|
| Introduction |
| Welcome to Krabi, Southern Thailand. The province lies some 800 km south of the Thai capital, Bangkok, and is a myriad of caves, waterfalls, pristine beaches and magical islands all crammed into one tiny province. You can just about see and experience all that is Southern Thailand by venturing to this magical place called krabi.
During your time here, you can walk through jungles containing giant trees festooned with lianas. Travel by boat along rivers and through teeming mangrove forests.
Scuba dive the Andaman Sea; rock climb the sheer vertical cliffs of Ao Phranang and Railay beaches; visit mountain top pagodas with intricate, traditional architecture and panoramic views; discover hidden temples set amongst the surrounding limestone mountains; explore caves, waterfalls and unbelievably magical islands.
You'll see and experience the adventure of a lifetime by heading down to this unspoilt eden of Southern Thailand. Krabi's main charms are perfect sandy, coral fringed, beaches and tropical islands, but don't forget what's on offer inland.
There are those towering cliffs and splendid waterfalls, caves, temples, mosques and, of course, the charming people, who are still unspoilt by the foreign tourist dollar.
|
|
| Location & Boundaries |
| Krabi is on the Andaman Sea coast of south-west Thailand , between 7' 30" and 8' 30" north latitude, and 98' 30" and 99' 30" west longitude. Total area is 4,709 square km bounded thus: |
|
| |
North |
Connects with Phangnga and Surat Thani Provinces. |
South |
Connects with Trang Province and the Andaman Sea. |
East |
Connects with Trang and Nakhon Si Thammarat Provinces. |
West |
Connects with Phangnga Province and the Andaman Sea. |
|
|
| |
From Krabi city to nearby provinces |
From Krabi city to its districts |
- Phangnga 86 km.
- Phuket 176 km.
- Trang 131 km.
- Phattalung 193 km.
- Surat Thani 211 km.
- Nakhon Si Thammarat 233 km.
- Satun 276 km.
|
- Ao Luk 43 km.
- Plai Phraya 66 km.
- Khao Panom 39 km.
- Khlong Thom 42 km.
- Ko Lanta 103 45 km.
- Lam Thap 67 km.
- Nua Khlong 17 km.
|
|
| |
|
| Geography |
Krabi's mountainous physical geography is broken by highlands and plains on the mainland.The provincial administration also covers more than 130 islands in the Andaman Sea. Natural forest cover is chiefly mangrove and Cassia trees. Krabi's sandy clay soil conditions are perfect for a variety of agricultural products, including rubber trees, palms, mangos, coconuts, and coffee.
The Krabi River flows 5 km through the city and falls into the Andaman at Tambon Pak Nam. There are other streams as well: the Khlong Pakasai, the Khlong Krabi Yai and the Khlong Krabi Noi in the province's highest range of mountains, the Khao Phanom Bencha.
|
|
| Government |
Krabi is divided into eight districts : Amphoe Muang (Krabi Town), Khao Panom, Khlong Thom, Plai Phraya, Koh Lanta, Ao Luk, and Lam Thap and, Nhua Khlong.
|
|
Population |
Krabi's estimated population, as of September 1999, was 344,610. Its people, a mixture of Buddhists and Muslims, speak odd dialects, are courteous and friendly.
|
|
Climate |
Weather in Krabi is typically that of the tropical monsoon, providing the province with just two seasons, the hot season from January to April, and the rainy season from May to December.
Monsoon winds , which change according to season, blow from the southeast, the southwest, and the northeast.
Temperatures range between 16.9 and 37.3 degrees Celsius and the yearly rainfall averages 2,568. |
| |
|
| |
| Phi Phi Island |
Famed as among the most beautiful tropical islands of the world, Phi Phi Islands have become one of the most popular tourist attractions of Thailand. It was here that the well-known movie "The Beach" featured by Leonardo DiCaprio was shot. The islands, together with the nearby Noppharat Thara Beach, were recently established as a national park with a total area of 390 sq.km.
As most visitors to Phi Phi Islands come from Phuket some 40 km. away, many of them think that the islands are part of Phuket. In fact, both Noppharat Thara Beach and Phi Phi belong to Krabi province, though the distance from Krabi to Phi Phi is about the same as that between Phuket and Phi Phi.
Also, it is usually misunderstood that the island group of Phi Phi Islands is composed of only 2 islets, Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Le. But actually, the area of Phi Phi Islands covers 6 islets altogether, namely Phi Phi Don, Phi Phi Le, Mai Phai (Bamboo), Yung, Bida Nok and Bida Nai. The islands and the coastal hills are mostly composed of limestone and are an extension of the limestone mountain range in Phang-nga province. Some of the characteristics of such mountains and islands are their steep cliffs, large caves and dwarf trees growing out of the crevices in the rocks, like those in Phang-nga Bay.
|
|
Among the islets of Phi Phi Islands, Phi Phi Don, the larger one which lies in the north, is well known for its fine beaches and coral formations around the island and is provided with an assortment of accommodation facilities along the two beautiful curved bays, Ton Sai Bay and Lodalam Bay, in the south and others at the northern end of the island. Several shops at Ton Sai can arrange diving and snorkelling trips around the island or the nearby islands -- Phi Phi Le Island, Yung Island and Mai Phai (Bamboo) Island. |
| |
| About 2 km. to the south is Phi Phi Le Island. Contrary to Phi Phi Don, this islet is uninhabited, not only because this is banned, but also because there is no beach around it. The island descends abruptly into the sea on all sides. Au Maya and Au Lo Sama among the scenic coves of the island are favourite places for snorkellers. The sea around the island is deep, especially the southern part, which is over 30 metres deep and is full of coral formations and so is a popular diving spot. |
| |
|
|