Imagine having a 12-hour journey from Kolkata to Krabi via Bangkok and exploring Krabi as soon as you reach the province. That’s what you do when you have limited time to make the most of every minute. Here, I am going to give you a list of all the things to do in Krabi if you only have one day. It is based on the journey I had when I went to Thailand in September 2023 with my sibling.
Things to do in Krabi
We had 24 hours in Krabi, and I am going to give you a chronological guide to make the most of your time in this pretty province.
1. Reaching Krabi
Depending on where you are, you can take a bus, car, ferry, or flight to Krabi. Many tourists travel from Phi Phi Islands to Krabi by ferry. We came by a flight that departed from Kolkata. It had a stop in Bangkok, and we had to take another flight to reach Krabi International Airport.
2. Car rental with driver
You will need to rent a driver to take you around the city. While other options like buses or bikes (on rent) are available modes of transport, if you have little time, you will need a driver with you.
We had booked Vina, a cab driver from Krabi, through Klook. She picked us from the airport, and we went straight to our first destination to explore. She drives an SUV and the car would easily fit four people and their luggage.
3. Swimming at the Emerald Pool Hot Spring
While the Emerald Pool is sought-after because of the naturally formed crystal clear waters that rejuvenate your body, the route to reach this place is filled with greenery around. The clouds of receding monsoon during the last week of September tucked away the scorching sun and improved the ambiance.
Once we reached the entry gate, we had to pay 400 Baht each for the entry. Our driver accompanied us as we walked through a nature trail. The Emerald Pool is situated inside the Khao Phra Bang Khram Nature Reserve. We had to walk 800 meters amidst a forest, and insects were making noises that got louder with each step.
After covering the route, we found a restaurant, washroom, and locker to keep our essentials. We changed into our swimming costumes and went to the pool area. The mineral-rich emerald water welcomed us amidst the tranquility of the rainforest. The experience was nourishing, and I wish we had stayed longer.
The nature park also has a Blue Lagoon. It is another area for swimming and relaxation, but we couldn’t explore the whole place. If you’re in Krabi for more days, at least half a day only to explore the Emerald Pool. First of all, 400 Baht is 1000 INR, which is not only expensive but also worth spending more time on. The nature reserve is open between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm.
4. Feel one with nature at Hot Spring Waterfall Krabi
Krabi is known for its hot springs, and this one is incredible. Located 15 minutes away from Emerald Pool, the hot springs welcome you to intertwine with nature. After purchasing two tickets for 200 Baht each, we hopped on a bus inside the premises to take us ahead. The hot springs are open between 8:30 am and 5 pm every day.
After reaching the hot springs, we first saw a hut-shaped architectural structure where people could get massages. It is separately charged, so we didn’t avail the service here. We went right to the hot springs that had clear instructions to drench in the water for not more than 15 minutes.
There were large trees with roots leaning inwards, and they supported us as we stepped into the warm air. We let our hair down and relaxed as the water gushed onto our faces, and our bodies were floating inside. I have never felt one with nature ever before. If someone is looking for healing, this is a place where they should come.
5. Visit the White Temple at Krabi Town
While not as famous as the Tiger Cave Temple in Krabi, this is one of the monasteries that you can explore when in Krabi town. When returning from the hot springs and on our way to Ao Nang beach, this monastery was one place to stop by.
While the White Temple of Chiang Mai is one of the most famous monasteries in Thailand, but this one was no less beautiful. It had winding stairs with Naga figurines on both sides, leading us to the top where Buddha was seated.
Known as the Wat Kaew Korawaram monastery, the ordination hall is painted beautifully, signifying elements associated with the religion. The light-blue walls create a subtle backdrop to make the paintings come alive, and in the middle, we find the golden statue of Buddha. The monastery is open between 8 am to 3 pm.
6. Stroll by the Ao Nang beach
After exploring these three places, we checked into our hotel, which is called Vacation Village. It was located by the Ao Nang beach, and the noise of the waters came gushing right into the hotel.
We quickly freshened up and went outside to pacify our hunger pangs. There are plenty of restaurants opposite the beach. Surprisingly, many of them had Indian cuisine to cater to vegetarians.
We went to a Thai restaurant and ate seafood curry and chicken curry with rice. The taste of red curry with coconut made me forget all the Thai food I had back in India. I realized nothing beats authenticity – something you only get when you eat local food.
7. Get a Thai Massage
It was drizzling from the time we were at the monastery. During lunch, it felt like there was a storm on its way, and shops started closing down. Thankfully, nothing major happened, and post lunch, we comfortably strolled around Ao Nang beach.
After walking for a while, I was ready to take my first massage ever in Thailand. My sister had been here before, and she could keep coming back only to enjoy this service.
One hour of full body massage cost us 250 Baht each. I loved how my body felt and fell off to sleep due to extreme fatigue. When I woke up, I realized I could have been robbed in an unknown city if I had been traveling solo.
8. Explore the Krabi town night market
Out of all the things to do in Krabi, this is the most sought-after. This is where you come when you want to go shopping in Krabi and also enjoy the nightlife.
It was hard to get transport to bring us here because the night market is located 25 minutes away from our hotel. Due to rain, buses weren’t available, and cabs were overcharging. They were asking for 500 Baht for a one-way trip, and we refused until we got a better deal.
After waiting for one hour, we booked a cab for 400 Baht to take us to the night market and again pick us up after 1 hour. It was quite a good deal, but we had limited time to explore.
As we reached the night market, we saw a lot of shopping items. From t-shirts printed with ‘Thailand’ and elements associated with the country to cat figurines, flower-shaped soaps, and souvenirs, there was a lot to shop for.
The food was exclusive, as there were multiple seafood options that I wouldn’t dare try. Squid and octopuses were sold in skewers, and even if I had eaten them before, I would refrain from eating them at the night market.
It is good to be skeptical about what you eat when you’re traveling abroad, especially when wanting to experiment with new meat or seafood options. Not every type of food is good for our bodies. As soon as we shift from staple food, our bodies react differently to the unknown.
My sister had fallen sick after eating sushi for 10 Baht when she was in Thailand before this trip. She never dared to take that route again, and so didn’t I. For dinner we had gyoza, fish and shrimp fried donut, cocktail slush, and banana pancake. We only bought fridge magnets as we wanted to save money to shop in Bangkok.
To sum it up!
We went from Krabi to Phi Phi Island the following day. But the way we made the most of Krabi, we didn’t for the rest of our trip. When you have limited time, you try your best to make the most of each moment.
These were the top things to do in Krabi when you have one day. But if you have more time, you must explore the Tiger Cave, visit the Elephant Sanctuary, walk by Railay Beach, and more.
You should spend 3-5 days in Krabi to explore the province extensively. But if you have little time like we did, make the most of what you can explore within Krabi town.
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