Krabi
INTRO
Natural beauty, spectacular scenery, crystal clear sea water, white sandy beaches and hospitable people - sounds like a paradise on Earth. Actually, all that and much more can be seen and experienced in Krabi town. Lying on the coast of the Andaman Sea, its beaches and bays are among the best in Southeast Asia. Krabi town is the capital of the Thai province which is also called Krabi located some 800 km from Bangkok. Krabi has a lot of attractions and landmarks to offer to its visitors, but despite being a major tourist destination, it is still very charming, laid back and local. Krabi is an ideal spot for couples and families and recently is seen as a better option for recreation than neighboring Phuket.
City Profile
City: Krabi
Country: Thailand
Area: 40 km2
Population: 25, 000
Districts: - 3
Governor: mayor - Keratesuk Phukaoluan
Language: Thai
LOCATION
Krabi town is located on the west coast of southern Thailand. It lies near the mouth of the Krabi River into the Andaman Sea. The town is the capital of Krabi district and Krabi province. The topography of the area is mostly highlands and mountains separated in some parts by plains.
TIME TO VISIT
Due to the tropical monsoon climate, there are two distinctive seasons in Krabi - hot season and rainy season. From January till the end of April is the hot season, but don't let the word “hot” mislead you - weather is quite pleasant most of the time, temperatures are around 25-30°C. Of course, from time to time it gets real warm - up to 36-37°C during the day but the following evenings and nights are nice and mild. The only problem for some people is the high humidity during that period. The rainy season starts in May and lasts till the end of December. Literally, most of the time then is soaking wet. Pouring rain doesn't stop for hours and that could be quite depressing. Temperatures drop to 17-18°C but some days in the rainy seasons are sunny and pleasant - not too many, though. If you go to Krabi during the rainy season, prepare an umbrella and some good mood - you will need them both.
POPULATION
There is no official census conducted in Krabi lately. The population of the town is estimated between 20,000 and 30,000. 60% of the people profess Buddhism, 40% are Muslim. The official language is Thai. English could be heard quite often, especially at places that attract foreign tourists.
DISTRICTS
- Area near the Krabi River - the river has always been a hub of activity. River taxis and fishing boats ferry both locals and tourists to near and far spots. That is where a ride to the surrounding beaches and islands can be caught. There are lots of nice places to eat near Chao Fa Pier. Also, if you take a walk around the area, you will encounter a large number of Italian restaurants and bakeries peddling their baked wares.
- Thara Park - as pleasant, lush, green and relaxing as it can be. Meander through a maze of walking trails, read a book or a magazine near one of the many ponds, play tennis or football, run laps or watch the boat traffic drift by - it is up to choose which one of those activities fascinates you most. Or you could test your knowledge of the Thai alphabet in the children's statue park.
- Chao Fa Road district - the unofficial guesthouse district of Krabi. Hotels, restaurants of all kinds, cafes and bars, all gathered on the quite small territory of the area. That is also the nightlife district but don't expect loud music, drunk people all around and crazy dancing till the morning - nightlife in Krabi is quite tame but still very pleasant and enjoyable.
SIGHTS & ATTRACTIONS
- Ao Nang and Hat Rai Le beaches - two of the best beaches in Thailand located just a few kilometers off Krabi town. Apart from the crystal clear sea and marvelous white sand the beaches can offer to the visitors numerous diving trips, bars, restaurants and shops.
- National Park - located about 40 km outside of Krabi, it features spectacular caves, lakes and beautiful natural scenery. The stunning limestone cliffs and rock formations make the park a heaven for keen rock climbers.
- Kanab Nam - a 100-meter high limestone tower formation which can be referred to as the town symbol. Inside it is a huge cave with stalactites, stalagmites, and prehistoric paintings.
AIRPORT
Krabi Airport - operational since 1999, the airport is located about 15 km east of the centre of Krabi town. There are direct flights to and from Bangkok, Singapore, and Darwin. For the convenience of the visitors there is a limousine taxi service to and from Krabi offered by Krabi Limousine Company for the price of 500 baht 1 way. National Car Rental has an established branch at Krabi Airport.
LOCAL TRANSPORTATION
- Public buses - open air buses provide cheap and efficient way of getting around Krabi town. Some of the vehicles are converted trucks - just the look of them is amazing, let alone the ride. Fee is based on length of trip.
- Motorcycle taxis - there is no heavy traffic in Krabi but the motorcycle taxis are a nice transportation in the streets of the town, especially in the centre. The ride on a motorcycle taxi allows you to enjoy the fresh air, the sounds and the spirit of Krabi. Always bargain for the price - it will be considered unusual if you don't.
- River taxis - boats, some of them quite primitive but cheap and efficient for a journey across or along Krabi Rver. Long-tail boats operate regular services along the coast to Phra Nang and Railay Beach and to the small islands across the Krabi River.
HISTORY
Some archeologists consider Krabi as one of the oldest settlements in Thailand - there is evidence that the area had been home to homo-sapiens during prehistoric times - between 25, 000 - 35, 000 B.C. During the middle ages, Krabi was under the rule of the Kingdom of Ligor. Today Krabi is the principal city of Krabi province.
CITY LINKS
- Krabi official website - http://www.krabi.com/
- Krabi weather forecast - http://www.wunderground.com/global/stations/WVTSG.html
- Krabi news - http://www.krabipost.com/index.php
- Krabi and Phi Phi Island - http://krabi.sawadee.com/
UNIVERSITY LINKS
- Tecnic Krabi University - http://www.technickrabi.ac.th/