Current Time in Krabi, Thailand

Krabi is a coastal province and city in southern Thailand, situated on the Andaman Sea coast facing the province of Phang Nga to the north and the Province of Trang to the south. A destination of extraordinary natural beauty, Krabi is celebrated worldwide for its dramatic limestone karst formations, its turquoise lagoons, its world-class beaches, and its diverse marine environment that includes some of the finest snorkeling and diving sites in Southeast Asia.

Krabi Town, the provincial capital, has a population of approximately 30,000, though the entire province — including the offshore islands and the resort areas of Ao Nang and Railay — hosts several million tourists annually. The tourism industry is the dominant economic driver of the region, with visitors arriving primarily to access the beaches and islands of the Andaman coast during the high season from November to April, when the sea is calm and the skies are clear.

The defining landscape of Krabi is its limestone karst scenery. Massive towers of rock rise vertically from the sea and from the coastal jungle, their sheer faces overgrown with vegetation and their interiors riddled with caves. The Tiger Cave Temple (Wat Tham Sua), located about three kilometers from Krabi Town, is a Buddhist forest monastery built around a cave complex; 1,237 steps lead to the summit of the main hill, where a large golden Buddha and a big Buddha image overlook the surrounding karst landscape and the sea in the distance.

Railay Beach, accessible only by longtail boat from Ao Nang and Krabi Town (as it is surrounded by cliffs), is consistently voted among the most beautiful beaches in the world. Its combination of white sand, emerald water, and soaring limestone cliffs makes it visually incomparable. Rock climbing on the karst towers of Railay and the nearby Tonsai Beach has made Krabi one of the top rock climbing destinations in Asia. Nearby, the Phi Phi Islands (technically in Phang Nga Province) are an easy speedboat trip and offer spectacular snorkeling around their coral reefs.

The Four Islands tour from Krabi visits a group of small islands with excellent snorkeling and pristine beaches. Kayaking through the sea caves and mangrove forests around Ao Thalane and the Thung Teao Forest Natural Park — home to the famous Emerald Pool (Sa Morakot), a natural mineral spring with crystal-clear turquoise water — are popular inland excursions. Elephant sanctuaries offering ethical interactions with rescued elephants are also available in the area.

Krabi Airport handles domestic flights from Bangkok and international connections from several Asian hubs. Ferries connect the province to Koh Lanta, Koh Phi Phi, Koh Samui, and Phuket. Buses and shared minivans link Krabi Town to other southern Thai destinations. Within the resort areas, longtail boats and songthaews provide local transport.

Krabi offers some of the most visually spectacular coastal scenery anywhere in the world, making it one of Thailand's most beloved and internationally recognized destinations.