Krabi is one of the Thailand's most spectacularly beautiful destinations. Home to white sandy beaches, coral reefs rich in marine life the area is the very definition of paradise. The verdant and tree - covered islands that make up Krabi Province are located in southern Thailand, 1000 kilomertres from Bangkok. The idyllic islands and beaches, crystal clear water, picturesque limestone outcrops and tropical rain forest and protected national parks had gained Krabi a well-deserved reputation as one of the world's most beautiful places.


PRACTICAL INFORMATION

1. Getting there & away

Land

Government buses

With fewer eager touts and guaranteed departure times, taking a government bus from the Krabi bus terminal (0 7561 1804; cnr Th Utarakit & Hwy 4) in nearby Talat Kao, about 4km from Krabi, is an altogether more relaxing option than taking a private bus. Air-con government buses leave for Bangkok (451B to 567B, 12 hours) at 7am, 4pm and 5.30pm. There’s a very plush 24-seat VIP bus to Bangkok (850B) departing at 5.30pm daily. From Bangkok’s Southern bus terminal, buses leave at 7.30am and between 7pm and 8pm.

Other services for regular, air-con government buses:

Minivan

Dozens of travel agencies in Krabi run air-con minivans and VIP buses to popular tourist centres throughout southern Thailand, but staff can be very pushy and you may end up crammed cheek to jowl with other backpackers. Destinations from Krabi:

Boat

Boats to Ko Lanta and Ko Phi Phi leave from the new passenger pier at Khlong Chilat, about 3km southwest of Krabi. Travel agencies will arrange free transfers when you buy a boat ticket with them.

The largest boat operator is PP Family Co (0 7561 2463; Th Khong Kha), which has a ticket office right beside the pier in town. In the high season, there are boats to Ko Phi Phi (300B, 1½ hours) at 9am, 10.30am and 2.30pm. In the low season, boats run at 9am and 2.30pm only.

From September to May, there are boats to Ko Lanta (300B, 1½ hours) leaving Krabi at 10.30am and 1.30pm. These can also stop at Ko Jam (one hour), where long-tails will shuttle you to shore (though you’ll pay the full 300B fare). During the off season, boats to Ko Lanta are replaced by air-con vans (250B, 2½ hours), which leave at 9am, 11am, 1pm and 4pm.

If you want to get to Railay, long-tail boats leave from Krabi’s Khong Kha pier to Hat Rai Leh East from 7.45am to 6pm (150B, 45 minutes) – from Hat Rai Leh East it is only a five-minute walk along a paved path to the more appealing Hat Rai Leh West. The boatmen will wait until they can fill a boat with 10 people before they leave; if you want go before then you can charter the whole boat for 1000B.

Air

Thai Airways International (THAI; 0 7562 2439; Th Utarakit) has four daily flights between Bangkok and Krabi (one-way around 3500B, 1¼ hours). The THAI office is at the entrance to the Krabi Maritime Park & Spa

2. Getting around

Downtown Krabi is easy to explore on foot, but the bus terminal and airport are both a long way from the centre. A taxi from the airport to town will cost 500B. In the reverse direction, taxis or túk-túk cost 400B. Agencies in town can also arrange minivans to the airport for 150B. Sǎwngthǎew between the bus terminal and downtown Krabi cost 20B.

Car & motorcycle

Most of the travel agencies and guesthouses in town can rent you a Honda Dream motorcycle for around 150B per day. Yellow House Internet & Tour (0 7562 2809; 5 Th Chao Fa) hires out reliable bikes and provides helmets. A few of the travel agencies along Th Utarakit rent out small 4WDs for 1200B to 2000B per day.