Ao Nang

Ao Nang: your gateway to Krabi and the Andaman islands

Ao Nang Beach differs from the other beaches in Thailand, it is not going to offer you a typically beautiful view or space to just swim and get a suntan. So, what is the attraction when visiting Ao Nang? You can find cheap hotels and connections to other beaches like Koh Phi Phi, Koh Lanta, Phuket and the popular Railay peninsula just 15 minutes from Krabi beach. It is the most popular beach in the province and like other towns in Thailand, you can find low-cost accommodations, be delighted by the local food in many fantastic restaurants, contact a travel agency and plan your tour, get souvenirs in the shops, find easy transportation and of course tons of activities for your pleasure.

Ao Nang is the favorite place for many backpackers because of the many climbing opportunities and it is also ideal as a starting point for excursions to popular beaches since it allows one to have access to them. However, today it is focused on a more familiar audience.

Things to do around Ao Nang

Maybe you won’t have picturesque sightseeing, but Ao Nang gives you plenty of things to do while exploring Krabi and its surroundings. Among them, kayaking is one of the favourites, also you can learn scuba diving in one of the many centres that the beach offers you and if you have an adventuristic spirit, rent a bicycle or a motorcycle and make a journey through the western part of the Ao Nang area and arrive at Nopphara Thara beach or make day trips to visit islands such as Koh Hong, Koh Kai or Koh Poda. Rent a motorcycle for around 150 – 200 per day, and it’s the cheapest way to move around the beach.

Because the town is compact, most travellers walk between their hotel, the restaurants along the main strip and the beachfront. Longtail boats leaving from the sand handle the short hops that roads can’t reach, which is why the Railay peninsula stays so easy to visit even on a half-day plan.

How to get to Ao Nang

Ao Nang sits on the Andaman coast of Krabi province, so most journeys arrive either overland from the mainland or by boat from the surrounding islands. Krabi is the natural entry point for travellers flying in or coming by road from other parts of southern Thailand, and the final leg to the beach is short.

On this page you can compare every scheduled service we sell to and from Ao Nang in one search. Enter your date, check the options from several operators and the other companies listed below, and book the seats directly — there are 92 routes bookable routes in total, with fares from ฿400.

Ports, piers and pick-up points

Boats for the islands use the piers on and around the Ao Nang and Nopparat Thara shoreline, while road services generally use hotel or town-centre pick-up points in the Ao Nang area. Your exact departure point, along with any pick-up window, is shown on the ticket for the service you select — piers can differ between operators and between seasons, so it is worth reading that line before travel day.

Popular routes to and from Ao Nang

Ao Nang connects to Koh Jum, Koh Kradan, Koh Lanta, Koh Lipe, Koh Mook, Koh Ngai and 8 more destinations. That spread makes it a practical first or last stop on an Andaman island route, whether you are heading south towards the Trang islands and the Malaysian border or staying close to Krabi.

• Ao Nang to Koh Lanta — one of the most-booked hops, and a common gateway to the wider Lanta district.
• Ao Nang to Koh Lipe — the long southern run down the Andaman chain.
• Ao Nang to Koh Ngai and Ao Nang to Koh Mook — the quieter Trang islands.
• Ao Nang to Koh Kradan — a small island stop often combined with Koh Mook.
• Ao Nang to Koh Jum — a short, low-key crossing close to the Krabi coast.

Most of these routes run in both directions, so you can plan a return leg back to Ao Nang from the same island page.

Operators serving Ao Nang

Services from Ao Nang are run by several local companies, including Andaman Wave Master, Ao Nang Travel and Tour Co.,Ltd. and Bundhaya Speed Boat. Each operator sets its own departure points, luggage rules and onward transfer arrangements, and those details appear with the individual service when you search.

Where more than one company covers the same island, comparing them side by side is usually the quickest way to find a departure that fits your day rather than one that leaves you waiting at the pier.

Practical travel information

A few things worth knowing before you book Ao Nang travel:

• Book ahead in high season. The island routes fill up during peak months, and popular sailings can sell out days in advance.
• Allow time for pick-ups. Where a service includes a transfer to the pier, the pick-up happens well before the stated departure.
• Travel light where you can. Boats and minivans have limited luggage space, and some operators apply their own baggage conditions.
• Check the season. Andaman weather affects sailings, and schedules on some island routes change between the dry and monsoon months.
• Keep your ticket to hand. The confirmation shows your operator, departure point and any conditions that apply to changes or cancellations.

Fares, departure times and journey lengths vary by operator and by date, so the figures shown in your search results are the ones that apply to your trip.

Book your Ao Nang trip

Whether you are arriving in Krabi for a few nights of climbing and kayaking or using Ao Nang as the launch point for a longer island run, you can compare all 92 routes routes, operators and departure times in one place. Pick your date, choose the service that suits your plans, and confirm your seats in a few steps. Search availability to see today’s options from Ao Nang.