Railay Beach by longtail
A peninsula of cliffs and sand reachable only by boat — the west beach for sunsets, the east for climbing and a hidden lagoon.
Krabi
Limestone karsts above the Andaman
Best time
November – April
Gentle pace
4–6 slow days
Ideal for
Beach lovers · Active families · Island hoppers
Krabi is the Andaman at its most dramatic — a coast of towering limestone karsts rising straight from a turquoise sea, fringed with white sand and backed by jungle. It is the jumping-off point for the Phi Phi islands and Railay beach, but the mainland coast itself — Ao Nang, Tubkaek, the mangrove lagoons — is just as lovely and far easier with children.
With children, base on a calm mainland beach, take a longtail to Railay for the day, kayak through mangrove caves at Bor Thor, and watch the sun set behind the karsts from a beach restaurant.
Worth lingering over
Kayaking the mangroves at Bor Thor
Paddle your own kayak through sea caves and lagoons to prehistoric cliff paintings — a gentle adventure for all ages.
The Tiger Cave temple
Climb 1,237 steps to a golden Buddha on a hilltop for the karsts spread to the sea — for older, energetic kids.
Hidden gem
The Emerald Pool in the jungle
A short drive inland from Krabi, a warm mineral stream tumbles through the rainforest into a deep turquoise rock pool — the Emerald Pool — surrounded by jungle and reachable by an easy boardwalk walk. Most visitors never leave the beaches; those who make the twenty-minute forest trail swim in warm, crystal water beneath the canopy, with a hot spring waterfall a little further up the river for a natural hot bath.