8 Awesome Things to Do in Krabi Town for First-Timers

8 Best Things to do in Krabi Town

1. Hike Up to the top of Wat Tham Suea

Wat Tham Suea is a mountain temple known for its cave, where a tiger once resided, as well as the epic pilgrimage trail that will take you to the top of a limestone mountain. From there, you will be able to see an unobstructed panoramic view of Krabi town and its surrounding area.

The pilgrimage trail at Wat Tham Suea consists of around 1200 steps, and it can take you about 30 minutes to an hour to hike to the top. Some of these 1200 steps are not your regular human steps, but more like steps for giants, as they are crazy steep at times. Be sure you are in good shape before tackling the trail.

Along the way, you will see several poles with a number of steps painted on them, giving you a glimpse of hope as you continue to defy gravity and power through the steps. There are two toilet stops at the 500th step and again at the 1000th step.

Once you arrive at the top, you will see a large Buddha image, as well as a platform where you will be able to see a 360° view of Krabi town and all its surroundings.

On one side, you'd see the small towns near Wat Tham Suea, while on the other, you will see rolling hills of limestone mountains as far as the eye can see. It is truly a worthy reward for the 1200 steps we have to climb.

Wat Tham Suea is definitely a great surprise, and one that I highly recommend everyone to experience. I went up on a foggy morning after a rainy night and ended up above the clouds. I witnessed the sea of fog in June, which is extremely rare.

The cave and the temple itself are nothing special, with a cave turned into a temple and a shrine built on the location where they found a tiger living in it.

The trail is what makes this place a must-visit, and if you are planning to hike to the top, I highly recommend starting as early as 6 or 7 AM. Even better, aim to reach the top by sunrise for the best weather and light. Wat Tham Suea and the trail are open from 4 AM until 5 PM every day, and it is free to enter and hike.

Want to see more of Southern Thailand? Check out:10 Best Places to Visit in Southern Thailand

2. Swim in the Emerald Pool

Emerald Pool is probably one of the most picturesque places in Krabi. With its remote location, the extremely clear water, and the emerald color that glows when the sun hits it, it is one of the sights that you really have to see to believe exists.

The Emerald Pool is located 55 km east of Krabi Town in the middle of nowhere, and there are 2 ways you can get there. If you have rented a motorbike in Krabi town, then the ride should take about an hour to get there. For a more convenient way, you can also go on an organized tour which should take you to the Emerald Pool as well as other places from Krabi Town.

Once you arrive at the pool, you can either walk directly to the Emerald Pool itself along the 800 m trail or you can take the 1.4 km nature trail, which I highly recommend. It will take you to the Emerald Pool through the forest, passing many beautiful pools along the way. You can do the nature trail on your way there and take the faster route back, or vice versa.

As you enter the pool premises, you will arrive at an opening where you will be able to finally swim in the glistening Emerald Pool. There are wooden decks you can walk on, as well as other small trails you can explore. If you want to swim, there are bathrooms where you can wash yourself and plenty of space for you to enjoy the refreshing water. Just be careful around wet rocks, as they can be extremely slippery at times.

Depending on the time you are there, there might be quite a few people. If you want the whole place to yourself, I highly recommend visiting the place first thing in the morning.

The Emerald Pool opens from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM every day, and it costs 200 THB for a ticket to enter the premises. The place is truly beautiful, and you are going to love it.

3. Relax at the Hot Spring Waterfall

Krabi's Hotspring Waterfall is another cool place to visit in Krabi. It is located not too far from the Emerald Pool, and they are often visited together as part of a day trip from Krabi Town.

The place is known for its bubbling thermal pools right above small cascades, surrounded by tropical forests, where one can freshen up and enjoy the tranquility and a relaxing time in nature.

There are several spa areas that source the water from the thermal pools as well if you prefer a more comfortable, less crowded experience at the Hot Springs Waterfall.

It is a great place to relax after a day of adventure, and combining it with a visit to Wat Tham Suea and the Emerald Pool makes for a great alternative day trip to make from Krabi. The place opens from 8:30 AM to 6 PM every day, and the entrance fee is 100 THB per person.

4. Stroll along the Pak Nam River Boardwalk

Krabi Town is located right by the bank of the Pak Nam River, overlooking the iconic limestone mountain of Khao Khanap Nam. One of the best things I like to do every evening is to stroll along the Pak Nam River Boardwalk.

The city has constructed a very nice, spacious boardwalk along Pak Nam River that runs parallel with the night markets, making it a common place for locals to come and congregate in the evening with friends and families. They can enjoy their street foods, socialize, and relax with each other, which makes it a great place to go people-watching.

The boardwalk is home to another famous landmark of Krabi Town: the crab statue, with the iconic Khao Khanap Nam in the background. So, be sure to get a photo of it before you leave Krabi.

5. Walk Through the Mangrove Walkway

The Mangrove Walkway is a man-made walkway that will take you through a preserved pocket of a mangrove forest, located at the northern end of the Pak Nam River Boardwalk.

The city decided to preserve this little pocket of a rich mangrove forest ecosystem so that the locals can use it to escape from the bustling city and be with nature right in the city center.

The walk is about 1 km long and takes around 15 minutes to walk the whole length. Along the walkway, you will be able to get up close with these magnificent mangrove trees, witness all the lives that depend on them, and in the near future, there will be a watchtower you can go up for an incredible view over the Mangrove Forest and the Pak Nam River.

As of June 2022, it is still under construction, but hopefully, it will finish soon and add another cool thing to do along the Mangrove Walkway. The walkway is free to enter, and at the end of the trail, you can also take a boat to explore Khao Khanap Nam Cave, which we will discuss next.

6. Visit Khao Khanap Nam Cave

Khao Khanap Nam Cave is a cave system located under the iconic limestone peaks you saw from the Pak Nam River Boardwalk. You can get there by either taking a boat trip from the end of the Mangrove Forest trail I mentioned above, for 300 - 400 THB per boat, or you can hire the guys with the blue jackets to take you there from the Pak Nam pier for around the same price.

The cave system is quite impressive, and you will be able to explore several large caverns. You will also find some information boards describing the archaeological findings here, such as a 43,000-year-old skull, etc. There's also a large skeletal remains, but do not worry. It is just an art installation by a local who wants to spice the place up a little ;).

All in all, it is a great place to visit when you are in Krabi Town if you have some time to spare. The boats usually operate from around 8 AM to 5 PM, but it's not fixed, and you might be able to find a willing boat operator outside of these hours. Just be sure to spot the guys in blue jackets by the pier and ask them if they can take you there.

7. Check Out Wat Kaew Korawaram

Wat Kaew Korawaram is a highly revered temple in Krabi Town, located on top of a small hill that you can walk straight up from the city center.

This Buddhist temple is unique in that the ordination hall is completely painted in white, with its roof decorated with blue tiles that glisten under sunlight. It is not very common to see a Buddhist temple with a blue roof design and an all-white exterior in Thailand, so I think it's worth a visit while you are in Krabi Town.

You can walk up to the temple right from Maharatch street, where you will find a staircase with 2 golden dragons as rails. It isn't very high and should take you no more than 2 minutes to get up there. Once you arrive at the top, you should be able to have a nice view of Krabi town and the Pak Nam river. The place is free to enter and opens between 8 AM and 6 PM every day.

8. Eat Your Way Through Krabi Night Market

Krabi Night Market is the place to be if you are looking for delicious and affordable street food to try in Krabi town.

You will find plenty of street food stalls selling all kinds of food, from seafood on sticks to drinks, and even a mobile cocktail bar. There is also a stage where local performers often come to entertain visitors.

There are several designated tables for dining right in front of the stage, so you can go around and buy all the street food to try and have a place to sit and indulge yourself in Thailand's night market vibe.

Krabi Night Market happens every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evening from 6 PM to 11 PM, so be sure to plan your visit accordingly. It is definitely worth a visit if you are free in the evening, even if you are staying at Ao Nang, as it is only a 25-minute ride away.

What to Eat and Drink in Krabi Town?

1. The Street Food at the Night Market

As I mentioned earlier, if you are looking for a place to try all kinds of delicious and fairly priced street food in Krabi, you can't go wrong with the Krabi Night Market.

Here, you will find all kinds of street food stalls selling everything from simple dishes like Pad Thai to delicacies like seafood on sticks that don't cost an arm or a leg. There are also many restaurants you can go to like the Steak Lung Yik, a restaurant that is quite popular among locals here, selling steak dishes that cost less than 100 THB.

Krabi Night Market only happens on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings from 6 PM to 11 PM, so be sure to plan your visit accordingly if you wish to explore the culinary arts of Thai street food.

2. Try the Kanom Krok of Tham Suea

If you are looking for a nice, sweet snack after you have climbed the pilgrimage trail at Wat Tham Suea, be sure to stop by the small stall selling the grilled coconut pancake or Kanom Krok at Kanom Krok Tham Suea.

A box of 10 coconut pancakes is only 20 THB, and they are delicious, crispy, and sweet - just the sugar hit I needed after hiking the Wat Tham Suea trail. If you are visiting Wat Tham Suea, be sure to check out Kanom Krok Tham Suea.

3. Try Local Dishes at KinZen

If you are craving some traditional southern Thai food with authentic tastes and reasonable prices, I highly recommend KinZen restaurant, located along the highway between Krabi Town and Emerald Pool and Hot Springs Waterfall.

Unlike most restaurants in Ao Nang that sell overpriced dishes with a dialed-down taste for westerners, at KinZen, you are getting real and authentic southern Thai food at a Thai price. For example, this Snapper fish in Southern Thai curry with rice only costs 70 THB. That's a good deal for seafood dishes in Thailand.

Due to its location, it also makes for a great lunch stop after you have visited the Emerald Pool and the Hot Springs waterfall, so be sure to drop by here and try out some of their offerings.

Further Reading for Southern Thailand

Looking for more information for your trip to Southern Thailand? Here are a collection of articles about Southern Thailand that you might find useful:

• Looking for a complete travel guide to Southeast Asia? You should check out our 3 Months Backpacking Itinerary for Southeast Asia.
• Looking for an itinerary for Thailand? Check out 10 Days Itinerary for Thailand.
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• Looking to change things up a little? How about we head down to the south of Thailand and explore one of my favorite places in Thailand? Here is How to Travel to Khao Sok National Park, Backpacking-style.
• The pearl of the Andaman Sea, Phuket, is an island full of history, cultures, and stunning beaches waiting for you to explore. Here are the 11 Best Things to Do in Phuket.
• There are over 30+ beaches in Phuket, and it can get quite overwhelming to find the perfect beach to stay at. Don't worry, I've got you covered. Here are the 8 Most Beautiful Beaches in Phuket.
• Visiting Phuket Old Town is the highlight of your Phuket trip. You can easily spend a day exploring the Old Town. Here are the 9 Best Things to Do in Phuket Old Town.
• Phang Nga is probably what Phuket was like before mass tourism ruined it. From quiet, empty beaches to wild, untouched waterfalls, here are the 10 Best Things to Do in Phang Nga.
• If you are in Phang Nga, you should also drop by Takua Pa and its charming little old town. Here are the 8 Best Things to Do in Takua Pa.
• Khao Lak is the main tourist hub in Phang Nga, and it is a great place to be if you like adventure, island-hopping, and snorkeling. Here are the 8 Best Things to Do in Khao Lak.
• For a complete Krabi backpacking itinerary, check out: 3 to 5 Days Backpacking Krabi Itinerary.
• Whether you are an adventurer or a beach-goer, Krabi has it all. From island-hopping to rock climbing, here are the 13 Best Things to do in Krabi.
• Ko Lanta is a quiet, remote, and lesser-trodden part of Krabi, and it is a great place to visit for those who want to go off the beaten path. If you are planning to go there, here are the 8 Best Things to do in Ko Lanta.
• Nakhon Si Thammarat is the land of countless waterfalls that no one knows about. It is an off-the-beaten path place to visit in Southern Thailand that may surprise you. Here are the 11 Best Things to Do in Nakhon Si Thammarat.
• You've heard about Hua Hin, but have you heard about Lemon Bay? There's so much more to the Prachuap Khiri Khan province than Hua Hin. Here are the 10 Best Things to Do in Prachuap Khiri Khan.
• There is more to Chumphon than just Koh Tao. Here are the 10 Best Things to Do in Chumphon.
• Surat Thani is not just Ko Samui and Ko Phangan. There is so much more to do in this province than you might think. Here are the 11 Best Things to Do in Surat Thani.
• Have to spend a night in Surat Thani's Old Town and not sure what to do there? Check out: 8 Best Things to Do in Surat Thani's Old Town
• For the best things to do in Koh Samui, check out: 13 Best Things to Do in Koh Samui.
• If you are traveling to Thailand, it is important for you to know what you should and shouldn't do. Here are 10 Tips for Traveling in Thailand.
• Thai Street Foods are among the best in the world, and to help guide you through the street food cuisine of Thailand, be sure to check out the 15 Best Street Foods in Thailand to Try.
• Learning a bit of Thai phrases will go a long way for you when you visit Thailand. Here are 15 Thai Phrases You Should Know.
• Photos are worth a thousand words, but what is worth more than photos? A video. Here are travel videos I made for Thailand: Timeless Thailand, a journey into the North of Thailand, Long Tail Thailand, exploring the beautiful south of Thailand, and taking it slow with Slowed Down Bangkok travel video.
• Wondering where to go after Thailand? How about continuing on to Malaysia, Myanmar, or Indonesia?
• Want to explore other parts of Thailand? How about exploring Northern Thailand or Central Thailand?
• For all articles about Thailand, visit Thailand Travel Guide page.
• Looking to travel to Southeast Asia? Check out all my articles about Southeast Asia here: Southeast Asia Travel Guide page.
• You can see all my Asia-related articles here: Asia Travel Guide page.
• For more of my travel guides like this, visit my Destinations page.