The Skyscanner guide to visiting Krabi
White sand shores. Palm trees. Deep jungles. Dramatic limestone cliffs. Whether you arrive in Krabi from the air, longboat or ferry you’ll be treated to a marvel of nature at every corner.
You’ll dive under the water to discover tropical fish and coral, hop on a boat to explore islands or sip a Singha on the beach as the sun goes down. So, let’s plan your trip. With our guide to Krabi, you’ll be sorted for flights, visas, where to stay and your journey from the airport.
Destination routes and airlines
You can fly to Krabi from major Indian cities including Mumbai, New Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad and more. Most flights aren’t direct and most often stop in Bangkok.
View the available routes below with airlines including Thai Air Asia, Thai Lion Air and IndiGo.
Krabi International Airport
IndiGo
Flights from Mumbai, New Delhi, Chennai
Thai Airways
Flights from Mumbai, Hyderabad
Thai Air Asia
Flights from Mumbai, New Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad
Visas & travel insurance requirements
You can get a Thailand visa on arrival if you’re an Indian citizen. It’s a super simple process. When you arrive in Thailand, your visa is processed on arrival. You’ll need a valid passport with longer than 30 days left, proof of address of your accommodation and will pay 2,000 baht.
It gives you 30 days to explore Thailand. If you want to stay longer, you can apply for a Thailand tourist visa at your local Thai consulate – it gives you 60 days in the country.
You don’t need travel insurance to fly to Thailand, but it always makes sense. Good holiday insurance will cover for you medical expenses, cancelled flights, loss or theft of valuables, and more. Make sure you shop around to get a good deal. If you’re planning on riding a motorbike, going climbing, scuba diving or riding a jet ski in Krabi, check to see if you’re covered by your travel insurance.
Getting into Krabi from the airport
Krabi International Airport is just 13 kilometres from Krabi Town and 26 kilometres from Ao Nang. The car journey to Krabi Town takes around 20 minutes and it’s an extra 15 minutes to Ao Nang. You can choose from:
Insider tip:
A lot of the taxi drivers in Krabi don’t speak English. Grab will help you be sure your driver knows exactly where they are taking you.
Shuttle Buses
Taxi
This is the quickest way to get straight to your hotel. You’ll find taxis at Krabi airport at both the international and domestic terminal. Simply head outside and join the queue at the taxi rank. Or you can pre-book one online, so your taxi is waiting for you when you arrive. These will likely be more expensive, but you won’t need to wait in line for a taxi outside the airport.
You can expect to pay around 350 baht for the journey into Krabi Town. Or you can use the Grab app to pre-book a taxi when you land. If you’ve used Grab at home, you know what to do. If not, simply download the app to your phone and pick up a Grab taxi at the airport in Krabi for safe and secure travel.
Airport shuttle buses run from the airport to Krabi Bus Station (Taladkao), Krabi Town, Klong Jilad Pier, Ao Nang Beach, Klong Muang and Khao Kwang Beach. There’s usually a couple going every hour, from 6am until 10pm from the international terminal – they run for an extra two hours until 12am from the domestic terminal.
You’ll also find minivans that run a similar route, but tend to be a little quicker with fewer stops. Both are run by Pichet Transport Co., and you’ll see ticket desks in arrivals in both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. Tickets cost between 80 and 200 baht depending on your destination. Plus, they are colour coded too in line with your destination and chosen transport, so no one gets confused:
- Green (Krabi Bus Station)
- Red (Krabi Town)
- Orange (Ao Nang – minivan)
- White (Ao Nang – airport shuttle bus)
If your final destination is Railay Beach or Ton Sai Beach, you’ll need to jump on the boat from Nopparat Thara Pier in Ao Nang.
Best places to stay in Krabi
There are plenty of great places to stay and top hotels in Krabi. Our favourite locations include:
Ao Nang
Ao Nang caters to all kinds of travellers, from backpackers to luxury accommodation seekers. Head to the main bustling hub of Krabi for great nightlife, top hotels and some of the best beaches in the region. Ao Nang Beach is a slice of paradise, Monkey Beach is not to be missed, whilst Nopparat Thara Beach and Klong Muang Beach offer a little more peace and tranquillity.
If you base yourself here, you can enjoy boat trips to Railay Beach and the four islands, and you’ll have your pick of the transport to take you to the best sights in Krabi.
Hotels near Ao Nang
Railay Beach
The Railay Peninsula is only accessible by boat and boasts crystal clear waters, white sand and tall limestone cliffs jutting from the water. The climbing is world-renowned and the scuba, snorkelling and kayaking is decent too. Railay Beach is a stunning beach and home to some great hotels and resorts.
Phra Nang Beach has monkeys and an interesting cave, Railay East is quiet and less crowded and Ton Sai Beach brings the hippie vibes and is a haven for backpackers and climbers.
Hotels near Railay Beach
Koh Lanta
The island network of Koh Lanta is just off the coast of Krabi, so you’ll need to hop on a ferry for the short journey here. The biggest island is Ko Lanta Yai and it has all accommodation bases covered from family-friendly hotels to backpacker options. Don’t miss the fantastic diving off the islands’ shores and a trek through the national park.
Hotels near Koh Lanta
Krabi Town
As it’s not on the coast, you don’t get the same beach vibe as elsewhere in Krabi, but you do get an authentic taste of Thai life. The bustling night market is the place to sample Thai street food, and you’re ideally placed to explore some of the best temples in the region – don’t miss Tiger Cave Temple and Wat Kaew Korawaram.
Hotels near Krabi Town
Klong Muang
A little outside the main tourist hotspot of Ao Nang, Klong Muang is 1.5km of white sand with plenty of peace and tranquillity thrown in too. Enjoy colourful and charming beach bars where the ocean laps your feet at high tide. It’s getting more popular with tourists, so you’ll be sure to find accommodation that caters to your needs
Hotels near Klong Muang
Krabi prices and cost of living
Currency in Thailand
The currency in Thailand is the Thai Baht, and you’ll find notes and coins in denominations of:
Notes: Coins:
- 20 baht
- 50 baht
- 100 baht
- 500 baht
- 1,000 baht
- 25 s
- 50 s
- 1 baht
- 2 baht
- 5 baht
- 10 baht
Insider tip:
Whilst you can use US dollars in other countries in the region – namely Cambodia and Vietnam – they’re not widely taken in Thailand, and definitely not in Krabi.
Cost of living
Thailand is more expensive than back home in India. For your everyday essentials, you can expect to pay:
- Street food snack 100IR
- Cup of coffee 230IR
- Litre of petrol 103IR
- Meal for two in a popular restaurant 2,400IR
- Night in a hostel 1,100IR
Krabi’s crystal clear waters, soft white sands and sunsets are on your mind. Now it’s time to discover the top 10 hotels in Krabi, how to get around and the best things to see and do.
Thinking of travelling to Krabi? Skyscanner can help you find the best flights, hotels and car hire deals for your next trip.
