Krabi, Thailand

Krabi, on southern Thailand’s west coast, is one of the most relaxing places on earth. Characterised by beautiful white sand beaches, long tail boats, gigantic limestone cliffs, waterfalls, caves, lagoons, jungle inland and over 100 islands off the coast.

We visited the stunning Emerald Pool and the Blue Lagoon, about an hour away from Krabi town. The best time to visit is early in the morning, as it becomes busier as the day goes on.

 

If you are a glutton for punishment, you can climb the 1,237 steps up the mountain to see the Tiger Cave Temple (Wat Tham Suea). Named after legends that claim tigers used to live and roam the cave. It is a tough ascent in the hot, humid heat, and there are very few who don’t need to take regular breaks along the way. Even the monks were finding it tough. Your reward is the fantastic view from the top, and the large, golden Buddha statue. Make sure you watch out for the monkeys that roam the lowers stairs and temple grounds!

 

 

We booked a scuba diving tour around the spectacular Phi Phi Islands, which was a highlight of our trip. The first stop was Koh Phi Phi Don, the largest of the Phi Phi Islands. It has great beaches and is popular with divers.

 

 

The diving site, just off Koh Phi Phi Don. The water was beautifully clear, and the fish vibrant. My sister even spotted a turtle during her dive!

 

 

On the way back we sailed past Maya Bay, made famous by the film “The Beach”, starring Leonardo Di Caprio. We were told that it gets incredibly busy, with up to 5,000 visitors a day. It is to be closed to tourists this summer as authorities attempt to reverse damage to the region’s marine environment.

 

 

Railay Beach is only accessible by boat, due to high limestone cliffs cutting off mainland access. You can catch a long tail boat from Krabi town and back for a very reasonable sum. Just don’t expect a speedy service there, and especially not back. You have to wait until there are enough passengers aboard before you head off. We waited for close to an hour for enough people to arrive, before our boat headed back to the mainland, so visit on a day where you don’t have much else planned.

 

 

We stayed at the beautiful Amari Vogue Krabi Resort & Spa, on Tubkaak Beach. The location was perfect, as it was away from any hustle and bustle of Krabi town. The stunning garden setting with pools leading down to the private beach means it is the ideal location to relax after a busy day of exploring. The beach is situated opposite the Hong Islands, and we spent our evenings watching the sunset over them. The main restaurant served some of the best Thai food we ate on our entire trip, and the staff were so helpful and welcoming. Two happy hours a day was also a lovely touch, with complimentary nibbles.