PHUKET HOTELS

3 days in Krabi
IF you’re rushing through (why? Look at all the things you’re going to miss below!), you can do no better than follow our action packed itinerary, which takes in the most popular tourist attractions in the province.

DAY ONE: Ao Nang and the 4-island tour. Book this with a tour agent (to get snorkelling equipment and lunch) or do it independently (to get your own schedule) - see Getting Around for details. Dinner in Ao Nang offers everything from pizza to sushi and the friendly nightlife is worth hanging around for.

DAY TWO: Visit the famous forest temple at Tiger Cave and climb the 1237 stairs to the mountain-top shrine - the views are breathtaking. Spend the rest of the day in Krabi Town shopping or trying the excellent local food.

DAY THREE: Day trip to the Phi Phi Islands. Known as ‘the jewels of the Andaman Sea’ or, more recently, as ‘the place where The Beach was filmed’, this group of six islands is exceptionally beautiful. Round off your stay with a seafood dinner.

7 days in Krabi
Staying a little longer? Add these suggestions to your list of things to do:

DAY FOUR: Hot springs and Khao Pra-Bang Khram Nature Reserve. Venture inland and discover Krabi’s green heart. This pristine forest is zig-zagged with easy-to-follow walking trails. Along the way you’ll find a crystal-clear pool for swimming and the perfect natural jacuzzi at the hot springs.

DAY FIVE: Day trip to the Hong Islands, located 25km north west of Ao Nang. Easily the most beautiful islands near the Krabi coast, boasting spectacular beaches and a hidden lagoon. Snorkel and swim to your heart’s content.

DAY SIX: Kayaking. This is a must-do activity, even for the lazy (guides who paddle for you can be hired at extra cost). Exploring vast and peaceful mangrove-lined canyons and caves in a silent boat gives you the opportunity to see birds, monkeys and lizards up close.

DAY SEVEN: Take time out to do some shopping. As well as trawling the hundreds of souvenir shops, spend an afternoon strolling around a local market (see practical info for times). For a true flavour of Krabi, sample some of the food on offer - it’s clean and cheap, so don’t be afraid to experiment.

2 weeks in Krabi
Now you have time to slow down and really get a feel for this magical region.

Rent a bike or car and simply drive around (suggested routes can be found in the Your Krabi Guidebook), stopping in the small villages and markets you pass.

Krabi under water is just as fascinating as above ground: beginners’ diving courses take four days to complete, or you can do a taster single day. Either way you will witness a rich marine life that takes in everything from tiny seahorses to sharks, turtles and even dolphins.

From the depths to the heights: Krabi is rated as one of the best spots in the world for rock climbing. Again, you can try anything from a few hours to several days.

There are any number of other activities to enjoy: golf, elephant riding, bamboo rafting and snake shows are just some of them.

After all this action, spend a day relaxing with a picnic in the cool shade of Had Nopparat Thara National Park. At low tide you can take a walk out to the islands close to the shore. Follow this with a traditional Thai massage and feel all tension melt away.

Finally, to keep your stress levels at an all time low, try a mini-break spent on the deserted beaches of Ko Lanta or Ko Jum (all around 2 hours from the coast).

Daily transfers by minibus and boat leave from Ao Nang and Krabi Town, see Getting Around for details.

BARS & NIGHTLIFE

Railay and Ton Sai, being cut off from the rest of the mainland with a captive market, do not offer anything special in the way of food, but they do make up for it in nightlife. Ton Sai beach hosts regular all-night beach parties for the full moon and new moon during high season and Railay is well known for its wild parties in the east side bars.

Krabi Town offers a more local nightlife experience with hundreds of karaoke bars and a few ‘nightclubs’ playing loud Thai pop music, often with a stage show. It’s definitely an interesting experience for the few foreigners who venture inside, as you can see above. Good live music pubs - playing a mix of Thai and western covers - include Kwan Fang and Crazy. There are also a few small bars for westerners, mainly concentrated around the old Chao Fah pier and along Utarakit Rd.

Ao Nang beach is the main party place for tourists on holiday here. Bars are concentrated along the main beach road, in noisy ‘plazas’ like Center Point, and Luna Bar, or stand alone places like the Irish Rover pub, or Full Moon Bar. For a quieter, more sophisticated evening, visit the excellent Last Fisherman Bar, at the far end of Soi 17 on the beachfront. Drinks generally are the same price or cheaper than in the West: around 70B for a small bottle of beer and 120B for a basic cocktail. In Ao Nang’s only after-hours nightclub, the recently-opened Ibark, prices are around 50% higher than this.

Entertainment can be found in Ao Nang in the form of live music (check out Encore Cafe), as well as dinner - shows at some big hotels. Sports fans can relax: you won’t miss a single Premiership match or Grand Prix, as most bars will show them live.

Those in search of a quiet life will find it in Klong Muang (no nightlife to speak of), as well as in certain corners of Ao Nang and Railay, where it is still possible simply to sit on the beach and watch the stars.