Overlooking the idyllic waters of the Andaman Sea, Ao Nang is a picturesque resort town in Thailand’s ruggedly beautiful Krabi Province. It boasts blindingly white sands and majestic limestone islands, as well as a spectacular underwater world that can be explored on longtail boat trips.

Things to do

Spend a day relaxing on the sands of Fossil Shell Beach or wade to the craggy limestone islands that lie just offshore from Nopparat Thara Beach. Longtail boats travel between Ao Nang and Rai Leh, with this world-famous stretch of sand framed by towering peaks that are popular with rock climbers.

Want to explore further afield? Join a full-day boat tour to the famous Phi Phi Islands or board a longtail boat to visit nearby Poda Island. Snorkelling is possible in the waters around Chicken Island while Hong Island features plenty of hammocks where you can kick back and do absolutely nothing.

Scuba divers can venture below the water’s surface with one of the local dive operators who run daily trips to the islands of Ao Nang Bay and Phi Phi Marine National Park. Come face-to-face with sharks at the Point Marine sanctuary or explore one of the most famous wreck sites in the Andaman Sea, the King Cruiser ferry that sank in 1997 after hitting the Anemone Reef.

Getting around

Krabi International Airport is the main gateway to the region and lies around 40 minutes’ drive from Ao Nang. Private minibuses and songthaew (converted pickup trucks) are the main means of getting around the area while most of the nearby beaches can be accessed by longtail boats. Tuk-tuks are readily available in Ao Nang, as are rental motorbikes and cars.