Ao Nang beachfront
Ao Nang
A promenade along the bay with views of limestone cliffs and islands offshore, and boats leaving for Railay.
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Krabi, Thailand
Ao Nang Beach
Krabi's main beach town, with hotels, restaurants, sunsets behind limestone islands, and the boats for Railay and island tours.
Favourite places
Nopparat Thara Beach
West of Ao Nang
A long, quiet beach lined with casuarina trees, with views to the islands and a sandbar at low tide.
Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)Monkey Trail
Eastern end of Ao Nang
A short walkway around the headland leading to Pai Plong Beach, where monkeys are often seen.
Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)Longtail boat counters
Ao Nang beachfront
The starting point for boats to Railay and island tours.
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Historical places
Krabi Fossil Shell Cemetery
Laem Pho, west of Ao Nang
Slabs of fossilised shells millions of years old line the shore — one of the few such sites in the world.
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Local food
Khanom jeen
Krabi, Thailand
Fresh rice noodles with southern curry and fresh vegetables, a popular breakfast in Krabi.
Grilled seafood
Krabi, Thailand
Fish, prawns and squid grilled over charcoal, best at the seafood restaurants by the sea.
Roti
Krabi, Thailand
Fried flatbread sold from carts, eaten with curry or with sweet toppings.
Where to eat
Ao Nang Landmark Night Market
Ao Nang
An evening market with Thai street food, seafood and souvenirs.
Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)Seafood restaurants
Along the coast towards Nopparat Thara
Restaurants serving fresh fish and seafood by the water.
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Where to stay
Ao Nang
Krabi, Thailand
Krabi's main resort town, with hotels of every budget near the beach, restaurants and boats.
Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)Nopparat Thara
Krabi, Thailand
A quieter area along the next beach, close to the pier for island trips.
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Culture
Krabi has a large Muslim population; many fishing villages are Muslim communities. Dress modestly away from the beach, and be respectful near mosques and during Ramadan. Many restaurants do not serve pork.
History
Ao Nang grew from a fishing village into Krabi's main resort. Its beachfront is the departure point for longtail boats to Railay and for most island-hopping trips.
Tour plans
Ao Nang and the coast
1 dayStep 1: Four Islands tour
Take a morning boat trip to Koh Poda, Chicken Island and Talay Waek.
Step 2: Fossil Shell Cemetery
Visit the fossil beds in the afternoon.
Step 3: Sunset at Nopparat Thara
Watch the sun set over the islands.
Step 4: Night market dinner
End at the Ao Nang Landmark Night Market.
Map
Travel information
Best time to visit
November to April for calm seas and island trips; early evening for sunset behind the islands.
How to get there
About 30 minutes from Krabi Airport; white songthaews run from Krabi Town.
Getting around
Ao Nang is walkable along the beachfront. White songthaews run to Krabi Town, Grab and taxis are easy to find, and longtail boats leave the beach for Railay and nearby islands.
Travel tips
Buy boat tickets at the official counters on the beach.
