Arriving in Krabi
By plane
Krabi airport is finally opened and Thai
Airways has now 1 flight a day from Bangkok leaving BKK at 10.15',
return flight from Krabi is at 12.10'. I don't know how the transport
from the airport into town will be organised (7/99).
By bus
We didn't stay in Krabi and went straight to Ao Nang.
When
arriving at the busstation, you'll be approached by the touts of a
travel agency next to the busstation. They will try to do 2 things:
- Get you into their minibus to Ao Nang for 50 Bht (songthaews cost 15 Bht).
-
Sell you a hotel room. If you only take the minibus, then they will
drop you at a hotel and wait till you've checked in. If you do, they'll
collect their commission for bringing you there.
There's another travel agent, but they charge the same for the hotels.
Ao Nang
Introduction
We spent 2 nights in Ao Nang, but if
I would do it again, I would now go to Rai Leh which is more beautiful
and less noisy. Accomodation costs about the same, but you'll find much
less package tourists there.
Accommodation
The Phra Nang Inn
is a typical package tourist hotel charging 2.050 Bht including tax and
breakfast, but you must get a 20% discount on that (3/99). This is
quite expensive for a small double room with AC, shower, fridge and TV.
They are right on the beach and have a small swimming pool. The hotel
looked a bit old and also too small for the number of rooms they
have.
We went to the Peace Laguna Resort
nearby (tel. 075-637345 or 6). It's at 100 m from the beach and they
don't have a swimming pool. However, the setting in front of a
limestone cliff is marvellous, and the garden with pond is beautiful.
This gives the place a much more relaxed atmosphere. Price is 900 Bht
for room with fan and 1.950 for a bigger rrom with AC (3/99).
But again, spend 30 Bht on a boat to Rai Leh and spend your days there.
Beautiful beach. A lot of bungalows charging 800 Bht for fan and 1.600 Bht for AC. Good restaurants.
What to do
The beach
Take a longtail boat to Rai Leh for 30 Bht pp (they leave in front of the Phra Nang Inn).
From
Rai Leh beach west, you can walk to the East beach, and from there to a
smaller beach (path next to Dusit Rayavadee). On the way, there's a
path (actually it's more like a climb) to a viewpoint and a laguna. The
climb is quite difficult though.
Day trips
There are day tours to Ko Phi Phi for 750 Bht pp (3/99).
You can also do a temple tour, but if you do other parts of Thailand, you'll get better value for money.
There are 1, 2 or 3 day tours to Kao Sok National Park.
There
are several companies offering canoetrips. I didn't do this myself, so
I can't comment on this. Here are some companies with their websites:
- seacanoe
- seacavecanoe
Getting out of Ao Nang / Krabi
To Ko Phi Phi
There is a daily boat (in high season) from Ao Nang to Ko PP at 9 am charging 250 Bht.
From Krabi there's a boat at 10 am and at 14.30. Price is here 150 Bht.
To Ko Lanta
Two boats, 10.30 am and 13.30, cost is 150 Bht.
Other places (from Krabi)
To
go to other places, you have the choice of taking a regular bus or a
tourist bus. I hereby give a list of tourist buses (price 3/99):
- Surat Thani 11 am and 14.00, price 150 Bht
- Ko Samui: 11 am with arrival the same night 5 pm, price 265, or else 16.00 with night ferry and arrival the next morning.
- Phuket town and airport: 11.30 and 13.30, price 200 Bht, for beaches it's 250 Bht.
- Bangkok 16.00, price 350 to 550 Bht.
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