🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
The first thing to grasp before you arrive: where you stay and where you sightsee usually aren't the same place. Most people base themselves in Ao Nang (the main beach, lots of restaurants, a pier for island boats nearby) or in Krabi Town (cheaper, packed with local food, but not on the sea). Gorgeous beaches like Railay can only be reached by boat — there's no road in. So your travel planning revolves around three things: getting around on land, crossing to islands and beaches by boat, and renting your own vehicle.
From Krabi Airport (KBV) into town / Ao Nang
Krabi Airport (code KBV) sits about 15 km from town and roughly 30 km from Ao Nang — a 30–40 minute drive to Ao Nang. There are several ways into town; pick based on your budget and group size.
Shared Van / Minivan
The cheapest option if you're travelling solo or as a pair. You share with other passengers and the van leaves once it's full (around 8–9 seats). There's a ticket counter in the terminal. Good if you're not in a rush and don't have much luggage.
Airport Taxi (private car)
The taxi counter is right outside the terminal, with fixed whole-car fares. Seats 3–4, takes you straight to your hotel with no waiting for a full van. Handy for a small group or a late-night arrival.
Private Transfer (booked ahead)
Book through an app or website before you fly and a driver waits with your name on a sign. The price is fixed up front, no haggling. A 3-seat sedan runs around ฿630, a 9-seat van around ฿800. Good for families or anyone with a lot of luggage.
Grab
You can hail one from the airport too. The price depends on the time and how many cars are free — sometimes you'll wait a while, since there are fewer drivers in Krabi than in the big cities. Compare it against the counter taxi before you decide.
Straight talk
If you're arriving late or during high season when it's busy, booking a private transfer or using the counter taxi means you don't have to gamble on availability. The shared van is cheap but you have to wait for it to fill and it may make several drop-offs, so leave yourself a little extra time.
White songthaews — Krabi's public transport
Krabi doesn't have city buses like the big cities do. The main public transport is the white songthaew (a converted pickup with bench seats), running mostly along the town–Ao Nang route. They leave once there are enough passengers (roughly every 10–15 minutes during the day), and you can get on or off anywhere along the way — just flag one down. It's the cheapest way to get around if you're not in a hurry.
- Town ↔ Ao Nang — about ฿50–60 per person; after 6pm the fare usually rises to ฿60
- Pick-up point in town — around Maharaj Road (near Soi Maharaj 8); it passes the bus station before turning toward Nopparat Thara Beach and Ao Nang
- Seaside end of the route — passes Nopparat Thara Beach and Ao Nang, continuing to Ao Nam Mao Pier and the Shell Cemetery
- Operating hours — mainly around 6am–6pm; after dark there are fewer of them and you'll need Grab or a chartered ride instead
Tip
When you take a songthaew, have small notes and coins ready — drivers don't take transfers and can't easily make change for a big note. To get off, ring the buzzer or tell the driver a little in advance.
Grab and chartering a ride around town
Grab works in Krabi in both the town area and Ao Nang, but there aren't as many drivers as in Bangkok or Phuket. Sometimes you'll book one and wait a while, or struggle to find a car late at night or for longer routes. Short hops within Ao Nang or town run about ฿100–200 a trip, while longer rides across districts or out to sights outside town can be ฿300–600 and up.
- Booking a Grab — convenient during the day in the main areas, but allow extra time for the wait, especially in the evening
- Chartering a songthaew / van — if there are several of you or you're visiting many spots in one day, hiring one for the whole day works out cheaper than booking trip by trip. Always agree on the price before you get in
- Motorbike taxis — a few around town, good for short solo hops with little luggage
Renting a car / scooter to drive yourself
If you want the freedom to explore spots outside town like Tiger Cave Temple, the Emerald Pool, or the waterfalls, renting your own vehicle is the best value. Krabi's main roads are in good shape with clear signs — but if you've never ridden a motorbike before, don't make Krabi your first try, as there's a fair amount of truck traffic and some winding sections.
Scooter in town
Renting in Krabi Town is noticeably cheaper than in Ao Nang. Good if you're staying in town and riding around to explore. A 110–125cc automatic is easy to handle.
Scooter in Ao Nang
Plenty of rental shops along the main beachfront road, handy if you're staying by the sea, though prices run a touch higher than in town. Many shops will deliver to your hotel.
Larger motorbike (PCX/NMAX)
More comfortable to sit on and steadier over longer distances. Good if you're heading out to sights beyond town or riding two-up.
Car rental
Good for families or groups with plenty of luggage who'd rather not be out in the sun and rain. You can rent at the airport or in town; prices depend on the model and the season. Book ahead during high season.
What to know before you rent
Carry an International Driving Permit — there are checkpoints from time to time, and police do fine you if you don't have one or aren't wearing a helmet. Before you take the vehicle, photograph or film all around it as a record of its condition, and check whether the rental price already includes insurance. Roads get very slippery when it rains, so ride slow.
Longtail boats — reaching Railay and beaches the road can't
Railay has no road for cars — the only way in is by boat. The longtail is the workhorse for short hops between beaches, leaving straight off Ao Nang beach once enough people have gathered (usually around 6–8). The crossing to Railay takes about 10–15 minutes.
- Ao Nang → Railay — public longtail about ฿100–150 per person (more at night); buy a ticket at the booth on the beach
- Charter a longtail for half a day — about ฿2,500–3,500 per boat, hopping between several nearby beaches and islands as you like
- Full-day charter — about ฿4,500–6,500 per boat, good for a larger group that wants to set its own route
- Ao Nam Mao Pier — another departure point near Nopparat Thara, popular for boats to Railay and nearby islands
Straight talk
Longtails load and unload straight off the beach — there's no jetty, so you'll wade in to board. Wear flip-flops or something easy to slip off, and a dry bag helps a lot. The water gets rough during the monsoon (roughly May–Oct) and some days the boats don't run, so check the weather first.
Speedboats — for the far islands and island tours
If you're heading to the far islands like Phi Phi or Hong, or doing the 4 Islands tour, a speedboat is much faster and more comfortable than a longtail. Most come as packaged tours with hotel pick-up, leaving from various piers around Krabi.
- 4 Islands tour / half-day charter — a chartered speedboat runs about ฿8,500–12,500, seats 20–25, covering Koh Poda, Chicken Island, Koh Tup, and Railay
- Full day to Phi Phi–Maya Bay — charter about ฿15,000–22,000, covering Phi Phi Don, Phi Phi Leh, Maya Bay, and Hong Island
- Ao Nam Mao Pier — a popular departure point for Phi Phi, Railay, and nearby islands
- Klong Jilad Pier — south of town, mainly ferries to Phi Phi
If you'd rather not deal with arranging boats yourself, booking an island tour with hotel pick-up and drop-off is the easiest route — there's a guide along, and snorkelling gear and lunch are usually included.
Quick summary — what to use when
Solo, on a budget
Shared van from the airport + white songthaew around town/Ao Nang + public longtail across to Railay
A couple / small group
Counter taxi or Grab from the airport + rent a scooter to explore + a packaged island tour
Family / lots of luggage
Book a private transfer or rent a car + charter a longtail or take a speedboat tour with pick-up
Plan your whole Krabi trip — where to stay, what to see, and how to get there
See the Krabi travel guide →