Ao Nang

Introduction

Due to its central location in the Andaman Sea and to its fabulous topography and sporting opportunities, Ao Nang is, at the moment, arguably Thailand’s best all-round beach destination.

It is predominately a family and sports destination, with a huge range of things to do (see below). Whilst it lacks wild nightlife and young party travellers will bore quickly, it does have a few relaxed bars and one nightclub.

Many beach destinations get ruined when over-development and over-population result in an unsupportable excess of pollutants. But somewhere along the way there is an optimal state, where there are enough facilities, but a still ecologicaly-sustainable tourist population.
	Ao Nang is now at this stage and represents, for many people, an ideal compromise between a pristine but boring destination and a fun but polluted one. The southern half of the beach is not yet bordered by a road, yet the town has a wide enough range of facilities, for example six Italian restaurants, to keep most visitors happily occupied for at least a couple of weeks.
Ao Nang is busy but hasn’t lost that laid back, friendly small-town feel; it is developed but still retains its original beauty and charm. Ao Nang is, along with Chiang Mai, one of Thailand’s two most exciting soft and extreme adventure sports destinations. The home of two of the best beaches on the planet, Railay, is fifteen minutes away by boat. The town’s location on the eastern coast of Phang Nga bay puts it within easy reach of all the fishing, diving and kayaking sites in the bay. A day-trip to Koh Phi Phi is a better way to visit the place than staying there.
	Ao Nang has numerous spas, beauty shops and massage parlours to offer you a little bit of pampering. Thai full- body massages lasting an hour cost around 250 Baht and, though you may feel that you have been pushed and pulled in improbable directions, you will feel rejuvenated afterwards.
Ao Nang has all standards of accommodation, from traditional wooden bungalows to luxury 5 star spa resorts.
	Ao Nang itself has two idyllic, unspoilt beaches, which are lapped by clear, warm water. Other, pristine beaches are located on a number of outlying islands which can be accessed cheaply and quickly from Ao Nang by local longtail boats.
Thai food is abundant in Ao Nang and is available 24 hours a day. Visit a traditional Thai restaurant, eat at a local market or try one of the many street vendors, who are based on every street corner.
	The smell and taste of the Thai dishes is enhanced by a variety of fresh, local ingredients, just don't forget to ask for non-spicy (mai pet) if you have a delicate, Western palette.
For those people who need a break from Thai food, a whole host of Western options are available in Ao Nang; these include traditional English food, Indian Food, Scandinavian food, steaks, pizza and pasta (there are 6 Italian restaurants).
	Ao Nang offers a wide range of activities and attractions, including snorkelling, kayaking, island-hopping, climbing, diving, spa/massage/beauty, shopping, white water rafting, hiking, kayaking, snorkelling, temple visits, fishing parks, elephant trekking, cooking classes, massage classes, market exploration and pavilion fishing.
Nopparat Thara beach is good for children and is only a few minutes away from Ao Nang
	Here's a photo of most of the mainland beaches within easy reach of Ao Nang : nearest the camera is Phra Nang, then West Railay, then Tonsai, then Ao Nang beach, then (just visible) Nopparat Thara beach.
In addition there are numerous offshore islands, some of which are not too busy, even in high season.

Beaches

Ao Nang has the following beaches :

Ao Nang Beach		Nopparat TharaBeach

The following beaches are 15 minutes away from Ao Nang by public longtail boat,
and can be reached without the help of a tour operator.

Phra Nang Beach		West Railay Beach

Sports & Things To Do & See

Spa, massage, beauty, hair		Kayak		Fish
Island Hop & Snorkel		Market Visits		Dive
White Water Rafting & ATV		Tiger Cave Temple		Elephant trekking
Hot Springs & Emerald Pool		Climb		Thai Cookery
Trek		Snake show

Hotels

For groups of 4 or more, a pool villa is a good idea, click on the image below for more.

To find a hotel in the list below, click on the map.

Packages

The following packages include a visit to Ao Nang. Click on a package for more information:

Restaurants

See the map for the locations of all restaurants.

Valhalla

Ao Nang's top Scandinavian restaurant has a great atmosphere and fab food on the menu. If you can afford the prices, this restaurant is highly recommended. Click here to read more.

Wangsai Seafood

One of Ao Nang's top 2 Thai restaurants, the food here is always superb. Customers chose their seafood from the live seafood pens, then have it cooked to order and accompanied by one of the many delicious sauces on offer. The restaurant also benefits from a great beach-front location

Krua Thara Seafood

One of Ao Nang’s top 2 Thai restaurants, this eatery is located at Nopparat Thara, 3 km from Ao Nang town centre. A tuk tuk taxi ride here costs THB 30 to 40 per person. Particularly good here is the “Pak Mee-ang”, a kind of soft steamed cale, accompanied by scrambled eggs

A-One

This restaurant serves the best English or American breakfast in Ao Nang, plus a fantastic traditional English roast dinner on Sundays. The pizza is a bit average, but everything else here, including the Thai food, is first class.

Gift’s Bakery & Restaurant

This restaurant serves the best light breakfast in Ao Nang, and sells the best brown bread. The Thai food is a bit over-priced here.

Noodle Soup Man

For THB 30, you can buy a bowl of chicken noodle soup which makes as delicious a meal as a dinner costing THB 1,000. The chicken noodle soup man’s stall is usually located in front of the V24 minimart, in front of the Ao Nang Villa Resort.

Azzuria

Of Ao Nang’s 6 Italian restaurants, this is the best for pizza – particularly good is the marscapone and parma ham.

Lavinia

Another of Ao Nang’s many Italian restaurants, this is the best one for pasta. Particularly good is the spinach and ricotta ravioli with ragu sauce.

Murphy’s Pub

This Irish pub serves great Western food at reasonable prices. Irish beer, though advertised, is usually unavailable. The pub has a huge screen and is a popular place to watch football matches.

The Irish Rover Pub

This is the best place in town for a burger. It serves draught Irish beer and is a very friendly and sociable place.

The Royal India

Ao Nang’s best Indian restaurant is expensive, but worth it. Particularly good are the onion bhajis and lamb rogan josh.

Nightlife

Whilst Ao Nang is predominately a family destination and lacks wild nightlife, it does have a few decent bars and pubs. Click on the map to locate any of the bars below. To find a bar, click on the map.

Luna Bar

Ao Nang’s late night dance club has a reputation for extortionate drinks prices and fights.

Amy's 69 Lounge

Amey's Dance & Lounge Bar. There's not much lounging about done at Amey's after midnight. Hop until you drop. You can't miss it, it's just down and across from Mcdonalds and is painted a lusiously and almost lacivisiously livid green. Highly recommended for those who want to have a relaxed but inebriated party, and not be hassled.

Disappointment Street

This is Ao Nang’s girly bar street. Music from 10 small bars deafens the visitor, while innumerable women hassle him.

Centre Point

This is an area of 10 bars just behind the beach-front road. The best of these bars are the KR bar and the Rocky bar. Neither of these bars employ bar girls and the visitor can thus enjoy a beer unmolested.

Friends Suki

Ao Nang’s most friendly and low-key bar, where most of the denizens are locally-resident Westerners, is a good place to pick up local information while enjoying a hassle-free drink.

Murphy’s Irish Pub

This friendly bar sometimes serves Irish beer, and is always an easy-going and relaxed place for a drink

The Irish Rover

If you want to be guaranteed good Western beer on draught, this is the place for you. Live music is occasionally provided, notably a great Elvis impersonator every Thursday night.

The Last Fisherman’s

Ao Nang’s best beach bar also serves tasty but expensive barbeques, and is a great place from which to watch the sunset.

Map

Click here for the map

Getting There / Getting Away

Ao Nang to/from Krabi

Krabi is 16km from Ao Nang and can be reached by local bus (Song-thaew) from 6.30am until 6pm for 50B per person and from 6pm until 9pm for 60B per person. This service can be collected on the roadside nearest the beach in Ao Nang. It terminates at Krabi public bus station, but you can push the buzzer to stop wherever you like. Pay the driver on leaving the bus. There is also a public bus service to Krabi Airport at 150B per person.

Alternatively you can take a private taxi for 600B, and this will take you to anywhere in Krabi. Contact us to book. A motorcycle taxi will perform the same function for around 150B as will a motor-tri-cycle taxi (sam-lor) for a similar price. But for people with a lot of luggage these two methods are not advisable.
 
From Krabi to Ao Nang is much simpler. The motorcycle taxis and private taxis are the same price and can be flagged down anywhere. The Song-thaew is found outside the 7/11 convenience store on Maharat Road, the road with Vogue shopping centre on it. There will be a few people calling out 'Ao Nang' from the road side who will usher you into the right bus.

Ao Nang to/from Phuket

The ferry service leaves at 3:30pm from Had Nopparat Thara pier and costs 650B, Children 3- 10years old at 500 Baht. Private taxis will take you to Phuket town for 3000B. Contact us to book.

To catch a public bus to Phuket you must first go to Krabi bus station – for details see above. The public bus service leaves Krabi bus station hourly and takes 3 hours to reach Phuket. This trip costs 170B but the roads are very windy and it is a most unpleasant experience.

There is a much more enjoyable option available in the form of direct speedboat transfer to Bang Rong pier, which is 2/3 of the way up Phuket’s coast. From this pier taxis will take you into the town for 100B. The speedboat leaves at 11am and travels across Phang Nga bay, winding its way through the multitudinous karst islands that rear sheer from the sea. It is a beautiful trip which arrives at 12:15pm and costs 950B. Contact us to book.

From Phuket to Ao Nang, the ferry leaves Phuket town at 8:30am  and arrives in Ao Nang at 10:30am. The public bus leaves every hour to Krabi for 170B. See the above section entitled Ao Nang to/from Krabi for how to get from Krabi to Ao Nang. The speedboat leaves Bang Rong pier at 3pm returning to Ao Nang at 4:15pm. Contact us to book.

Note: In the low season (May-November) only the over land option is available.

Ao Nang To/from Bangkok

Option 1) This is the easiest option. First get to Krabi - see the above section entitled Ao Nang to/from Krabi. Then take a Song-thaew for 50B to Krabi airport to connect to your flight. Taxi service directly to the airport from Ao Nang costs 600B. Contact us to book. There is also a public bus service to Krabi Airport at 150B per person, leaving at 7:45am, 9:45am, 1:15pm, 2:15pm, 3:15pm, 4:15pm and 6:15pm. For the reverse journey, fly from Bangkok to Krabi. Consult the above section entitled Ao Nang to/from Krabi. Airline websites: www.airasia.com, www.nokair.com, www.thaiair.com, www.fly12go.com

Option 2) This is the cheapest option. First get to Krabi - see the above section entitled Ao Nang to/from Krabi. Then catch the public bus service to Bangkok at 4pm for 600B. Lignite tours offer a more luxurious service from Krabi bus station for 1000-1400B leaving daily at 8am and 5pm. For the reverse journey, buses from the Southern Bus Terminal in Bangkok leave at 7:30am, 4:40pm, 7pm, 7:30pm, arrive 12 hours later and cost 461-920B. For travel from Krabi to Ao Nang, consult the above section entitled Ao Nang to/from Krabi.

Option 3) This option is useful only if flights to/from Krabi are full. First get to Phuket - see the above section entitled Ao Nang to/from Phuket. If arriving in Phuket at Bang Rong pier or in Phuket town, take a taxi to the airport, which will cost THB 400. If arriving by public bus, ask the driver to drop you at the end of the airport road end. You will be able to get a taxi from there to the airport for roughly THB 100. Then fly to Bangkok. Airline websites: www.airasia.com, www.nokair.com, www.thaiair.com & www.fly12go.com

Option 4) There is also the train service from Surat Thani, which is a more comfortable option than the bus. First get to Krabi - see the above section entitled Ao Nang to/from Krabi. Then take the public bus to Surat Thani at 11:30am and 4pm, followed by taxi to the train station to make your connection, (see the train timetable). For the reverse journey, take the train from Bangkok to Surat Thani. Then take the public bus to Krabi. Then, to get to Ao Nang, see the above section entitled Ao Nang to/from Krabi.

Ao Nang to/from Koh Yao Noi

A daily speedboat service runs from Ao Nang at 11am for 500B. Contact us to book. This service will take you to the northern tip of Koh Yao Yai, which is the southern of the two Yao islands Koh Yao Noi and Koh Yao Yai. From there you must arrange a longtail boat to take you to Koh Yao Noi, a trip of only 10 minutes, but you are at the mercy of the boat drivers’ greed.

There is a ferry service that runs daily from a pier close to Ao Nang called Ao Thalane. A taxi from Ao Nang to Ao Thalane will cost 600B. There is a Song-thaew service from Krabi town for 60B but you will have to go into Krabi town first, a journey of up to an hour, then back to Ao Thalane, a journey of 40 minutes, thus completing two sides of a triangle. Ferries depart from Ao Thalane to Koh Yao Noi’s Thakao Pier at 10, 11am and 1pm and cost 120-150B.

From Koh Yao Noi to Ao Nang is the same process in reverse, with ferries leaving Koh Yao Noi at 7:30, 8:30, and 9:30am, and costing 150B.

Note: In the low season (May-November) only the service from Ao Thalane runs. The speedboat service does not run.

Ao Nang to/from Koh Lao Liang

This is a private island resort and as such its operators provide transport upon booking a stay with them. Contact us to book. From Ao Nang this service leaves at 8.45am from the police box situated, when standing facing the beach, on the far left near to the Phranang Inn. A minivan will take you to Had Yao pier in Trang where a high speed ferry will take you to Koh Lao Liang. This service costs 1100B per person. The journey takes about 3 ½ hours. Contact us to book.

From Koh Lao Liang to Ao Nang is as simple, leaving Koh Lao Liang at 12pm and returning to Ao Nang at 4pm, Also 1100B per person. Contact us to book.

Note: In the low season (May-November) this destination is unavailable.

Ao Nang to/from Railay and Tonsai

From Ao Nang this is a very simple process. You talk to a boatman, identified by their numbered and coloured shirts, who will tell you to buy a ticket from one of two booths on Ao Nang beach at 80B per person. When there are 8 people wishing to go you will be escorted to a longtail boat and captained around the dramatic limestone karst headland. You will arrive 15 minutes later, at Railay or Tonsai. If you are lucky, at high tide the boat arrives right on the beach, but if the tide is out then you will have to wade to the beach from 50 metres out. You will get at least your feet and calves, and possibly your bottom, wet.

To Ao Nang from Railay or Tonsai bay it is the same except you pay the boatman directly. Boats leave regularly from either location from 7am until 7pm. After then the price is at the boatman’s discretion and it can increase greatly, to as much as 1000B.

Ao Nang to/from Koh Phi Phi

The Phi Phi Family ferry service runs from Ao Nang to Koh Phi Phi once daily at 9am and costs 490B, children 3-10 years 390B. The boat leaves from Had Nopparat Thara pier; there is a free transfer to the pier if you are staying in Ao Nang. Contact us to book.

The return boat is at 3.30pm and prices are identical.

Note: In the low season (May-November) the timetable is subject to change, contact www.tktkrabitour.com for more information.

Ao Nang to/from Koh Lanta

Phi Phi Family ferry service runs from Ao Nang to Koh Lanta once daily at 10:30am and costs 520B, children under 10 years old are charged 400B. The journey takes 2 ½ hours. Contact us to book.
 
A mostly overland alternative is available, by means of an air-conditioned minivan leaving at 9, 11am and 4pm, It costs 300B and takes 2 ½ hours. Contact us to book.

The ferry to Ao Nang from Koh Lanta leaves Ban Saladan at 1:30pm, prices are the same and journey time is the same at 2 ½  hours. The mostly overland alternative is bookable from your Koh Lanta resort and takes roughly 2 ½ hours.

Note: In the low season (May-November) only the mostly overland option runs.

Ao Nang to/from Koh Jum

The daily ferry to Koh Lanta, (which departs from Ao Nang at 10:30am and costs 520B) stops offshore of Koh Jum during the high season. A longtail boat from your resort will then meet the ferry, in order to collect you. You must first contact the resort with your travel times and request the pick up. Contact us to book.

Alternatively you can drive to the mainland's Ban Laem Kruat pier and get the local ferry to the island, which runs about every 20 minutes and costs  50B.

The return trip to Ao Nang is similar, ask the travel desk at your resort to contact the ferry company for a pick up at roughly 2pm. Or have the resort book a minivan for you.

Note: In the low season (May-November) only the overland to Ban Laem Kruat pier is available.

Ao Nang to/from the Gulf Islands - Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao

The ferries to Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, and Koh Tao leave from Don Sak. To get there you must first get to Krabi. See the above section entitled Ao Nang to/from Krabi. Then take the public to Surat Thani, which leaves Krabi bus station at 11:30am or 4pm, costs about 150B and takes 2 ½ hours. Then take a local song-thaew bus from Surat Thani to Don Sak which takes 40 minutes and costs about 100B. Then catch one of the boats on the following ferry timetable. Contact us to book.

Ferry Timetable for the Gulf Islands.

The above journey is laborious. A private taxi to Don Sak costs 3500B. Contact us to book.

Koh Samui airport is accessible from Krabi airport. First you must get to Krabi – see the above section entitled Ao Nang to/from Krabi. Flights leave daily at 12:15pm, returning daily at 12:25pm.

The return journey is marginally easier. From Don Sak, a bus to Krabi leaves the pier after each ferry arrival from Koh Samui, Koh Phangan or Koh Tao. See the above section entitled Ao Nang to/from Krabi for the journey from Krabi to Ao Nang.

Note: In the low season (May-November) the timetable is subject to change. Contact www.tktkrabitour.com for updates and bookings.

Ao Nang to/from Had Yai and Malaysia

Public buses are the easiest way to get to Had Yai. First, go to Krabi - see the above section entitled Ao Nang to/from Krabi. The buses leave the bus terminal in Krabi town every hour. This journey lasts 4 hours and shows you a great spectrum of countryside in the comfort of a seat with nearly adequate leg-room. The fare is THB 210.

Alternatively, a minivan will pick you up from any location in the Ao Nang area at roughly 7am, arriving in Had Yai at 11am. This service costs THB 350. Contact us to book.

For the return journey, from Had Yai the buses leave for Krabi every ½ hour. You will arrive 4 hours later, at a reduction in your wealth of only THB 210. The first minivan leaves for Krabi at 7am and the last at 6:30pm. Then see the above section entitled Ao Nang to/from Krabi.

Ao Nang to/from Koh Lipe

Koh Lipe is the southernmost island in the Tarutao National Marine Park, and also in Thailand. To get to this island you have two options. The first, and simplest, is to use the Tigerline minivan/high speed ferry service that leaves Ao Nang at 8:45am, and takes 6hours. All connections and swapping of transports are arranged by Tigerline and as such you need do nothing. This service costs 1100B per person. The second option is to collect a minivan from Ao Nang at 7am or 11am to Pakbara pier in Satun province. This journey takes at elast 5 ½ hours for the 7am van and 2 ½ hours for the 11am van!! From this pier speedboats leave, for both Koh Tarutao and Koh Lipe, at 10:30am and 12 noon. Contact us to book.

From Koh Lipe to Ao Nang, the same above two travel options are available. The Tigerline service leaves at 10am and arrives in Ao Nang at 4pm for 1000B. The speedboats to Pakbara Pier begin leaving at 10am, but some stop on Koh Tarutao first before going on in the afternoon. This makes the journey north very long and slow, making it impossible for you to reach Ao Nang before dark. On reaching Pakbara, you must find a minivan or Song-thaew to La-Ngu, and then catch a public bus north to Krabi. Then see the above section entitled Ao Nang to/from Krabi. 

Note: In the low season (May-November) Tigerline do not operate, and boat transport is by longtail boat only, a 5 ½ hour journey from Koh Lipe to the mainland.

Ao Nang to/from Trang

The quickest and most luxurious way to Trang is in a private taxi for 2800B. You will cover the 138km in 1 ½ hours. Contact us to book.

Alternatively, take the public bus. First, go to Krabi - see the above section entitled Ao Nang to/from Krabi. Then catch the public bus service to Trang, which leaves every hour, costs 115B and takes 2 hours. Sometimes this route is very busy and so you are not always guaranteed a seat!

Alternatively, a minivan service leaves Ao Nang at 7, 11am and 5pm, also taking 2 hours. It costs THB 350. Contact us to book.

To return to Ao Nang the public buses leave every hour at the same price. The taxi may be a little cheaper as Trang is not such a busy tourist destination, though the minivan will be the same price, (ask your hotel to book one for you).
 

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