Ao Nang Beach is one of the vibrant sites in Krabi. It has a number of resorts and hotels with all the comforts of modern home and the friendliness that sets Thailand apart.
Ao Nang Beach location map
Ao Nang is just minutes by road towards south-west of Krabi town, the provincial capital, with Klong Muang and Noppharat Thara Beaches close by. Krabi is the first resort area and Ao Nang has a number of affordable accommodations to cater varied needs of tourists. There are a number of low-rise hotels that have incorporated Thai-style design.
Getting around Ao Nang Beach.
Ao Nang is not a big area, yet there are a number of places, beaches (Railey East, Railey West, Phra Nang Cave Beach, Tonsai Beach), islands & activities to keep it's travelers occupied. The most favored mode to transport is either Samlor, a motorbike fitted with a multi passenger sidecar or local Taxies (also called sonthaew). These are converted pickup trucks with 2 benches in the back, and are covered.
Longtail boats are another commonly used mode to hop between various islands (Koh Poda, Koh Gai, Koh Tup, Tubkack, Koh Hang and Phi Phi Islands).
Railey is a peninsula walled off from the mainland by sheer cliffs which is only accessible by boat.
The west and south coasts have the beaches; the east coast has the mangroves and the nightlife. Footpaths gently twist to and fro.
Railey East, a narrow beach on the opposite side to Railay West, is home to mangroves, local fishing boats and local birds. It's also the most convenient place to find a longtail taxi boat to Krabi town and other beaches.
Railey West offers perfectly soft sand, a wide beach, informal beach restaurants, friendly locals and a tiny community of travellers who just can't seem to leave.
At sunset the beach is a hive of activity with boats arriving and departing, impromptu games of football and takraw (a local game played with a woven ball) and people taking a stroll.
Phra Nang is more popular and busier than Railay West, especially in high season (Nov- April) and has all the ingredients of a perfect beach.
At the bottom of the limestone cliffs lies the Princess Cave or Tham Phra Nang Nok.
Tonsai Beach is Quieter than the other beaches, Tonsai really is the place to read that book or just work on the suntan, you'll find a few bungalow resorts with names like "Andaman Nature" and "Dream Valley", some beach restaurants and bars, together with a climbing school.
Shopping is really a fun for travelers to Ao Nang. Tourist will hardly find a departmental store around but there are a number of (small) souvenir shops and othor stalls that sell snorkeling equipment, beach mats, sarongs, transfer tattoos, sun cream, hats - as well as DVDs, Jewellery and some shops sell everything from quirky T-shirts to knives to authentic Thai handicrafts.
Here tattoos are very popular; a number of tourists wear lifelong reminders of their journey in the Land Of Smiles.
Ao Nang Nightlife
Ao Nang's nightlife is very crazy but not as in Bangkok or Phuket, it's mild and mellow. It's about watching sunset, relaxing or enjoying the cool evenings. One can find the highest concentration of late night haunts close to the very famous beaches or beautifully decorated Bars, trendy cafes or tattoo studios around.
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