If you love beaches then the south is where you should be. While Phuket seems to be universally known, I found Krabi and Lanta to be much more relaxing. Hardly any crowds due to the covid pandemic meant, at times, we had whole beaches to ourselves which was quite special.
We flew into Krabi and overnighted it at a hotel before driving the next morning to Koh Lanta. About a 2 hour drive, it does require a quick ferry crossing as well which just adds to the fun!
Check ahead for the ferry timings so you don't end up waiting ages for it.
Koh Lanta
We stayed at a superb small beachfront hotel called The Longbeach Chalet and opted for the slightly more expensive beachfront zone- trust me when I say it was one of the best located rooms and totally worth the extra spend- barely a minute to the beach and right next to the pool! The hotel has a very relaxed vibe with a bar on the beach, open air massages(I confess we had one every day!), beach cabana beds and free paddleboards and kayaks for guests. Two nights just didn't seem enough!
Apart from walks on the beach and general relaxation, our trip highlight was a day of island hopping and snorkeling. We joined a group tour with Lanta Gardenhill Speedboat Co., which was the only agency operational at this time, and ended up spending the day in the company of a Thai college group who were very helpful and most entertaining!
The waters around Lanta are renowned for beautiful diving and snorkeling and they more than lived up to the reputation- crystal clear waters , great coral formations and a whole host of beautiful fish made for an amazing experience and a definite must do in Koh Lanta.
*Shout out to the guides who were very helpful and took lots of photos for free! Also if you have an underwater camera make sure to bring it along!
Koh Lanta is THE place to be if you want to unwind and relax and I look forward to returning to this paradise island soon.
Krabi
We had two and a half days in Krabi -not enough to experience everything but we did see a lot despite the heat and time constraints.
Day 1: On our list was the Emerald Pool and the Hot Springs. We were excited to swim in the Emerald Pool but due to covid this was not allowed and kind of dampened the mood, especially since we were still charged the Thb. 300ish per person to park and enter.
The walk to the pool was well marked and through a small jungle and the pool itself was lovely to look at but I honestly didn't see how one swam in it, even when allowed. It looked really rough on the sides there was no visible entry point- can be done though as my son had been earlier in the year and managed a dip!
After a wander around we left and went looking for a place to eat which is when, quite close by, we happened to see a place called The King Kong Park. At a time when most places were shut, this seemed open and we were very hungry. From the parking lot we could see some huge King Kong structures and after a much needed lunch at the restaurant next door(basic food), we paid it a quick visit.
For some reason Thailand is obsessed with all things Marvel and you will see replicas of The Hulk, Spiderman etc. at random cafes and stores, but this was a first encounter with King Kong for us!!
A small park perfect for kids and the Instagram crazy youngsters that are aplenty, this area is good for a quick walk around and some cheesy but essential photos!!
Don't miss the small workshop/gallery right across from the parking lot which is an example of what a creative mind can achieve. For a nominal entrance fee you get to see an amazing array of famous movie characters and props which are totally made from discarded and scrap auto parts. Recycling at its best!
It was off to the hot springs next and despite the heat I was ready for a soak.
Located in the jungle, this site features naturally hollowed-out ‘bathtubs’ in the smooth stone, filled to the brim with fresh running spring water at a pleasant 35-42C. The water here comes from thermal springs, originating deep underground in volcanic chambers.
Although very relaxing, 10-12 minutes in the warmth is enough and there is even a cool water poo to refresh yourself in. Just remember you will be hot and sweating for quite a while after the soak and feel dehydrated so carry some drinking water!
We were lucky to get a nice spot with not many people around but due to the popularity of the springs its usually quite crowded. To try ease this problem, water from the source has also been diverted into larger man-made bathing pools on the same site and basic changing facilities are now available for visitors. I would, however, recommend going early and snagging a spot in the jungle to get the full experience!
Exhausted from the heat, it was time to call it a day and return to the comfort of an air conditioned hotel room!
Day 2: Today was dedicated to island hopping!! We hired a long tail boat (Thb.400 per person usually but we paid a bit more to get the boat to ourselves) from the official stand at Ao Nang beach to take us to the 4 main islands with a fifth stop at Railey Beach for lunch!
Of the 4 islands, Koh Tup and Koh Mor are two tiny islands connected by a sandbar near which your boat drops you off. This stop is generally planned close to low tide when another longer sandbar "'miraculously" appears allowing you to actually walk across it to Koh Gai(Chicken Island) about 500m away! The revealed sandbar is full of sharp shells and rocks so wearing water shoes is a smart idea! Koh Gai is meant to resemble a chicken ( I didn't really see it!), and has a small store selling soft drinks to refresh you after the walk across and before you return.
Koh Tup and Koh Mor have a lovely soft sand sandbar and the water around it is great for swimming in.
These 3 small islands are part of the Poda Island grouping of which Koh Poda is the largest one. Covered with palm and pine trees and almost entirely encircled by a soft white sand beach, it is a stunning tropical getaway. A coral reef close to the beach provides excellent snorkeling and, along with stunning scenery and soft sands, make the island a popular choice with tourists.
After some time at Koh Poda we set off for our extra lunch stop at Railey Beach- we had seen this hotel restaurant, The Grotto, online and really wanted to go try it out.
Railey Beach in pre covid times was the beach to be at- full of bars, restaurants and the lovely beach it was always buzzing with activity. When we went it was almost a ghost town with just a handful of domestic tourists -very sad to see.
The Grotto was very nice and lunch was lovely (although overpriced as expected ), but the "cave" atmosphere was unique and the views fantastic! We even took a long stroll along the adjacent beachfront before getting back to our boat and heading home.
Day3: With a flight in the late afternoon we had only the morning free so we opted for a trip to Hong Island which we could see from our hotel and which we had heard a lot about. Luckily we got a longtail boat to pick us up from our hotel beach which saved a bit of travel time.
Our first stop was at a lagoon surrounded by spectacular rock formations. The only way to enter this inner lake is via a 10 metre wide channel. You can easily get in with a long-tail boat or a kayak but nothing wider. The water is just about one metre deep and perfect for a leisurely swim! Breathtaking!
Just when we thought we'd found perfection, we were taken to another side of the island where we ended up spending most of the morning.
Again surrounded by limestone formations, this beach had the softest sand beach and the most amazing variety of coral and fish- snorkeling here was a pleasure! But before we got into the lovely water we just had to climb to the 360" viewpoint!
Although its a fairly long climb up many steps, there are several rest stops and viewpoints to help you catch your breath. Persevere and you are rewarded with SPECTACULOR views from the top making the effort absolutely worth it!
*I would recommend you wear a cap and carry drinking water as there is nothing available on the way and you will need both!
After the hot climb, the rest of the morning was spent swimming and snorkeling in the beautiful clear waters!
A quick lunch at the local island restaurant and it was time to head back to our hotel and get to the airport for our flight back home!
Absolutely one of the most relaxing breaks we have had and we look forward to returning soon!