Ao Nang

Phuket

Krabi's main beach town across Phang Nga Bay, with limestone cliffs, longtail boats to Railay and the Four Islands, and good-value hotels.

Best for Budget · Families

Transport: 2/5
Sights: 4/5
Value: 4/5
Quiet: 3/5
Food: 3/5

Typical mid-range hotel ~$100/night · 160 min to Phuket Old Town

See hotels in Ao Nang

Why stay here

Spectacular limestone scenery
Boats to Railay and the islands
Good-value hotels

Who should stay here

Island hoppers
Families
Climbers

Not ideal if…

You want a great town beach
You want to fly into Phuket and stay close
You want luxury nightlife

What it's like

Ao Nang sits among dramatic limestone karsts on the Krabi coast. Longtail boats leave from the beach for Railay's climbing cliffs and beaches, and for island-hopping trips to Poda, Chicken Island and Hong Island. The town has plenty of restaurants and mid-range hotels.

It's a great base for island hopping and scenery. The town beach is average, and it's a long transfer from Phuket; Krabi Airport is much closer.

Best streets and sub-areas

Ao Nang beachfront
Restaurants, shops and the longtail boats.
Nopparat Thara
Quieter beach to the north.

Getting around

Nearest stations: Longtail boats from the beach, songthaews to Krabi Town, and ferries to Phi Phi and Phuket.
To Phuket Old Town: About 160 minutes
From Phuket International Airport (HKT): About 30 minutes: taxi from Krabi Airport (KBV); about 2.5 hours by road from Phuket.

Nearby attractions

Railay
Beaches and climbing cliffs reachable only by boat.
Four Islands tour
Poda, Chicken Island and Tup Island by longtail.
Tiger Cave Temple
1,237 steps to a hilltop temple.

Where to eat and drink

Ao Nang beachfront
Seafood restaurants and bars.
Night market
Street food in the evening.

Where to stay in Ao Nang

A few hotels we'd book in this area, at different budgets.

Best value

Avani Ao Nang Cliff Krabi Resort

Why we like it: Hotel with a rooftop infinity pool facing the cliffs.

Typical mid-range rate in Ao Nang: ~$100/night

Check availability