Getting Around Krabi

By Paula Parker

Travel Tips For Getting Around Krabi

Getting around Krabi is straightforward, with a variety of transport options available.

There are taxis, tuk tuks, songthaews, motorcycles or scooters, and longtail boats, which are essential for reaching offshore islands and beaches which are only accessible by water.

If you are arriving at the airport, you can pre-book transfers which provide a hassle-free start to your holiday.

There are self-drive options such as rental cars or motorbikes that are great for exploring Krabi at your own pace.

Within Krabi Town itself, motorbike taxis and local buses make it easy to get to your destination efficiently, and for transport to the surrounding beach areas, songthaews provide a cost-effective alternative for both locals and tourists alike.

Getting around Krabi

This page contains affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase through a link, we may receive a very small commission at no additional cost to you, you can read our affiliate disclosure

Transfers from Krabi Airport

If you prefer to organise your transfer from Krabi International Airport in advance, you can pre-book your transfer with our friends at Easy Day Thailand.

These pre-arranged transfers are similarly priced to standard taxis but offer greater convenience by allowing you to secure your transport before leaving home and reducing any stress upon arrival.

Depending on your destination and arrival time, one-way transfers start from around 800 Baht.

Getting Around Krabi At Your Own Pace

Renting a car or motorbike is one of the best ways to explore Krabi province and all the mainland attractions at your own pace.

Navigation is easy with a good map, which can be collected at the airport or your hotel.


Motorbike & Scooter Rentals

Hire Scooter & Motorbikes in Krabi

The most affordable transport option for getting around Krabi is on a motorbike or scooter.

Scooters and motorbikes are readily available for hire throughout Krabi; however, when renting motorbikes or scooters from street vendors, insurance is not offered nor included.

Based on our personal experience from renting motorbikes in Krabi, the quality of bikes can vary significantly. Some of the motorbikes we have hired were in reasonable condition and performed adequately, while others were old and showed clear signs of lack of regular maintenance.

But what we really dislike most about renting scooters or motorbikes anywhere in Thailand from street side vendors, is that most vendors will want to hold your passport.

Your passport is an essential travel document and should be kept secure at all times. Handing it over to a rental vendor may put you at risk if issues arise with the rental agreement.

Recommended Motorbike Hire in Krabi

For anyone planning a trip to Krabi and who wants to hire a scooter or motorbike, we recommend hiring your motorbike through Bikago.

Bikago is a reliable online scooter rental service, offering new and well-maintained scooters and motorbikes.

What are the Benefits of Hiring a Motorbike from Bikago

Apart from the added convenience of being able to pre-book your motorbike or scooter rental online, there are some extra benefits that you just wouldn't get if hiring from the street vendors in Krabi. 

Bikago Offers

  • Insurance for Damage and Theft
  • No Passport or Cash Deposit Required
  • 24/7 Customer Care & Roadside Assistance
  • Instant Online Confirmation 
  • Delivery & Pick-Up Service
  • Cancellation Insurance
  • New and Maintained Bikes

Bikago also includes the use of free sanitized helmets, phone charging holders, and complimentary first aid kits.

If you plan to hire a motorbike in Krabi, ensure that you have taken out the appropriate travel insurance. Most travel insurance companies will also state in the fine print, what size bike they cover you for to ride.   

You should hold a motorbike license that is issued in your own country and an International drivers license, and always wear a helmet.

Riding a motorbike is only recommended for getting around Krabi, if you have had previous experience riding a motorbike in your own country.

Check out Bikago Scooter Rentals

Rental Cars

If you have never ridden a motorbike before, rental cars are a safer option for getting around Krabi.

Rental cars are readily available from the airport with companies such as Budget and Avis or you can arrange a rental car through most hotels in Krabi.

If you plan to rent a car ensure that you have taken out the appropriate travel insurance and hold an international drivers license.

If driving a car or motorcycle in Krabi isn’t for you, you might consider hiring a car with a driver for getting around Krabi.

This is a more enjoyable way of getting around Krabi with the drivers local knowledge to show you things you probably would possibly miss if you were on your own.

The prices are usually written on a sign near the car, however some drivers during the low season maybe happy to bargain with you.


Motorbike Taxis for Getting Around Krabi Town

Krabi Motorcycle Sidecar

Motor bike taxi's are also a great way of getting around Krabi Town and will take you to most places for a pre-arranged price, just make sure that you negotiate the price with the driver before you get on the bike.

For trips into Krabi Town and from Krabi Town back to the main beach areas you can catch a songthaew.

Songthaews in Krabi are really just converted pickup trucks that have a roof and two rows of seats in the back, these local buses provide a convenient and cheap means of transport.

Along the beachfront at Ao Nang, there are tuk-tuks and motorbike sidecar taxis everywhere, which will take you to most places in the local area for around 50 baht per person.

Taxi from Krabi Airport

If you haven’t pre-arranged your transport from the airport to your hotel you can also catch a taxi from Krabi airport.

You will need to arrange this at the taxi counter inside the arrivals hall. A taxi from Krabi airport to Ao Nang is around 600 baht one way.

Getting around Krabi Islands

Transport to Krabi Islands

To get to Krabi’s offshore islands, Tonsai Beach, Railay Beach and Pra Nang Beach you will need to catch a longtail boat.

There are taxi boats that run from Ao Nang to these beaches frequently throughout the day.

The only downside is that you will have to wait until they have enough passengers which is usually a minimum of 8 people before they will depart.

Tickets for the longtail taxi boats can be purchased at the ticket office on the beach road in Ao Nang.

The prices for these boat trips are fixed prices and displayed on a board outside the ticket office.

From Ao Nang to Tonsai - West Railay or Phra Nang Beach we paid 100 baht per person or 200 baht return.

Low Season Travel Tips

During the low season, longtail boats may not be able to leave directly from Ao Nang Beach and you may be transported by motorbike taxi to the Nopparatthara Pier for your departure.

This is okay, but just be aware on return you will need to make your own way back to Ao Nang from the Pier by taxi, which is not included in the cost.

Krabi Offshore Islands Daytrips | Island Hopping Tips

Daytrips and Tours from Krabi

To see the offshore islands you can also charter your own private longtail boat and driver for the day.

You can book this service through the same ticket office on the beach road at Ao Nang.

Or alternatively we found that if you can talk to a boat driver away from the ticket office you maybe able to negotiate a better deal directly with the driver then the fixed prices at the ticket office.

Longtail boats can also be found at Nopparat Thara beach; Chao Fah Pier in Krabi Town; Klong Muang Beach and Railay Beach.

Getting to Krabi

Not only is there ample transport for getting around Krabi.

There are also many ways in which you can get to Krabi from nearby Provinces, below are a couple of suggestions on how to get to Krabi.

Tours, airport transfers and Ferry Tickets


Contact our friends Diego & Ingo from Easy Day Thailand to assist you with Transfers, Ferries and Tours in and around Krabi.

Contact Easy Day Thailand


Ferry Service to and from Krabi

There is a regular ferry service which connects Phuket, Ko Phi Phi and Krabi as well as ferries to other destinations such as Koh Lanta.

Krabi ferry tickets can be purchased from our friends at Easy Day Thailand.


Krabi Ferry Timetable & Prices

Departing from Nopparattara Pier Ao Nang

Destination

Ko Phi Phi

Adult 450 | Child 350

Departure 


9.30am

Arrival


11.30am

Phuket

Adult 700 | Child 500


3.00pm


5.15pm

Koh Lanta

Adult 550 | Child 400


10.30am


12.45pm


Departing from Railay Beach Pier

Destination

Ko Phi Phi

Adult 450 | Child 350

Departure 


9.45am

Arrival


11.30am

Phuket

Adult 700 | Child 500


3.15pm


5.15pm

Koh Lanta

Adult 550 | Child 400


10.45am


12.45pm

Transfers from your Krabi hotel to the pier are not included in the above fare, however if you would like a transfer this can be organised for you.


Planes to Krabi

There are direct flights to Krabi from Bangkok, Ko Samui, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.

Alternatively you maybe able to pick up cheap flights to Phuket then make your way to Krabi by road or catch a ferry to Ko Phi Phi where you can enjoy a day or two before heading on to Krabi.


Buses to and from Krabi

From Krabi Bus Terminal there are bus services to nearby provinces such as Phuket, Phang-nga, Trang, Hat Yai and Surat Thani and Bangkok.

All Buses arrive and depart in Krabi Town, the Government buses go to the bus terminal in Talaat Kao and private tour buses arrive at the Andaman Wave Master station in the centre of town.

For onward travel to the beach areas in Krabi it is easy to catch a local bus or taxi from either of these stops.


Krabi Mini Travel Guide

If you enjoyed this article and found it helpful for your travels in Phuket, let us know by following us on Facebook. 

Save Time: Search Phuket Travel Secrets

If you are searching for something specific and can't locate it.

SEARCH OUR SITE