A Family Adventure in Krabi
Just off the bustling main road of Ao Nang, our home away from home was the Panan Krabi Resort. It has a great central location just minutes from the beach, this boutique hotel offered us not only comfort but also an array of amenities tailored to families. From the shaded pool to the kid’s club featuring daily activities from yoga to mask making to Thai boxing there was so much to do in resort.
As we stayed over Easter, they also arranged an Easter Egg hunt and loads of other fun Easter activities for a memorable stay. Each morning there was a large breakfast spread, and Asian favorites served fresh from live cooking stations. Our spacious family room provided the perfect base after days of exploration.
Krabi is a vibrant hub teeming with life, with bustling markets and lots of eateries. But we were there for the beautiful National Park islands rather than the shopping and a great local beach. I booked a local tour company in advance of our trip as it was a busy time and I wanted to ensure that we had the pick of the days to visit the islands. We were picked up from our hotel and taken to a local port only 5 minutes away and hopped on board our luxurious longtail boat. We booked a private boat with friends so we could pick and choose when we wanted to leave an island or stay longer. Then we set off to discover the 4 islands. Our first stop was Tup Island where we rock pooled for crabs and then jumped into the sea to cool down. Next, we went to Chicken Island named so as it looks like a chicken (I thought more camel), then on to lunch at Poda Island and lastly to Phranang Beach which has the famous cave which is meant to be the home of a princess spirit.
The following day we used the same company and did a half day trip to enchanting Hong Island, where stunning turquoise water and secluded lagoons awaited. We arrived on Hong island after 45 minutes and decided to make the scenic hike to Hong Island's summit, and were rewarded with panoramic views overlooking the whole of Hong Island and beyond. We then headed to the lagoon and it was incredible to be surrounded by the sky high cliffs and the bluest water I have ever seen.
Eager to embrace ethical tourism, the next day we went to meet the gentle giants of Thailand at an elephant sanctuary. Engaging in hands-on experiences, we learned about elephant conservation efforts and embarked on a memorable jungle walk alongside these majestic creatures. This was such a once in a lifetime afternoon which we won’t ever forget. Again, I booked this in advance as we were a big group of 8 and we wanted to visit the sanctuary in the morning to avoid the mid-day heat.
At the end of Ao Nang beach, you will find the Monkey Trail which takes you around the coast to a beach you can only access by boat. It’s an easy trial but you do have to watch your step and I wouldn’t recommend it for very young children. My 5 and 8 year olds managed it fine but younger children might struggle. We didn’t see any monkeys that morning, but we did enjoy spending the morning on the secluded beach. Our friend did do the trial earlier in the week and spotted lots of monkeys, so I think we were maybe unlucky.
On our last night in Krabi we took a tuk tuk to Ao Nang Night Market, indulging in local delicacies from noodles to curries to crocodile. There were also some great stalls selling all my favorite Thailand souvenirs. There were some great local performances from a live band and the famous Thai boxing – it was such a fun night.
We loved Krabi and it was the perfect place to base ourselves to visit the islands. We will go back to Krabi with the handy direct flight Dubai it’s the perfect place to discover a different part of Thailand. With destinations like the Tiger Temple and hot springs awaiting our exploration, we didn’t get to visit Phi Phi either. We will undoubtedly be back. Now on to Khao Lak.
