Ao Nang
From World travel guide
Ao Nang (อ่าวนาง) is the busiest beach destination in Krabi Province.
Contents |
Understand
Formally Ao Phra Nang ("Princess Bay") although everybody uses the short form, Ao Nang is the most 'Westernized' beach in Krabi, originally a backpacker hotspot but now moving slowly upmarket as the airport brings in high flyers. While not quite as scenic as Rai Leh, there is a good range of cheap accommodation, many good restaurants, easy transport and travel/tour agencies ready to cater to your every whim, making it a good base for exploring Krabi.
Orienting yourself in Ao Nang is easy: almost everything is located either along the beach, which runs west-east, or along the Airport Road (Highway 4203) which goes up north from the east end of the beach. Long-tails arrive on the beach near the junction of the two roads.
Get in
By plane
Krabi International Airport is about 40 minutes away by car. As of 2005, the local airport limo monopoly charges a fairly steep 600 baht for a transfer (up to 4 people). Many hotels will arrange a pickup at similar prices on request.
By boat
Rai Leh West and Ton Sai are only 10 minutes away by long-tail. Boats leave constantly from the east end of the beach and charge a flat 60B per person during the day, slightly more at night.
There are also public ferry services to Ko Phi Phi and Ko Lanta roughly twice a day for around 200B, any travel agent will be happy to sell you tickets.
Get around
Tuk-tuks in Ao Nang charge a flat 20B/person for trips around town. Songthaews also run all across Ao Nang onto the Shell Beach (See) and some all the way to Krabi town, fares from 10B up depending on distance.
See
- Fossil Shell Beach (Thai Su-san Hoi, lit. "Seashell Graveyard"). Some 7 km west of Ao Nang, this mildly traplike tourist attraction has slates of compressed 40 million year old shellfish, which bear not a small resemblance to concrete. There's also a small grubby museum and a huge slew of gift shops. Entry is a steep 200 baht for foreigners — and 20 baht for Thais.
- Nopparat Thara Beach. Picturesque beach at the western tip of Ao Nang, zoned as a national park. During low tide you can walk up to some of the nearby craggy limestone islands.
Do
There is little to do immediately around Ao Nang, but Rai Leh and Ko Phi Phi are just around the corner and there are many tour operators offering activities like sea kayaking, scuba diving and elephant treks.
- Raya Divers, 1/2 Moo 5 Tambol Rawai (about 2 km up Airport Rd), tel. +66-76280074, [1]. 100% Finnish-run 5-star PADI shop, although instruction in English is also available. Good gear and an emphasis on safety. 3000B for a full-day two-dive boat trip.
Buy
Ao Nang does not have any shopping malls or supermarkets, but there are plenty of convenience stores and souvenir shops.
Eat
Budget
For cheap eats, there are a few street carts scattered about, although most serve backpacker fare like banana pancakes (15B a pop). The fried chicken lady in front of the Tipa Resort does a pretty mean som tam (papaya salad) at 40B though, and also look out for the yellow-signed noodle stalls with a "4" in a bowl as their logo, which dish out a garlicky but tasty bamii muu daeng (roast pork noodles) for 25B.
- Tonsai Restaurant, Ao Nang Soi 15 (15 min from beach up Airport Rd). Popular low-key eatery offering a good spread of good Thai food. Most dishes around 50B.
Splurge
- Absolut, opposite McDonalds (5 min up Airport Rd). Swedish fare like meatballs and mashed potatoes from 200B up, and not just Absolut Vodka but Aalborgs Akvavit as well. They also do a very good authentic Christmas spread (790B), reservation one day before required.
Drink
There is no shortage of places for a drink, but Patong-style girlie beer bars and go-go joints are mercifully absent from Ao Nang.
Sleep
Budget
Mid-range
Splurge
- The Cliff Ao Nang Resort, 85/2 Moo 2, tel. +66-75638117 /8. One of the swankiest small resorts in Krabi, opened 2003. Location is quiet, with precipitous cliffs as the backdrop, but just off the main road and only 10-20 minutes on foot from central Ao Nang and the beach. Bungalows from 3500 baht up, rather small in size but with nice Balinese-style open air bathrooms and all modern conveniences. Breakfast in bed included. No children under 14 allowed.
Get out
- The cliffs and beaches of Rai Leh, just 15 minutes away by boat, make a great day trip.
- Ao Nang is one of the main gateways for travel to the Phi Phi islands, about 2 hours away by boat.
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