Ao Nang
The main tourist town, with the widest choice of hotels and restaurants and the pier for island trips. Not the prettiest beach in the province, but the easiest place to organise everything else.
Skip it if: you came for seclusion.
Thailand · Krabi
Where to Stay in Krabi: Ao Nang or Railay
The two bases in Krabi compared, what changes between them, and where to book.
Quick answer
Ao Nang for convenience: restaurants, shops, boats and road access. Railay for the setting, reachable only by boat, with everything that implies once the last longtail has gone.
01 / Compare
Which area suits you
| Area | Best for | Feel | To the beach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ao Nang | A practical base | Busy, convenient | Along the strip |
| Railay | Cliffs, climbing, scenery | Cut off, spectacular | No roads at all |
See where the places are
An interactive map of available stays, loaded from our booking partner. Nothing reaches them until you open it, and once open their own measurement tools run inside the map.
Star ratings are the ones declared on the booking platform. We do not rate hotels.
Hotel class:
Star ratings are the ones declared on the booking platform. We do not rate hotels.
02 / Areas
The areas, one by one
Railay
A peninsula with no road access, reached by longtail boat. Limestone walls, climbing routes and a very different evening once the day trippers leave.
Skip it if: you need to come and go easily, or you are travelling with a lot of luggage.
03 / On the ground
Where locals actually go
Places we can point to by name, checked on the date below. No ratings, no sponsored entries: if a listing ever becomes a paid partnership, it will say so on this page.
Practical
- Boats stop at night · Railay — Longtails run on daylight and on demand. If you stay in Railay, plan on being there for the evening rather than popping back to Ao Nang.
- Season · November to April — Same Andaman calendar as Phuket. Outside that window, boat trips are cancelled more often than hotels admit.
Arriving and cover
- From Krabi airport · To Ao Nang or the Railay boats — Around forty minutes by road to Ao Nang, then a longtail if you are staying in Railay. Worth booking for a late arrival.
See transfers - Before you climb or board · Railay and the islands — Rock climbing, longtail crossings and island trips are the point of Krabi, and the reasons travellers here end up needing cover.
Compare travel cover
Independent businesses
- Hot Rock Climbing School · West Railay (Walking Street) — Thai and Swedish rock-climbing school operating since 1994, now based on Walking Street at West Railay Beach.
- Real Rocks Climbing · Railay — Climbing company offering guided group and private rock-climbing trips on the limestone cliffs of Railay.
- Karst Climbing · Ao Nang — Rock-climbing school and guide service based in Ao Nang, running courses and trips in Railay, Tonsai and Chong Pli.
- Sea Gypsy Divers · Ao Nang — Small PADI dive centre in Ao Nang running scuba diving trips and courses around Krabi.
- Kon-Tiki Krabi · Ao Nang — PADI dive centre in Ao Nang running diving and snorkelling trips to Phi Phi, the Ao Nang islands, Shark Point and King Cruiser.
- The Dive Ao Nang · Ao Nang — PADI dive centre in Ao Nang offering scuba courses and diving trips from Ao Nang to Phi Phi.
- Ya's Cookery School · Ao Nang — Thai cookery school in Ao Nang offering hands-on Thai culinary courses.
- Thai Charm Cooking School · Krabi Town — Thai cooking school on Vatchara Road in Krabi Town running three class sessions a day.
- Aonang Thai Cookery School · Ao Nang — Cooking school in Ao Nang, open since 2001, where instructor Sow teaches Thai dishes using local herbs and spices.
- Sea Kayak Krabi · Ao Thalane / Khao Thong — Kayak and eco-tour operator exploring the mangroves and canyons of Ao Thalane since 1995.
- Koh Tour Krabi · Ao Nang — TAT-licensed tour operator with an office in Ao Nang running island, kayaking and day trips with hotel pickup.
- The Rock Shop · Railay and Tonsai — Climbing school and guide service based on Railay and Tonsai beaches since 1997, with courses for all levels.
- Local Diving Krabi · Ao Nang (Noppharat Thara) — SSI dive centre near Noppharat Thara running courses and eco-focused dive trips to local islands and Phi Phi.
- E.N. Muaythai Gym · Ao Nang — Muay Thai gym in Ao Nang with beginner-friendly group classes and private sessions by booking.
04 / Things to do
What there is to do here
Guided tours, tickets and day trips in this area, booked through our partner. Prices and availability are theirs at the moment you click. We do not rank tours and we do not sell them.
05 / Getting there
Arriving, and staying connected
Flights, the airport transfer, an eSIM for your phone and car rental, through our partners. Prices and availability are theirs at the moment you click.
Flights to BangkokFlights to PhuketBangkok airport transferPhuket airport transfereSIM for ThailandRent a car
06 / Questions
Frequently asked
Ao Nang or Railay?
Ao Nang if you want to organise island trips, eat out and come and go freely. Railay if the setting is the point and you accept that a boat is the only way in or out.
How do you get to Railay?
By longtail boat from Ao Nang or from Krabi town. There is no road, which is exactly why it looks the way it does.
Is Krabi good for families?
Ao Nang works well: it is flat, walkable and everything is close. Railay is harder with young children because of the boat transfers and the steps.
How long should I stay?
Three or four nights covers Railay, one island day trip and a slower day. Longer if you are climbing.
Last verified: 11 September 2026
Some booking links on this page earn us a commission, at no extra cost to you. How we make money.