The province consists of mountains, hills, plains, and mangrove forests, including more than 130 large and small islands. Krabi town has a 5 kilometre-long river, which flows through town and ends at the Andaman Sea in Tambon Pak Nam. There are several canals in Krabi including Khlong Pakasai, Khlong Krabi Yai and Khlong Krabi Noi, all of them originate from Phanom Bencha mountain range, the highest mountain range in Krabi.
Krabi History
Krabi is a southern province on Thailand's Andaman seaboard with perhaps the country's oldest history of continued settlement. After dating stone tools, ancient colored pictures, beads, pottery and skeletal remains found in the province's many cliffs and caves, it is thought that Krabi has been home to homo sapiens since the period 25,000 - 35,000 B.C.
In recorded times it was called the 'Ban Thai Samor', and was one of twelve towns that used, before people were widely literate, the monkey for their standard. At that time, c. 1200 A.D., Krabi was tributary to the Kingdom of Ligor, a city on the Kra Peninsula's east coast better known today as Nakhon Si Thammarat.
At the start of the Rattanakosin period, about 200 years ago, when the capital was finally settled at Bangkok, an elephant kraal was established in Krabi by order of Chao Phraya Nakorn (Noi), the governor of Nakhon Si Thammarat, which was by then a part of the Thai Kingdom. He sent his vizier, the Phra Palad, to oversee this task, which was to ensure a regular supply of elephants for the larger town. So followers many emigrated in the steps of the Phra Palad that soon Krabi had a large community in three different boroughs : Pakasai, Khlong Pon, and Pak Lao.
In 1872, King Chulalongkorn graciously elevated these to town status, called Krabi, a word that preserves in its meaning the monkey symbolism of the old standard. The town's first governor was Luang Thep Sena, though it continued a while as a dependency of Nakhon Si Thammarat. This was changed in 1875, when Krabi was raised to a fourth-level town in the old system of Thai government. Administrators then reported directly to the central government in Bangkok, and Krabi's history as a unique entity separated from the other provinces, had begun.
During the present reign, the corps of civil servants, the merchants, and the population generally of Krabi and nearby provinces have together organized construction of a royal residence at Laem Hang Nak Cape for presentation to His Majesty the King. This lies thirty kilometers to the west of Krabi Town on the Andaman coast.
Climate and Weather
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 2,568.5 millimeters.
If the forecast above is showing rain, don't despair! The weather in Krabi changes frequently: if you click on the 'forecast' button, you will see the real time weather - often different from the day's original prediction shown above.
When to visit Krabi
Weather-wise, the ideal time to visit Krabi is in late January and February, when you will enjoy nearly perfect conditions: calm, glassy seas; clear blue skies; moderate temperatures; and only a tiny chance of shower burst. By coming at this time, you also avoid the peak season hotel supplements charged around Christmas and New Year.
This time is, naturally, extremely busy here, so you may find popular hotels and beaches full. Some people prefer to visit Krabi in the 'rainy' season, despite the risk of showers, as it is cooler, cheaper and much less crowded - it is even possible to have a whole island to yourself!
Booking a holiday in May-October remains, however, a gamble: while the typical rainy season pattern is of sunny days punctuated by short, heavy afternoon showers, you could just as easily end up with ten days of straight rain - or sun!
KRABI province is located on the south west coast of Thailand, some 800km by road from the capital, Bangkok. It is bounded by Phang Nga province to the north, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Surat Thani to the east, and Trang to the south.
132 islands offshore in the Andaman Sea also fall under Krabi's jurisdiction, several of which - including the Lanta Islands, Ko Phi Phi Don and Ko Jum - are inhabited. The province itself is split into eight administrative districts, called Ampur in Thai: Ao Luk; Plai Praya; Muang (which covers Ao Nang, Railay, Krabi Town, Klong Muang and the Phi Phi Islands); Neua Klong; Klong Thom; Khao Phanom; Lam Tup and Ko Lanta.
The province covers a total area of 4709 square kilometres. Krabi's population is currently around 395,000 people, of which 60% are Buddhist and 40% Muslim.
Krabi Town centre map
KRABI Town is located in Muang district and is the provincial capital. If you are arriving too late to take a ferry to the islands (for schedules see Getting to Krabi), this is a good place to stay overnight.
Our recommended hotels here are:
- City Hotel (read review)
- Golden Hill Hotel (read review)
See the corresponding number on the map for location.
Banks and ATM machines can be found on almost every street corner. The night and morning markets are good places to pick up cheap, tasty Thai snacks, as well as fresh tropical fruit.
The Post Office is located on Utarakit Rd; the police station is further along the same road.The tourist bus station can be found on Hemthanon Rd - this where most of the buses to and from Ko Samui and Ko Phangan terminate. The government bus station is further out of town on Utarakit Road.
The main ferry pier to Ko Lanta, Ko Jum and Ko Phi Phi is also located out of town on Tharua Rd. (Some guidebooks are still listing Khong Kha pier as the place to go, but this is now out of date information.) Transfers to the pier will usually be included if you buy your ticket in advance from an agent or tour counter in town.
Festivals
Krabi Boek Fa Andaman Festival
is held annually to inaugurate the province's tourist season. The festival features parades, local products contests, sea Kayak competitions and boat races.
Loi Ruea Chao Le Festival
Population
Cave paintings and artifacts found around Krabi indicate that the area has been inhabited since prehistoric times.
Today the people of Krabi represent a mix of three different ethnic groups who came to settle from other regions. It is said that each ethnic group has written a page in Krabi's rich history.
The origins of the Chao Ley or "Sea Gypsies" are unknown. Living mainly on the islands, these nomadic people live in small settlements and earn their living from fishing, collecting shells and diving.
They still retain their own language and beliefs and spiritual worship is still strong in the community. Although overexposure to tourism, and inevitable assimilation with mainstream culture is unfortunately threatening their small communities.
Some of their traditional ways are preserved the yearly sea gypsy sailing ritual held in May on Koh Lanta, Koh Pu and Koh Cha and various ceremonies still celebrated within the community.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, immigrants from southern China flocked to Thailand in search of work. Many assimilated into Thai society but their descendants still retain their Chinese heritage and are prominent in the business community. Many still speak Chinese dialects, have Chinese (and Thai) names, and observe Chinese rituals and religious beliefs which form part of the local culture.
Krabi is also home to many Muslim communities, due to its close proximity to Malaysia and strong ethnic ties with the border provinces, providing a rich diversity to the area.
