1. Beaches

This is why most people come to Krabi: long beaches with sand stretching out as far as the eye can see. Most of the wide, central beaches near the town of Ao Nang and on the Railay peninsula are pretty crowded, but the slimmer beaches on the inland channels have no one on them at all.

And there are plenty of beaches and sandbars that you can reach only by boat!

2. Islands

At least 200 islands dot the Krabi coastline, and I would happily visit (or at least swing by) every single one of them. Some have tiny strips of beach where you can dock your boat …

… and others feels as rocky and barren as the islands of Scotland in winter …

… but they all have a unique sort of beauty.

3. Sea Life

You have to go out on a boat to find the best underwater life, but if you don’t mind traveling a short ways out off the coast, there’s plenty here for snorkelers and divers alike.

4. The Hot Springs

Is there anything better than hanging out in a perfectly smooth, naturally carved basin in the middle of a warm waterfall?

5. The Emerald Pool

Enjoy a beautiful, easy one-kilometer hike through the swampy forest to this stunning freshwater pool in the mountains — and go early to avoid the crowds!

6. The Morning Market

From glorious piles of chiles to spiky stacks of pineapples …

… to mouth-burning curry pastes …

… Krabi’s Morning Market is a chef’s dream, a true feast for the senses.

7. Long Tail Boats

You’ll find these small, low-slung boats pretty much everywhere you go along the coast, out in the water…

… in dozens of tiny little ports …

… and tied up in neat little lines right on the beach:

8. Spirit Houses

Pretty much every Thai business has a spirit house or two, places to make offerings to the spirits of the land, the space, deities, and/or specific people.\.

I even found a tiny spirit house at the base of a tree in a national park:

9. Animal Statues

Krabi has gone all in on animal art — a bevy of creatures, including saber-toothed tigers, elephants, and sea eagles, adorn everything from street signs to street lamps:

The official animal seems to be the sailfish, which you can find along streets all over town:

There are bus stop monkeys, too …

… and reef sharks …

… and what I’m guessing is a dugong:

But my favorite animal statue of Krabi — though definitely not an official town representative — is this cheerful blue rabbit!

10. This Restroom Sign:

I’ve never seen a men’s room sign like this before, and I doubt I ever will again…