Situated on the northeastern tip of Krabi, just seven kilometres from town, the Tiger Cave Temple is renowned for its distinctive fossilised tiger paw prints, gleaming Buddha statues and sweeping views over the region from the top of a testing 309 metre climb to its summit. In addition to comfortable walking shoes and plenty of water, make sure to cover your shoulders and legs and watch out for cheeky monkeys en route, who have been known to have minimal boundaries.

Krabi province is home to some of the most stunning sea caves in the world. Ao Nang Beach (about 25 minutes by car from Krabi town) is surrounded by beginner-friendly dive spots, where you’ll get a close-up view of colourful tropical reef fish, hawksbill sea turtles, leopard sharks and blacktip reef sharks. More advanced divers should head to Koh Haa Yai on the western edge of the island for underwater caves, where the biggest, known as The Cathedral, is about 20 metres deep. For a close encounter with the area’s vibrant marine life, head south to Hin Daeng in the Andaman Sea and keep your eyes peeled for manta rays and whale sharks as they glide over the colourful coral reef. The best time to get your flippers wet is between November and April when visibility is high and the water is calm and flat.

Set on 10 hectares of rainforest and perched on the edge of Krabi National Marine Park, sustainable five-star resort Rayavadee can only be reached after a 20-minute private boat transfer from the mainland, ensuring maximum seclusion. Composed of 94 two-storey pavilions and seven dome-roofed villas, each built to stand harmoniously among the property’s hundreds of swaying palm, mango and gooseberry trees, you may feel as if you’re in the thick of the Thailand jungle; especially when the sound of monkeys, gibbons and spectacled langurs chattering away can be heard from your air-conditioned room. While there are three beaches within the resort area as well as an onsite spa, it’s guest-only The Grotto that might tempt you the most: this fine-diner is located inside a limestone cave overlooking Phranang Beach and offers a set menu of locally sourced seafood including Charbroiled Andaman Lobster and seared scallops, served right around sunset. 

Krabi Hot Springs (also known as Hot Stream Waterfall) is located in the Khlong Thom District of Krabi, in a dense rainforest 35 minutes by car from Krabi Town. Here, mineral-rich waterfalls feature several natural jacuzzis at the top, with the temperature of the water there hovering between 35 and 42 degrees celsius. And if you’d like to cool down after a soaking session, slide down the smooth stones into the river below to enjoy the water at a slightly lower temperature. 

Open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 4pm, Krabi’s bustling night market in the centre of town is a lively place to spend an evening. Wind between stalls brimming with clothes, watches, jewellery and all manner of souvenirs while nibbling on local street snacks such as grilled satay skewers as live music adds to the area’s vibrance. 

From classic pad thai to hot-and-sour tom yum soup and spicy green papaya salads, Thailand’s culinary scene is jam-packed with rich flavours. Get hands-on in the kitchen and learn about local life and food history while frying up traditional fare during a cooking class in Krabi. With the family-run Authentic Thai Cooking School, you’ll start the journey with a guided market tour to pick up fresh ingredients before donning a red apron and sizzling up dishes from spring rolls to Thai green curry. 

Less than half an hour by car from Krabi Town, and at the end of Ao Nang Beach, lies a bamboo boardwalk, surrounded by lush foliage that leads to Pai Plong Beach. This is the region’s 450-metre-long monkey trail where you can spot macaques frolicking in their natural habitat. Visiting in the early morning while the beaches are still quiet is best but be warned: they can be quite mischievous, so make sure not to approach or feed them.

Galloping across a beach on horseback with the salty breeze in your hair is an experience that’s truly special. With KrabiTrek you’ll be able to make this idyllic scene at Ao Nam Mao Beach, just southwest of Krabi town, a reality. Not into riding? A stroll along the shore is just as rewarding: the area is blissfully quiet, save for the locals who take advantage of the isolation to search for crabs. There’s even a nearby ‘fossil beach’, where millions of shellfish have been preserved, dating as far back as 25 million years.

Get a glimpse of paradise with a visit to this stunning group of islands, a 90-minute ferry-ride south of the mainland. While all six offer aquamarine waters, swaying palms, soft white sands and soaring cliffs, Koh Phi Phi Le’s Maya Bay is a haven for snorkelers and puts you within easy reach of Hat Maya beach, an atoll made famous by the Leonardo DiCaprio film, The Beach.

In addition to sun-soaked shores, the area is renowned for its dramatic limestone formations, verdant forests and the unique wildlife that inhabit them. Get a bird’s-eye view while zooming  through the tree canopies on a Krabi Half-Day Zipline Adventure Experience. Home to 11 ziplines – with one stretching across 250 metres, as well as a rappel for abseiling down a 70-metre-tall clifftop – there’s plenty of heart-racing action for the whole family. Snacks and transfers from your accommodation in Ao Nang and Krabi Town are included in the activity fee.

After a day spent exploring Krabi’s lush wilderness and bustling streets,, there’s no greater reward than relaxing with a traditional Thai massage. At Banyan Tree Hotel, on the west coast of the province, your signature Royal Banyan treatment will be accompanied by the sound of lapping waves, as a herbal pouch dipped in sesame oil soothes your aches, and a face massage and therapeutic bath float you into bliss. The 90-minute Thai Treat pamper session at the ShellSea Resort’s Otium Spa offers a full-body herbal scrub and massage before you’re cocooned in a white clay body wrap; a similarly blissful affair.

Towering 120-metres above sea level and perched on the side of a mountain, Khaothong Hill is a thatched-roof diner that offers one of the most spectacular views over picturesque Phang Nga Bay. Make your way there just before sunset, settle into one of the orange beanbags on the alfresco terrace and order a classic Thai Milk Tea. From here, you’ll have a front-row seat to the pastel pink and golden hues that light up the horizon and colour the water below. Feeling peckish? The restaurant serves up traditional Thai and Western fare, including an interesting Italian twist on a Thai classic: Tom Yum Pasta. 

While you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to finding a perfect patch of sand to lay out your beach towel on in Krabi, Tonsai Beach on the Railay Peninsula is particularly secluded, reachable only via a 25-minute longtail boat ride from Ao Nang’s pier. On the journey, you’ll spot limestone cliffs, towering palms, golden sands and emerald waters, with the real treasures still to come: upon arrival, snorkelling, kayaking and rock-climbing are all on the cards.

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