Independent trip to Krabi with an overnight stay
Imagine a place where the emerald sea meets dramatic limestone cliffs, where pristine white beaches lie side by side with lush jungles. Welcome to Krabi – a province in southern Thailand that will make your heart beat faster. At least, that’s exactly what happened to us. We’ve been to Krabi several times, and each visit felt like the very first one. It’s a magical destination you can rediscover again and again!
We’ve put together a 2-day self-guided itinerary in Krabi Province with an overnight stay, so you can see all the highlights without wasting precious time searching for the right spots. A little heads-up: the route is not the shortest one, so we recommend renting a reliable car. You can easily arrange it using the contact form below.
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Day 1
We start our journey from Karon Beach (travel time may vary if you’re coming from other parts of Phuket). You’ll need to wake up quite early – we leave Karon at 7 a.m. If you’re departing from Patong or Bang Tao, you can head out a bit later, while from Rawai or Nai Harn you’ll need to leave earlier. But trust us – this trip is 100% worth it!
Travel time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Stop time: 10 minutes
Our first stop is a secluded, picturesque beach. How many deserted beaches have you seen in Phuket? Exactly – that’s why you should take the chance! Sai Kaew Beach is a perfect spot to stretch your legs and snap a few shots with the endless sea in the background.
Travel time: 30 minutes
Stop time: 40 minutes
A famous viewpoint with a breathtaking panorama of Phang Nga Bay and the whimsical limestone cliffs rising from the Andaman Sea. It’s a must-visit spot in every Phuket travel guide, and of course, we couldn’t leave it out of ours. By the way, there’s also a glass bridge nearby, but visiting it will take more time. In our opinion, the viewpoint alone is more than enough — especially since the views aren’t much different.
3. Lunch. 2 cafes to choose from
hun·gry ()
Travel time: 55 minutes
Stop time: 40 minutes
A very cozy cafe for a quick bite on the way. Great food and friendly staff. The menu offers both Thai and European dishes. We especially recommend the shrimp fried rice and teriyaki chicken. Important: service is fast, so the stop won’t take too much time. The only downside is that the cafe is closed on Mondays.
KUBKHAOMAE PHANGNGA ()
And this place is open on Mondays too! The cafe is set in a palm grove with a pond — a beautiful, green, and authentic setting. The menu features Thai classics, served with a very nice presentation!
4. Tham Thonglang Quarry ()
Travel time: 20 minutes
Stop time: 20 minutes
An unusual turquoise lake — though in fact, it’s an old mine. It’s a great spot to stop for 10–20 minutes and take some beautiful shots against the backdrop of the blue water and the cliffs reflected in it. If you’re lucky, you might even have the place all to yourself, without other tourists around.
5. Wat Maha That Wachiramongkol (Gold Temple Honeymoon) ()
Travel time: 20 minutes
Stop time: 40 minutes
A majestic temple that, until recently, wasn’t well known even among the locals — let alone tourists. But the secret is out, and now it’s no longer possible to hide from curious eyes here.
The temple’s main attraction is its central stupa — over 70 meters tall and entirely covered in gold leaf! There’s also a large golden chedi standing on the very spot where Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment. In short, no expense was spared when it came to gold — everything around you is made of this precious metal. Truly grand and opulent.
Although the temple is a modern construction, it still impresses with its scale and grandeur. Be sure to step inside as well — the interior is just as magnificent and ornate.
6. Klang Cave ()
Travel time: 30 minutes
Stop time: 1 hour
An optional stop on your travel route, but we recommend visiting if you’re not too tired. Klang Cave is a cavern with underground lakes and stalactites — beautiful, with a slightly eerie atmosphere. Entrance costs 150 THB per person, which includes a flashlight and a helmet (just in case a stalactite falls on you or a bat decides to land!). We also suggest hiring a guide for an even better experience.
By the way, if you decide to come here, make sure to bring proper footwear — water shoes or at least rubber sandals, since in some places you’ll need to walk through water. And yes, a religious joke fits perfectly here… but I’m sure everyone has already made it in their head.
7. Ao Nang – hotel check-in ()
Travel time: 50 minutes
We arrive here around 4 p.m. (or around 3 p.m. if you skipped Klang Cave).
Ao Nang is a seaside resort located about 20 km from Krabi Town. We’ve stayed here in two hotels — Venice Krabi Villa Resort () and Lux Family Villas (). Both are places we can confidently recommend.
Venice Krabi Villa Resort is a complex of wooden bungalows built right on the water — a kind of “Thai Venice.” The hotel grounds are beautiful and perfect for taking lots of photos. And yes — it has the largest swimming pool we’ve ever seen in Thailand. Plus, the breakfasts are great. In our opinion, it ticks all the most important boxes.
Lux Family Villas is a quiet place with spacious villas that are perfect for families. Overall, it’s just solid accommodation without any particular extras. But for some travelers, that’s exactly what they need — a comfortable place to sleep and eat. The owner is always available and ready to help with any request, including arranging transfers.
8. Evening stroll around the resort
After checking into your hotel, we recommend taking a walk along the lively pedestrian street (technically Highway 4203; use it as your ).
Then head to the beachfront promenade (look for the as a reference point). Along the beach, you’ll also find other interesting sculptures.
We also suggest visiting the Ao Nang Landmark Night Market (). Pay special attention to the souvenirs: there’s a wide variety here, and in our opinion, they’re much more interesting than the ones sold in Phuket.
You can have dinner right at the market or settle into one of the many restaurants in town — there’s plenty to choose from. After that, head back to the hotel and rest up for tomorrow. It’s going to be another busy day!
Day 2
Wake up, enjoy a hearty breakfast, check out of the hotel, and by 10 a.m. set off to greet the new day before eventually returning to Phuket.
1. Visit Krabi Town and an unusual cave.
First, make your way to the Mud Crabs Sculpture ()
Travel time: 30 minutes
Stop time: 2 hours (including a river trip)
There, you can arrange with local boatmen to take you along the river to the next spot (this will cost 500–1000 THB) — Khao Khanab Nam ()
This cave is not the most touristy place, but it’s fascinating: inside you’ll find a giant’s skeleton wrapped by a huge snake, ancient wall paintings, and figures of Japanese soldiers. Intrigued?
In this cave, archaeologists really did find traces of prehistoric people, and during World War II Japanese soldiers used it as a hideout. So the cave has a rich history and has witnessed quite a lot over the centuries. But the most fascinating part is the skeleton of a giant human wrapped in an equally giant snake resting inside. Honestly, it’s hard to believe that giants once lived in Krabi — but everything is explained by a local legend about giants. We won’t spoil the story here — some mystery should remain!
From here, we start heading back home, but along the way there are still a few short stops waiting for us.
Travel time: 30 minutes
Stop time: 25 minutes
This is a small farm where goats live. Entry is free, but you can leave a tip in a special box. Here, you can feed the baby goats milk straight from a bottle. It’s incredibly cute and will be especially fun for children if you’re traveling with them.
3. Kuan Nom Saow Restaurant and Viewpoint
Travel time: 25 minutes
Stop time: 45 minutes
An authentic café serving Thai cuisine with a breathtaking view of Krabi Province. In fact, it’s more of a viewpoint than a café. A perfect pit stop for a snack and a short rest.
4. Thapom Klong Song Nam )
Travel time: 15 minutes
Stop time: 1.5 hours
Another stop to “stretch your legs.” We suggest taking a walk through the mangrove forest and enjoying the fresh air. A river runs here with “chameleon water” that changes color depending on the tides. You can also take a refreshing swim in this clean, fresh water. Entrance to the forest park is paid, but the fee is purely symbolic.
5. Heading home: the drive back to Karon Beach takes about 2.5 hours without stops.
Bonus stop: if you still have energy left, you can also drop by the stalactite cave Tham Phung Chang () or the beautiful Buddhist temple Wat Maneesri Mahathat ().
And that’s it — two action-packed days and another amazing Krabi adventure added to your travel collection! Convenient, isn’t it, when the route is already planned out for you and all you have to do is follow it? All that’s required from you: free up some space on your phone for photos, stock up on drinking water, and bring along a good mood!
