Krabi is a destination with a long backpacker tradition, so travelling around the province is usually really easy and hassle-free.
You can use a variety of means of transport, local buses are good for longer distance journeys, handy pickup trucks often run within towns and between resorts (songthaew is the Thai name for them), and frequent boat connections between islands.
The 10 best hotels in the Krabi region
If you want to explore specific locations more closely, it's definitely worth renting a car or scooter. Scooters, in particular, are a popular means of transport that is also used extensively by locals.
By bus or minivan
The bus network in Krabi province is unfortunately not very extensive, with buses running mainly from the main bus station, which lies north of Krabi Town.
Buses usually provide longer distance connections, especially to get out of the province. Within Krabi itself, there is only one bus service that connects Krabi KBV Airport with Krabi Town. The line runs throughout the day, approximately every 60-90 minutes.
For other transport within the province, minivans and minibuses can be used. These run to many locations on the mainland in Krabi province and also to the island of Koh Lanta. Most of these depart from the main bus station, but you will also find some services directly from the airport. The best way to book a minivan is at the bus station, with a local travel agent or by visiting 12go.asia.
Songthaew
Songthaew is a popular local public transport service that can take you virtually anywhere for shorter distances. These large converted pickup trucks will take you to many popular beaches and other places on the back.
Most travelers may find these songthaew lines useful:
- Krabi Town - Krabi Bus Station
- Price - 30 thb
- Frequency - 15 to 20 minutes
- Hat Noppharat Thara Pier - Krabi Town
- Price - 50 thb
- Frequency - 1 to 2 times per hour
- Ao Nang - Krabi Town
- Price - 50 thb
- Frequency - 10 to 15 minutes
- Ao Luk - Krabi Town
- Price - 80 thb
- Frequency - 1 to 2 times per hour
By boat
Considering how rugged Krabi is and how many different islands belong to it, boat transport is the only reasonable option if you want to get to certain places.
There are some regular lines that run larger boats, but there are also a number of private and long stern cruise boats criss-crossing the sea that you can use. If a larger number of passengers want to go to a non-traditional destination, the lines offered may change and some may be added.
From the mainland, boats depart from several piers and beaches:
- Tha Khong Kha - Longtail boats sail from here to Railay East, the pier is right in Krabi Town.
- Ao Nang - Longtail boats depart from here to Railay West, Pai Plong Beach, Tonsai Beach, Koh Hong and Koh Poda islands.
- Ao Nam Mao - Connecting via long-tail boats to Railay East can be useful when there are no boats from Krabi Town or Ao Nang due to rough seas. The pier is served by songthaew from Krabi Town.
- Klong Jilad - Boats leave from here for Koh Phi Phi and Koh Lanta (with a stop at Koh Jum in season), the closest pier to Krabi Town for larger boats.
- Hat Noppharat Thara - Get from here by boat to Phuket and Koh Yao Noi, but also by boat to Koh Phi Phi and Koh Lanta. The beach can be found just north of Ao Nang and can be reached easily by songthaew.
- Railay East - Boats stop at the pier to go to Koh Phi Phi, Koh Lanta (with a stop at Koh Jum in high season), Phuket and occasionally Koh Yao Noi. Boats with a long stern connect with Tha Khlong Kha pier and Ao Nam Mao.
You can buy a ticket at most piers or beaches, but if you want peace of mind, many local operators and hotels offer tickets with transport to a specific pier directly from your accommodation. The difference in price is not that significant.
There is also frequent boat service from the islands of Krabi province:
- Koh Phi Phi - Boats arrive at Ton Sai pier on the same beach, direct connections operate in high season to Koh Lanta, Phuket, Hat Noppharat Thara and Klong Jilad piers on the mainland, and occasionally a fast boat to Koh Lipe stops here (you can get off at the islands of Trang province).
- Koh Lanta - Boats from Phuket, Koh Phi Phi, Klong Jilad in Krabi head to Sala Dan pier. In season, the island also has connections to Koh Jum, the islands in Trang Province (Koh Muk, Koh Ngai and Koh Kradan) and Koh Lipe.
- Koh Jum - There are no large boats coming to the island, they always transfer at sea to long stern boats. Boats depart on the mainland from Laem Kruat pier, and in season also from Koh Lanta and Koh Phi Phi.
The boats are operated by many different companies, probably the largest being Tigerline.
Tickets for the boats can be booked on the individual companies' websites, at the piers or from local travel agents. To find out timetables, prices and bookings, the 12go.asia website can be used.
Car rental
In case you want to explore Krabi on your own, you'll soon discover that some places are not accessible by public transport. The ideal option in this case is to rent a car (especially if you don't want to drive a scooter - see below).
As car hire is not that common in Thailand, we definitely recommend booking a car online before you arrive and picking it up at Krabi airport. In case you are not arriving in Krabi, you can arrange your car rental at one of the rental agencies in the city or in the resort of Ao Nang.
How much does it cost to rent a car in Krabi?
Car rental prices can vary quite significantly. It depends on what insurance you choose, if you book the car in advance and also what type of car you will have. In general, the following applies:
- Weekly car rental from 200 usd for the smallest car in high season (November - March)
- Weekly car rental from 160 usd for the smallest car in low season (April - October)
- Current rental prices in Krabi
Driving in Krabi
In many places in Thailand, traffic is very dense and unorganized. In Krabi province the situation is a little more pleasant, the roads are in good condition and you don't have to worry about going somewhere on your own. Still, only drivers who are confident behind the wheel and can handle unusual situations should rent a car. There can be a large number of scooters on the roads in Krabi, which can make traffic difficult.
If you plan to rent a car in Thailand, be sure to get an international driving licence. The rental company may not ask you to have one, but it is a must-have for any inspection or problem.
In Krabi, driving is on the left, which can be challenging for some drivers.
In towns you are allowed to drive at 60 km/h, on larger roads the rules vary but usually 90-100 km/h is allowed. All signage is not only in Thai but also in English, making it easier for foreign drivers to navigate.
Renting a scooter
A very popular and inexpensive alternative to renting a car among travelers is renting a scooter. Thanks to the pleasant local climate, you'll never be cold, you'll still get a tan (or sunburn) while you ride, and you can park your scooter almost anywhere. Plus, locals love riding scooters, so Thai traffic is well suited to them.
Scooter hire is available in Thailand in every smaller town, where you can usually choose from a range of different models at a hire shop.
Prices and how to rent a scooter
To rent a scooter for the day in Krabi, you usually pay 200 - 350 thb depending on the type of scooter. When renting from established rental companies and in high season, it can be strategic to book your scooter rental 2 - 3 days in advance as the best scooters may already be rented out on the day.
Online scooter bookings are usually not possible, but you can find literally several rental shops on every corner, so booking will not be a problem in any part of Krabi province.
Unfortunately, renting a scooter can cause a great deal of hassle for tourists. We certainly don't want to discourage renting a scooter, but caution is definitely in order.
Under no circumstances should you rent a scooter in Krabi if you have never driven one and are not confident that you can handle difficult traffic situations. There are a lot of scooters and cars on the roads and the moment a pedestrian or a stray dog, for example, gets in the way, you're in trouble. On the other hand, travelling on a scooter is part of a holiday in Thailand and is a great experience.
In Thailand, you officially need an international motorcycle licence to drive a scooter over 50cc. The vast majority of travellers only hold a B licence, yet they ride scooters in Thailand without any problems. A big problem can arise in an accident, where your insurance company may not pay for treatment, and you may still have problems with the Thai police. Therefore, renting a scooter without a valid motorbike license is not recommended.
When renting a scooter you usually need to pay a cash deposit (usually 5,000 - 10 000 thb). Some rental companies may keep your passport as a deposit, we definitely do not recommend renting from such a rental company, pledging your passport can be very problematic. Scooters are usually not insured in any way, so it is up to you to check the condition of the scooter when you hand it over and return it in the same condition. When renting, be sure to take a thorough photo or video of the entire scooter, unfortunately the Thais sometimes like to use tourists to their advantage.
It is compulsory to wear a helmet when riding a scooter. Many locals do not wear a helmet, but riding without a helmet in Thai traffic is very dangerous. Moreover, Thai police like to stop and fine tourists who ride scooters without helmets, even though locals get away with it. Riding in shorts, tank tops and flip flops is also not a good idea, more than one tourist has taken a nasty injury from Krabi for this very reason.
Taxi in Krabi
If you don't dare to drive yourself, but still need to get to a specific place where there is no public transport, you can take a taxi. Alternatives to the classic taxi are the ubiquitous tuk tuks and mototaxis or tricycles.
Taxis are generally a safe mode of transportation and you don't have to be afraid to use one. Taxis can be booked at any hotel or tourist centre, or you can just flag one down on the street. But always insist on turning on the meter when you get in, otherwise you could pay a completely different amount than you were counting on. Alternatively, agree on a fixed amount with the driver before setting off.
Grab mobile app
If you don't like haggling over price, use the very popular Grab mobile app, which works on the same principle as Uber or Bolt.
You know the price in advance and can pay with a card stored in the mobile app.
Taxi prices in Krabi
Taxis in Krabi province do not have fixed rates, these only work for trips from the airport to Krabi Town (600 thb) and Ao Nang (800 thb). Shorter distance journeys around Krabi usually work out at around 200 thb.
