Krabi

This beach town and the islands nearby are famous for strange rock formations and unspoiled nature.

Krabi has a nice seaside atmosphere with cheap accommodation, tasty Thai/Moslem food and friendly people. Its striking rock formation islands and beautiful beaches made the area a pirate haven in bygone days. Now mainly a stopover for tourists going to outlying islands, the town itself is nice for short visits.

Forest Temple
Most people here are Moslem, while others are Taoist-Confucianist. There are relatively few Theravada Buddhists, and their temples are out of town. Wat Sai Thai has a 15-meter reclining Buddha under a limestone cliff face. Wat Tham Seua, one of the best-known forest temples in Thailand, has been built into caverns and cliffs. If you visit, please dress appropriately: definitely no shorts or T-shirts.

Unspoiled Nature
Krabi allows nature lovers to take organized trips to see mangrove forests and their resident wildlife. You can sail to unspoiled islets, walk through rainforest and swim in natural pools in the Khao Nor Chuchi Lowland Forest Project. Visitors can also spend time helping local rubber-tappers; the fees finance ecological projects.

Fine Beaches
Local beaches include Hat Noppharat Thara, Ao Nang and Ao Phai Phlong. All are lovely, but one of the finest is Hat Tham Phra Nang, with a cave where fishermen honor the spirit of an Indian princess said to have perished here over two thousand years ago.

Climb & Dive
For experienced rock-climbers, hundreds of established routes offer exciting opportunities. Numerous dive operators work in and around Krabi, taking divers to coral reefs and boat wrecks near adjacent islands. Sailing and paddling are also popular, and yachts and kayaks can be hired locally.