Pai Plong is a small beach separated from Ao Nang by a collapsed mountain slope that juts out into the sea and is densely covered with jungle. A trail called Monkey Trail, named after the numerous long-tailed macaques inhabiting the area, runs over this hill.
The beach is situated in a secluded lagoon, surrounded on all sides by impassable mountains. It’s a beautiful, small, and private beach, with the only hotel behind it being the luxury chain Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Krabi – SHA Extra Plus.
The beach offers a stunning view of a picturesque rock in the sea, and further south, beyond the headland to the left, lies the tourist-popular Railay Peninsula.
Beach Overview
Pai Plong is also known by the name of the nearby Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Krabi – SHA Extra Plus, often called Centara Beach. The beach stretches about 656 feet (200 meters) and is, in my opinion, one of the best beaches in Krabi. The only downside is that it’s challenging to reach.
The beach’s location means that not everyone will want to walk the Monkey Trail every day. As a result, it’s never crowded, the sand is clean and smooth, and the beach is surrounded on three sides by cliffs, creating a cozy, small bay.
Despite its private appearance, any tourist can come here to sunbathe and swim as much as they want. The sand on the beach varies depending on its proximity to the sea. Near the water, it’s yellow, coarse, and contains shells and larger stones.
Closer to the grass, the sand becomes fine, light, soft to the touch, and clean. The reasons are clear—this is the beach of a luxury hotel, and it is well-maintained, with no litter in sight.
Swimming Conditions
The entry into the water at this beach is gradual, without any sudden drops or ledges. The slope of the seabed increases slowly, and it takes quite some time to reach deeper water.
You’ll reach shoulder-depth about 65 feet (20 meters) from the shore, and during low tide, you may need to walk 130-160 feet (40-50 meters) or more. One of the great features of Pai Plong is the clean seabed, free of rocks and coral.
At different times of the year, the water can be slightly cloudy, but in calm weather, the sea is stunningly beautiful. Waves do occur at Centara, but mostly outside the peak season, in summer. Like nearby beaches, this one also experiences significant tides. When the water recedes, the width of the beach increases from 33 to 98 feet (10 to 30 meters).
Sunbeds and Shade
There are no public sunbeds on the beach; they are available only for hotel guests and are located on the hotel’s property. If you’re not staying at Centara, you’ll need to bring a mat or simply relax on the sand. Shade is only available at the edges of the beach (provided by the cliffs), and it depends on the time of day.
There are also a few trees leaning over the shore, but hotel sunbeds are placed beneath them. So during the day, when the shadows become shorter, there’s not much shelter from the sun—the beach faces west, and as the afternoon progresses, the shadows diminish.
Two or three security guards constantly patrol along Centara’s fence, politely but firmly directing curious visitors away.
Beach Photos
Amenities
There are no shops on the beach, and you won’t find the usual beach vendors. If you want to buy water or something to eat, you can do so at the Centara hotel café, but prices there will be at least twice as high as those in Ao Nang. So, if you’re planning to visit the beach, it’s best to bring everything you need, especially water.
As for attractions and activities, there is snorkeling near the rocks adjacent to the beach. You can also rent surfboards and kayaks, but the prices are higher than in Ao Nang. For those who enjoy diving and swimming in deeper water, as well as for receiving boats, Centara has its own floating pier made of plastic sections.
Accommodation
As mentioned, the large luxury hotel Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Krabi – SHA Extra Plus is located on the beach, and there are no other accommodation options. Pai Plong could have been a private beach for the hotel, but since all beaches in Thailand are public by law, visitors are allowed to enter freely.
How to Find the Beach
Starting from the southern end of Ao Nang, where a small river flows into the sea next to a cliff, you’ll find the so-called Monkey Trail—a path made of wooden walkways that goes over the hill. Stand facing the sea and then head to the far left of Ao Nang.
Walk through the rows of massage salons, cross a small, smelly river over a bridge (located behind the massage shops, marked on the map), and continue along the river until you reach the wooden walkways.
You can also walk along the beach, but there’s a flimsy bridge over the river that’s particularly shaky during high tide. Near the entrance to Monkey Trail, there is a large parking lot for cars and bikes, which is hard to miss.
In about 15 minutes, enjoying excellent views and accompanied by monkeys, you’ll arrive at Pai Plong Beach.
At the bottom, where the trail ends, there may be a security guard sitting in a booth, recording the names of beach visitors in a notebook.
It’s unclear why this is done since there’s no need to check out on the way back, and the entries are made without verifying IDs. The path on the cliffs is made of sturdy boards, climbs up, goes over the hill, and descends to Centara Beach.
The second option to reach the beach is by sea, on longtail boats. Boats from Ao Nang to Railay usually pass by this beach. It’s located right between these two beaches. Centara hotel guests are brought to the beach by boat at the hotel’s pier. You can arrange a transfer to the beach with the boatmen at Ao Nang.
When walking the trail, be cautious of the monkeys. It’s best not to feed them or show them food, as they can be aggressive, and there are indeed many of them on the trail.
