Complete Guide to Krabi Beaches: From Ao Nang to Railay Peninsula

I already have beach reviews on the blog for Phuket, Samui, Phangan, Pattaya, Ko Chang, Krabi, Phi Phi, Ko Lanta and Hua Hin. Now it’s Krabi’s turn.

Ao Nang was once a fishing village, but now it’s a popular resort in Krabi province, located not far from the administrative centre – Krabi Town. But people often say “Krabi” meaning Ao Nang, as it’s pretty much the only resort in the province where foreigners actually stay.

And the most famous beach is, naturally, Ao Nang Beach. If you look at a map of the resort from above, you can see the coastline around Ao Nang is heavily cut up by rivers. However, the central part of the resort is one long stretch of beaches that flow into each other: Ao Nang, Nopparat Thara, Phan Beach and a bit further out there’s Klong Muang Beach.

Generally speaking, the further west or east we go from Ao Nang, the less civilisation there is around – basically nothing interesting there and hardly anyone stays in those areas.

Where to Find Krabi’s Best Beaches

Just so you know: Krabi province consists of two parts – one on the mainland, the second is islands in the waters around the province, right up to Phi Phi and Ko Lanta islands. Of course, the most enchanting spots are tucked away from mass tourism on the islands.

But if we’re looking at the mainland part, the best Krabi beaches would be: Centara Beach, Ao Nang Beach, Nopparat Thara Beach and Klong Muang. They’re all in the Ao Nang resort area where there’s proper infrastructure: loads of hotels and beach resorts, cafés, bars and restaurants for every taste.

At the same time, it’s still not a particularly noisy resort and the places here are scenic. From here you can pop over to islands, neighbouring beaches, caves or lagoons, or you can book an excursion to Krabi’s mainland attractions.

Apart from these four beaches, which are accessible 24/7 to any pedestrian on the mainland, there’s also Railay Peninsula (detailed post about the beaches), which is just 10 minutes from Ao Nang by boat. They’re just as good as the island ones and the boat fare isn’t steep, so they’re perfect for almost daily visits.

Centara Beach is attractive because it’s almost completely isolated from the resort’s mass chaos, and to get there you need to either scramble over rocks or pay for a taxi boat, which is itself a filter for 80 percent of tourists.

Basically, Centara Beach is a private beach for a very expensive hotel, and the atmosphere here matches the level of luxury establishment guests. It’s always clean, beautiful, not crowded, and access to the beach is through security and by appointment.

Ao Nang and Nopparat Thara are the centre of civilisation and tourism. Best infrastructure, best choice of accommodation, shops, restaurants and service. They’re obviously very crowded, but thanks to their massive size it’s rarely cramped here, speaking specifically about the beach.

Though both Nopparat and Ao Nang lately are losing out more and more to small cosy beaches on the resort zone’s outskirts. People do go to the seaside to get away from people, after all, and tourism turns former fishing villages into proper developed resort towns.

And last on the list, but not in terms of charm – Klong Muang. I’d call it a compromise between noisy Ao Nang and private Centara Beach. Klong Muang lies on the outskirts, twenty minutes’ drive from the central beaches.

It’s as long as Ao Nang, but instead of a football pitch of packed sand, you’ll find loads of private sandy nooks between tree roots that haven’t been toppled by the sea yet.

If you’re planning to visit Ao Nang’s beaches anyway, you might find my article useful – Selection of the best hotels in Ao Nang.

Complete Guide to Ao Nang Area Beaches

Centara Grand Beach Resort (Pai Plong Beach)

The beach is called Pai Plong and is separated from the main Ao Nang beach by a forest-covered rock. There’s a trail laid over it. This path is called Monkey trail because loads of monkeys live there. The beach is small and private since there’s an expensive chain hotel located here – Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Krabi.

You could say it’s a hotel with its own beach, though actually by law they’re all public in Thailand. There aren’t many people on the beach. Not everyone fancies walking over the mountain, and hardly anyone sails over on a boat specially, except hotel guests.

Apart from going over the mountain, you can paddle to the beach on a rented canoe if you fancy. Those who do make it to the beach from Ao Nang via the forest trail get noted down in a little book by the security guard in his booth.

Since this is like a private beach for an expensive hotel, they look after it properly and keep it clean, so it’s spotless. There are no public umbrellas with loungers or food vendors here. You can buy drinks and order food at the hotel’s beach café, but prices are sky-high compared to cafés on the other side of the hill.

Trees grow along the beach, but there’s not enough shade during the day when the sun’s high. The only interesting thing on the beach is a pontoon pier where hotel guests are brought in. Getting into the water here depends on the tide stage, which are quite pronounced. At low tide the water recedes quite a bit, it’s shallow near the shore. Off-season there can be waves. The beach is wide, more so at low tide, less at high tide.

The sand is yellow with shell bits. Since this beach is quite accessible from Ao Nang, you could consider it as a one-off alternative to Ao Nang beach. It’s interesting to walk the monkey trail for variety, the views from the rock are beautiful. But to swim at this beach regularly, you’d need to stay at the Centara.

Full beach guide here.

Ao Nang Beach – The Main Hub

The long main beach of Ao Nang resort, with a promenade and main road along the sea. About halfway along, another road leads to the beach, perpendicular to the sea. The main infrastructure of the settlement is concentrated along this road and the promenade. If you’re looking at the sea from the middle of the beach, going left will take you to the monkey rock, at the foot of which a small river flows into the sea.

In that area green broad-leaved trees grow, providing shade where numerous masseuses sit with their mats. There are also beach cafés with cocktails where tourists gather at sunset. The central part of the beach is bordered by concrete, you have to go down steps from the promenade to the sea.

Numerous cafés and shops, hotels are located along the promenade and road. To the right, towards Nopparat Thara, the beach ends with a headland with a viewing platform. Just before the headland the territory of Krabi Resort adjoins the beach.

Another big hotel is located right on the beach – Aonang Villa Resort.

Ao Nang beach is wide, and becomes even wider at low tide. In season the sea is calm. At low tide it goes out very far. Off-season there are waves and the water’s murky. The sand on the beach is yellow and grey with shell bits. In places you’ll find big heaps of broken shells polished by the sea.

Palm trees and broad-leaved trees grow along practically the entire length of Ao Nang’s promenade, providing shade. But during the day on the beach itself there’s no shade in places.

Boats stand along the beach in the sea, their owners offering tourists excursions to islands. Generally the beach is quite noisy and crowded, with lots of massage, touts, vendors and other traders.

Full beach guide here.

Nopparat Thara Beach – Quiet Alternative

Nopparat Thara is separated from Ao Nang beach on one side by a small hill jutting into the sea, and on the other side it’s bounded by a river flowing into the sea. On the side where it borders Ao Nang, the beach is infrastructurally its continuation.

Here too, along the road running parallel to the sea, there are cafés and shops, hotels. This part is quite lively. But gradually civilisation peters out. A casuarina grove begins along the sea. Here it’s secluded and quiet.

At the end of the beach the road leads to a small port and bus station, from where you can go by boat to islands or by bus to Krabi Town, and by tuk-tuk to Ao Nang. However, the distance is small and you can walk to Ao Nang. Almost the only major beach resort here is Holiday Ao Nang Beach Resort, Krabi.

The sea at the beach isn’t deep at all, and at low tide the water goes out very far, so much that you can walk to the rock islets a few hundred metres from shore. The bottom is a bit silty, with shells and crabs. In season the water here is clean and there are no waves. Off-season, in summer, low tides are very pronounced.

During high tide though the beach becomes not very wide. The sand here is yellow-grey, light coloured. Also with shell bits. It’s comfortable to sit on the beach as there’s lots of natural shade. Trees grow between the road along the beach and the strip of sand.

Full beach guide here.

Pan Beach (Long Beach) – Bungalow Paradise

This beach borders Nopparat Thara on the east but is separated from it by a river. On this beach there are mainly hotels with bungalow accommodation. The names speak for themselves:

• Sand Beach Bungalow
• J2b Beach Bungalows @ Long Beach Villas

From Nopparat Thara to Phan Beach you can either wade across at low tide or go by transport on the road. Though you’ll have to make quite a substantial detour. The beach is quite long (which matches the name) and deserted. There are just a few beach cafés and several hotels along the entire stretch. The beach is wide, with light yellow-grey sand, small shells and silt.

There’s lots of natural shade here, and the sea is shallow. Many trees grow along the beach, including casuarinas and palms. It’s very deserted and quiet here. Morning and evening there’s absolutely nobody. Perfect spot for contemplation. The beach ends on the western side with another river flowing into the sea (or bay).

Full beach guide here.

Klong Muang Beach – Family-Friendly Haven

This beach is separated from the previous Phan Beach by a peninsula jutting into the sea. Klong Muang Beach consists of two parts – a more southern and more northern one, with a small island right next to the shore in the middle. In the northwest the beach ends with a pier. Further north is Tub Kaek beach.

Klong Muang is located 14 km from Ao Nang. It’s a small settlement, not very developed from a tourist infrastructure point of view. Nevertheless, it’s exactly here where there are big hotel complexes, including Dusit Thani Krabi Beach Resort

In the northern part of Klong Muang beach, closer to the pier, there are big resorts like:

• Bliss Resort Krabi
• Sofitel Krabi Phokeethra Golf & SPA Resort

The southern part is completely deserted. The beach itself is very pleasant – very few people here, beautiful shade of light sand that’s pleasant to the touch, along the wide strip of which grows a grove of tall casuarina trees that provide natural shade.

All surrounding beaches have pronounced low tides, during which the sea goes out very far and swimming becomes practically impossible. But at Klong Muang though the sea is shallow, during low tide it still looks suitable for swimming. Generally the entrance to the sea is very gradual, you’ll have to walk a long way to get to depth, several dozen metres.

But for children such a beach would be perfect. Though the infrastructure around isn’t great – a few big hotels, a few cafés and a 7-Eleven you still need to walk to. There are versions that there are houses for rent here, but if you’re renting such a house, then only with transport, because you’ll have to shop in Ao Nang.

If you stay in a hotel, all services will cost noticeably more compared to Ao Nang. But it’s a quiet place without noisy discos and night bars. Ideal for families with children and pensioners.

Full beach guide here.

Other Krabi Beaches Worth Knowing About

As I mentioned, there are beaches east and west of the main Ao Nang beaches listed above. To the east, towards Krabi Town, are Ao Nam Mao and Shell Fossil (also known as Susan Hoi) beaches. These are sparsely populated beaches with little infrastructure and pronounced low tides – not much to do there.

In the west after Klong Muang stretch Ko Kwan, Phu Lei and Tub Kaek. Though Phu Lei isn’t really a beach for relaxation, but just a shore with sand and mud – there’s an industrial zone nearby and a village of workers and fishermen.

Ao Siew Beach – Hidden Military Base Spot

Ao Siew is located between Phan Beach and Klong Muang beaches, and it’s hard to call it a proper beach really – more like a sandy shore that can be used for swimming in places and almost everywhere you can stop for a sunbathe. Thais just mentally aren’t into sunbathing, and tourists don’t usually come here.

The sand is coarse, multicoloured, lots of stones, and towards the military base real knee-high rocks begin. There’s a fishermen’s mooring and a big fenced wasteland, because of which you can only reach the beach in two places and these will be quite steep descents to the sea.

If you fancy it, and if you find yourself here early morning, you can go onto the base territory and here on the shore there’s a small café for their own people. Some soldier runs it and civilians don’t come here in principle, but if there’s nobody about, they might be interested in you, have a chat and offer a menu.

But they might ask you to leave – I’ve had both scenarios, possibly depends on whether there are any senior officers in the canteen. Essentially, for the café owner money doesn’t smell and he doesn’t care who brought it.

I wouldn’t recommend going beyond the fence that blocks your way along the beach. On the peninsula behind the military base is located a royal residence, so it’s “private territory” and “stop, I’ll shoot”. The beach might seem interesting to those who don’t like crowds, swimming and well-trodden places.

It’s no place for naturists, as Thais are rare here but do turn up for a bite or family get-togethers. They like it here too, because although Ao Siew looks unappealing on the outside, it’s extremely cosy thanks to lots of shade and no tourists.

Ko Kwan Beach – Sunset Watching Paradise

The beach shares its name with the neighbouring islet Ko Kwan, though this name isn’t common among tourists and expats, and it’s often considered just a continuation of Klong Muang. However in my view, they have very little in common.

Ko Kwan faces strictly west and for sunset watching I’d choose exactly this one, and if the tide allows, I’d climb onto Ko Kwan itself. If you walk along the rocky path on the islet, on its far side you’ll discover rocks where you can watch the setting sun in absolute solitude.

Ko Kwan isn’t the most attractive beach for swimming. There are few secluded spots here, the coast is built up with cafés, lots of sewage pipes and there are a couple of naturally occurring stinky streams. The bottom is sandy-rocky, in places quite clean, but sometimes you come across sections where you can’t walk barefoot.

Shallow, heavily affected by low tides, but unlike Klong Muang, here the bottom is uneven and at low tide patches of seawater form mixed with sand islands. Opposite Ko Kwan an underwater rocky ridge is exposed where you can observe crabs.

The beach infrastructure is practically non-existent. More or less decent shops and markets are ten minutes’ drive away, near Klong Muang beach. Ko Kwan’s infrastructure consists of cafeterias near the sea and hotels behind the main road.

You can come here for the whole day either with food and drink supplies in your scooter’s glove box, or with money in your pocket to take breaks for lunch and dinner in coastal restaurants. Romantic dinners here are gorgeous in terms of scenery, but I can’t say about the kitchen quality – didn’t test it.

Tub Kaek Beach – Remote Nature Escape

The westernmost edge of the mainland resort part of Krabi province. To get here you’ll need to drive along the road leading to a small nature park with excellent trekking to a mountain top.

Tub Kaek beach is a narrow (by Krabi standards) strip of loose sand along which vegetation grows thickly. During low tide unattractive lunar landscapes form here, but high tide changes everything dramatically when the sea comes right up to the greenery, flooding roots and tree trunks.

Generally, Tub Kaek is somewhat similar to Ko Kwan, just more compact in size and a bit cleaner. The beach is located below the level of the main road because in this part of the mainland the terrain begins to rise gradually.

Several hotels and resorts are built along Tub Kaek, which block access to the sea with their buildings, leaving outsiders only a couple of access roads at the edges of the beach.

There’s no infrastructure there whatsoever, except perhaps if you walk towards neighbouring Phu Lei and reach the only Thai shop that stands near the industrial zone. Basically, the beach’s main feature is remoteness from all the others and very good ecology.

Phu Ley Beach – Industrial Wasteland

You might want to argue that no such beach exists, or that such a place name doesn’t exist – then I’d listen to your version in the comments. But it’s not taken out of thin air.

Before writing this post, and generally before the trip to Krabi, I went through loads of online maps and came across this name several times. Mainly, Phu Lei and Tub Kaek beaches are considered one entity – Tub Kaek, but I was there and think such unification is wrong.

The beaches are completely different, separated by a headland, and on Phu Lei there’s an industrial zone where Thais store crushed stone of different types and sizes. A huge warehouse without a roof, with an industrial pier on the left edge of the beach. And on the right edge, right at the division between Tub Kaek and Phu Lei, there’s a huge area with machinery that’s also somehow connected to stones. But when I drove past there were mainly pits with water and rubble.

Phu Lei is a narrow, very dirty, rocky beach with a Thai fishing village on shore, and these lads don’t know how to live cleanly.

Railay Peninsula Beaches – Island Paradise Minutes Away

There are four beaches on the peninsula altogether: Ton Sai, West Railay, Phra Nang and East Railay, if we list them in order from Ao Nang. The most beautiful and swimmable are West Railay and Phra Nang. East Railay is a technical beach, and Ton Sai is a wild hippie and rock climber haven. That’s the short version of all of them.

West Railay Beach – Tourist Central

West Railay (like all beaches on the peninsula) is particularly good in the morning hours, before boats from the mainland start arriving. By about 10-11 am these boats will fill the entire horizon, though by this time the sea only becomes more beautiful.

The beach is very wide, open, with a shortage of shade but no shortage of infrastructure. Bars, cafés and loungers for rent – it’s all here. And loads of people. More about the beach.

Full beach guide here.

Phra Nang Beach – Picture Perfect Paradise

Phra Nang Beach is located at the southernmost point of the peninsula. Named after the neighbouring attraction – Princess Phra Nang cave. More commonly known as the phallus cave.

If not for the insane popularity of the beach and cave, this would be the best, if not ideal beach in all of mainland Krabi. White fine sand, shady thickets, beautiful mountains, caves with views, and amazing sea colour. More about the beach.

Full beach guide here.

Ton Sai Beach – Climbers’ Paradise

This beach is loved because even for Railay Peninsula it remains the most isolated beach. You can get here either from the sea or by secret land trails, so it’s never crowded.

Mainly local climbing and diving fans hang out here, non-conformists of all sorts and yoga practitioners. The infrastructure here is appropriate, and the beach isn’t in ideal condition. The sand is coarser here and the bottom has rocks, but the local crowd doesn’t mind that much. More about the beach.

Full beach guide here.

East Railay Beach – Boat Landing Only

The strangest beach, which I’d call technical. There’s no beach in the classic sense here, except for two secluded spots at the very eastern edge. Everything else is shallow water littered with rocks and overgrown with mangroves.

And in the mangrove roots there’s constantly floating tonnes of rubbish stuck there. This shore is used for landing passengers from Krabi Town and Ao Num Mao, as well as for cargo delivery. More about the beach.

Full beach guide here.

Krabi Beach Maps for Easy Navigation

Besides Ao Nang beaches, the map also marks other Krabi beaches, particularly Railay Peninsula. I really recommend going there – it’s gorgeous and the beaches are brilliant (Railay beach makes it into the top lists). For a clearer understanding of geography in this part of Krabi province I made 2 diagrams.