Getting Around Krabi: Transport, Boats & Airport Transfers
Krabi Province spans coastline, islands, and inland jungle with no metro or rail network. This guide covers every transport option, from airport minivans and local songthaews to long-tail boats and ferries, so you can move around without overpaying or getting stranded at the wrong pier.
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TL;DR
- Krabi International Airport (KBV) is about 9 km from Krabi Town; shared minivans to Ao Nang cost around ฿150 per person.
- White songthaews link Krabi Town and Ao Nang for around ฿50-60; frequency drops after dark. Read more in our budget travel guide for Krabi.
- Railay is completely inaccessible by road: you must take a long-tail boat from Ao Nang or Krabi Town.
- Different destinations depart from different piers — Ao Nang, Nopparat Thara, and Klong Jilad (Krabi Town) are not interchangeable.
- Boat services to the Phi Phi Islands and Koh Lanta can be reduced or cancelled during the May-October monsoon season — always confirm schedules close to your departure date.
Krabi Airport Transfers: Your Options from KBV
Krabi International Airport (IATA: KBV) sits roughly 9 km northeast of Krabi Town, and around 25-30 km from Ao Nang depending on the route. Getting from the terminal to your accommodation is straightforward if you know which option matches your budget and luggage situation. There are five realistic choices: airport bus, shared minivan, private taxi, Grab, and pre-booked transfer.
- Airport Bus The cheapest option. Reported fares are around ฿100 to Krabi Town and ฿150 to Ao Nang. Confirm the current schedule at the bus counter inside the terminal, as departures are not continuous.
- Shared Minivan The most practical mid-budget choice. Shared vans to Ao Nang run around ฿150 per person and include hotel drop-offs, which can add 20-30 minutes if you're not the first stop. Buy tickets at the airport counter on arrival.
- Private Taxi Officially metered taxis exist but in practice most airport taxis quote a fixed price. Expect to negotiate; fares to Ao Nang are typically in the ฿500-700 range. Confirm the total before getting in.
- Grab Grab operates in Krabi and is worth checking if you have a local SIM card. Pickup availability at the airport can be inconsistent; some drivers ask you to walk slightly off-site. The app shows fares upfront, which removes negotiation stress.
- Pre-Booked Transfer Many hotels and tour operators offer private airport pickups. Prices vary widely but the convenience is real for families or anyone arriving late with heavy luggage. Book in advance and confirm the pickup point.
⚠️ What to skip
Blue songthaews (shared pickup trucks) sometimes serve the airport-to-town corridor but may stop outside the terminal grounds rather than at the arrivals hall. If you're traveling light and on a tight budget, ask at the information desk inside arrivals where the blue songthaew stop is located before heading out.
Local Transport in Krabi: Songthaews, Tuk-Tuks, and Motorbike Taxis
Krabi Province has no metro, no passenger rail, and no citywide bus network. Local movement relies on songthaews (modified pickup trucks with bench seating in the back), tuk-tuks, and motorbike taxis. Each has its place, and mixing them is the practical way to get around.
White songthaews run a fixed route between Krabi Town and Ao Nang, covering about 18 km. The fare is around ฿50-60 per person and vehicles run through the day, with service thinning out noticeably after 18:00. If you're staying in Ao Nang and need to visit Krabi Town for the night market or a ferry pier, budget an extra hour for the return trip in case you're waiting for a vehicle to fill up.
Tuk-tuks in Ao Nang are primarily for short hops within the resort strip. Fares are negotiated and can feel steep for what they cover, especially for solo travelers. They're most useful for carrying beach gear or getting back from dinner when songthaews have stopped. Motorbike taxis, identifiable by their numbered orange vests, work well for single passengers traveling short distances fast. Agree on the price before departing.
💡 Local tip
Renting a scooter (around ฿200-300 per day) is the most flexible option for exploring the Krabi Town area and the road north toward Khlong Muang. However, the roads between Ao Nang and Railay are a dead end — the peninsula is surrounded by cliffs and sea, so a scooter won't help you get there.
Boats in Krabi: Piers, Long-Tails, and Ferries
Water transport is central to getting around Krabi Province. Several key destinations — including Railay, Phi Phi, and Koh Lanta — are either entirely unreachable by road or much faster to reach by sea. The most important thing to know before booking any boat ticket is which pier you're departing from, because the main departure points are not interchangeable.
- Ao Nang / Nopparat Thara Pier The main departure point for long-tail boats to Railay Beach (East and West). The crossing takes about 15 minutes and costs around ฿100 per person. Boats also depart here for island day trips and some speedboat transfers.
- Klong Jilad Pier (Krabi Town) The primary pier for ferries and speedboats to Koh Phi Phi and Koh Lanta. If your ticket says 'Krabi' and you're staying in Ao Nang, you need to get yourself to this pier, roughly 35-40 minutes away. Many travelers miss this distinction.
- Railay East Pier The floating pontoon where boats arrive at Railay. There is no road access to or from Railay — boats are the only option. Long-tails also run from Railay East to Ao Nang and to Tonsai Beach.
Long-tail boats to Railay from Ao Nang run throughout the day and depart when full, typically around 8 passengers. After dark, the last boats are less frequent and fares often increase. If you're based on Railay and staying out late in Ao Nang, check the last boat time with your guesthouse before heading out. Charter rates for private long-tails are higher but available.
For the Phi Phi Islands, both ferries (slower, cheaper, around ฿350-500) and speedboats (faster, around ฿800-1,200) operate from Klong Jilad Pier. Journey times are roughly 90 minutes by ferry and 45 minutes by speedboat. The Krabi to Phi Phi day trip works well on a speedboat if you're short on time. For Koh Lanta, a combination of ferry and road crossing is standard, with the journey taking around 2 hours from Krabi Town.
⚠️ What to skip
During the southwest monsoon (roughly May to October), rough seas can delay or cancel boat services without much notice. This is especially relevant for routes to Phi Phi and the outer islands. If you have a fixed departure date, book morning boats rather than afternoon ones, and always have a flexible day built into your schedule near the end of your trip.
Getting to Krabi: Bangkok, Phuket, and Beyond
Most international visitors arrive in Krabi Thailand by flying into KBV or by overland transfer from Phuket. The Krabi Airport guide covers flight options in detail, but in summary: Bangkok's two airports (Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang) have multiple daily flights to KBV with Thai Airways, Bangkok Airways, AirAsia, and Thai Vietjet, with flight time around 1.5 hours.
From Phuket, the drive to Krabi takes around 2.5-3 hours via Highway 4, making a private transfer or shared minivan more sensible than a connecting flight. The Phuket to Krabi transfer guide outlines the van, bus, and private car options with current fare ranges. If you're coming from Bangkok by land, the overnight bus from Bangkok's Southern Bus Terminal takes around 11-12 hours and arrives at Krabi Bus Terminal, from where songthaews connect to town and Ao Nang. For the full breakdown, the Bangkok to Krabi guide covers all transport modes with timing.
Getting Around Specific Areas: Ao Nang, Railay, and Koh Lanta
Ao Nang is compact enough to walk if you're staying on the main beach strip. The road running parallel to Ao Nang Beach has most restaurants, shops, and tour operators within a 15-minute walk end to end. For the climb north toward Nopparat Thara Beach or the piers, tuk-tuks are useful if you have beach equipment.
On Railay itself, the peninsula is small: West Railay to East Railay takes under 10 minutes on foot across the path through the jungle. Phra Nang Beach is accessible by walking south from West Railay along the beach at low tide, or via the inland path. There are no vehicles on Railay — everything is on foot.
Koh Lanta is large enough that a scooter or motorbike rental makes sense. The main road runs down the west coast past the key beaches. Without wheels, you're dependent on songthaew-style vehicles which become scarce in the north of the island. The Koh Lanta travel guide covers getting around the island in more detail.
Practical Transport Tips for Krabi
- Always confirm which pier your boat departs from when booking tickets online. 'Krabi' and 'Ao Nang' are different departure points separated by 35-40 minutes.
- Get a local SIM card at the airport on arrival — it makes Grab much more useful and lets you check ferry schedules in real time.
- Carry small bills in Thai baht. Songthaews, long-tails, and motorbike taxis rarely have change for ฿500 notes.
- For island-hopping day trips, check whether the price includes hotel pickup or if you're expected to arrive at the pier independently.
- Book morning ferries to Phi Phi and Koh Lanta during peak season (December to February) at least a day ahead — they sell out.
- If you're renting a scooter, check that your travel insurance covers motorized vehicles. Many standard policies do not.
✨ Pro tip
If you're planning island-hopping across multiple days, consider basing yourself in Krabi Town rather than Ao Nang. The town pier (Klong Jilad) connects directly to ferries for Phi Phi and Koh Lanta, the songthaew to Ao Nang is cheap, and accommodation tends to be significantly less expensive. It's less polished as a tourist experience but much more efficient as a logistics hub.
FAQ
How do I get from Krabi Airport to Ao Nang?
The most common option is a shared minivan from the airport to Ao Nang, with reported fares around ฿150 per person. The journey takes 40-60 minutes depending on traffic and how many hotel drop-offs are included. Airport buses are cheaper (around ฿150 listed for Ao Nang) but less flexible. Private taxis cost significantly more — typically ฿500-700. Confirm all fares at the airport counter before departure, as prices can change by operator and season.
How do you get to Railay Beach from Ao Nang?
By long-tail boat from the pier at the southern end of Ao Nang Beach or from Nopparat Thara Pier. Boats depart when full (roughly 8 passengers) throughout the day and the crossing takes about 15 minutes. Fares are around ฿100 per person during the day. There is no road access to Railay — the cliffs and sea make boats the only option. After dark, boats are less frequent and may charge more.
Is Grab available in Krabi?
Yes, Grab operates in Krabi, but availability is much lower than in Bangkok or Phuket. It works best in Krabi Town and along the Ao Nang corridor. At the airport, pickup can be inconsistent — some drivers ask passengers to walk to a nearby road. Having a local SIM card is essential for using the app reliably.
Which pier do ferries to Koh Phi Phi depart from?
Ferries and speedboats to the Phi Phi Islands depart from Klong Jilad Pier in Krabi Town, not from Ao Nang. If you're staying in Ao Nang, you need to allow time and budget to get to Krabi Town first — around 35-40 minutes by songthaew or tuk-tuk. Always check your ticket for the specific departure pier, especially when booking online.
Can boat services to the islands be cancelled?
Yes. During the southwest monsoon season (roughly May to October), rough seas can delay or cancel ferry and speedboat services with little notice. This applies most commonly to routes to Phi Phi, Koh Lanta, and smaller outer islands. Always check with your operator the day before departure during this period, book morning services where possible, and avoid scheduling important connections on the day of a boat trip.
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