Part of the factor I enjoy being location-independent is due to the fact that it enables me to leave and go anywhere for any quantity of time. Okay, so possibly that’s the greatest, essential reason that I enjoy being location-independent. Anyhow, in the spirit of that concept, I invested 3 months a number of years back taking in the heat, culture, and food in a few of the most stunning locations in Thailand.
Over the 3 months that I called Thailand home, I invested a great portion of time chasing after the very best beaches in Thailand, much of which are discovered in the province of Krabi. Krabi is home to the very best beaches in Thailand and beach-hopping is, without a doubt, among the very best things to do in Krabi.
However what are the very best beaches in Krabi? With many to select from you might discover it frustrating to even understand where to begin. So to assist make your beach bottom preparing a bit simpler, I’ve listed the beaches in Krabi that I am itching to get back to.
Phra Nang Beach
You have actually probably heard of the famous Railay Beach — the beach off of mainland Krabi that is only accessible by boat. Well, on the other side of the point is another gorgeous beach surrounded by towering limestone cliffs and pocketed with caves.
Phra Nang Beach has a gentle crescent of golden sand, turquoise water, and, what I found to be quite interesting, a cave with literally thousands of carved penis shrines. Here’s why: The cave is said to be a spot for fertility because the spirit of Phranang is said to live along the coastline. It is a supremely sacred spot, so please keep that in mind when visiting. This isn’t a place to get “the shot” for the ‘gram, but more to learn about an interesting part of Thai culture.
Penises and tradition aside, the beach is also a great spot for trekking up into the rainforest. The view from one of the top of the hills is stellar, with a panorama of the sparkling waters and limestone islands off in the distance.
Tub Island Beach
This fleck of green in a sea of blue is breathtaking. Tub Island is the second island in a three-island chain. At low tide, you can walk across a sand bridge to get to the largest island, Koh Gai. To get there, you can sign up for an island-hopping tour or hire a long-tail boat to take you there privately. No matter which way you get there, you’ll have to pay a national park fee of about 400 THB.
Koh Gai Beach
Speaking of Koh Gai, this uninhabited island has several spectacular beaches, as well. The island’s name translates to “Chicken Island” because of a rock formation that looks remarkably like the head of a chicken. But it’s not so much the rocks you’ll be paying attention to when you’ve got a seductive stretch of sun-bleached beach out in front of you.
Nopparat Thara Beach
You’ll get a little bit of everything at Nopparat Thara Beach. It’s the main boat launch for people heading off on day tours, so the constant whir of long-tail boat motors is a consistent backdrop. But the west side of the beach is saved for a conservation area, so it’s the perfect spot to hop in the water. One of my favorite things to do at Nopparat Thara is to hit the string of bars and restaurants on your way back into Ao Nang. This is where you’ll find a night market, as well, which is always a lot of fun. Tip: Leon Bar is my favorite.
Long Beach
I absolutely adore Long Beach. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that this is one of the best beaches in Thailand. While I was camped out on Koh Lanta for two weeks, Long Beach was my “local” beach. Long Beach faces west into the Andaman Sea. It’s a gorgeous, gorgeous view of sparkling turquoise with the faint rounded heaps of islands in the distance. Along the beach are many boutique, locally owned hotels and guesthouses, as well as fabulous restaurants. My favorite was Fat Turtle, which served seriously excellent steaks and burgers all with a mesmerizing sunset view.
Klong Muang
This peaceful retreat is a paradise with sleepy beachfront bars and a few scattered restaurants that dot the mile-long beach. You can hire a long-tail boat from shore to do island hopping at a much more relaxed pace than some of the tours that you’ll snag in Ao Nang. And if you do want the energy of Ao Nang, it’s only about 10 minutes away by motorbike.
Bamboo Bay
If you can get yourself down to the southern tip of Koh Lanta, it will be worth it for many reasons. But one of the main reasons is Bamboo Bay, which is just inside Mu Koh Lanta National Park. The crescent-shaped beach has beautiful soft, white sand and is fringed all around with a lush, thick blanket of jungle. Because it’s in the national park, you won’t find this beach to be very crowded at all. That said, it doesn’t have any facilities; you’ll have to bring everything in with you for the day.
Koh Poda
Koh Poda will have your jaw on the floor. Part of the Mu Koh Phi Phi National Park, Koh Poda is yet another unspoiled tropical island within eyesight of the Krabi mainland. You’ll most likely visit Koh Poda if you book an island-hopping tour. It’s known for its snorkeling, white sand, and limestone mountains. There are no facilities on Koh Poda, however a trip will likely include lunch. If you employ a long-tail boat to take you, you’ll need to bring everything yourself. However a picnic on this beautiful beach is a can’t-miss out on chance.
Meagan Drillinger is an expert tourist whose profession has actually taken her to 6 continents. You can read her things in Travel + Leisure, AFAR, The Points Guy, and other worldwide publications.
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