Krabi idyllic beach holidays

There is just something about Thailand that seems to put it near the top of everyone’s bucket list. Maybe it’s the idyllic beaches? Maybe it’s the phenomenal food? Maybe it’s the exotic lure of temples and elephants? Or maybe it’s because it’s a place you can find all of this in one place, along with so much more; and nowhere quite encompasses the dizzying variety of Thailand quite like Krabi. It’s one of those special destinations that has something for everyone.

Located in the South of Thailand, Krabi is the place to experience the beautiful Andaman Sea. Limestone Karsts stretch out from the glistening waters towards the sky, as pristine beaches creep up into the jungle. All of this raw natural beauty with the convenience of a large town and some of Thailand’s best luxury hotels.

Rayavadee and Dusit Thani are two of the best, perfectly positioned in lush jungle settings, close to the sea and sand, and those stunning Karst views. Onsite restaurants, spas and excellent service are the order of the day here and you’ll definitely want somewhere relaxing to rest your head after tasting the adventures Krabi has to offer.

While lounging on some of the world’s best beaches may be enough for some, and should not be missed, those who choose to partake in Krabi’s more heart-racing activities will be thoroughly rewarded. For those Limestone rocks are not only for admiring, but for climbing too. In fact Krabi is a rock-climbing mecca, meaning here you can take advantage of world-class instruction in the most beautiful of settings. Whether you’re a beginner or a pro, you’ll soon be vertically attached over the turquoise Andaman and loving every minute of it. Be warned though, the bruises may last longer than your tan!

The water is not just for dangling over but getting on and under too. Island hopping on a long-tail boat may just be one of Thailand’s most iconic experiences and rightly so. There is just no better way to discover secluded beaches than taking one of these colourful wooden boats out to sea. Then, donning a mask and snorkel and tipping yourself over the edge, you can discover the underwater world too. Add to that a guaranteed delicious Thai packed lunch of green curry and rice and you’ve got yourself the perfect day trip.

The mangrove forests that line the coast are also the perfect place to take out a sea kayak, with Thalane Bay being the top pick.

Then, if you want to delve a little deeper, Krabi has plenty of dive shops to get more of that underwater action. Just like the climbing, diving here is up there with the best, boasting shallow coral gardens, deep wreck dives and plenty of colourful critters. And the main draw is the price, which will still leave enough Baht for that daily Thai massage!

Moving back onto land, interesting transportation options abound. In this one little town, you can choose to ride a horse along the beach, an elephant through the jungle or an ATV just about anywhere. On two feet you can take a hike up a thousand steps to Wat Tham Sua, or the Tiger cave Temple, which contrary to its name hosts no tigers but quite a few resident monkeys. Watch out though as they are fantastic pick pockets.

All these action-packed escapades are likely to make you ravenous and no trip to Thailand is complete without visiting a night market. After watching a fiery sunset on the beach, with those distinctive long-tail silhouettes in the foreground and a cocktail in hand, catch a tuk-tuk or taxi into town to feast your senses. Brightly lit, noisy and abundant in delicious smells, follow your nose to the different stalls and try as many things as your stomach will allow. The ubiquitous Pad Thai is a must and make sure you douse it in extra chilli, peanuts and lime juice, just as the locals do. Anything on a stick is usually a good choice too, from whole fried fish to succulent and spicy chicken and even sticky rice. A Chang beer or a fresh mango smoothie will wash it all down nicely.

There are no shortage of things to do in this slice of Southern Thailand and there really is something for everyone – did I mention the cave full of phallic statues on Railay beach? But the icing on the cake overflowing with toppings is that there is always that shoreline to come back to. To laze upon, to amble along and to drool over.