7 Best Day Trips From Krabi, Thailand (2026)
Are you looking for the best day trips from Krabi? You’ve landed on the right article.
Krabi is a stunning tropical and coastal region of southern Thailand, with so many unique attractions to offer. I spent just under a week in Krabi, and felt like I discovered something new everyday.
This article will cover all of the best day trip opportunities from Krabi, from national parks to nearby islands, waterfalls, and more.
Here are 7 amazing day trips from Krabi to add to your itinerary.
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Best Day Trips From Krabi
Phi Phi Islands
The Phi Phi Islands are an archipelago of six gorgeous islands offshore of Krabi that you can get to by ferry, or joining a group tour.
The islands consist of Koh Phi Phi Don, Maya Bay (Koh Phi Phi Leh), Bamboo Island, and a few smaller islands.
Koh Phi Phi Don is the main, developed island, with bustling beach bars, restaurants and hotels. Maya Bay, however, is the reason why these islands are so popular.
It’s where the 2000’s Hollywood movie “The Beach” featuring Leonardo Dicaprio was filmed in part, and has a picturesque white sand beach fringed by the cliffs.
If you plan on staying overnight, you’ll take a ferry to Koh Phi Phi Don. From there, you can get to Maya Bay and the smaller islands by boat.
The best way to visit the Phi Phi islands is to join a full day group tour from Krabi.
I went on the cheapest group tour I could find, and we visited Pi Leh Lagoon, Maya Bay, Bamboo Island, Monkey Beach, and stopped in Koh Phi Phi Don for lunch. The scenery was unbelievable, and we stopped in front of Maya Bay to snorkel.
Maya Bay sees thousands of tourists per day, so I recommend booking an early morning, or sunset speedboat tour.
This will allow you to swim in the lagoons, and see Maya Bay without the crowds of longtail boats. For more details, check out our complete guide to visiting the Phi Phi Islands.
Smaller Islands (Hong Island, James Bond Island, 5 Islands, 4 Islands,)
If you prefer more laid back islands without the crowds, there’s a few more options to consider. There’s no hotels on these islands or ferries, so the only way to get there is by boat tour.
Hong Island offers equally dramatic scenery, with emerald blue bays, towering limestone cliffs, and a hidden lagoon you can go kayaking in. James Bond Island is a tiny islet that juts out of the water, and was featured in the 1974 film “The Golden Gun” featuring James Bond.
You can visit both Hong Island and James Bond Island on this full day speedboat tour from Krabi.
The 4 Islands are the next most popular island tour, which visit smaller islands (Chicken, Tup, Poda, Phranang Cave). They’re especially popular for their evening sunset tours, where you’ll get to go bioluminescent snorkeling.
The 5 Islands are one of the least visited islands (Koh Haa) from Krabi, and offer some of the best snorkeling opportunities. You can go on a full day snorkeling tour from Krabi from mid October-May, when Koh Lanta National Park is open.
Ao Thalane Mangrove Forests
Ao Thalane is an extensive mangrove forest, located only 30 minutes northwest of Krabi town. You can go kayaking around the area to see wildlife, caves, canyons, and beautiful limestone cliffs.
This half day kayaking tour provides roundtrip transportation from hotels in Krabi Town/Aonang, and lunch. If you want to spend a day admiring nature not far from Krabi, this is the activity to do.
Khao Sok National Park
Khao Sok National Park is one of the most spectacular national parks in Thailand, and is only 2.5 hours north of Krabi. It spans over 100,000 acres, and has lakes, waterfalls, jungle hiking trails, and some really unique accommodations.
The highlight of the park is Cheow Lan Lake, an emerald green lake surrounded by limestone cliffs draped in rainforest. You can drive to Cheow Lan Pier from Krabi (~2.5 hours), and go on a private longtail boat tour to see caves, limestone peaks, and admire the scenery.
It’s possible to visit on a day trip, but most ideal to stay overnight in one of the lakeside houses. Many of the accommodations offer free kayaks, guided hikes, and other tours of the park.
Tiger Cave Temple
The Tiger Cave Temple is a must-see temple, only 3 miles north of Krabi. Its summit sits at an elevation of 278 feet on top of the hill, and has an iconic Golden buddha statue, and an amazing panoramic view of the valley.
You can do a very challenging hike up 1,260 steps to reach the summit, and the views make it worth it.
If you’re not up for a strenuous hike, you can hike to the jungle caves at the bottom of the complex. For a few helpful tips, check out our complete guide to visiting the Tiger Cave Temple.
Emerald Pools and Hot Stream Waterfall
Within an hour’s drive south of Krabi town, you can visit amazing natural mineral pools, and hot springs tucked in the jungle.
The Emerald Pool is a turquoise blue swimming hole that you can get to by a short 15 minute hike through the jungle.
It costs 400 baht/adult to visit, and is less than a 15 minute drive from the hot stream waterfall (KhongThomNuea). This is a series of hot springs varying in temperature with a cafe at the entrance. Entrance is only 200 baht/adults, and it’s a short walk from the parking lot.
Book this full day group tour to get roundtrip transportation to Tiger Cave Temple, the Emerald Pool, and Hot Springs from Krabi town.
Huay To Waterfall (Khao Phenom Bencha National Park)
The Huay To Waterfall is a beautiful cascading waterfall only 30 minutes north of Krabi. It’s located in Khao Phenom Bencha National Park, and accessible by a short 15 minute trail through the jungle.
You can climb to different levels of the waterfall, and take a dip in the waterfall pool at the end of the hike. Entrance is 100 baht/adults, plus 20 baht for motorbike parking.
Summary
Krabi has no shortage of fun and adventurous activities to offer. If you have limited time, I recommend going on an island-hopping tour, and hiking the iconic Tiger Cave Temple.
And if you’re spending a few extra days in the region, it’s worth going on a day trip to Khao Sok National Park, or the emerald pools and hot springs. For more ideas on what to do, see, and eat in town make sure to check out our perfect 3 day Krabi itinerary.
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