Going to Krabi with kids is a great choice for a fabulous family holiday. It is a location that can be both adventurous and relaxing so offers the perfect mix for families.
Krabi must be one of the best places in the world for an active outdoor holiday with children. The scenery here is just spectacular with majestic jungle-clad limestone cliffs rising from the beaches and out of the sea.
There are over 100 islands that dot the Andaman Sea and each offers its own unique adventure that kids are sure to love.
In this blog, we hope to help you plan your family trip to Krabi and help you decide what to do in Krabi with kids.
Best Hotels in Krabi for Kids
Krabi is a large province with lots of amazing places that you can stay. It lends itself perfectly to a multi-destination holiday with a bit of island hopping thrown in.
We have written a whole post about where to stay in Krabi that describes the different areas, and why you might choose to stay there. We have also written a Krabi itinerary based on spending your time on the mainland and taking day trips.
Some of the best places to stay with kids are:
Railay Beach – For something a little bit special, stay at Rayavadee Hotel, it is incredible. Or enjoy a great stay at the budget-friendly Railay Princess Resort and Spa
Koh Lanta – We loved our stay at Lanta Resort, the three pool here are sure to be a hit with your kids and they also have a playground and kids club. If you are looking for a luxury faily hotel, they dont come much better than Pimalai Resort and Spa, one of the best hotels in Thailand.
Koh Ngai – Our favourite island and favourite hotel. Koh Hai Fantasy Resort and Spa has the perfect beach location with the perfect view.
Things to do in Krabi with Kids
Visit Railay Beach
Railay Beach is stunning, with limestone cliffs rising all around and lovely white sand underfoot. You and your kids could easily spend the day relaxing on the beach, playing in the sand and swimming in the calm seas.
If anyone is looking for a bit more action they could have a rock climbing lesson. There can be few more impressive places to try this sport than on the spectacular cliffs behind the beach. Several companies in Railay can provide rock climbing tuition with a fully qualified instructor, and provide all the necessary equipment.
This is one of the best places in Thailand to go climbing so even if you don’t fancy having a go yourself, it is entertaining to watch the experts climb these enormous cliffs.
If you prefer water-based activities, you are well catered for with kayaks, paddleboards and snorkels available for rent.
Whilst you are on the peninsula, don’t miss the chance to head over to the quieter but equally beautiful Tonsai beach, which is about a 15 minute walk away.
>>> Book your rock climbing adventure up those amazing cliffs
Climb to the Tiger Cave Temple
If you are up for a physical challenge with your family we recommend heading up to the Tiger Cave Temple for a chance to soak up some incredible views and a bit of Thai culture all in one go.
Depending on the age of your children it could be a bit of a challenge to get up the 1237 steps that lead you to the temple at the top of the mountain (if they are young you will need a baby carrier for sure).
The view from the top is well worth the effort and you can see why this spot in amongst fabulous karst scenery was chosen for a temple site. Along with the views, you can gaze at the huge golden Buddha that is housed in the temple.
Emerald Pool and the Hot Water Spring
One of the most popular family activities in Krabi is to head to the famous Emerald Pool where the colour of the water changes throughout the day, depending on the angle of the sunlight.
It is a pretty place but maybe a bit too popular so try and come here early or late in the day to avoid the worst of the crowds. You can’t swim in the Emerald Pool but there is a natural hot water spring a short walk away so bring your costumes and take a dip.
The Emerald Pool is part of the Thung Teao Forest Park about 50 km south of Krabi Town. There is a great nature trail through the rainforest which is perfect for families as it gives everyone the chance to explore a bit of jungle in a safe environment. The trail is just under 3km.
>>> Book a tour to the Emerald Pool and Tiger Cave Temple
Go on the 4 island tour – Both of them!
One of the best boat trips that you can take from the Krabi mainland is known as the 4 island tour. This day trip will take you to some spectacular islands where you will get the chance to spend some time on the beach, snorkel, have lunch and generally take in the views of the four islands at Phra Nang Cave, Tup Island, Chicken Island and Poda Island
>>>Book your 4 islands from Ao Nang tour here
Confusingly, there is another 4 island tour that goes from Koh Lanta and visits 4 completely different islands.
If anything, this tour is even better! It will take you to our favourite island – Koh Ngai, and then you will venture just outside of Krabi province as you visit Koh Kradan and Koh Mook in Trang province.
Koh Kradan has some of the best snorkelling around, whilst Koh Mook is home to the spectacular Emerald Cave. That’s only 3 islands! I hear you say, well the 4th one varies slightly but is generally Koh Cheuk a small islet between Ngai and Mook where there is some fabulous snorkelling.
>>> Click here to find out more about the 4 island tour from Koh Lanta
Explore Krabi Town
Krabi town may not be the most beautiful city in the world but it is well worth exploring for a few hours. It is full of quaint cafes, charming bars and beautiful parks. In the evening, Krabi night market is one of the best places to do some street shopping.
You can find pretty much everything, from shoes and second-hand t-shirts to electronics, toys and souvenirs. It is a good place to try a variety of tasty street food snacks and meals.
If possible, you should try and explore Krabi on a weekend so that you can visit the Krabi Weekend Walking Street market.
The main focus here is on street food and there is a huge range of stalls selling fabulously tasty dishes from barbequed meat to sweet deserts, alongside fresh fruit stalls and juices.
If you are feeling adventurous there are also all sorts of weird and wonderful insects and bugs that you can eat!
James Bond Island Tour
Pha Nga Bay is one of the most spectacular landscapes on earth. It features in the James Bond film ‘The Man with the Golden Gun’ and the film starts with an aerial shot flying through the bay past all the islands.
There are hundreds of small karst islands that rise out of the sea and it is an extraordinary and beautiful place to explore.
A boat tour to this area is definitely one of the best things to do in Krabi with kids. The boat ride visits the famous James Bond Island (where the bad guy had his lair) and you can buy a few trinkets as a souvenir whilst you are here. I have seen the film but, like most people who come on this tour, it is the natural beauty of the area that is the real draw.
The boat tour will also take you to a fascinating sea gypsy village and some tours include the option to spend a little time kayaking in the area or to visit stunning Koh Hong.
>>> Book a tour to James Bond Island and Phang Nga Bay
Go Kayaking in the Mangrove Swamps
One of the best family activities in Krabi is to explore the dense network of mangroves swamps at Ao Thalane by kayak.
Kayaking is always fun but it is a special adventure in this area where you can wind your way through the mangroves with limestone pinnacles rising directly above you. You never know what might be around the corner and the hidden beaches between the rock faces are delightful.
This is definitely a trip to do with a guide as it would be easy to get lost here on your own, but you can arrange a tour to suit your own abilities and interests.
>>> Choose your Kayaking trip here
Take a Sunset Cruise
We have included a few boat trips on this list of things to do in Krabi with kids. That is mainly because the seascape here is so spectacular and surely one of the main reasons to visit Krabi.
A sunset cruise will allow you to see the coastline from a traditional sailing junk boat under the golden light of sundown. The red sails will flutter in the breeze as you take in the views from the deck, whilst enjoying fabulous Thai food and cocktails.
For the perfect end to the day, jump off the boat to snorkel and swim amongst the extraordinary bio-luminescent waters.
>>> Book your Sunset Cruise here (and read hundreds of 5-star reviews)
Wat Kaew Temple
Krabi is not famous for temples in the way that Chiang Mai or Bangkok are. But, there are a few temples that are worth a look, particularly if you do not plan to head further north. One of the best is Wat Kaew Temple which is a beautiful, calm white temple. It is a good temple to visit with kids as they can enjoy spotting dragons (carved) and peacocks (real).
Krabi Fun Park
Krabi Fun Park is an unusual and imaginative theme park that also gives you the chance to get up amongst the rainforest canopy.
If your kids are brave and over 120cm tall, they are sure to love the chance to fly between the treetops on zip wires. These aren’t just bog-standard zip wires though they have been given a touch of fantasy by having themes that mean you can fly through the sky like Harry Potter on his broomstick, or ride a bicycle through the air.
>>> Book discounted tickets for your treetop adventure here
Krabi Kart Speedway
Go-karting is always fun, and this course is particularly good as the location by gigantic limestone cliffs makes it very scenic. It can be an activity for the whole family as children that are too young to drive the cars can go with their parents in the special double seat karts to race around the track.
On the same site is Krabi Paintball Park which is sure to be a hit with teenagers. It is worth noting that karting and paintball are both pretty hot activities to be doing in the Krabi climate.
Krabi Ao Nam Mao Outdoor Aquarium
Aquariums are always a hit with our girls and this small centre specialises in breeding endangered species from small fish to sharks and turtles in large saltwater tanks.
It is run by the Thai government, is free to enter and makes a good place for the family to learn about these species and the need for conservation. The tank with clownfish is probably the biggest hit with young children who love to see real-life Nemos!
Go Snorkelling
It is possible to snorkel from many of the beaches in Krabi province. You have a good chance of seeing some colourful fish and in some places, you will find coral (although much of it is damaged). One of our favourite places to snorkel from the beach in Krabi is Koh Ngai.
For even better snorkelling you will need to go out with a boat to some of the better-preserved marine areas. The 4 island tours mentioned above both include stops of snorkelling.
Places like Ko Rok, Koh Haa, Koh Phi Phi and Koh Bida have some spectacular snorkelling and you have the chance of seeing creatures like reef sharks, rays, parrotfish, angelfish and turtles amongst many others. Read more about snorkelling in Krabi in this post.
Hong Island is one of the most amazing places I have been, take a look at these beautiful photos!
Stay on an Island
For me, Krabi is all about the sea and the islands so it would be a real shame to visit and not spend at least a couple of nights on one of the islands.
You could try Koh Phi Phi which is the most spectacular with its huge limestone cliffs, crystal clear water and perfect beaches. It is quite busy and has a party/backpacker vibe so if you stay here you might want to stay a bit out of the way at the fabulous barefoot luxury Zeavola Resort
Another great island in Krabi is Koh Lanta which we think is perfect for families with miles and miles of beautiful sandy beaches and a great family-friendly atmosphere. It is a big island and slightly lacks the castaway feel of island life, so we recommend staying there for a few nights and combining it with Koh Ngai.
Koh Ngai is our favourite island and we have spent many perfect weeks there enjoying the beach, the snorkelling and kayaking, and the unbelievably good views.
When to go to Krabi
There are district wet and dry seasons in the Krabi area and overall the best time to visit is between November and March. Don’t rule out visiting outside of this high season as there are benefits to visiting at other times.
We have written a whole post about when to visit Krabi, so have a read of that if you want to know more.
How to get to Krabi
Krabi has an international airport with flights from a few neighbouring countries as well as plenty of internal flights within Thailand.
Flying into Phuket could be a good option as there are many more international flights. From Phuket, it is pretty easy to get to Krabi, check out this post to for the best ways to travel from Phuket to Krabi.
Alternatively, you could fly to Bangkok before continuing on to Krabi.
There are very frequent flights between Krabi and Bangkok and Chiang Mai so you can easily combine Krabi with other parts of Thailand to properly get a feel for the country. We have created a 10 day Thailand itinerary to help you plan your trip.
Krabi is also easy to get to if you are travelling overland as buses from all over Thailand (and Malaysia) call in at Krabi town. Most of the islands in the Andaman Sea are well connected to each other and the mainland by speedboat and ferry.
Final Thoughts on Visiting Krabi with Kids
We hope that you have enjoyed reading our guide to travelling to Krabi with kids. There are so many great family-friendly activities in Krabi that it makes for the perfect destination for a family holiday or vacation. We have been back a few times and hope that we will make it back there soon.
If you are planning your own trip to Krabi we recommend reading these posts:
Where to Stay in Krabi – Krabi is big and there are so many great beaches and islands to visit, so we have written this post to help you decide where to go.
Krabi Itinerary – If you have only 5 days in the area, this is our recommendation for how to spend your time.
Thailand with a Baby and Toddler – If your kids are still young then this post should hopefully answer all your questions about what it is like to visit Thailand with little ones.
Bangkok with Kids – If you are including the Thai capital on your trip you will find that there is absolutely loads to do there with kids.
Thailand Packing list – Make sure you pack the right things by checking our recommendations of what to take and what not to take (hint: toddler tablet – yes, raincoat – probably not)
We love Krabi and hope that you have a fabulous time there!
