Ao Nang
(Krabi)

"This article is about Ao Nang Beach,
Railey Beaches and Phra Nang"

The place has now targeted tourists, so there are families and elderly people everywhere. When I was there, I found it hard to believe that this place was a laid-back backpacker place a couple of years ago...!

So, why do backpackers come to Ao Nang?

Ao Nang is the gateway to the Krabi islands. Backpackers usually stop by Ao Nang to get to the popular Railey Beaches, and the beautiful Phra Nang Beach.

Where to sleep

There`s not much rock-bottom accommodation to find in Ao Nang. Because of the tourists, there are mostly beach resorts and hotels to be found. Your cheapest options are:

Yellow Sun Guesthouse

Price per night: from 300 B

Here you`ll get clean and basic rooms with attached bathroom.

Laughing Gecko

Price per night: 300-700 B

Laughing Gecko is a family-run bungalow place, and it`s known for friendly atmosphere and a good restaurant. Their huts are very simple.

Check out Gecko`s website.

Where: It`s located on your way to the Muay Thai Boxing Stadium.

PK Mansion

Price per night: 600 B (cheapest room)

My simple fan room on the 1st floor was spacious, with attached bathroom and hot water. And one of the hardest beds I`ve slept on.

Something to think about...

If I were you, I would avoid a room on the 1st floor. There were ants crawling under the crack of the door, and onto my bed. I don`t know if it was just bad luck or not...!

But either way, its excellent location make up for this.

PK Mansion also offers internet access, and they have a small restaurant serving Western breakfast and lunch (right by the entrance). I ate one breakfast here, and it was OK. But I preferred the better food at the food stalls, just across the road.

For more information on PK Mansion, click here.

J Hotel

Price per night: 1400 B (Jan 2008)

Note: You can get cheaper rooms than this. The cheapest room cost
350 B, but I was too late. The hotel was packed when I arrived, so I had to crash in an expensive room.

If you`re looking for some luxury, try the J Hotel. Comfortable, clean, large AC rooms with attached bathroom, hot showers, TV and balcony. And some rooms come with a hot tub. Downstairs you have (expensive) internet access, and the staff will gladly arrange tours.

Address: 23/3 Moo 2, Ao Nang Beach

Phone: +66 (75) 637878

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Where to eat and drink

During the day, you`ll find cheap food at the food stalls near the beach. If you`re on the main road and walking towards the beach, the food stalls should be on your left hand.

This is why you should stop by the food stalls:

• Most of the restaurants are expensive. The meals at the food stalls are cheap.

  Prices range from: 25-50 B

• You have to try the Red Curry with chicken and the Pad Thai with squid. It was delicious! Or try the noodle soup with chicken!

• And if you want to cool off, they sell ice cream as well

Your evening snacks

And during the evening, there are food stalls and food vendors along the main road, and the beachside road. Try their tender and spicy BBQ chicken (10-15 B), Padthai chicken or squid (25 B), noodle dishes (25 B) or crispy banana pancakes (25 B)!

Beachside Restaurants

If you`re up for seaside view while eating, try the restaurants by the beach. You`ll get fresh sea food, Italian food and Western food. But it`s pricey though. Most international food range from 100-500 B. My steak dinner by the beach cost 230 B (without drinks!)

And if it`s burgers and fries you want, you`ll get that at good old McDonalds (near the shopping complex). Starbucks is located next to McDonalds.

When it comes to drinks and beers, you can gets drinks at all the restaurants in Ao Nang. You just have to choose one...

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Where to shop

During daytime and the evening, there are stalls along the main road and the beachfront road.

You can get: Clothing, beach wear, sarongs, transfer tattoos, snorkel masks, ping pongs, souvenirs, books, jewellery, handicrafts etc. And some stands sell newly released DVDs (pirate copies though).
Like, buy 5 for 100 B.

And if you want to buy a cheap book, you might like the bookshops on the main road. Here you can buy or exchange used books (I`m afraid I don`t remember any names). I remember that there was one book store on the opposite side of McDonalds. I bought "The Last Juror" by John Grisham for 90B!

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Activities in Ao Nang

You can get package tours everywhere in this small town. Anything from elephant trekking to diving.

But I personally don`t like arranged tours because of the tight schedule, too much people etc. So I`m not going to persuade you into this…

Most backpackers coming to Ao Nang, do it this way:

If you want to do activities cheap, you should rent a long-tail boat for the day to visit the neighbouring islands.

You`ll find touts along the beach who will take you to West Railey Beach, Poda Island, Phra Nang Beach, Chicken Island or Tup Island.

Poda Island (Koh Poda)

Poda is a small island 25 minutes by boat from Railey peninsular, and a 30 minutes ride from Ao Nang. The touts on Ao Nang will promise you white sand beaches on Poda Island, but I`m afraid that I have to disappoint you -- no white sand anymore!

And the island is very popular with tourists -- you`ll see them scattered everywhere!

Chicken Island (Koh Gai)

The large rock formation on the island resembles a chicken -- hence the name Chicken Island. There are no chickens there...

The island can be divided into two: you have steep cliffs on the one side of the island and the beaches on the other side. The place is good for snorkelling, but I met backpackers in Krabi who told me that the snorkelling was much better on Railey Beach.

If you`re still interested in Chicken Island, take a boat from Railey or Ao Nang which takes 30 minutes.

Diving

Ready for diving?

Most of the dive shops are located on the Beach Road, and make sure you ask around for prices.

Here are some prices for you! (average prices)

• Diving day trip: 2000 B

• Open-water PADI course: 8000 B

Elephant Trekking

Elephant trekking is also a popular event on Ao Nang, and it`s an acitivity you have to do at least once if you`re in Thailand.

This is why:

• There are only 3000-4000 elephants left in Thailand. They are prone to poaching -- their tusks are worth millions of dollars on the black market.

• Many elephant tours are run by organizations fighting for animals like the elephants -- these organizations are dependent on income. Your money will be used to feed and take care of these vulnerable elephants.

I met some travellers who recommended Nosey Parkers. For more information, click on the link!

It cost 800 B for a one hour ride and you get to ride these majestic animals in the wild jungle of Thailand. You`ll have a blast!

Where do you want to go next?

Heading for the Moon parties on Koh Pha Ngan?

Visiting the beautiful Koh Phi Phi islands?

Going straight to Bangkok?

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