Krabi Attraction Tours and Gate Fees
Krabi’s best attractions are cheap to enter and expensive to reach, so the real budget question is how the fee and the transport fit together. A gate ticket is paid in cash at the entrance, a tour price covers the vehicle or boat, and the two are separate. Knowing which is which keeps surprises off the day.
The fee at the gate
Fees are tiered, with a lower rate for children, and the sums below are the foreigner rates currently listed. Emerald Pool costs ฿400 for adults and ฿200 for children, cash only, and the pool sits inside a wildlife sanctuary, not a national park. Hot Springs Waterfall costs ฿200 and ฿100, with natural terraces of warm water that can be very hot in places. Khao Phanom Bencha National Park costs ฿100 for adults and ฿50 for children, which makes it the cheapest of the three, and its Huai To waterfall is a short walk from the visitor centre. Than Bok Khorani National Park covers the Hong Islands, and the national park fee is payable at the landing on top of your boat ticket. Check the national park website for the current notices.
The tour on top
The inland sites lie in Khlong Thom and the hills behind Krabi Town, so you need a vehicle: a shared day tour, a hired driver, or a scooter if you hold the right licence. Never leave your passport with a rental shop as a deposit.
The Hong Islands trip is a boat day. Speedboat and longtail operators both run it, and the highlight is the lagoon at Koh Hong and the viewpoint stairs on the island, which are steep. Wear shoes with grip. Browse Hong Islands tours on GetYourGuide to see what the day includes before you commit.
Short stops that need no tour
Diamond Cave on Railay costs ฿100 for adults and ฿50 for children and has a lit boardwalk through chambers of stalactites. Railay is boat-only, with the longtail from Ao Nang at ฿100 per person each way. If the sea is rough, use the pier at Ao Nam Mao, which is more sheltered.
Elephants
If you want to spend time with elephants, choose a sanctuary where the experience is observation only, with feeding and watching animals bathe, and no riding. Ask what the animals do the rest of the day, and walk away from anywhere that offers rides.
Season and safety
Monsoon months run from May to October, when boat tours can be cancelled and inland waterfalls run strong. Life jackets are essential on any boat, and you should insist on one that fits. Waterfall rocks are slippery, so wear sandals with a strap.
See the Krabi sightseeing page for the temples and viewpoints, or the four-day Krabi itinerary to see how the sites slot into a longer stay.
Tip: Emerald Pool and Hot Springs Waterfall take cash only, so draw baht in Ao Nang or Krabi Town before you set out.