Top 10 Krabi Thailand tours (according to experts)

Are you ready to book a tour in Krabi, Thailand? Then you’re in for a treat!

Krabi, a town and province in southern Thailand, is where turquoise waters meet towering limestone cliffs and lush jungle. In this guide, I unveil the top guided tours that promise to immerse you in the beauty and adventure of this Thai gem.

From island-hopping escapades to thrilling jungle explorations, Krabi offers an array of unforgettable experiences.

But you don’t have to only take my word for it. I have also asked 4 of my fellow travel bloggers to write about their favorite Krabi tours.

Why book a guided tour in Krabi?

The first time I went to Krabi years ago, I have to be honest, I was disappointed. Sure the beaches are absolutely stunning and the water crystal clear, but I didn’t enjoy it for some reason. Coming from Koh Samet, I don’t know if it was too touristy or if I just didn’t explore well enough.

When I got home I heard people praise the area and talk about all the beautiful places they had visited. I saw so many photos on social media that just didn’t match my experience.

So I decided to do something about it. I returned to Krabi and this time I treated myself to this gorgeous hotel, one of the best places to stay in Krabi. I also spent the first three days on guided tours. And it worked. The second time around I fell in love with the towering cliffs surrounded by fields of palm trees and turquoise water.

The stubborn traveler in me has always liked to explore places on my own at my own pace. However, I’ve found recently that I get so much value from joining guided tours when I first arrive, to get the lay of the land. Then I can go back and explore more thoroughly on my own.

It’s also a great way to meet other travelers that you can spend time with during the rest of your trip. Some of the people I’ve met on guided tours over the years have become good friends.

10 best tours in Krabi

Here are 5 travel blogger’s take on the best tours Krabi has to offer!

1. Krabi rock climbing tour

Written by Ryan from WaylessTravelers

⏱ DURATION: 8 hours │ 🌟 RATING: 5/5 │ 🚗 Pick up included

When exploring Southern Thailand, we were fascinated by the countless beautiful beaches and the options for island hopping tours. However, if you are interested in an activity that will really get your heart pumping, then definitely check out rock climbing in Railay Beach, Krabi. 

Railay is a small remote peninsula cut off from the mainland by its massive limestone cliffs. These cliffs attract rock climbers from all around the world and we were eager to experience this ourselves. 

By joining this rock climbing tour, we were picked up from the nearby town of Ao Nang and ferried over to Railay. From there, your guide will determine your rock climbing level and pick the ideal cliff for you to climb. 

These limestone cliffs are perfect for rock climbing since their uneven formation provides an abundance of hand and foot holds. So even if you are an absolute beginner, this tour can be perfect for you! 

We took the half-day tour and at first, were presented with easier routes. Once we got the hang of it, the guide brought us to another cliff face where I went to climb up about 40 feet in the air!

⛰ Check price and availability here >> Rock Climbing at Railay Beach in Krabi

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2. Private Krabi Instagram tour

⏱ DURATION: 7-9 hours │ 🌟 RATING: 4.7/5 │ 👭 GROUP SIZE: Private │ 🚗 Pick up included

Normally I wouldn’t book a tour with Instagram in the name. But hear me out, this turned out to be one of my favorite tours I’ve ever done in Thailand.

Dew, my lovely English-speaking guide, picked me up from my hotel bright and early at 7:00 am. We got to the Emerald Pool about an hour later and had it all to ourselves for some time. It was absolutely stunning.

Then the tour continued to the Tiger Temple, a sacred site known for the tiger paw prints in the cave, tall Buddha statues and the strenuous hike up the stairs to reach the summit. I’m not in the best shape, but I still made it to the top. Dew was super patient and encouraged me along the way.

After a delicious lunch, we stopped at one of the most beautiful temples in Krabi, Wat Kaew Korawaram (up there with the temples of Chiang Mai), before heading out on the water in a longtail boat to Phra Nang Cave and Railay Beach.

It was such an awesome day from start to finish, a must on any Thailand itinerary. Dew isn’t only a knowledgeable guide but also a great photographer.

🌟 Check price and availability here >> Private highlights of Krabi tour

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3. Phi Phi Islands & Maya Bay tour from Krabi

Written by Sean from Travel Thailand Together

⏱ DURATION: 7 hours │ 🌟 RATING: 4.9/5 │ 👭 GROUP SIZE: 10-15

The best tour in Krabi is in my mind Phi Phi Islands and Maya Bay by speedboat. The first stop was the famous Maya Bay, on Phi Phi Leh Island. This place has now become one of the best things to do in Thailand after the famous movie “The Beach” starring Leonardo DiCaprio was filmed here.

No island tour is complete without enjoying some water activities. Our speedboat pulled into Phi Lee Bay surrounded by limestone cliffs. We jumped into the water and went for a swim and snorkel. We saw a ton of different fishes and corals, and our tour guide even said we could see leopard sharks.

Around midday, we headed to Koh Phi Phi Don for a buffet lunch. It was a buffet-style lunch with a variety of delicious Thai food and international cuisine. It was much needed after a morning of activities. 

After lunch, we visited Bamboo Island and Monkey Bay. Bamboo Island was perfect for sunbathing and more snorkeling, while Monkey Bay, true to its name, was home to a community of monkeys who seemed as curious about us as we were about them.

And finally, we headed back home on our speedboat, watching the gorgeous sunset dip behind the limestone mountains of the bay.

🐚 Pro tip >> This Phi Phi Islands tour starts at 8:00 am so you arrive at Maya Bay before the majority of other tourists.

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4. Hong Island tour from Krabi

Written by Madison from Madison’s Footsteps.

⏱ DURATION: 6-7 hours │ 🌟 RATING: 4/5 │ 🚗 Pick up included

Krabi is one of Thailand’s most popular beach destinations – for good reason! Sparkling turquoise waters and white sand beaches meet affordable cuisine and killer views in this sleepy Thai beach town. Whether you’re searching for culture, eats, or a great spot to sunbathe, a trip to Krabi is a welcome addition to any Thailand bucket list. 

My friend and I visited Krabi in 2022 and we quite simply couldn’t get enough. When we weren’t stuffing our faces at the best Thai restaurants in Ao Nang, we were climbing almost 1,300 steps to the Tiger Cave Temple, sipping freshly made coconut smoothies on Railay Beach and embarking on day trips to the countless beautiful islands around Krabi. 

One of our favorite day trips was this tour from Ao Nang to Hong Island. For only 40 USD/person (+ 300 baht for the national park fee), we got round-trip transportation from our hotel, transportation by longtail boat to multiple nearby islands, the use of snorkeling equipment, and a tasty lunch.

Our stop at Hong Island was the crowd favorite. We spent the most time there, bathing in the sparkling blue waters, climbing to the island’s highest viewpoint, and relaxing on the beautiful beach. 

I highly recommend taking this tour if you only have a few days in Krabi. The view of the limestone cliffs against the turquoise ocean is something I’ll never forget. 

🌟 Check price and availability here >> Hong Island full-day tour from Krabi

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5. Mangrove kayaking tour in Krabi

Written by Alice from Adventures of Alice

⏱ DURATION: 4 hours │ 🌟 RATING: 4.8/5 │ 👭 GROUP SIZE: 10 │ 🚗 Pick up included

One of the best things we did during our trip to Thailand was kayaking through Krabi’s mangrove forests. This was an absolutely incredible experience; the forest was beautiful, we met some amazing people, and our guide was superb. 

We did this as a combo tour with a dirt biking section as well, but I wasn’t overly impressed with the dirt biking part. It just felt like we were driving in circles and seemed a little silly. However, the kayaking was one of the highlights of our trip. 

We booked our tour through a local tour guide in Krabi town, that way you can haggle with the tour guides and often get a better price. The guide then picked us up from our hotel near Ao Nang, we changed into our life jackets and got into the kayaks.

The tour itself lasted about 2 hours. We sailed past beautiful cliff formations, waterlogged forests, and through a few beautiful lagoons. We even saw some wild monkeys! Our guide was able to explain all about the landscape, how the forest was formed, why the cliff faces were multi-colored, and about the wildlife that lives within the trees.

It was an incredible experience and I highly recommend it to anyone visiting Krabi.

🚣‍♀️ Book online >> If you prefer to arrange everything in advance, this is the most popular kayaking tour in Krabi with a 5-star rating and almost 400 reviews.

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6. Emerald Pool & the Blue Lagoon

⏱ DURATION: 9 hours │ 🌟 RATING: 4.6/5 │ 👭 GROUP SIZE: 5/Private │ 🚗 Pick up included

This was another one of my favorite tours I did in Krabi, with a small group (we were only 5) and very knowledgeable guides. I joined this tour before I discovered the private Instagram tour I talked about above. I had never heard about the Emerald Pool and Blue Lagoon so if it wasn’t for this tour I would have missed both again.

I got picked up at my hotel in Ao Nang and headed to our first stop at the stunning Emerald Pool. From there we walked along the path to the next stop of the day, the Blue Lagoon. Enjoy this gorgeous gem surrounded by large, overhanging trees with roots that extend across the water.

We then took a break for lunch at a local restaurant, before we spent some time at the Hot Springs Waterfall. The tour ended with a visit to the majestic Wat Kaew Korawaram.

You’ll get a complimentary bottle of water, however, the lunch and any snacks you have to pay for yourself.

I really enjoyed both tours, even though they both covered the Emerald Pool and the white temple. If I had to choose I would probably go with the private Instagram tour, however, this one is the more affordable choice.

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7. Ya’s Thai Cookery School class

⏱ DURATION: 3 hours │ 🌟 RATING: 4.9/5 │ 👭 GROUP SIZE: Small

Thai is one of my favorite cuisines, so when someone recommended this cooking class with professional chef Ye, I had to book it. And let me tell you, it did not disappoint.

I was picked up from my hotel in Ao Nang along with another couple. Before we started cooking we got an introduction to Thai food and all the rich colors, delicate aromas, and spices that go into making the perfect Thai dish.

Then we got to choose 6 dishes to cook. Pad Thai, Massaman Curry and Mango sticky rice, to name a few. My mouth is watering just from writing this. Learning how to balance flavors and make curry pastes from scratch using classic utensils and techniques was so much fun.

A cooking class is definitely a must on any Krabi itinerary. This class was just as good as the one I did in Bangkok.

🍚 Check price and availability here >> Ya’s Thai Cookery School class

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8. 4 Islands tour by longtail boat

⏱ DURATION: 6-7 hours │ 🌟 RATING: 4.3/5 │ 👭 GROUP SIZE: 12

This tour is jam-packed with beautiful places I would never have visited on my own. Travel by traditional longtail boat to Koh Poda, Chicken Island, Koh Tub, and Koh Mor, and stop at the beautiful Phra Nang Cave Beach at Railay.

Poda Island was my favorite stop, it is just breathtaking with the white sand and turquoise shallow water.

Bottled water, a Thai-style boxed picnic lunch on the beach, seasonal fruit and snorkeling equipment are included in the price, but you have to pay for the National Park entrance fee (200 THB per adult and 100 THB per child).

The boat was a little crowded, however, I wouldn’t expect anything else for the very reasonable price I paid. And it only meant I got to talk with a lot of lovely people. Our guides kept us entertained, hydrated and well-fed throughout the 6-7 hours.

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9. Kayaking and sunset BBQ dinner

⏱ DURATION: 5 hours │ 🌟 RATING: 5/5 │ 👭 GROUP SIZE: Small │ 🚗 Pick up included

This afternoon tour begins with a convenient hotel pick-up in the Krabi area, followed by a journey to the stunning Ao Thalane (Thalane Bay), known for its enchanting mangrove forests.

Upon arrival at the kayak center, the friendly tour guide provided a concise yet thorough briefing on paddle usage, ensuring our safety. Equipped with life jackets and a dry bag for our valuables, we embarked on an unforgettable kayaking journey through the mangrove river.

If you’re a nature lover you will appreciate the opportunity to spot diverse wildlife, including monitor lizards, crab-eating macaques, monkeys, vibrant tropical birds, and mudskippers in the mud during low tide. The tranquility of paddling through the mangrove forests and caves without the usual crowds added to the overall serenity of the experience.

The highlight of the tour was undoubtedly the BBQ dinner on a private beach. We got lucky with the weather. The delicious seafood meal complete with sides, sauces and fresh fruit, was a perfect culmination of the day’s adventures.

🍚 Check price and availability here >> Kayaking and sunset BBQ dinner tour

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10. Sunset and seafood dinner cruise

This sunset and seafood dinner cruise effortlessly encapsulated the essence of the region, featuring pristine white sand beaches, tropical islands, and awe-inspiring natural wonders.

I was picked up from my hotel in Ao Nang around 1:15 pm and boarded the ship at Ao Nam Mao Pier. We set sail for Pranang Cave, Chicken Island, and the picturesque Pirate Beach.

The crystal-clear waters and powdery white sand beaches provided a stunning backdrop for swimming and snorkeling. It was so much fun to see the vibrant coral reefs and abundance of tropical fish around Poda and Tub Islands.

After building up an appetite from all the time in the water, we enjoyed a Thai dinner consisting of fresh BBQ seafood on the deck with the sun setting over the ocean as the backdrop.

⛵️ Check price and availability here >> Sunset and seafood dinner cruise

Quick Krabi travel guide

Here are answers to the questions I see most often about Krabi Thailand.

How to get around in Krabi

Tuk-tuks, a popular choice for short distances, provide a convenient and budget-friendly means of getting around town. Taxis are also readily available and can be hired for day trips or specific destinations.

Just like in Bali, renting a scooter is a popular option for those wanting more independence and flexibility to explore Krabi at their own pace. Be sure to wear a helmet and familiarize yourself with local traffic rules. Also, make sure your travel insurance covers you while driving by yourself.

Additionally, long-tail boats and speedboats are essential for reaching the nearby islands and exploring the stunning coastal scenery.

Walking is an enjoyable way to explore the local markets, vibrant streets, and beachfront areas, offering a chance to soak in the unique atmosphere of Krabi.

With a private driver

If you can’t find a guided tour that covers all the sights you want to see, I highly recommend booking the private driver below. You have the driver for up to 8 hours and choose your start time from 7:00 am on. Customize the day exactly to your interests, and get suggestions from your driver.

🚘 Check price and availability here >> Private car or van hire with driver

The best time to visit Krabi

The best time to visit Krabi is during the dry season, which typically runs from November to April. During this period, the weather is more predictable, ensuring a pleasant experience for outdoor activities. But keep in mind that this is also peak tourist season.

What types of tours are available in Krabi?

Krabi offers a variety of guided tours, including island hopping, snorkeling and diving excursions, jungle trekking, temple tours, street food tours and cooking classes, as well as adventure activities like rock climbing and kayaking.

How can I book guided tours in Krabi?

Booking a guided tour in Krabi is easy. You can either book online through my favorite sites, Viator and GetYourGuide, use local tour operators and organizers, or ask you accommodation to arrange it for you.

If you want to save money on travel bookings you can often get a great deal if you contact the tour operator directly while you are in Krabi. However, then you also risk the tours already being full. I prefer to book in advance online, with Viator you can reserve the tour and pay later.

Are the tours in Krabi suitable for families with children?

Yes, many guided tours in Krabi are family-friendly. There are options with gentle activities like island-hopping cruises, wildlife discovery tours, and easy nature walks that cater to all age groups.

Most of the tour mentioned in this post, apart from the rock climbing and kayaking, are suitable for families with small children. You might have to carry the little ones up the stairs to the Tiger Temple though.

What should I pack for a tour in Krabi?

It all depends on the type of tour you’re doing. But generally, I recommend you bring sunglasses, a hat, reef-safe sunscreen, light and comfortable clothing, swimwear (I love this swimsuit and this bikini), insect repellent, and a camera. I used my GoPro the most while in Krabi.

For specific activities like trekking or rock climbing, just wear your normal summer hiking attire. Climbing shoes and gear are provided. Ask your tour company if you have any questions.

I also recommend bringing a filtered water bottle on all your travels, so you can fill it up anywhere.

Are English-speaking guides available?

Yes, most guided tours in Krabi include English-speaking guides. In some cases, other languages may be available, depending on the tour operator. It’s always a good idea to check and confirm when booking. I have done five tours in Krabi and all my guides spoke good English.

Are the tours in Krabi suitable for solo travelers?

Absolutely! I did all five tours as a solo traveler. Joining group tours is a great way to meet like-minded people, and many activities are designed to accommodate solo adventurers.

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