out how long we took getting from Phuket to Krabi!

3) The 4 Island Tour is a very popular tour and it includes Tup. Even if it doesn%26#39;t state so in the itinerary, you can walk across from Chicken island during low tide (best time%26#39;s between 11am-12pm). Hiring a longtail boat meant there were just the 2 of us on the boat. We saw the other boats and they were ferrying about 6-8 people. It looked alright, just a lil cramped. We also got to plan our own itinerary. You can arrange with the boatman. We weren%26#39;t able to keep away from the tourists entirely coz every island has many visitors onshore, thanks to the coordinated tours as well as free and easy island-hoppers not unlike ourselves. By the way I was at Maya Bay at Phi Phi island and I%26#39;ve never seen so many tourists on a 1 stretch of beach ever. There was hardly any space to spread our beach towels! I think the number of tourists on the islands around Krabi are still acceptable. Don%26#39;t worry about it.

Have a great trip, you both!

Definitely hire a car and drive yourself. The roads are good and the Thai drivers aren%26#39;t as bad here as in Bangkok. My in-laws live between Khlong Thom and Trang so we hire a car @ the airport and drive. Their house is about 20 minutes from the Crystal Pool and the Hot Stream via a back road and is soooo convenient for an afternoon trip. I don%26#39;t think anyone has mentioned it, but the small Thai restaurant at the entrance to the Crystal Pool is very good.

DYS,

i was also in Ao Nang last week. Funny you mentioned getting caught in the rain one day. I was in the same position...just back from a trip over to Railay...and the heavens opened. Nice warm rain though...deffo not like England!

Ao Nang has certainly picked up in tourist numbers again. Pretty much back to pre-tsunami levels i think. A big difference to the last time i was there...5 weeks after the tsunami.

I%26#39;ve travelled around SEA quite a bit...but keep being drawn back to Krabi...such a magnificant place.

I am now back in England, thinking how soon i can get back!!

mal1, we probably hitched the same longtail boat back to ao nang!

we%26#39;re looking forward to more great tiger airways offer. they have pretty cheap fares for the singapore-krabi route and it only takes 1.5 hours to get there!