National Parks

Hat Noppharat Thara - Koh Phi Phi Marine National Park

West of Krabi town, this park covers an extensive area of mainland beaches and over 80 islands, including the Phi Phi islands.

Places of interest include Hat Noppharat Thara Beach, Ao Nang Beach, Phra Nang Beach which has a cave shrine dedicated to the spirit of a resident goddess (Phra Nang,) Koh Poda, Koh Gai, and Susaan Hoi - which literally translates as "Shell Cemetery" - a reference to the millions of fossils to be found here. Information can be obtained from the National Park Office at Hat Noppharat Thara Beach, next to Ao Nang.

Than Bokkharani National Park

This popular mainland spot lies off the route between Krabi and Phang Nga, in the Ao Luk district. A cool forest shades a number of forest pools and waterfalls, providing an ideal location for picnics and swimming. Bring your own snacks or sample from local vendors. Very popular with the locals who flock here on weekends.

Khao Phanom Bencha National Park

In Khao Phanom district, about 20 kms north of Krabi town on the mainland, this densely forested park has many scenic spots. Tham Khao Ping, a cave lying 3 kms from the Park Office, has large stalactites and stalagmites. There are 3 picturesque waterfalls, including Nam Tok (which means falling water) Huoy Saday - a 1.2 km walk from the National Park Office, Nam Tok Klong Hang - lying 10 kms from Khao Phanom District Headquarters, and Nam Tok Ton Hahn - 16 kms from the Khao Phanom District Headquarters. Ideal for hiking.

Mu Koh Lanta Marine National Park

Located in the southern most point in Krabi province, this Marine National Park covers the greater area of Ko (meaning island) Lanta and the surrounding islands. Koh Lanta Yai - the main island - is the National Park's headquarters and is the home to several communities of the Chaolay or Sea Gypsies, a separate ethnic group who still maintain their traditional ways. Lanta has become the destination for people who want to simply chill out. See beaches for further information about Koh Lanta.

Caves

Phra Nang Area

Within 10 minutes walk of Railay Beach east, is the Outer Princess Cave or Tham Phra Nang Nok , and the more recently discovered Inner Princess Cave or Tham Phra Nang Nai, believed by local fishermen to be the home of a mythical sea princess. Inside the cave is a hidden pool - Sa Phra Nang - reached via a trail leading into the interior of the mountain side.

Tham Phi Hue To/Hualok is a large cave with many grottos and prehistoric drawings of animals and people. Accessible by boat from Krabi town pier, the cave rests on a hill surrounded by water and mangroves.

Tham Sua or "Tiger Cave" is located about 5 kilometres north of Krabi Town. Inside the cave are what appears to be tiger paw prints in the stone. It's also the site of a famous forest temple and meditation retreat (see temples).

Tham Sadet is located at Ban Nong Kok, Tambon Sai Thai, 7 kilometres from the town on Highway No. 4034. It is a beautiful cave with stalactites and stalagmites. In 1909 the future King Rama VI visited the cave here, earning it the title "Sadet" indicating the presence of royalty.

Ao Luk District

Along the Ao Luk-Laem Sak Road, approximately 2km from the district offices are 2 caves, Tham Lod Neua and Tham Lod Tai. The latter is a long narrow limestone tunnel with stalactites and stalagmites and a boulder shaped like the quarter moon lying on its side. The cave can be visited when the water is low by longtail boat. Close by is Tham Prah cave, the site of the Khao Prah Suhn Yah Tah Rahm Meditation Centre, and Tham Petch cave, named because the walls of the cave reflect light like a diamond.

Phi Phi Island Area

A popular spot on Phi Phi Ley is the Tham Phraya Nak or Viking Cave, containing prehistoric paintings alongside more recent pictures of modern ships. The cave is best known for the vast numbers of swifts who live inside. Their nests - an essential ingredient in the Chinese gourmet dish Birds Nest soup, are collected by locals from a series of rickety bamboo ladders.

Koh Lanta Area (Lanta Island)

In the centre of Koh Lanta Yai are a series of caves called Tham Mai Kaew, reached by a jungle trek through rubber plantations and entered from a small entrance of rocks. Local guides can lead you through the caves to a cavern pool, with plenty of stalactites and stalagmites to see along the way.

Temples

Wat Tham Seua

Wat Tham Seua (Tiger Cave Temple) 5 km from Krabi Town is a small temple built inside a long shallow limestone cave, surrounded by natural forest. The temple, one of the south's most famous meditation centres, takes its name from a stone formation nearby which resembles a tiger's claw. Today, about 250 monks and nuns live in the temple compound. Two staircases wind up the limestone cliffs, the first one leads with 1,200 steps to the top of the mountain offering a superb 360 degree view. The second one (only 130 steps!) leads into a valley where the monks live in simple huts.

Riddled with cave systems, the whole area has revealed many archeological findings including stone tools, pottery shards, and unfired clay holy images, dating from prehistoric times. The temple also runs a meditation centre.

Wat Klong Tom (Temple and Museum)
In the Klong Tom district, east of Krabi town and about 1 km from the District Headquarters, this temple museum hosts a collection of ancient stones, bronze tools, coins, pottery, decorations and beads which are reputedly to be more than 500 years old.

Forests and Wildlife Sanctuaries

Khao Phra - Bang Kram Wildlife Sanctuary (Khao Nor Chuchi)

The last patch of lowland rain forest in Thailand containing a diverse range of plants and animal life is located on the mainland opposite Lanta Island about 25 kilometres away from Klong Thom. Khao Nor Chuchi Wildlife Sanctuary is the the only place in the world where birds of the species 'Gurney's Pitta' still survive. A nature trail 2.7 kilometres long has been established and leads through the forest showing the exciting bio-diversity of this region. At the end you can swim in the clear water of the "Emerald Pool" or visit the nearby hot springs. Some resident species found here are rare, and the area is believed to host more species of birds than any other forest reserve in southern Thailand. Birdlovers should look for Gurneys, Black-breasted Pitta, Chestnut-collared Kingfishers, Black Hornbills and Crestwood Partridges.

Thung Teao Forest

Located in the area of Khao Pra-Bang Khram no-hunting zone next to the Bang Teao Village, is a 2.7 km forest trail - the Thung Teao Trail - which begins and ends at the Khao Nor Chuchi Sanctuary Headquarters. Information can be obtained from the no-hunting zone office at Ban Bang Teao.

Landmarks

Khao Kanab Nam

Rising from the water, this 100 metre high hill is accessed by boat from the town pier - approximately a 15 minute trip. Regarded as the symbol of Krabi, the hill features a staircase leading to caves hosting stalactites and stalagmites, and as legend would have it, the site of past civilisations (human skeletal remains have been recovered here).

Susaan Hoi (Shell Cemetery)

Along the coast around 18 km by road from Krabi Town, at Ban Laem Pho, is a site where fossilized shells lie in great concrete-like slabs along the shoreline. The shells date back to when the area was a large freshwater swamp and these little creatures lived and died by the million. The thick layers of shells remain after millions of years, with fossils clearly seen embedded in the shells.

The entrance is marked by a small Chinese temple. A similar phenomenon can be seen at only two other places in the world, one in Japan and one in the USA.