Krabi

Krabi province is where the Andaman Sea meets one of earth's most dramatic geological formations — the Krabi karst, a field of sheer limestone towers that erupt from jade-green water and jungle-covered plains alike, creating a landscape of extraordinary drama and natural beauty. The province encompasses some of Thailand's most beloved destinations: the climbing mecca of Railay Beach, the snorkelling reefs of the Four Islands, the sea-kayaking labyrinth of Ao Thalane, and the famous Phi Phi Islands, all accessible from the provincial capital of Krabi Town on the Krabi River estuary.

Krabi Town itself is an underrated base — a working Thai town with a good night market, excellent local restaurants, affordable guesthouses, and the authentic provincial pace that resort-heavy Phuket lacks. The town's tidal flats draw fiddler crabs at low tide; mangrove forest tours depart from the pier; and the limestone hills studded with cave temples (Wat Tham Seua, the Tiger Cave Temple, has 1,237 steps to a summit with panoramic Andaman views) punctuate the flat farmland around it. The Krabi River itself is used as the departure point for longtail boats to the most spectacular destinations in the province.

What makes Krabi exceptional for active travellers is the concentration of world-class activities within a small geographic area. Railay Beach is accessible only by boat and has four separate beaches, cliff routes rated up to 8a+ for sport climbers, and two hours' worth of walking from jungle lagoon to beach to jungle cave. The Four Islands tour is a half-day snorkel-and-beach circuit of extraordinary beauty. And the Andaman's seasonality — crystal clear and calm from November to April, rough and closed to boat tours in monsoon — means the experience at its best is genuinely unmatched.