Krabi Walks by Time on Your Feet
In Krabi the question is not where to walk but for how long. A riverside stroll takes an hour, a headland path fills an afternoon, and one ridge trail eats most of a morning and your legs for the next day. The options below run from short to long.
Under an hour
Chao Fah Park and the river boardwalk. Krabi Town sits 17 km inland from Ao Nang, and its riverfront promenade is free. The giant bronze Mud Crab and Sea Eagle sculptures stand against the twin peaks of Khao Khanab Nam. Add the morning market, Talad Maharaj, for breakfast.
The Friday to Sunday walking street. From 17:00 to 22:00 on Maharaj Soi 8 the road is closed to traffic, with stalls and live performances. Dishes cost around ฿50 to ฿100.
One to two hours
Railay and Phra Nang. Railay can only be reached by boat, with the longtail from Ao Nang at ฿100 per person each way and more after dark. Once there, the paths are car-free. Wander between Railay West, Railay East and the Phra Nang headland, under overhangs where long-tailed macaques and dusky leaf monkeys forage. Keep food out of sight. Compare Railay guided walks on GetYourGuide if you prefer company.
Tiger Cave stairs. The temple grounds are free and the summit climb is about 1,260 steps, usually 30 to 60 minutes up. Dress modestly with shoulders and knees covered, and carry no visible food because of the monkeys. It is a climb more than a walk.
Half a day
Forest boardwalk towards Emerald Pool. A raised wooden walkway of roughly 2.7 km runs through lowland rainforest, with birds such as Gurney’s pitta possible. Emerald Pool is inside a wildlife sanctuary, with a cash fee usually quoted at ฿400 for adults and ฿200 for children, though some sources give ฿200 for adults.
Khao Phanom Bencha. The national park charges ฿100 for adults and ฿50 for children, and Huai To waterfall is a short walk from the visitor centre. Pools below the falls are cool in the heat.
Most of a morning
Tab Kak Hang Nak, the Dragon Crest trail. This jungle trek starts near Tubkaek Beach and climbs for 2 to 3 hours. It runs over rocky ridges and bamboo to a rock ledge above the karst. It is strenuous and the rock is slippery in the wet, so start early, carry water, wear shoes with grip and go with a companion.
The wet season
The monsoon runs from May to October. Trails turn slick in heavy rain, so choose the town walks or the Railay paths on showery days. For official visitor information, see the Tourism Authority of Thailand , and for the national park notices see the Department of National Parks .
Related reading: the Krabi sightseeing page and the two-day Krabi itinerary .
Tip: do the Dragon Crest trail at first light, then spend the afternoon in a beachfront massage chair.