Emerald Pool Krabi - A Day Trip

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The Emerald Pool in Krabi, also known as Sa Morakot, is a popular day trip for visitors to the region. It is located in the Khao Phra Bang Khram Nature Reserve, about 55 kilometers southeast of Krabi Town, home to the popular Tiger Cave Temple. This impressive natural wonder attracts countless visitors every day, often even more locals than tourists.

Our Tips for a Day Trip to the Emerald Pool in Krabi

Because the Emerald Pool is somewhat off the usual tourist track in the Krabi region, most visitors come here on organized tours. The emerald-green natural pool is truly special and great for a refreshing dip. But the Blue Pool, Crystal Pool, and the hiking trails on site give you enough alternatives to spend an entire day trip at the Emerald Pool. In this article, you’ll learn how to get there, what to expect, and why it’s worth making a day trip to this unique spot.

How to Get To Krabi

There are some ways to get to Krabi Town. Depending on where your place of departure is, there are different ways. An option would be the airplane, as Krabi has an international airport and you can reach it from many places within Thailand, as well as from Kuala Lumpur or Qatar. Which flights you can take, what are the prices, and more information can be found at Skyscanner.

The second way to get to Krabi Town is by bus. There are buses leaving from many places of the country to the Krabi bus terminal, e.g. from Bangkok, Surat Thani, Phuket and more.

The boat would be the third option to get to Krabi Town. There are boats or ferries from Koh Lanta or Koh Phi Phi to the Klong Jilad Pier in Krabi. For all connections, times, prices and tickets, see 12go.asia.

Accommodation in Krabi – 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. Best Starting Points for a Day Trip to the Emerald Pool

As mentioned in the introduction, the Emerald Pool is located in the Krabi region. Therefore, Krabi Town or the Ao Nang area are the best starting points for a day trip to the Emerald Pool. However, there is no public transportation that can take you there, meaning you’ll have to rely on an organized tour, a private taxi, or your own vehicle, such as a scooter or car.

From Krabi Town or Ao Nang, the driving time is between 1 and 1.5 hours. The route is easy to navigate with Google Maps; you’ll find a more detailed description in the next section. Other places like Tubkaek or Klong Muang, as well as the island of Koh Lanta, are also possible starting points, but involve a longer drive. From Koh Lanta, you even have to take the ferry to the mainland first, which runs every few minutes.

2. Getting to the Emerald Pool in Krabi

From Krabi Town, it takes about 1 hour by private vehicle. It’s a bit faster by car, and you should allow more time by scooter. The route is really straightforward, and you can simply follow it with Google Maps. You’ll leave Krabi Town on Route 4 (Phet Kasem Road) heading south. Follow this road for about 36 kilometers until you can turn left onto Route 4038. After another 300 meters, turn right onto Route 4021 toward Khlong Thom. At this point, the ride becomes more rural, passing through rubber plantations and palm oil fields. After about 8 kilometers, you’ll reach a big intersection where you’ll turn right. Continue another 7 kilometers and then turn left into the parking area of the Emerald Pool in Krabi.

If you start your journey from Ao Nang, you first have to take Route 4203 to Krabi Town. After that, you follow the same path described in the previous paragraph. It only takes about half an hour longer. Another alternative is to hire a private taxi, which would cost around 2500 baht for a round trip, including the driver waiting for you on site.

Note: There is a large parking lot in front of the entrance to the Emerald Pool in Krabi where you can leave your vehicle. However, there is a parking fee, and people are there to collect it. Parking a car costs 30 baht, while a scooter costs 10 baht.

3. Emerald Pool in Krabi – Admission and Opening Hours

The area around the Emerald Pool is open daily from 8.30 AM to 4.30 PM. The smaller Blue Pool, however, doesn’t open until 10.00 AM and closes already at 3.30 PM. In the low season from May to October, the Blue Pool is sometimes completely closed. We find the admission fee rather high at 400 baht for adults and 200 baht for children.

Info: Keep in mind that you’re not allowed to bring any drinks or snacks into the national park, and you must leave them at the entrance. However, there is the Welfare Shop (see section 9) where you can buy something.

4. The Path to the Emerald Pool

After buying your ticket, you’ll head toward the Emerald Pool. There are two main paths to get there, differing in length. The short path of about 800 meters (10-15 minutes on foot) is the direct route and runs along a wide trail until you reach the Welfare Shop (see section 9). Right next to it is the Emerald Pool. We took this path on the way back and wouldn’t recommend it if you’d like to see some of the surrounding nature.

The long path is about 1.4 kilometers and branches off to the right shortly after you enter. It takes about 20 minutes, depending on your walking speed. You’ll walk on a wooden path through the rainforest, and along the way, you can see many water sources, mangroves, rivers, or even wildlife on your left and right. The walk isn’t really strenuous, but it’s definitely more interesting. Plus, you’ll pass the often-overlooked Crystal Pool (next section).

5. Crystal Pool

A few minutes before you reach the Emerald Pool, you’ll come across the Crystal Pool. It draws its water from the Emerald Pool and other water sources in the Khao Phra Bang Khram Nature Reserve. The natural pool is 35 meters wide and 45 meters long, with a depth of 1 to 3 meters, and the bottom is covered in mud and debris.

The water is very clear and fits beautifully into the landscape. Even if you’re thinking of cooling off after the walk, swimming here is unfortunately not allowed. But you can take a short break here, often with fewer people around, whereas the Emerald Pool itself can be quite busy.

6. Emerald Pool

Welcome to the Emerald Pool in Krabi. The first view, despite the many people, is stunning. Natural, emerald-green, clear water, surrounded by gorgeous nature. The color of the water is truly intense, though it can vary between bright turquoise and deep green depending on the time of day and weather.

The water comes from warm, mineral-rich springs and maintains a pleasant temperature year-round. Around the pool, you’ll find small streams, some seating, and plenty of natural rocks that make it easy to step into the water. Here is where you can finally go for a swim and cool off. There are also a few colorful fish in the water, which our son loved, even though he couldn’t catch them, of course.

The Emerald Pool is not only a unique spot to relax and swim, but also a real highlight for photographers – especially early in the morning, when the light is perfect, and the water shows its most intense hue. There also aren’t too many visitors at that time, but even during the day, it’s beautiful and well worth it.

7. Shrine of the Hermit

If you head toward the Blue Pool, which is another 600 meters from the Emerald Pool, you’ll see the Shrine of the Hermit on your way. This is a small cultural and spiritual place dedicated to a hermit who lived in the area many years ago.

The structure of the shrine is simple and surrounded by numerous animal statues like elephants, deer, tigers, birds, or roosters. Local visitors usually stop by to pay their respects, pray, or simply soak in the peaceful atmosphere. It’s a brief visit, but if you’re also heading to the Blue Pool, you can make a quick stop here.

8. Blue Pool

Not every visitor to the Emerald Pool goes to see the Blue Pool, but we recommend you do. It’s truly impressive and, as mentioned above, only 600 meters away. Be careful, though – it’s only open from 10.00 AM to 3.30 PM. The path to the Blue Pool is partly paved, partly well-trodden toward the end in the jungle, so it’s easy to manage.

There is a small wooden platform on site where you can take gorgeous photos of the clear, deep-blue water. It almost looks unnatural with how brightly it glows, depending on the time of day. Like the Crystal Pool, the bottom here is made of mud and debris, and swimming is strictly forbidden.

Because of geothermal springs, the water in the Blue Pool can be unpredictable. Sometimes you can even see bubbles rising from the heat. Still, it’s a calm and magical place with few visitors. If you come during the low season between May and October, the path to the Blue Pool might be closed because it’s not accessible.

9. Welfare Shop

Next to the Emerald Pool, essentially on your way back or there if you take the short path, is the Welfare Shop. This small shop offers visitors some souvenirs, drinks, and snacks, as you’re not allowed to bring your own into the park. You can always head here from the Emerald Pool for a quick bite or drink break. The prices are, of course, a bit higher, but the money goes toward the national park, which we don’t really mind in the end.

Note: There is also a small café on the way from the Emerald Pool to the Welfare Shop, where you can buy drinks. In Thailand, you should always make sure you drink enough water because of the heat, and in the rainforest, the humidity is even higher.

10. Conclusion About the Emerald Pool Krabi Day Trip

A day trip to the Emerald Pool in Krabi had been on our list for a long time. Because it’s so remote, though, it took us a while to finally do it. Despite the admission fee, which we find a bit steep at 400 baht per person, it was still very worthwhile. The nature, the Emerald Pool, and especially the Blue Pool are very impressive and truly a highlight in Krabi.

If you’re looking for great excursion destinations, we can definitely recommend the Emerald Pool. However, if you want somewhere less crowded, it might not be the best fit. Depending on the time of day and year, there can be quite many visitors. Our takeaway is that it’s worth it, but due to the distance and the number of visitors, it’s not necessarily a must.

11. Other Destinations in the Area

If you still have time after visiting the Emerald Pool in Krabi and don’t want to head back right away, there are a few other natural highlights in the vicinity. These include the two thermal springs, Wareerak Hot Spring and Khlong Thom Nuea Hot Stream, both just a few kilometers away.

Wareerak Hot Spring & Wellness is a thermal spa with natural hot springs. Here you’ll find various hot and cold pools enriched with natural minerals. You can also enjoy massages and other wellness treatments for an all-around wonderful experience.

Khlong Thom Nuea Hot Stream, on the other hand, is a natural hot spring in the middle of the jungle. The warm, mineral-rich water flows over rocks and small waterfalls, forming natural jacuzzi basins. The hot stream is fed by underground springs, bringing the water to a pleasant temperature of up to 40 °C. It’s ideal for a bit of relaxation after a refreshing swim in the Emerald Pool.

Krabi: 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 Krabi in a completely different way. GetYourGuide offers a wide selection of exciting tours for Krabi.

Have you already visited the Emerald Pool in Krabi? Is it maybe on your list? Let us know your experiences in the comments.