A Romantic Getaway to Krabi: Exploring the Beauty of the South

This trip marks our second visit to Krabi, and this time, we're venturing south to explore the stunning Ao Nang Bay. We're fortunate to be hosted by the beautiful Krabi La Playa Resort and The Small Resort, offering a perfect haven amidst the lush greenery.

Despite the rainy season, we're excited to discover the hidden gems Krabi has to offer, beyond its pristine beaches. This 3-day, 2-night adventure promises a full immersion in nature's wonders. While the weather may be unpredictable, we're confident that we've chosen the perfect time for this escapade.

Join us as we embark on this journey, capturing the essence of Krabi through captivating photographs and sharing our unforgettable experiences.

This trip took place on August 27-29, 2016.

This trip's program.

Arriving at the Khao Laem Ya - Mu Ko Lanta National Park in the early morning of the 27th, we visited the Samet Nang Chi - Tha Pom Khlong Song Nam viewpoint and checked into the Krabi La Playa Resort.

Day 28: Visit the Black Crab Pier, go on a 4-island snorkeling tour, stay at The Small Resort, eat at Reuan Mai Restaurant, and enjoy roti at Bang Nara in Krabi.

Day 29: Conquered the 1237 steps to Wat Tham Suea to see the sea of mist, stopped by the Suan Chumphon Baan Pee Nat, and returned to Bangkok.

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The journey began at 9 p.m. on Friday, the 26th. We drove steadily around the area, keeping our speed below 120 km/h to save fuel since there were only two of us and no one to share the cost. The first destination of the trip was the Samet Nang Chee viewpoint. We traveled without rain until we reached Phang Nga around 5 a.m., where we encountered light rain. We arrived at the viewpoint around 5:15 a.m. Unfortunately, because we were only two people, it was too dark and there was no one around. My girlfriend was afraid, so we didn't walk up to the viewpoint and missed the opportunity to take pictures of the stars. However, we saw many stars, so we took the opportunity to take a nap. We woke up at 6:00 a.m. when it started to get light and began walking up to the viewpoint. The walk was not far, about 300 meters, and we were tired when we arrived.

Welcome with a beautiful first light.

The sky exploded.

The scenery is beautiful. No one has set up tents today, but there are two cars that drove up this morning like me.

It is already bright, but the sun has not yet risen.

This location offers limited photo opportunities, but its vast openness makes it ideal for stargazing at night. The conditions seem perfect for capturing stunning星空照片.

The first morning was filled with the beauty of nature, which refreshed and energized me. We continued our journey to find food in the city. Along the way, there was fog everywhere. The rainy season is so refreshing.

Pay respects to Luang Pho Thuad

Driving into the city, there were only a few breakfast restaurants. I found this restaurant near the intersection and ordered pork blood soup and fried dough sticks. Strangely, the restaurant called it "geow laa," but from what I could see, it looked like the pork blood soup I had in Bangkok. It might be a local name for it.

Leaving the shop, we continued our journey to Krabi. The limestone mountains that lined both sides of the road were stunning.

We have arrived at the palm garden. We are not here to enter the garden, but it is conveniently located right next to the Pom Pier parking lot.

Parking costs 20 baht. It is a short walk to the entrance.

Admission fee: 20 baht per person.

The interior features a long wooden bridge, similar to a nature study path, stretching 700-800 meters along both sides.

It is unclear whether the water level will remain this low or if it is just a temporary situation. However, the presence of a drainage point suggests that the water level may remain low permanently.

The water is crystal clear and the weather is pleasant and not hot. Let's take a look around.

The most remarkable feature is the roots that are above the water.

Lush and shady.

The exposed mangrove roots are a truly unique sight. It takes less than an hour to walk through this area, making it a perfect stop for anyone visiting Krabi.

Come and meet adorable puppies.

We are just a few kilometers away from Ao Naw. The beautiful scenery along the way is interspersed with intermittent rain.

Arriving at Ao Nang around noon, before the check-in time, I stopped by a food stall near the beach for a bite to eat. I had a refreshing papaya salad with grilled chicken and sticky rice while enjoying the cool breeze.

Please arrange the photos in chronological order, but don't worry about the numerous outfit changes throughout the day.

The sky is clear today, but the waves are strong.

Soon we arrived at our accommodation for the night, Krabi La Playa Resort.

This location is situated on Klong Haeng Road, adjacent to the main road of Ao Nang. It is less than a 5-minute walk to the beach and is conveniently located near various convenience stores.

Let me show you around before we go inside.

This place is spacious and has swimming pools on both sides.

There is also a bar.

The spa zone is also available.

This side will be a restaurant. I will come here for dinner tonight.

He returned the room tonight. The room is large, spacious, clean, and very new.

The bathroom features a wet and dry separation design, equipped with all necessary amenities.

Stepping out onto the balcony, I saw the swimming pool on the other side, a vibrant blue that beckoned me. Let's go for a swim!

This pool is smaller, but it will be less crowded because most people will be at the larger pool.

Finally got to use the lifebuoy on this trip. Didn't get to use it at the waterfall last time I bought it, haha.

After playing in the water, I passed out and only woke up at 5 am. I took a nap until 6 am and then walked to Ao Nang to watch the sunset. It only took 5 minutes to get there.

The sea was very rough today, and a boat capsized while trying to reach the shore. Fortunately, there were no serious injuries, and everyone is safe. We are waiting to see if we can go to the island tomorrow.

I walked back and saw a beautiful entrance light. I wanted to play with the light, but I think my flashlight was too small and the light wasn't clear.

Gaze at the evening lights.

We will have dinner at this resort tonight.

The meal consisted of three dishes: green curry chicken, seafood tom yum, and sweet and sour stir-fry. The flavors were excellent, well-balanced, and delicious.

The first night's sleep was very comfortable. The bed was very soft. Tomorrow, I will wake up at 5 am as usual to go to Wat Tham Sua.

Waking up at 5 am, I rushed to Tiger Cave Temple from Ao Nang, which is about 20 kilometers away. It took less than 30 minutes to arrive. Initially, I planned to climb the mountain that day. The sky was clear, and the weather was pleasant. I hadn't done much research beforehand. I asked an aunt how long it would take to walk up, and she said it would take about 2-3 hours to climb the 1,237 steps. I thought to myself, "Will it really take that long?" As I walked a little further, I met a nun who said it would only take 30 minutes to reach the top. Why was there such a discrepancy in the time estimates? I decided to come back the next day instead, as I had more time and wasn't sure how fit I was. Fortunately, I didn't climb that day because there was no sea of mist due to the clear sky. However, the next day was a different story. I'll tell you about it as it happened so you can see what it was like.

I decided to change my destination and come here to walk and take pictures at the Black Crab Square. The atmosphere by the water is great.

The atmosphere is excellent.

Giant black crab

There are older people exercising, it looks similar to Tai Chi, but I'm not sure.

Dance some.

The sun is out.

This is a Nok bird. I just found out that this is what it looks like. In its small history, it is said that the Nok bird was created to represent the vision of being knowledgeable, broad-minded, self-sufficient, non-aggressive, and responsible. That's it, viewers.

We returned to our accommodation at around 7:00 AM and enjoyed a diverse breakfast spread.

The cuisine here caters more to the tastes of international visitors than to those of Thai locals. However, it is worth noting that the restaurant attracts a predominantly international clientele, with relatively few Thai patrons.

The taste is delicious, okay.

After breakfast, there is still time to watch cartoons on Channel 9 before going diving today. The sky is clear and the sun is strong, as I mentioned.

Around 9 am, a van picked us up and we joined the group for this tour. We went with Barracuda Tours again.

After the assembly point, receive the sticker of the tour program of each color and then take the 6-wheel truck again to go down to Naphratthara Beach to board the boat there.

The vessel was a medium-sized wooden boat carrying approximately 70 passengers. Of these, fewer than 10 were Thai nationals, with the remainder comprising a diverse group of Chinese, Japanese, Western, and Indian tourists.

Our tour today is a 4-island tour of Koh Talay Waek, Koh Kai, Koh Poda, and Phra Nang Cave.

Our first stop was Phra Nang Cave. Initially, we thought there would be fewer people during the rainy season, but we were wrong. The cave was packed with foreign tourists, likely due to the lower prices compared to the high season.

It stands majestically in the middle of the water.

Of course, you have to follow him sometimes, but it seems like it will be more like a rice sticky dance.

Turn your head slightly to the right.

Back to the open, feeling so happy.

The sky is beautifully bright.

Any fabric or items can be used as props for taking photos by throwing, waving, and shaking them.

If you are thirsty or hungry, there is a 7-Eleven boat here. You can choose according to your budget.

You can walk to pay respect at the Phra Nang Cave Shrine.

Those with time may consider attempting a climb up the cliff face. However, this is not feasible for those on a day trip.

Farewell to Phra Nang Cave, let's move on.

The second stop is Koh Kai, where you can take photos and snorkel around the island.

The sky is still beautiful and bright.

We went diving, but there weren't many fish and the underwater scenery wasn't very beautiful at this spot.

After diving for less than 10 minutes, I saw something strange in the straw.

The dark rain clouds have arrived, looming in the distance. What just happened? A moment ago, the sky was clear and the sun was shining brightly. In the blink of an eye, the fast-moving rain clouds have gathered overhead.

The rain is relentless, falling heavily without warning. Though there is no wind or lightning, the sheer force of the downpour is overwhelming.

The wires are all tangled up, it's so dark I can't see anything.

Let's go, let's go, let's go through the rain, brother.

It took less than 5 minutes to reach Talay Waek. We went to see it even though it was raining.

The wind is very strong right now. It's a pity that it's only breaking through one island at the moment. Normally, it would break through three ways, as you can see from the things on the left, right, and back. But right now, the water level is high, so it's not breaking through.

Warning: Do not cross, danger of rising water.

I managed to take a couple of photos with my big camera before the heavy rain started. It's time to head home.

The rain continues unabated.

The final stop was Koh Poda, where we had lunch as the rain began to subside.

Immensely large and impressive.

The only angle here is that we eat lunch and play until 2:45 PM, then we get back on the boat.

After disembarking and hopping on a six-wheeled truck back to our accommodation, we were once again met with confusion. The truck was filled with foreign tourists, who were excitedly chatting amongst themselves after their diving trip. They exchanged stories, origins, and jokes, creating a lively atmosphere. We, the lone Thai individuals, felt like we were on a foreign adventure ourselves. Their animated conversations left us, the "black-eyed Thais," sitting quietly amidst the merriment.

Tonight, we're back at our accommodation, but we've switched to The Small Resort, which is part of the same group as Krabi La Playa. It's right next door, but it's smaller and has less space. As soon as you enter, you'll find the guest rooms.

Although the accommodation may appear small, the rooms are surprisingly spacious and beautifully appointed.

Who is that in the mirror? I'm startled by myself.

Let's take a look at the bathroom. It's not big, but it has a bathtub where you can soak and watch TV.

The lotus flower is beautiful.

Notably, the door slides open, allowing you to roll directly into the pool in front of your room.

The pool is not large, but it is well-designed for the available space. There is also a pool on the roof, but it was being renovated when I visited.

There are seats to relax and enjoy the rain, which is still falling.

This evening, after showering and getting dressed, I will have dinner at the Ruen Mai restaurant. It is not too far away, located in the middle of the journey, and it will only take a short time to get there.

The path is brightly lit and beautiful.

The restaurant is not very large, but it is beautifully decorated in the style of a large cabin.

I would like to order three or four items, please.

Today, a fellow member of the Vios group in Krabi happened to be here, so he drove over to say hello.

The restaurant's bathroom is impressive. Today's meal cost 1050 baht for four dishes, including a sea bass that wasn't photographed. Considering the taste and portion size, the price is very reasonable. After the savory dishes, we had to indulge in dessert.

My brother recommended this roti restaurant in Krabi, Roti Bang Nara. The taste is good. If you are passing by, give it a try.

After a satisfying meal of both savory and sweet dishes, it's time to head back to the bedroom.

Upon returning to my accommodation, I took a moment to admire the colors of the evening sky. I parked my car at Krabi La Playa, which was conveniently located within walking distance. This time, I decided to take another walk around the area, enjoying the cool night air.

Sweet dreams tonight, beautiful numbers.

The morning started early, but this time a little later to allow for some sunlight, fearing it would be difficult to walk. Waking up, the rain was still falling. Thinking to myself, "If it keeps raining like this, there's bound to be fog when it stops." The rain continued until we reached Tiger Cave Temple. We bought raincoats and put them on. We started at 6:45 am with 1237 steps. Let's see how it goes.

The first 200 steps were a breeze. The path was flat and easy to walk on. It was almost too easy, making us want to keep jumping and jumping. But after 200 steps, our legs started to ache.

The view along the way was amazing. Once the rain stopped, we took off our shirts because it was hot and our bodies were burning calories like crazy.

After that, we took breaks at regular intervals. This was very helpful, as there were numbered steps to keep us motivated. I used a formula to walk until I was exhausted, then pushed myself a little further before taking a break. I would rest after every 50-60 steps, as taking too many breaks would make me even more tired.

Hurry up, little brother, my tongue is hanging out!

A smile finally emerged after reaching the 1000th step, with only 200 more to go.

And finally, we have reached the prize that awaits us. It took me 50 minutes. Wow, I did a good job. My body is doing well. Hehe, I'm secretly praising myself.

The rain started again shortly after I arrived, so I had to put on a jacket. I'll go check out the surroundings from the GoPro first.

After descending to the base below, you will find free Wi-Fi at Tiger Cave Temple. Let me tell you, it's very strong, allowing you to upload photos while waiting for the rain to stop comfortably.

Soon the rain subsided, and beauty emerged. Go see it.

This morning, the sea of mist belongs to us two and the monkeys, as no one else has come up.

You don't have to be a full-fledged doctor to look good. Just add a little something here and there, and you'll be fine.

The mist drifted in and out, revealing and concealing the landscape.

I don't know what to type for the caption, so here's a picture.

After enjoying the breathtaking sea of mist, we had to hurry down at 9:00 am as breakfast was only served until 10:00 am. The descent was exhilarating, taking only 17 minutes.

This downhill is smooth and doesn't require any waiting.

The video shows a large number of monkeys in a chaotic environment, which can be frightening. While the monkeys below are generally well-behaved, the aggressive behavior of the monkeys above may lead to concerns about the safety of those below. This fear may be exaggerated due to the chaotic situation.

I arrived back at the accommodation just in time at 9:55.

There is a good variety of food available.

Refuel and recharge for the long journey back to Bangkok.

I recommend these two beachfront accommodations in Ao Nang: they offer excellent value for money and won't disappoint. Additionally, both accommodations currently have special promotions available.

Those who are available during any of the specified time slots can check the dates and make reservations. Remember to mention that you are coming from "Liem's Travel Guide" so that the hotel staff will not be confused. You can make room reservations by calling 0-2234-9400 or 0-2632-6677.

After leaving the accommodation, it was time to travel back. At noon, we had to stop by to find something to eat. The local people recommended this restaurant, Golobi, which is located opposite the entrance to the Reuan Mai restaurant. It was packed with people.

Delicious chicken drumstick noodle soup, large portion, perfect for a satisfying meal.

Sweet ice cream to go.

Officially bid farewell to Krabi.

I wanted to climb Khao Honaak today, but my legs are too tired.

Before returning, I was worried that I would arrive home too early, as it was not yet accustomed to it. I arrived in Chumphon around 4 pm, so I stopped by to see another brother in the group. He had returned to open a garage and take care of the garden. I was going to say hello, but he said that since I was already there, I had to go into the garden with him. So, I ended up staying there for a long time.

The durian and mangosteen season is in full swing right now.

A long pole for picking mangosteen.

This can be translated to: "It's fun to pick these. My brother said if I came yesterday, I could pick the whole orchard. I just picked everything yesterday."

After leaving the park around 8pm, Bangkok was only 400-500 kilometers away. We stopped for food in Maeklong at midnight.

The trip was so relaxing that I stayed up until 1 am and still made it to work at 8 am the next morning.

Expenses

Ran over 1800 kilometers.

The fuel level is 4 bars remaining, with a cost of 870.

Gas correction fee 1400

Breakfast cost in Phang Nga 85

Parking fee at Tha Pom Pier is 60 baht.

Lunch at Ao Nang 120

Beer and snacks cost 330 baht.

Cross-island fee 80

Thai house dining cost 600

Roti 100

Raincoat 60

Globe 145

Dinner 80

The rest is miscellaneous.

Excluding accommodation and diving tours, the total cost per person for this trip was 2,000 baht.

Another trip full of flavors has come to an end. It was truly the right time and place. If I had climbed Tiger Cave Temple on the first day, I wouldn't have seen this beautiful sea of fog. This trip to Krabi turned out to be more about the mountains than the sea. Nature always has something exciting to offer. That's why I love nature tourism. It keeps us excited all the time because what we encounter will never be exactly what we saw online. It might be more beautiful or more ordinary, but that's because it's nature. Just one second of wind can change everything.

See you again with the touring couple. Hello today.