One of the most popular things to do in Krabi is to spend a day island-hopping around the many small islands along the western coast of the province. The most famous of all is the 4 islands day trip which will take you to all the best islands of Krabi, all in one epic day. The 4 islands tour will take you to Poda Island, Tup Island, Chicken Island, and Railay with 2 modes of transportation, the classic long-tail boat, and a speed boat, with the former a little cheaper and taking a bit longer than the latter.

Tup Island is especially beautiful at low tide as you will be able to see the Thale Waek phenomenon (the separated sea) and you can walk across the island on a shallow strip of sand. If the tide is low in the morning, you will likely be heading to this island first. You will have around an hour at each stop except for Chicken island as there is no beach for you to stop and you will only be cruising around a chicken-shaped cliff, where the island got its name, for photos before heading to the next island. Poda Island is the highlight of this trip as you will finally have time to snorkel and witness all the beautiful coral reefs and marine life of Krabi. Last but not least, you will be visiting Railay Beach, which technically, isn't an island as it is part of Krabi mainland but due to the inaccessible vertical limestone mountain that cuts the area off, the only way you can get there is by boat which makes it feel more like an island than just a beach on Krabi's mainland.

The Dragon Crest viewpoint or as it is known locally as Khao Ngon Nak is probably one of the best viewpoints in Krabi. The trail is located inside the Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park and the trail will take you up to the top of Khao Ngon Nak mountain where you will be able to have an unobstructed view of Krabi and see why Krabi is one of the most beautiful places in Thailand. The trail itself is about 3.7 km long one way and it can take you from 2 - 4 hours to get to the top depending on your fitness. The trail started out pretty flat but then it gets quite steep around the second the fourth kilometers before you arrive at the top so make sure you are in a good shape before tackling the trail.

Once you arrive at the top, you will be able to see Ao Nang beach as well as all the vertical limestone mountains scattered throughout the area. It is almost as if you are staring at Halong Bay on land. Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park and the Dragon Crest Trail are open from 8 AM to 4:30 PM and the entrance fee to the national park is 200 THB per person. It is highly advised that you begin the hike by 8 AM for the optimum weather and the likelihood that you will have the entire trail to yourself.

Wat Tham Suea is a mountain temple known for its cave where a tiger once resided as well as the epic pilgrimage trail that will take you to the top of a limestone mountain where you will be able to see an unobstructed panoramic view of Krabi town and all its surrounding. The pilgrimage trail at Wat Tham Suea consists of around 1200 steps and it can take you about 30 minutes to an hour to hike to the top. Some of these 1200 steps are not your regular human steps but more like steps for giants as they are crazy steep at times. Be sure you are in a good shape before tackling the trail.

Once you arrive at the top, you will see a large Buddha image as well as a platform where you will be able to see a 360° view above Krabi town and all its surroundings. On one side, you'd see the small towns near Wat Tham Suea while on the other, you will see rolling hills of limestone mountains as far as the eyes can see. Wat Tham Suea and the trail are open from 4 AM until 5 PM every day and it is free to enter and hike.

Emerald Pool is probably one of the most picturesque places in Krabi. With its remote locations, the extremely clear water, and the emerald color that glows when the sun hit, it is one of the sights that you really have to see to believe it exists. The Emerald Pool is located 55 km east of Krabi Town in the of nowhere and there are 2 ways you can get there. If you have rented a motorbike in Krabi town, then the ride should take about an hour to get there. For a more convenient way, you can also go on an organized tour which should take you to the Emerald Pool as well as other places from Krabi or Ao Nang.

Once you arrive, you will enter an opening where you will be able to finally swim in the glistering Emerald Pool. There are wooden decks you can walk on as well as other small trails you can do. If you want to swim, there are bathrooms where you can wash yourself and plenty of space for you to enjoy the refreshing water. Just be careful around wet rocks as they can be extremely slippery at times. The Emerald Pool opens from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM every day and it is 200 THB for a ticket to enter the premise. The place is really beautiful and you are going to love the place.

Krabi's Hotspring Waterfall is another cool place to visit in Krabi. The place is known for its bubbling thermal pools right above small cascades surrounded by tropical forests where one can freshen up and enjoy tranquility and a relaxing time in nature. The water comes from volcanic chambers deep underground. Therefore the water always has a beneficial temperature of 35 to 42 degrees Celsius! The water also has all kinds of minerals that would be good for skin complaints and give relief in case of rheumatic complaints.

There are several spa areas that sourced the water from the thermal pools as well if you prefer a more comfortable, less crowded experience at the Hot Springs Waterfall. It is a great place to relax after a day of adventure and combining it with a visit to Wat Tham Suea and the Emerald Pool makes for a great alternative day trip to make from Krabi. The place opens from 8:30 AM to 6 PM every day and the entrance fee is 100 THB per person.

Another popular day trip to make from Krabi is to visit the Phi Phi Islands which even though is often visited from Phuket, is in fact located within Krabi and is a bit nearer to go from Ao Nang and so if you have not been to Phi Phi Islands, now is the time to do so. Since the island is a little further away from Ao Nang than the 4 islands, your only option when it comes to transportation is a speed boat. The "Phi Phi Island Speed Boat Tour" is highly recommended because it will take you on a full-day journey around the Phi Phi islands as well as other smaller islands including Bamboo Island, Monkey Beach, and more.

The trip should take an entire day from 8:30 AM all the way to 4:30 PM and the tour should include a transfer from and to your hotel as well as lunch, snorkeling gear, and more. However, the tour doesn't include the entrance fee to Phi Phi National Park which is an extra 400 THB per person. If you are traveling during COVID, the entrance fee is currently cut in half to 200 THB per person so if you are looking for the best time to visit Phi Phi island, this is it.

Once a sleepy fishing village, Ao Nang is now a central hub for tourists heading to popular destinations like Railay Beach, the Hong Islands, and Phuket. Conveniently located near Krabi Town, Ao Nang offers a range of outdoor activities—from kayaking to rock climbing—as well as affordable accommodation and a variety of restaurants. Many tours to the area’s islands also set out from Ao Nang.

A good holiday should include a few rest days for you to enjoy and even though Ao Nang isn't the prettiest of beaches in Krabi, it has the most facilities and at low tides, the beach offers a great place to relax and swim in, all within walking distance from your hotel. Be sure to have at least one rest day at Ao Nang. You can go for a nice massage at one of the many massage places in the area or just go for a stroll and enjoy the amenities you get from your resorts. Either way, Ao Nang is a great place to take a break from all the adventures you just had in Krabi and spend some time appreciating where you are.

Ko Lanta is a Muslim-majority small island located in the southern part of Krabi and it offers a great alternative to Ao Nang with its more peaceful vibe, much quieter beaches, and one of the best sunset spots in Thailand. It is a big enough island (about 30 kilometers long and 6 kilometers wide) with an impressive, well-connected, and well-paved road system. It is no wonder that one of the main tourist activities here is cruising on these empty roads on a motorbike. Island tours, eco-tourism, and diving are the other common activities on Ko Lanta.

To get to Ko Lanta, you are going to have to take a van from either Ao Nang or Krabi Town and they will drive you to Ko Lanta in an hour with a ferry transfer. Once you are there, you can spend a night or two near Pra-Ae Beach, rent a scooter and explore all the beautiful beaches Ko Lanta has to offer. Ko Lanta is also known for its beautiful sunset. If you make it all the way to Ko Lanta, be sure to spare time to enjoy the little things this place has to offer.

Wat Bang Tong, also known as Wat Maha Tat Wachiramongkul, is a temple complex in Ao Loek in Krabi, designed in the Putakaya style, and one of the highest golden temples in Thailand, with its central tower standing 70 meters above the ground, visible on Hundreds of meters in all directions, next to the main temple area is a colossal 30-meter-high statue of Monk Luang Pu Thuad.

It is an impressive temple and it has some of the most unique-looking architecture you will see here. The giant golden Hindu pagoda is the main attraction that glisters brightly under sunlight and once you are inside, you will find a large Buddha image surrounded by beautiful red columns and walls, all painted in elaborate pattern designs and pictures telling the life story of Buddha. If you are traveling by road from Phang Nga or Phuket to Krabi, the temple is definitely worth a stop as it should not veer you off too far from the national highway. The temple opens from 8 AM to 6 PM every day and it is free to enter.