Wonders of Amazing Thailand: Krabi and Phi Phi Islands
Long-tail boats at Maya Beach, Koh Phi Phi. Photo: Diego Delso.
Krabi is a town on the west coast of southern Thailand located 65 km northeast of Phuket. Krabi is right now a relaxing place and the town has no beaches itself, but it is very well connected to Ao Nang and Klong Muang beaches. Krabi is beginning to accommodate more visitors each year raising fears among local residents that it will be another Phuket, with lovely beaches but too many tourists.
Impressive limestone rocks and beautiful beaches
Once in Krabi town, you can visit Khao Khanap Nam, two limestone mountains that are around 100 meters tall. Khao Khanap Nam has beautiful caves with amazing stalactites and stalagmites worth exploring. Visiting Wat Tham Sua or Tiger Temple and view their many special features, including natural caverns, it’s well worth. Wat Kaew on Issara Road is one of the main temples in Krabi, and not far from the temple there is the Krabi Contemporary Art Museum.
Krabi province is noted for its outstanding natural beauty. Raylee Beach, Aonang Beach and Klong Muang Beach are the most famous white sand beaches in Krabi.
Among world’s most beautiful islands
Krabi is also well known for the Phi Phi Islands: Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Leh, located about 60 km off the coast are easily accessible by boat from Krabi. These islands has turned into one of the major destinations for visitors to Krabi and being too overdeveloped and filled with tourists. Koh Poda is famous for its pure white sandy beach. Other well known islands of the archipelago are Koh Mai Phai or Bamboo Island, Koh Yung, Bida Nok and Bida Nai two small limestone karsts.
To highlight Maya Bay, the main tourist attraction of Koh Phi Phi Leh. The movie “The Beach” with Leonardo DiCaprio was filmed there but unfortunately the beach was heavily modified to make it more paradisiacal.
Maya bay pictures courtesy of René Ehrhardt and Argenberg.
-Thailand News (TN)
