Krabi – A Tiny Paradise

My name is Lana, I am a professional linguist/ translator and am in love with writing, too! I was born, brought up and educated in Russia, continued my education and got married in India, now I am living in Thailand and have no idea where I will find myself tomorrow! I love learning languages, travelling and getting to know about other cultures. I know Russian, English and Hindi; some bits of German, Turkish and Tatar, now learning Thai, and have great plans for at least 5 more languages!:) I am happy to share a few articles regarding Russian, Indian and Thai cultures with you.

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Krabi is both a southern province of Thailand and the provincial capital. For those who have been here, Krabi is associated with outstanding beauty and ultimate relaxation. Stunning scenery, fantastic white sand beaches, a coastline with over 200 islands and a jungle covered interior revealing towering limestone cliffs, caves, waterfalls and exotic wildlife - all this makes Krabi one of the most idyllic places on the planet.

Probably to the best, Krabi is not so much advertised as Phuket or Koh Samui, that is why it is less crowded and still preserves its original charm, remaining one of the cleanest places in Thailand. At the same time the accommodation is far cheaper here than in commercialized tourist spots as, say, Pattaya, and lack of night life and entertainment is compensated by quiet and relaxed atmosphere, natural attractions and absence of pollution.

The city of Krabi is small and has no beaches, that is why it is mainly a passing point for travellers heading towards Krabi's numerous beaches situated nearby. Some prefer to stay in the town and make daily trips to the islands. Tickets to the morning ferry are available in most hotels and guesthouses.

One of the main attractions are Phi Phi Islands, which are actually over 80 small islands and two bigger ones - Koh Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Leh. The latter two have become the symbol of the perfect tropical island - thanks to their outstanding yet contrasting beauty. Both are must-visit points of itinerary with their scenic hills, awesome cliffs, emerald waters, coral reefs and remarkable bird and sea life. Phi Phi Leh has so-called Viking Cave containing pre-historic paintings of human and animal figures alongside later paintings of ships. The cave is also a collection point for sea swift nests, which are sought after for the Chinese delicacy Birds Nest Soup. Larger Phi Phi Don is a livelier place with bars, restaurants and souvenir shops. Beach side bungalows are also available. In the adjacent area there is a Muslim fishing village.

From Koh Phi Phi Don it is a half an hour boat ride to Koh Paid (Bamboo Island) claimed by many locals to be one of the most beautiful and unspoiled, uninhabited islands in the area. Phi Phi group of islands and the adjacent waters are well-known by yachtsmen and scuba divers for their numerous opportunities.

One more favourite destination is Koh Lanta - a district of Krabi Province consisting of 52 islands out of which only 12 are inhabited. Koh Lanta National Marine Park is well worth visiting for its especially beautiful intact coral and limestone caves, cliffs, white-sand beaches and banyan trees.

World class beaches include Ao Nang and Hat Rai Leh - both lovely spots are easily accessible from almost any point of Krabi. Limestone cliffs here provide endless rock-climbing opportunities. Rock climbing guides and instructors can be arranged at any lodging in the area. This is also a divers' paradise with submarine tunnels lined with soft and hard corals and lots of tropical fish species.

Than Bokkharani and Khao Phanom Bencha National Parks offer stunning scenic attractions, that may seem somewhat fairy tale-like but are absolutely real and natural. Caves with impressive stalactite formations and ancient wall paintings, picturesque waterfalls and pools, exotic wild animals and tropical birds attract locals and tourists every day, though in weekdays the parks are less crowded. You can charter a boat or pitch a tent on the camping ground to fully explore this intriguing piece of wild nature.

Tropical monsoons take more than half a year and the best time to visit Krabi is January-April.