This Ao Nang beach guide features all the best beaches in Ao Nang from the most popular to secluded bays.
Ao Nang is a small beach town and Krabi’s tourist hotspot. Although the main beach isn’t the most picturesque, there are plenty of other beautiful beaches near Ao Nang that are worth checking out.
Think rows of palm trees, soaring karst cliffs, and pristine white-sand beaches with the most incredible turquoise waters.
In this guide, I’m sharing a list of the 8 best beaches in Ao Nang Krabi, how to get there, and suggestions on where to stay.
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Read more about Krabi:
- How to get from Krabi Airport to Ao Nang?
- What to do in Ao Nang Krabi
- Where to stay in Ao Nang for any budget
- Top 20 things to do in Krabi Thailand
- Krabi Town: Top things to do
- Top locations to stay in Krabi
- The best Krabi itinerary for 4 days
- Krabi island hopping guide: The best islands to visit
- Ultimate list of the best beaches in Krabi + map
- 8 Fun day trips to take from Krabi
8 Best Ao Nang Beaches
Ao Nang Beach
Ao Nang beach is the ideal place to base yourself if you want to explore all the main tourist attractions in the Krabi Province.
With an abundance of stunning beaches and islands nearby, lots of restaurants, bars, shops, and a great selection of hotels ranging from budget to luxury resorts, Ao Nang beach is a must-visit on any Krabi itinerary.
By day you can swim in the ocean or relax on the beach and by night enjoy a magical sunset with a cocktail in hand or watch a fire show right on the beach.
The beach does get quite a lot of boat traffic during the day as most longtail boats to Railay and island hopping tours depart from there.
If you want to swim without constantly watching out for oncoming boats, head over toward the east side of Ao Nang near The Last Fisherman Bar.
The beach here is much nicer and there are even a few swings where you can take your Instagram photos with the turquoise ocean in the backdrop.
Recommended hotels in Ao Nang: Centara Ao Nang Beach (luxury), Wake Up Ao Nang (mid-range), Seaworld Guesthouse (budget).
Pai Plong Beach
Pai Plong is one of the least popular beaches in Ao Nang home to Centara Grand Beach Resort, the only resort on this beach.
You can get to this small secluded beach by going through the Monkey Trail or by taking a boat from Ao Nang.
The Monkey Trail is made up of rickety wooden stairs with bamboo railings that weaves around the limestone mountains. The steep stairs might seem daunting at first but it takes barely 15 minutes to walk there from Ao Nang.
Once you arrive at the beach, you’ll need to sign in with the security guard but the beach is totally free to enjoy.
Jump into the warm waters while taking in the view of the tall limestone cliffs lining the entire beach strip.
Recommended hotel: Centara Grand Beach Resort (luxury).
Related post: Pai Plong Beach: Complete guide to visiting
Railay Beach
Railay is no doubt the most popular beach near Ao Nang. Although connected to the mainland, the beach is only accessible by longtail boat (find out how to take the longtail boat to Railay here).
The boat will drop you off at Railay West where you can find the iconic rock formations. This part of Railay is more lively as most of the hotels, restaurants, and bars are located here.
You can choose to stay in Railay during your visit to Krabi but keep in mind that prices are slightly higher than in Ao Nang.
Railay East is another beach on the Railay peninsula but this one is mostly used as a port. Ferries and speedboats coming from the islands will usually drop off their passengers here.
There are mostly mangrove swamps on Railay East which makes the water quite muddy and not ideal for swimming.
I still recommend visiting Railay East if you want to do some rock climbing or visit the viewpoint and lagoon. You can also find the Diamond Cave a little further away.
Recommended hotels: Rayavadee (luxury), Avatar Railay (mid-range), Rapala Rock Wood Resort (budget).
Related post: How to get to Railay + Best things to do
Tonsai Beach
With cheap accommodations and incredible rock formations, Tonsai beach is the ultimate backpacker and rock climber hotspot.
A couple of beachfront resorts have recently opened up here as well, so even if you’re not a backpacker, you could also stay there if you’re looking for a quiet area to stay in Krabi.
The beach is a bit rocky but the water is clear and great for swimming and snorkeling.
You can get to Tonsai either by walking from Railay West (this is only possible during low tide) or by hiking along the jungle trail that connects Railay East to Tonsai. If you’re coming from Ao Nang, you can instead hire a longtail boat to take you there.
Recommended hotels: Tinidee Hideaway (luxury), Tonsai Bay Resort (mid-range), Chill Out Bar and Bungalows (budget)
Phra Nang Beach
Phra Nang Beach is by far the most picturesque beach in Ao Nang. It features powdery white sand surrounded by karst mountains with excellent rock climbing opportunities, crystal-clear water, and two unusual caves home to hundreds of phallic offerings made by the local fishermen.
One of the best things you can do here is simply relaxing on the beach. You can also take a rock climbing lesson, rent a kayak (200 baht per hour), get a massage right on the beach, or climb up to the Bat Cave viewpoint located on the westernmost point.
Phra Nang Cave Beach is usually the last stop on the popular 4 Island tours but you can also get there by taking a boat from Ao Nang for 100 baht.
Recommended hotel: Villa Macaque and Villa Languor (luxury).
Related post: Phra Nang Beach: Complete guide to visiting
Nopparat Thara Beach
Located about 1.5 km from Ao Nang beach, Nopparat Thara is the locals’ favorite and a great spot to visit if you want to avoid crowds.
The beach isn’t too busy but has all the necessary amenities like hotels, shops, and restaurants. If you’re looking for cheap local food, make sure to go to Ao Nang Landmark Night Market which is located nearby.
While Nopparat Thara beach isn’t the best for swimming due to the shallow and murky water, it’s a great place to go for a sunset stroll. Plus, you can also walk to the nearby islands of Ko Khao Sam Nuai and Ko Liao during low tide.
Recommended hotels: Holiday Ao Nang Beach Resort (mid-range), Buri Tara Resort (budget).
Klong Muang Beach
Located about a 20-minute drive from Ao Nang beach, Klong Muang is home to a quiet white-sand beach lined with mostly luxury resorts.
It’s the perfect place to stay for couples and honeymooners or those looking for a quiet beach with the best sunset views.
There are several nice restaurants near the beach as well as a few street food stalls for those looking for cheap local eats.
The beach is clean with calm shallow water and is the perfect spot to relax far away from the crowds. You can easily take a boat trip to Hong Island located nearby or simply enjoy this idyllic beach under the shade of palm trees.
Recommended hotels: Dusit Thani Resort (luxury), Beyond Resort Krabi (mid-range), JR Place (budget)
Tubkaek Beach
If you go a little further north from Klong Muang, you’ll reach another secluded beach called Tubkaek.
This is also a great place to stay for couples as it’s very quiet with only a few resorts dotted along the beach.
The beach feels very peaceful and overlooks Hong Island, Koh Lading, and Pakbia Island. There are barely any boats along the beach so it’s great for swimming.
If you’re looking for a fun and adventurous activity, I recommend hiking Dragon Crest Mountain (Tab Kak Hang Nak). The trailhead is located less than 1 km from Tubkaek beach and boasts incredible panoramic views.
Recommended hotels: The Tubkaak Krabi Boutique Resort (luxury), Anyavee Tubkaek Beach Resort (mid-range), Krabi Home Resort (budget).
I hope you found this guide to the best Ao Nang beaches helpful. If you have any questions, please let me know in the comments below.
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