If you’re dreaming of a beach getaway, one of the mental images you automatically conjure could very well be Krabi. Draped along the eastern shorelines of Phang Nga Bay, Krabi is one of those destinations that just has it all – white sandy beaches, hidden sea lagoons, and a smattering of islands sprinkled around an emerald bay. You may know already the Phi Phi Islands – before or after it was featured as a film set in The Beach – and the so-called James Bond Island in Phang Nga Bay. Or you may recall the Cliff Diving World Series in 2013 which saw daredevils leap off the region’s dramatic limestone peaks into the clear waters below. However familiar you are with Krabi, there’s plenty more to discover, and with its accessibility, you don’t really have an excuse not to return!

Getting to Krabi by plane

The easiest way to get to your island paradise is by air, landing at Krabi Airport just outside the city centre. Regular flights land here from around the country, including Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Koh Samui, with the addition of low-cost flights making this one of the most popular options. Krabi is also connected via direct flights to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia and Singapore, which allows it to be easily included in a regional travel itinerary.

Getting to Krabi by car

Depending on where you’re coming from, getting to Krabi by land is also a viable option. From Phuket, the drive takes around three hours around Phang Nga Bay, and slightly shorter from Donsak Pier on the mainland of Surat Thani if coming from Koh Samui. It’s a good 10-hour drive from Bangkok, so while a self-drive trip is feasibly possible, you’re probably better off taking a flight or bus.

Getting to Krabi by boat

If coming from Phuket, you can also arrive by sea. There’s the scenic route on a ferry with total travel time of 9 hours, but that’s inclusive of a 5-hour stopover at Phi Phi Island, making it ideal if you were planning to visit the island. Outside of the monsoon season, there’s also a speedboat option, which, at 1.5 hours is the fastest option between Phuket and Krabi, but it’s also the most expensive option.

Getting to Krabi by bus

From Bangkok, you can also catch a bus to make the 800-kilometre journey to Krabi. As with all southbound journeys, buses leave from Bangkok’s Southern Bus Terminal (a.k.a. “Sai Tai Mai” Bus Terminal) on Barommaratchachonnani Road. Tickets start from less than THB 700, but you can pay more for a fancier ride with plush sink-into seats and TV screens at the back of the seats. While some may argue a low-cost flight is faster than the bus at a comparable price, an overnight 12-hour bus journey also saves you the cost of a one-night accommodation (not to mention the experience of driving through little Thai towns).

Getting to Krabi by train

Krabi is not on the railway route, but you can take an overnight sleeper train from Bangkok to Surat Thani. From there, buses and vans in the train station will help you complete the final leg to COSI Krabi Ao Nang with a 2-hour journey over land.