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Krabi
Beaches
of Stunning Beauty drives this new destination
![Krabi_ Lai Le [21256 bytes]](../../images/img-1-6-0.jpg)
Krabi
has gained rapid fame for the stunning beauty of its two most famous
beaches, Tham Phra Nang and Rai Le. Anyone who walks on the sand here will
be left with little doubt that these do, indeed, rank among the most
beautiful beaches in the world.
Amazing rocky mountains rise vertically at each end of both beaches. Lush
foliage and coconut fronds highlight whiteness of the sands with green, and
the waters that just lap the shores are crystal clear. Only 100 metres off
Tham Phra Nang beach another stone monolith rises from the waters, adding
yet more geographic grandeur to the scene.
The peninsula is
cut off from all roads by sheer rock walls
Even nature seems to understand that here is a highlight amongst her
creations, for this stunning little peninsula is locked away from the rest
of the world by several kilometres of sheer rock walls. No roads can
penetrate. Men cannot walk or climb in, and even monkeys, one would image
from the sight of the forbidding rock walls, might have trouble entering.
Only boats can access this special place, and the very process of arriving
over the waves imbues the visitor with a sense of the almost mystical
experience that is approaching.
1-star and 5-star accommodation - only
These two beaches and their narrow peninsula offer accommodation of the
extremes; 1-star and 5-star only. At the southern end a few dozen
extra-luxurious villas are scattered unobtrusively through the coconut
palms. The swimming pool of this, the Premier Rayavadee Resort, offers one
of the world’s classic scenes of a tropical idyll. This is a positive
example for big money developments entering an environment of fragile
beauty; low density, minimum change to environment and impact upon the
scenery.
Cheap bungalows crowded in - and full in
the high season
![Krabi_ Phra Nang Beach [30336 bytes]](../../images/img-1-6-1.jpg)
Next
door is another story. A couple of hundred of cheap bungalows are crowded
into every space, almost wall to wall. The sump toilets seep directly into
the limited water supply underground. Plastic and glass rubbish often burn
on the sand, with the refuse later given a shallow grave. Old building
materials rot here and there. But the bungalows are relatively cheap (most
between 500 – 1,500 Baht), and are a favourite haunt of young backpackers
who while away the days reading under the trees and playing volleyball on
the sand. International rock climbers have discovered the challenge in the
limestone walls here, and flock here too.
The rest of Krabi
A couple of hundred beds on the peninsula can’t accommodate the thousands of
visitors who now flock to Krabi. Thus, at Ao Nang Beach, where the road
ends, a tourist village of hotels, bungalows, restaurants and shops has
sprung up., this little town is relaxed and rather quaint, and the string of
restaurants and bars that clings right to the sands at the north end of the
beach is popular.
The beach at Ao Nang, where the majority of visitors find themselves
accommodated, is not particularly beautiful and there is not a great deal to
do here. Thus, many people take the 40 Baht boat ride around the rocky
headland to spend their days on the beaches of the special peninsula,
returning each evening.
Off-shore islands and more natural beauty
The offshore islands are of great beauty, and money spent on a boat – your
own longtail boat for the day, if you can afford it – will buy great
memories of idyllic beaches, islands and crystal waters. There are about a
half dozen islands accessible on a day trip. A longtail boat should cost
about 1,500 Baht for the full day, but be prepared to bargain to get the
right price. The days when one could have a beach on one of these islands to
oneself are gone, and in the high season (Nov-April) there are quite a lot
of visitors at each island.
Take a car and drive around the province
Krabi is a province of Thailand, complete with provincial town situated up a
river, and a rocky landscape of exceptional scenic beauty. Since Ao Nang and
the special peninsula is only a small area that is easily crowded at times,
the visitor with some days on his hands should think of renting a vehicle
and exploring more of the province. There is quite a lot to see, including
temple caves, a national park, waterfalls etc. Merely travelling about the
smaller roads of this region is an experience itself.
Rubber and oil plantations
The green of these plantations dominate the landscape, forever punctuated by
Krabi’s famed, towering karst mountains. Roads wind between these, often in
the shadow of magnificent, towering rock walls. Only small pockets of
natural forest can be found, though these are of exceptional beauty. The
original rainforests of the Thai-Malay peninsula are the oldest in the
world, having survived 300 million years, and are the world’s most
species-rich terrestrial environment.
(see our
Environment section for more info).
Driving tours of the hinterlands are
strongly recommended
For those with a few days in Krabi, and the spirit to explore, we give more
details in a separate page
Driving Tours of Krabi.
If renting a car, beware of vehicles without comprehensive insurance. It is
safer to rent from an established company than to take a cheaper one offered
on the side of the road. See our page on Renting Cars & Motorcylces, under
Transport, to see our advice and warnings.
National Car Rent has a Krabi base and
delivers vehicles to the renter’s hotel.
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