Krabi & Koh Lanta Thailand – Wander With Stella

I’m going to digress here a little bit and tell you about an encounter at the Bangkok airport as I was waiting for my flight to Krabi. I was chatting with a fellow and when I told him I was from Canada, he recounted that he had met our Prime Minister, Mark Carney in his chocolate shop in West Hempstead where Carney lived while he was the Head of the Bank of England. He said that he was a down to earth very pleasant man, curious about peoples jobs, very likeable and would buy white chocolate for his wife, it being her favourite. He said other lovely things about Mark Carney and how lucky we were to have him! It made me feel very proud to be a Canadian.

Krabi Province

Goldilocks Luck

Krabi is a province in Southern Thailand but it is also the name of the provincial capital. Ao Nang Beach is a smaller village about 14 kms from Krabi and Ao Nam Mao Beach is an even smaller village between Krabi and Ao Nang. None of this I fully appreciated when I booked myself into Diamond Beach Resort in Ao Nam Mao. So with a little Goldilocks luck, I stumbled upon something “just right”.

Krabi Province – Krabi Town, Ao Nam Mao, Railay & Ao Nang

Krabi, like Papa Bear, is too big and disheveled for my liking and Ao Nang like Mama Bear has her good points and the beach is lovely and comfortable….but the Ao Nam Mao Beach is like Baby Bear and it is “just right”. In a snug little cove in a small village, my hotel faces out to the Andaman Sea and in the far distance is the Koh PiPi.

My Cabin Exterior – Veranda Made for Sitting Out

The Village itself boasts the usual 7-11, food markets, massage parlours and restaurants along the main strip but walking past the main strip and down along the beach are several beachfront hotels with night life, restaurants and nice beachfronts. Much less busy than either Krabi City or Ao Nang.

Closest Swimming Beach to Diamond Resort – 10 minute walk

I did make day trips to each of Krabi City and Ao Nang Beach and was rewarded for my efforts but I did so enjoy my quiet days on Ao Nam Mao beside a lovely pool and staying in a wonderful little Thai style cabin. The staff were friendly and seemed genuinely happy to see you and the room included breakfast which although repetitive was convenient and went until 10:00 am. The Diamond Beach Resort I would recommend even though the beach itself was tidal and mud bottomed, there was a sandy beach just up from the resort.

Saying Farewell to the Breakfast Ladies at Diamond Resort

Ao Nang

My day in Ao Nang was nice, lots of shops, restaurants, souvenirs and tour operators. Everyone seemed relaxed and happy to be crowded together there and the white sandy beach was lovely. It was hard to find a shaded spot but I managed to squeeze in between two groups under a palm and enjoy a few swims. A late dinner at an Indian Restaurant and I made my way back Ao Nam as I came, in a Grab, Asias equivalent to Uber only much cheaper. The drivers here are welcoming but most speak very little English.

Krabi City

I went to Krabi City in the evening for two reasons, one was to visit the night market and the other was to dine at a floating restaurant on the Krabi River. I enjoyed both the market and my dinner but the city itself was not too enthralling.

Railay Beach

Another day trip was to Railay Beach, which I was surprised to see was covered in resorts, shops, restaurants, tour guides, activities etc.. For some reason I thought it was just a day beach destination. It was a lovely trip on a long tail boat which I took from the pier close to my hotel.

Rock Formations Jut Right Out of the Ocean

I spent the day wandering the shops, sunning and swimming and came across my first fellow travellers whose language was English. So many Europeans here, I wish I spoke French or German but I did meet two women from Argentina and so we were able to chat for a while in Spanish. One of the women was a police officer in Buenos Aires.

Koh Lanta

Koh Lanta is a beautiful Island south of Krabi City, accessible by boat or by bridge. I opted for a passenger ferry that left from Ao Nang and landed in Koh Lanta an hour and a half or so later. It was a lovely sunny crossing and although getting on and off the passenger ferries is akin to herding cats, and you’re one of the cats. Bodies and bags are flung about until all and sundry are safely on a pier where the hustle and bustle of Tuk-tuk touts and drivers reel you in for a fast trip out of there to your hotel.

Leaving Krabi

In my case the Lanta Resort which shared a similar name and designation to an Aparthotel some miles past the real Lanta Resort. Oddly it even came up on hotels.com map incorrectly. I was dropped in the wrong place but some lovely ladies in an office helped out, got things sorted and I was on my way back to the proper place.

The main road that runs parallel to the western beaches is one long line of commerce: restaurants, grocery shops, ATM’s, tour companies, bars, massage parlours, moto rentals, tin roofs, and mangy dogs wandering in and out of the ramshackle buildings and the traffic. This initial approach to paradise can be off putting but once you are off the main road and down the avenues to your hotel your view of the place mellows dramatically.

I stayed on what is called Long Beach, which it is. A long strip of white sand beach and aquamarine water lapping the shore in gentle waves. Rarely an inch of land along the beach lies fallow. Most resorts back on to the beach with restaurants, beach loungers, massage huts, cafes and even mini-marts lest you forgot your sun cream.

Multiple tours and activities are available on Koh Lanta including snorkeling trips to smaller island nearby. I opted for a boat tour of the Mangroves which included lunch at a look-out and time to wander the old village of Koh Lanta.