Fun Activities and Places to Visit in Krabi, Thailand

Enriched with its vast culture and beautiful scenery, Thailand is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Southeast Asia.

Krabi is known as one of the most popular tourist destinations in southern Thailand. Krabi, Thailand proudly boasts its spectacular beaches, caves, tropical forest and hot springs. Travellers, especially island hoppers and nature enthusiasts will sure have an exciting and memorable adventure.

Here are some of the things you won't want to miss.

Water Loving Activities

Take a mini cruise and go island hopping.

A wonderful way to appreciate the beauty of the sea is to have a quick cruise. You'll have the opportunity to see the wonder of the caves, and cliffs in different formations and stones.

The Krabi province has a lot to offer. There are quite a few famous islands known for its diverse land and sea attractions. Go sailing at Phi Phi islands, Koh Lanta, Ao Nang and so many more.

Discover famous diving spots and go snorkeling and scuba diving. Get yourself engaged with life under the sea. These islands offer a lot of beautiful sea creatures and a bountiful line of coral reefs.

Experience a little taste of paradise with its astonishing warm, crystal clear beaches.

Outdoor Fun Adventures

If you love the outdoors, the Krabi province has more to offer than its precious beaches. You can have an exciting adventure trekking and mountain climbing. You can also explore tropical jungles and discover caves, mangroves, waterfalls, and hot springs hidden on the mountainous region of the area.

Soak in a hot spring and have your body muscles relaxed after hours of trekking. Next stop, visit the tiger cave temple.

City Life

People in the area are very friendly and hospitable. A great way to learn more about Thai culture is to immerse yourself in the community.

Get up early and go to the morning market in town. You'll see a lot of busy people talking, working, shopping and doing daily life activities. This is a clear picture and place to know their way of life.

Of course, your travel is not complete without eating authentic Thai cuisine. No one can resist good food! Indulge yourself with mouth watering and savoury Thai dishes and delicacies like curries, seafood, and exotic fruits.

Seems luxurious? If this sounds like a dream to you, you can make your dream happen!

There's a great opportunity that awaits you and in fulfilling your dreams of travelling. English teachers are highly in demand across the globe. All you need is to get certified and accomplish teaching English as a Foreign Language course. Does it sounds too good to be true? Have an edge in your teaching career and get a TESOL certification. Krabi could be a great place to get a TEFL certification.

Koh Phi Phi Paradise Lost!

If you want to keep secretes, kill everybody who knows. The same could be said if you want to ruin a good thing tell somebody about it. If you want the whole world to know feature it in a movie. The islands of the Koh Phi Phi island group in southern Thailand were featured in the movie The Beach. If you are not familiar with the story line, some young travelers discover this fantastic spot in Thailand and decide to make their version of utopia and keep it secrete at all costs, had they been successful this would still be a small island group that few but the most hardy backpackers would visit.

When the movie The Beach was made here there were not many that knew about this beautiful island group of Stonehenge like monoliths that stick out of the pond like waters of the Andaman Sea. Clad in deep jungle greenery they have a forbidding yet enticing aura about them. The white sand beaches look like everyone's picture of tropical paradise with palm thick trees waiting at the top with green pepper, coconut milk to give up their sweet for thirsty travelers.

Today, the thirsty traveler in the form of herds young backpackers who get a traffic jam in the center of the main island of bones of the dog in the night milling catapulted into ubiquitous urban flows from the blow molded. The day of the hordes on the beaches and lay groups on the same subject and children cooking. Bars, shops, cafes, travel agencies, discos power also very popular 7-11needs of these adventure seekers many of whom sport bandages and crutches from spills and thrills of rock climbing, cliff jumping and jungle expeditions to find water falls.

The waters around Koh Phi Phi are not safe not because of the animals in the water but because of the poor water treatment Streptococcus a particular nasty skin eating bug is around and other ailments as well so it pays to take care of even the smallest scratches here so that you don't end up in the emergency room having pieces of skin cut out.

The other thing to watch out for is your wallet as they are firm believers in price fixing from internet to scuba diving they have some of the highest prices in Thailand and they do not negotiate at all if you are a bargain seeker give this place a wide berth. Cheap hotels in every sense of the term are priced like 3 star hotels else where we did not see any places that delivered value to price with the exceptions of The Phi Phi Hotel which was quoting off season rates seemed to be the only hotel that had a clue.

In the period before the islands here became famous this was a great place to come and hang out for weeks at a time, today however it is another paradise lost.

Coral Reefs in Andaman Islands

Andaman and Nicobar islands are part of India and lay magnificently spread in the Bay of Bengal. It is a group of islands where one can find nature at its purest best. Not many islands are inhabited by people and many of them are still absolutely un-explored and dense forests. Wild life and all types of fishes can be seen here in abundance. But that's not all, one can see a beautiful growth of Corals under the sea.

Snorkeling is a famous adventure sport here. One can use their own snorkeling gear or can rent it for a few trips. To ensure one doesn't get lost in the vast sea, looking for corals, there are lot of trained sea divers who can accompany you along and in case you do not know swimming, these guys are perfect help. You can just hold onto them and look out for corals under the sea while they do all the hard work of swimming and taking you to places which have best coral growths.

The sea water here is absolutely clear and you can see the sea-bed at most of the places. The sea suddenly appears blue and may appear green in some distance; do not be surprised, that is all dependent on the vegetation below.

Corals are basically a colony of living animals found in marine water and are rich in nutrients. The structures that form from the calcium carbonate secreted by these animals gets accumulated and forms what is commonly known as Coral reefs. Scientists have devoted lot of study and hard work to find interesting facts about these marine creatures and the reefs. Corals are of various types, shapes and sizes.

Some corals are very soft and delicate and they actually close down as soon as they feel any movement around them, thinking a big predator fish might be out looking for dinner. Some corals on the other hand are so hard and sharp that they can actually give you a nice bruise if you brush past them or give you a fracture if you hit on them by mistake. All these varieties of corals are well preserved and the divers take care that tourists don't touch or take any pieces of the corals while watching them. It is a legal offense in this part of the world to steal coral, because some varieties are very rare and expensive if you manage to get them out of there and sell them out in the open market.

Five Best Hotels - Phuket

Phuket is fast developing into a luxury tourist destination with the emergence of a slew of 5-star hotels in the most exclusive locations. Find here, five of the best hotels Phuket.

1. JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa

The resort is the ultimate in luxury and comfort and no hotel in Phuket can overshadow it in popularity. To enjoy a Phuket holiday to its fullest, this resort on the Mai Khao beach on the Andaman coast is perfect. The reflection ponds and rock pools are a few of the highlights. The resort's proximity to airport and Blue Canyon Country Club, the best Asian golf club are its attractions to visitors.

2. Mom Tri's Villa Royale Hotel

Located on the promontory between Kata beach and Kata Noi, this secluded hotel is far away from crowd even as lying in the midst of busy beaches. The well-designed sea-facing villas are the best choice for a romantic holiday. The Thai-style villas set in tropical gardens offer a wide range of facilities like luxury spa, boutique shops and art exhibitions.

3. Sala Phuket Resort and Spa

Privacy is the byword of Sala Phuket. Located at an isolated corner of Mai Khao beach, this Conde Nast 2008 Hot List entrant is the ideal choice for those seeking peace and tranquility. The rooms styled in Sino-Portuguese architecture feature private pools for guests. The sea-facing rooftop restaurant offers one of the most spectacular sea views.

4. Indigo Pearl

Here history meets modernity. Located on the picturesque Nai Yang beach, close to Sirinath National Park, this boutique resort is provides the perfect base for water sports. Multi-cuisine restaurants and spa earn the resort a place among the best hotels Phuket.

5. Banyan Tree

This ultra-luxury resort located on Bang Tao beach on Andaman coast also made it to Conde Nast 2008 Gold List. Excellent customer service including facilities like private butlers makes it one of best hotels Phuket.

The Many Things Tourists Can Enjoy in Phuket

Will leave the hustle and bustle of busy lives in this modern world? Want to connect with nature and forget all the worries of everyday life? Maybe just to break the stale boredom of life?

Phuket, Thailand has everything to spend their vacation in paradise. There is a God-tissue oasis waiting for tourists and locals alike will enjoy. to make the endless number of activities and places to go every hour will make your stay unforgettableexhilarating and the most fun anyone will ever have.

Whatever the taste for vacations is, Phuket is the place for all. It doesn't matter whether visitors want to experience serenity from the most tranquil wonders of nature, prefer adventure with the most exciting land trips and activities, or if the vacationers are a Poseidon in their own right, wanting to come into contact with the marvels of different bodies of water first hand. Any of these, perhaps all of them, can be felt and seen in this beautiful haven in Asia. However long or short the stay is, every minute covered will be worth the cost. All one has to worry about is to enjoy the whole experience.

If sightseeing is the activity of choice, the places that best out other tourist spots across the globe are bountiful. Seeing them by foot or by island hopping are both great ways of enjoying the beauty of the islands. Tours are favorite activities. Eco tours and nature excursions both bring people closer to their environment.

Examples of tourist spots for excursions are the Khao National Park and Khao Lak. In these parks, elephant trekking is a number one trend. Other activities are jungle safari explorations, bird watching, encounters with all the wildlife and, among the many. If tourists prefer quiet relaxation, there are services offering spas and other de-stressing treatments.

For the young at heart and thirsting for adventure, land activities will suit these needs most. Various parks and places offer just this: Adventure. In Krabi, the most famous activity is rock climbing. It can be enjoyed whether alone or with company. Other activities include the ATV and biking tours, allowing for a more intense and thrilling experience with the ragged earths. Land activities less physical and more sophisticated are golfing, excursions and trips, and eating at fine dining restaurants or bars.

Water lovers are no aliens, either. Phuket offers the best water-borne activities there are. Snorkeling in the clear waters of Coral Island or Phi Phi Islands or kayaking at the seas of Phang Nga Bay are only some things that can be boasted doing about. Rafting and water trekking experiences are best done in Khao Lak. If company is preferred, group activities like scuba diving, game fishing and speed boat riding ought to do the trick.

When the sun comes down, the energy and fun do not come down with it. Night time activities are still aplenty in the islands of Phuket. With the local cuisine served in various restaurants, dining out with family or friends is a sure shot for endless chitchat. Entertainment is also a bounty with the many clubs, nightspots and bars open until daybreak.

First Trip to Krabi

Convinced that latest political turmoil in Thailand was only taking place in Bangkok, leaving the rest of the country remained as peaceful as always, we decided to spend our holiday in Krabi, a small resort town in the southern part of Thailand. Spending weeks in online research boosted our excitement especially as we finally got on board the region's most popular low cost airliner, AirAsia.

From our home in Bali we had to stop and caught another flight at Kuala Lumpur, the master hub of AirAsia's operation. A few hours stop-over was rather amusing than boring. Regardless of the fact that the facility was dedicated for low cost passengers, it has more than sufficient facilities, including free WiFi connection.

As we approached the destination amazing views of islets scattered across azure ocean welcomed us through the small aircraft windows. Composed of karst soaring up from the water, few small white sandy beach were seen with bordering karst walls. Arrived at the small yet modern Krabi International Airport we decided to grabbed a car from Avis. A little flaw we made by forgetting to buy a map was covered as we found Avis provided one in the car.

Driving about 30 minutes from the airport we finally found Krabi much bigger than we thought it was, not so much smaller than Phuket Town in my first impression. However, just like Phuket Town and many other ones, it was nothing more than business and administrative center of the area. There is a little beautiful area along the river where the harbor is located. Not so much attractive in daylight but absolutely stunning on sunset.

Our online research advised that Krabi has two main tourist attractions. Ao Nang, a bay on the mainland is about 30 minutes drive away from Krabi Town. Koh Lanta was an island, two islands to be exact, reachable by a short boat trip either from Krabi Town. Actually there was another island attraction called Koh Phi Phi, reachable by about 45 minutes boat cruise. But as we once visited it by taking a boat trip from Phuket, we preferred to consider it as a part of Phuket instead, regardless the fact that getting to Koh Phi Phi from Phuket took longer time.

A boring drive along a hardly considered scenic road took us to Ao Nang, and impressive small resort town with relaxed atmosphere and amazing white sandy beach overlooking cascade of karst islets along the horizon. As soon as we arrived I knew that it was a place I would want to come back. Cascading shops and restaurants along the street at the opposite side of the beach reminded me of beaches at Southern Europe. Definitely different atmosphere compared to Phuket which is only a couple of hours away, either by car or by boat.

As of accommodation, after inspecting a few Krabi villas we decided not to stay in one of them. Those villas are located a bit far away from the beach. Whilst we did rent a car, we preferred to stay somewhere closer to the beach. There were no beach front hotels in the area actually, but at least we wanted to have it and all the shops only a few steps away from our doorsteps.

There were many decent but cheap hotels in the area and finally we chose Areetara. Perfect location, close enough to reach the beach by a few minutes stroll, but away enough to avoid any noise from the road and cascading cafes along one of it side.

Focus on Cambodia

The exhibits contained by the museums embody the Khmer Rouge maxim 'Preserve them, no profit; kill them, no loss'. During the Khmer Rouge reign of terror, torture for phantom crimes was rife. Finally, ever paranoid, the Pol Pot regime decreed that the torturers, mostly children, be tortured too just in case their zeal had waned, proving the theory that revolutions do in fact eat their own children.

Cambodia has now, thank God, ejected the killjoy ultramaoists who even decreed that the leaves be trimmed from the trees. Sofitel and Le Meridien have made inroads into the country, now run by a constitutional monarchy, as have casino resorts such as NagaWorld, which somewhat spuriously name-checks the sacred serpents that protected the Buddha. One bespoke luxury tour firm even offers a 'Cambodia for Billionaires' package.

The main attraction by a mile is Angkor Wat. One of the world's seven wonders, the giant, moated temple eclipses the colonial buildings that line the river at Battambang in the northwest and the mountain scenery of Rattanakiri in the northeast.

At weekends, Angkor hosts cello concerts. In December, Les Nuits d'Angkor, a marriage of ballet and traditional Khmer dance, unravels in front of the temple.

"As you sit in the warm tropical evening, accompanied by the xylophones, drums and oboes of the traditional Pin Peat orchestra, you will gradually be able to make out the silhouettes of dancers as they descend from above with slow sinuous steps," says the puff. "As the glow within the temple intensifies a group of forty beautifully dressed dancers appears, gracefully lining the terraces of the temples."

Do not become so mesmerized by the display of poise, strength and grace that you forget where you are. Beyond the spires of Angkor Wat, swathes of Cambodia are still studded with lethal landmines. There are more of them than there are people in Cambodia.

Likewise, guns are widespread. So, when tempted to embark on any late nocturnal wanderings, play it safe and stay in your hotel - or potentially be parted from your Riel coins, US dollars and platinum card.

The best way to navigate Cambodia is by jet: the country's atrocious highways make Laos' dusty tracks seem like mirror-smooth fresh tarmac.