Ao Nang Tips - Things to Do in Krabi

Since Ao Nang is one of the most visited locations in Krabi, there are a lot of things to do. From beautiful islands in the vicinity to beaches, temple visits, or hikes, there’s a lot that you can explore and do in Ao Nang.

18 Tips for Ao Nang in Krabi

What you can do and experience during a visit is summarized in our Ao Nang tips and things to do for you. Variety is guaranteed in Ao Nang, and we’ve visited all these place countless times. We can truly recommend a vacation in Ao Nang.

How to get to Ao Nang

To reach Ao Nang it’s best to travel via Krabi. With this option you can fly to the Krabi International Airport which is connected to locations in Thailand as well as e.g. Kuala Lumpur or Qatar. More information about flights, departure times and prices can be found on Skyscanner.

You can also travel by bus or boat (from Koh Lanta etc.) to Krabi Town. From there you can continue your trip to Ao Nang. From the airport or the bus station you will have to take another means of transport to get to Ao Nang.

A Songthaew (shared taxi) from the bus station costs about 80 Baht to Ao Nang. A taxi costs about 400 Baht from Krabi Town or the airport. The cheapest option would be the shuttle bus, which runs regularly from the airport through Krabi Town to Ao Nang, for a price of 100 Baht per person.

Furthermore, you can take the ferry from Koh Lanta or Koh Phi Phi directly to Ao Nang. These boats will arrive at Noppharat Thara Pier and not at Klong Jilad Pier in Krabi Town. To see connections, times, prices and tickets for buses and boats, visit 12go.asia.

Accommodation in Ao Nang – our hotel tip

The selection of accommodation in Ao Nang and the surrounding area is huge. We have stayed several times in Ao Nang and tried some different hotels. Since we are always traveling there by scooter, it doesn’t bother us personally if the accommodation is a bit further from the beach. This way you have peace and seclusion and can totally relax. Very suitable for this is the Deevana Krabi Resort, which is located in the middle of a beautiful green area. Both beaches, the Ao Nang Beach and the Noppharat Thara Beach, are just minutes away by taxi or scooter.

You can discover more beautiful accommodations in Ao Nang here.

1. Ao Nang Beach

Ao Nang Beach is the main beach in the area and therefore our first recommendation for Ao Nang. It is accessible from some points on the promenade via stairs. The eastern part of Ao Nang Beach is the best for swimming as no boats dock here. You can also find restaurants and bars. However, even during the day, there are not too many visitors at Ao Nang Beach due to the limited shaded areas.

Furthermore, many longtail boats depart from here for island tours or to Railay Beach (see point 4). There are small ticket booths near the beach where you can buy a ticket to an island and then take the longtail boat from Ao Nang Beach. You can find more about Ao Nang’s beaches in our Ao Nang Beach Guide.

2. Monkey Trail and Pai Plong Beach

A short distance east of Ao Nang Beach is the somewhat secluded Pai Plong Beach. There is only one hotel there, the beautiful Centara Grand, so the beach is usually relatively empty.

You can reach it on foot via the Monkey Trail at the eastern end of Ao Nang Beach. Here, you take a staircase into the jungle, and a path leads you to Pai Plong Beach. As the name suggests, you may encounter some monkeys on the Monkey Trail, so be careful with your belongings.

At low tide, you can also reach Pai Plong Beach from the eastern part of Ao Nang Beach by simply walking through the shallow water past the rocks. This saves some time compared to the Monkey Trail. The third option to reach Pai Plong Beach is a boat ride from Ao Nang Beach, which takes only a few minutes and costs 100 Baht per person.

3. Tours to the surrounding Islands

One of the tips for Ao Nang, of course, includes boat tours to the surrounding islands. Ao Nang is the main starting point for these, and you can either take organized tours or simply buy a ticket for one of the longtail boats at Ao Nang Beach (see point 1).

The islands include Koh Poda, Chicken and Tub Island, as well as Hong Island. But there are also tours to mainland beaches like Tonsai Beach, Railay Beach, or Phra Nang Cave Beach offered here. Naturally, they are also available in combination, for example, on the Krabi 4 Island Tour, if you’d like to see multiple places in one day.

4. Trip to Railay Peninsula

The beautiful Railay Peninsula is located not far from Ao Nang, about 15 minutes away by longtail boat. It can only be reached by water and is a popular destination in Ao Nang.

On the Railay Peninsula, you’ll find viewpoints, beautiful beaches, lagoons, and caves. During the day, Railay Beach West is the destination for most visitors, but if you stay overnight at Railay Beach, there’s very little crowd on the beaches in the morning and evening, allowing you to enjoy the stunning natural scenery in peace.

5. The Hilltop Ao Nang

The Hilltop is one of our best recommendations for Ao Nang. If you want to experience a sunset, this is the place to be. The Hilltop offers delicious food and drinks with a fantastic view of the sea, directly towards the sunset.

It’s open daily from 4.00 PM to 10.00 PM. You can reserve a table if you’d like, but you can also stop by without a reservation and are sure to find a spot. A lovely location for photos and to wind down your day.

6. Nightlife at Center Point

Center Point is the main hub of nightlife in Ao Nang. It is located just off the Beach Road, where you’ll find the entrance. Three floors are filled with numerous bars and clubs that are open every day. If you enjoy partying, this is the place to be.

If Center Point doesn’t suffice, there are a few more options to explore nightlife in Ao Nang. The Soi RCA is the small red-light district of Ao Nang, where you’ll find some beer bars and lady bars. It’s also located directly on the main road, a short distance north of Ao Nang Beach.

7. Catalunya Walking Street

The Catalunya Walking Street in Ao Nang has been around since 2007. It is L-shaped with entrances on both the Ao Nang Beach Road (near Häagen-Dazs) and the road leading north from Ao Nang (next to 7-Eleven). Here, you’ll find not only shops for shopping for clothes, souvenirs, and art but also some bars with live music and restaurants.

8. Mountain Buddha Temple

The Mountain Buddha Temple, as it’s also named on Google Maps, is definitely a hidden gem in Ao Nang. We stumbled upon it by chance because we stayed nearby. It’s a very new temple that was still under construction during our visit. Other visitors? None to be found! That means you can have the temple all to yourself.

It’s truly beautiful, and various stairs lead you higher and higher, passing by many statues like golden Buddhas or Naga snakes. The Mountain Buddha Temple also offers a fantastic view of the limestone cliffs of Krabi. Absolutely worth a visit!

You can find the Mountain Buddha Temple by driving north from the Ao Nang Beach Road. After Tesco Lotus, turn right toward Ao Nam Mao. Then, drive past the Makro Supermarket, and on your left, you’ll see a fresh market. Opposite the market, take the small road, and you’ll already see the temple from a distance.

9. Fossil Shell Beach

Fossil Shell Beach, also known as Susan Hoi, is located in Ban Laem Pho, slightly east of Ao Nang. The attraction, which is 8 kilometers away, can be reached in about 10-15 minutes by motorbike or taxi. The entrance fee is 200 Baht, as Fossil Shell Beach is located in a national park.

On-site, you will see enormous seashell sandstones that resemble concrete slabs on the beach. According to the description, they are approximately 40 million years old. There used to be a freshwater marsh here, which has dried up over the years, revealing the ancient fossils. Fossil Shell Beach is sometimes recommended on certain tours in Ao Nang. If you are nearby and interested, a brief stop can be worthwhile.

10. Wednesday Evening Market

Every Wednesday from 4.00 PM to 7.30 PM, the Ao Nang Wednesday Evening Market takes place. It starts near the Ao Nang Boxing Stadium. This night market is particularly popular among locals. Tourists also visit, but not in the crowds you might be used to from other night markets.

From affordable clothing and accessories to souvenirs and a wide variety of food, you can find everything here. The market is not very large, but if you have nothing planned on a Wednesday evening in Ao Nang, a visit is a great option.

11. Noppharat Thara Beach

The 4-kilometer-long Noppharat Thara Beach is located at the western end of Ao Nang. The wide sandy beach is particularly popular for sunsets or picnics, but not very suitable for swimming. We would describe it as one of the recommendations in Ao Nang for solitary sunsets because you will find peace and quiet here, without large crowds.

The sand is interspersed with shells and not quite as fine, but it’s also suitable for beach walks, and you can even walk to the small island Koh Khao Pak Klong from there. By the way, at the end of Noppharat Thara Beach, boats also depart for Koh Phi Phi or island tours. So, you can start your excursion here instead of Ao Nang Beach.

12. Wat Sai Tai

On Route 4034, also known as the Krabi Romantic Road, which leads from Ao Nang to Krabi Town, you’ll find Wat Sai Tai somewhat inconspicuously on the side of the road. However, you can easily recognize it by the large reclining Buddha statue as you drive by.

If you enjoy visiting Buddhist temples, then Wat Sai Tai is definitely one of the hidden gems of Ao Nang. You’ll rarely encounter other visitors here. The over 4-meter-high reclining Buddha statue and the limestone cliffs are the highlights. Additionally, you can see some stupas and a bell tower on-site.

Admission is free, and if you’re on your way to Krabi Town, for example, to visit the Tiger Cave Temple, you can make a stop here.

13. Baan Ton Mai

The Baan Ton Mai Tree House Cafe is one of the most beautiful recommendations for Ao Nang. It pairs wonderfully with the beaches of Klong Muang and Tubkaek Beach, or with a hike to the Dragon Crest Mountain.

The cafe is situated in a beautifully landscaped garden with treehouses and seating by the adjacent river. There’s even a swimming pool for guests.

You can order everything from regular cafe items to homemade creations and Thai food to desserts. The menu is extensive, and everything we tried tasted fantastic. A truly lovely stop on a day trip from Ao Nang.

14. Klong Muang Beach

Klong Muang is a place in the west of Ao Nang, about 15 kilometers away. Here too, you will find some restaurants and hotels, but also a beautiful beach called Klong Muang Beach. The town and the beach are much quieter than in Ao Nang. Klong Muang Beach is also perfect for swimming unless it’s low tide.

You can find some shaded spots under the trees and enjoy the tranquility of Klong Muang Beach. It’s a great option for a day trip from Ao Nang or as a stop on your way to the Dragon Crest Mountain or back.

15. Tubkaek Beach

Just a little further lies the small Tubkaek Beach, almost at the entrance to the National Park of the Dragon Crest Mountain. From here, you have a beautiful view towards Hong Island and the Phang Nga Bay.

It’s about a 20-minute ride from Ao Nang by scooter. Suitable for swimming, but also just to sit in one of the beach restaurants and have something to eat or drink. Great resorts like Amari Vogue are also located directly on Tubkaek Beach if you prefer a quieter atmosphere.

16. Dragon Crest Mountain

On Dragon Crest Mountain, you’ll find the Khao Ngon Nak Viewpoint. This tip for Ao Nang is definitely one of the highlights and one of the most beautiful viewpoints in the Krabi region. However, you will need to bring time for the hike to the viewpoint, and it will be at least a half-day trip.

For information on how the hike to Dragon Crest Mountain works, where to start, when it’s open, and what you can expect on-site, check out our detailed article Krabi – Hike to Dragon Crest Mountain.

17. Landmark Night Market

Directly on Noppharat Thara Beach, you’ll find the Landmark Night Market. It’s still considered one of the newer recommendations for Ao Nang but is attracting more and more visitors. Open daily from 5.00 PM to midnight, you’ll find various food stalls, cocktail bars, a beer garden with live music, and much more.

18. Ao Nang Mosque Night Market

Daily from 6.00 PM to 10.00 PM, there’s also a night market in front of the grand mosque in Ao Nang. The many food stalls are set up along the sidewalk next to the mosque. As the mosque is beautifully illuminated in the evening, the night market is becoming more and more of a top recommendation in Ao Nang. In addition to the delights of the night market, the mosque is also a great and very colorful photo opportunity.

Ao Nang: Tours and tickets

Do you prefer to travel with a guide who knows the area very well? Then we recommend a guided tour with a local. This way you can get to know Ao Nang and Krabi in a completely different way. GetYourGuide offers a wide selection of exciting tours for Ao Nang and Krabi.

Do you have any more tips for Ao Nang? What did you like most about Ao Nang? Leave us a comment below.

Photos: Photo 1 (Ao Nang Beach): lemaret pierrick/shutterstock.com