Perhaps the most popular holiday destination is Thailand. It is not difficult to decide on a country for a vacation, it is more difficult to choose a province.
When you read the reviews of tourists about the islands of Krabi, it immediately becomes clear where it is best to go. Let's learn more about this resort.
Where are the islands of Krabi? One of the 77 provinces of the Kingdom of Thailand is Krabi, located in the south of the state. In addition to the mainland, about 200 islands are scattered here. The population is small - about 440,000 people. The capital is the city of Krabi Town. The famous neighbor is the popular resort of Phuket, which is 170 km west of Krabi.
A bit of history
Life appeared on this territory more than 35,000 years ago. In the karst caves of the province of Krabi, archaeologists have found a unique rock art, which was recognized as the oldest in Southeast Asia. The remains of the first settlements of Krabi date back to the 7th century BC.
The name of the province is translated from Thai as "sword". According to legend, in these territories, the inhabitants found two ancient artifacts and handed overfind to the governor. The authorities considered this a sign and named the province "Krabi", and swords adorn its coat of arms to this day. The province of Krabi became an independent territorial unit only in 1875.
Modern Krabi
The province's economy is based solely on tourism. Every year, thousands of tourists come here to enjoy the magnificent rest and sights of the Krabi islands. Phuket is only 50 km away from Krabi, but the contrast in lifestyle and variety of activities is impressive.
Tourists who have chosen Phuket for holidays rarely leave the island, and vacationers in Krabi cannot but go on an excursion outside the province at least once, because there are countless sights of Krabi both on land and at sea. There are a lot of leisure options here. People go to Phuket for a lazy holiday on the beaches. Krabi is suitable for more active tourists.
Let's learn more about the Krabi Islands and their attractions.
Raleigh Peninsula
This is a very famous place most loved by tourists. The peninsula is fenced off from the rest of the world by huge rocks, up to 200 meters high. It is here that the most beautiful beaches of the Krabi islands are located. There are four of them: Ton Sai, Phra Nang, Railay East and Railay West. Everyone, of course, has their own opinion about the best beach on the peninsula, but most tourists prefer Phra Nang. The second place in the ranking goes to Railay West beach.
Comparing them, Railay West is much wider and longer. There are many bars herehotels and restaurants, as opposed to the modest but expensive Phra Nang.
By the way, both the peninsula and the Railay West beach bear the name "Raleigh". And the beach is really worth a visit: a beautiful seascape, fine white sand and emerald blue water. This beach truly deserves to be called the best beach in the whole world, and even more so in the Krabi islands.
How to get to Railay
There is no land road here, so you can get to the peninsula only through the sea. Private long-tail boats and cruise boats go here.
When going to the peninsula, you need to know that boats and boats go only during daylight hours. In addition, there is no pier here, so tourists are dropped off right on the surf line.
Exotic Animals
As everyone knows, long-tailed macaques are found all over Thailand. Railay is also home to more exotic monkeys - langurs. They, unlike macaques, feed only on plants and live high in trees so that predators do not get them. It is unlikely that you will be able to lure langurs with a bunch of bananas, but it will not be difficult to see them from afar.
Diamond cave
The unique landmark of the Krabi Islands is located in the rocks near the Railay West beach and is about 185 m long and up to 25 m high. The cave is well equipped for visiting: signs are installed on the road, railings and fences are installed inside, electricity is provided. It is safe to say that this cave is completely safe (unlike other caves in Thailand). Here youyou will see the most beautiful clusters of stalactites and creepy flocks of bats created by nature. A visit to the Diamond cave is one of the best excursions in the Krabi islands.
Vacation on the Railay Peninsula
You can have a great rest here on the beach. There are many bars and restaurants on the island where fire shows are held with live music.
There are two beautiful islands in the vicinity of Railay - Ponda and Gai. These are the most impressive islands of the Andaman Sea, you can't miss them when you come to Railay. Did you already know that the peninsula is surrounded by rocks? Why not conquer them? There are several climbing schools where you can learn the basics of climbing.
Khanta Island
Another favorite place for tourists of the Krabi Islands. In fact, there are two islands with the name Lanta - Lanta Yai and Lanta Noi.
Tourists prefer Koh Lanta Yai. People come here to visit the ideal and spacious beaches. Quiet and relaxing atmosphere - that's what you need for a lazy holiday in Krabi province. The island, by the way, is located next to the islands of Rock, Ngai, Muk and Kradan. They are rightfully considered the most beautiful places in the south of Thailand, and it is quite easy to get there from Koh Lanta.
Diving
The best diving spots on the Andaman coast are in the vicinity of Koh Lanta. Large marine life such as manta rays and whale sharks can be found in the rocks of Hin Muaeg and Hin Daeng. But due to the great depth and strong currents, only experienced swimmers are advised to swim here.drivers. The waters of Haa Island will amaze you with the transparency and diversity of the underwater world. Tourists love to dive and explore the seabed of Bida Gai and Bida Nak islands.
Buddhist temples
In addition to the wonders of nature, there are also man-made sights. The most impressive and colorful temple here is Wat Tham Sua. It is located near Krabi Town, on the spur of Khao Phanom Bencha mountain.
The history of the temple begins in 1975, founded by Ajahn Jamnian. The name translates as "Temple of the Tiger Cave", and it originated from the legend of the founder, who liked to meditate in a cave with a tiger.
Now Wat Tham Sua is a temple complex with grottoes, monasteries, a pagoda and a sanctuary. The sanctuary is the main attraction of the temple: it offers gorgeous views of the surroundings, statues and monuments. The staircase to the shrine has 1237 steps.
Tham Pet
Another interesting cave in the province of Krabi is located in the Than Bok Khorani National Park. Nearby is a small Buddhist temple. By donating a small amount for him, you can rent a lantern. The cave consists of two huge halls filled with natural stone deposits and large multi-colored stalactites. In the cave, you will pass through a long section that looks like a dry river bed. It is quite humid here, so wear suitable shoes for the tour.
Tham Khlang
The longest in the province of Krabi is Tham Khlang cave, in which there are many multi-colored stalactites of bizarre shape. There are several entrances here, but you can get there only by one, specially equipped for the convenience of tourists, a wooden platform. The other entrance is flooded with water, and you can swim in a kayak along it. Unlike other caves in the province, this one is ideally equipped for excursions. Tourists can hire a guide for both walking and kayak trips.
Sra Kaeo
Considered the deepest in Thailand, the entrance to it is the lake. It is completely flooded with water from both exits. The history of exploration of the cave is very interesting. Locals considered it just a pond where you can swim and relax after a hard day. When tourists began to appear here, doubts arose that this was just a pond. In 1993, Matt London led a scuba diving expedition and discovered the connection of two outlets at a depth of 84 meters. The very same depth of the investigated area was 120 meters. In 2006, the bottom was found at a depth of 240 meters. And this may not be the maximum depth of the cave, because it has not yet been fully explored.
Tham Lot and Tham Phi Hua To
These caves are located in the Tham Bok Khorani park, almost on the border of two provinces - Krabi and Phang Nga. You can only get here by boat. Sailing through Tham Lot, you can enjoy the beauty of perennial stalactites.
Tham Phi Hua To Cave must be visited for the rock art, which is about three thousand years old. On the walls you can see what looks like aliens or pterodactyls. Give free rein to your imagination! What will you see?
If you find a cave not equipped forvisiting, it is better not to go there. Most of them are very dangerous, and if something happens, no one will save you. It is better to choose proven caves with experienced guides.
Reviews of tourists
From reviews on travel forums, we can conclude that Krabi attracts tourists with its low cost and abundance of attractions. There is no beach on the mainland of the province, which is insanely upsetting for tourists vacationing in Krabi Town and other cities. Some are hindered by the language barrier, because not all Thais know English. Otherwise, tourists rate the rest in the province of Krabi good ratings and advise to visit.
