Discovered in the 1980s
Cruising yachties and backpackers first discovered Krabi in the 1980s. There are now several 5-star resorts and many excellent restaurants. Nevertheless, budget bungalows still exist in abundance all around Ao Nang and up the river in Krabi Town.
Krabi Town has provisioning of a similar standard to Phuket available. You can access Krabi town from Phra Nang by longtail boat or dinghy, or by road from Ao Nang.
Spectacular vertical cliffs
Phi Phi is one of the loveliest island groups anywhere. It has become famous for the spectacular vertical cliffs rising from clear seas; the beautiful lagoons enclosed by rock walls; and for the tropical beauty of its beaches. As a sailing destination, it makes a fine day’s jaunt from Phuket, with island exploring, snorkelling and fishing amongst the attractions.
Filming of ‘The Beach’, starring Leonardo Di Caprio, unleashed a deluge of environmental debates. Today the number of island day trips by speedboat, longtail boat and party boat means the yachtie must work harder to find those unspoiled islands and beaches that have so far resisted the packaged hordes.
Off limits
Authorities declared Phi Phi Le beaches off limits indefinitely in 2018 in an attempt to allow the sand and coral to recover. Being closed throughout the Covid Pandemic was a gift to Phi Phi Le’s regeneration and it resuscitated the island’s charm. Sadly, as soon as the island reopened, the hordes were back in force; any planned controls on numbers seems to have got lost in the scramble for cash.
Go towards the end of the day and see if you can pick up a national park mooring. Enjoy an overnight stay and clear out before the trippers arrive en masse at about 10am.
