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A practical guide to the first hour after you land in Krabi: which way to Ao Nang, Railay, Klong Muang or Krabi Town suits your flight, your luggage and your budget, and what changes after dark.
The plane doors open, warm wet air hits your face, and the arrivals hall at Krabi fills up fast with people who all seem to know where they are going. You have a suitcase, maybe tired kids, and a hotel in Ao Nang or a bungalow on Railay that looked very close on the map. The next ten minutes decide if your first evening starts on a beach or in a queue.
Getting from Krabi airport to Ao Nang is easy once you know the options, and none of them is a bad choice. The trick is matching the option to your arrival time, your luggage and where exactly you are sleeping, especially if that is Railay, which you can only reach by boat.
There are four realistic ways from Krabi airport to Ao Nang: the official taxi counter in the arrivals hall, the shared airport bus, a private transfer booked in advance, and a ride-hailing app. Taxis and transfers take you door to door, the bus is the cheapest, and apps sit somewhere in between.
Krabi airport sits on the mainland, on the far side of Krabi Town from the beaches. Ao Nang is the main beach town, so it is where most arriving passengers are heading. On a normal day the drive is usually comfortably under an hour, longer in traffic or rain.
Here is how the options compare in practice. I have left prices out on purpose: they change with fuel costs and seasons, and the counters at the airport show the current rates.
| Option | Best for | Good points | Downsides |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxi counter (arrivals hall) | Families, groups, anyone with a lot of luggage | Fixed price by area, no haggling, straight to your hotel | Costs more than the bus; queues after big flights |
| Shared airport bus | Solo travellers and couples on a budget | Cheapest way to Krabi Town and Ao Nang | Stops along the way, limited hours, drop-off may not be at your door |
| Private transfer, pre-booked | Late arrivals, first-time visitors, Klong Muang | Driver waiting with your name, no decisions when tired | You pay for the whole car; plans fall apart if the flight is badly delayed and nobody tracks it |
| Ride-hailing app | People who already use one at home | Price shown before you go, easy to pay | Pickup point rules at the airport can change; availability varies late at night |
For most first-time visitors with suitcases, the taxi counter is the simplest choice. You pay, someone walks you to a car, and you are on your way. If you are travelling light and alone, the bus saves real money and the ride is a decent first look at the province.
Yes, for most people. The official taxi and car counters in the arrivals hall charge a fixed price by destination area, so you know the cost before you get in and you do not need to negotiate after a long flight.
You tell the staff your hotel and area, they quote the price for that zone, you pay, and a driver takes you to the car. Larger vehicles are usually available for families or groups with surfboards, golf bags or a pile of suitcases. Ask for one at the counter rather than trying to squeeze into a standard car.
The main downside is cost compared with the bus. For a couple with two backpacks, the bus can be a fair trade. For a family of four with luggage, the taxi often works out close to the bus fares added together, with much less hassle.
A few small tips that save stress:
Shared airport buses run from outside the arrivals hall to Krabi Town and on to Ao Nang, stopping along the way. They are the cheapest way to the beaches, but they run on a timetable that can change, so check the current schedule when you land.
You buy a ticket at the bus desk or from the staff by the bus, load your bag, and wait for it to fill or for the departure time. The route goes through Krabi Town first, so if you are staying there, the bus is an easy choice.
For Ao Nang, the bus usually drops passengers at stops along the main road or near the beach rather than at each hotel. If your hotel is up a hill or on a side road, the last stretch may need a short local taxi or a walk with your bags. That is fine for a backpack, less fun with two suitcases in the afternoon heat.
My honest view: the bus is great for solo travellers and couples who pack light and land in the daytime. If you arrive late, have children, or your hotel is outside the centre of Ao Nang, the small saving rarely makes up for the extra waiting and walking.
A pre-booked private transfer is the calmest option for late flights, first trips to Thailand and hotels outside Ao Nang, such as Klong Muang. Ride-hailing apps work in Krabi and show the price up front, but rules for airport pickups and the number of cars at night can vary.
Many hotels and resorts offer their own airport pickup. It is worth asking when you book the room, because the driver will know exactly where the hotel is, and the hotel will know if your flight is late. Give them your flight number, not just the time.
With an app, check before you fly that it works with your card or wallet in Thailand. At the airport, follow the signs or ask staff where app pickups are allowed, because the pickup point is not always right outside the door. Late at night, do not count on an app as your only plan: have the taxi counter as the backup.
What I would skip: agreeing a price with someone who approaches you inside the terminal. It is not always a scam, but the official counters and pre-booked drivers are simply more predictable, and on your first night that matters more than saving a little.
Railay is reached only by boat, so the trip has two parts: a car or bus from the airport to a pier, usually Ao Nang beach, and then a longtail boat to Railay. Allow extra time for the boat, and plan to arrive at the pier in daylight.
The most common route is the airport taxi or bus to Ao Nang, then a longtail from the boat ticket counter on Ao Nang beach to Railay West. Boats usually leave once enough passengers are on board, or you can pay to take the whole boat if you are in a hurry. The ride itself is short and very scenic, with limestone cliffs rising straight out of the sea.
There are other piers too. Boats also go from Krabi Town and from other bays near Ao Nang, and in the rougher months departures can move from one beach or pier to another. Ask the taxi driver or your Railay hotel which pier is in use on your arrival day, and they will drop you in the right place.
Your Railay resort may also offer a combined pickup with car and boat. That costs more, but it removes the two weakest points of the trip: finding the right boat and dragging bags across the sand. For a first visit with luggage, I think it is worth it.
If you only want Railay for a day rather than a stay, you do not need to move hotels at all. The rock climbing tour at Railay Beach and the island tours below include the boat ride, so you can stay in Ao Nang and see Railay on a day out.
Expect a wet landing. Longtail boats often stop in shallow water rather than at a jetty, so you may have to step into the sea and carry your bag above the water for a few steps.
The boatmen help with luggage and are used to suitcases, but a heavy hard case is awkward to pass from a rocking boat to someone standing in the sea. A soft bag or a backpack is much easier. On the beach, wheels do not roll in sand, so be ready to carry the case to the walkway.
How to pack for this part of the journey:
In rough weather the sea between Ao Nang and Railay can be choppy and you may get splashed, so pack with that in mind. In calm months the ride is easy and often the highlight of the day, with the cliffs getting closer and the water turning from green to turquoise.
Go to Ao Nang, Krabi Town or Klong Muang by taxi or pre-booked transfer, and leave Railay for the next morning. Boats to Railay run in daylight, and the shared airport bus may have stopped for the day.
This is where people get caught out. A flight that lands in the early evening, plus a delay, plus the drive, can easily put you on Ao Nang beach after dark. Some boats may still be around at dusk, but you should not plan a trip on it. Book your first night in Ao Nang if your flight lands late, and take the morning boat to Railay with fresh legs.
For mainland hotels, late arrivals are simpler. The official counters usually stay open for evening flights, but the number of cars can drop and queues can get longer, so a pre-booked transfer or hotel pickup gives peace of mind. Send your flight number so the driver can follow delays.
One more practical point: eat on the plane or at the airport if you can. Many small restaurants near quieter hotels close early, although Ao Nang's main road usually has something open late.
For Klong Muang, use the taxi counter or a pre-booked transfer: it is a quieter beach area further from the airport and not well served by the shared buses. For Krabi Town, the shared bus or a taxi both work well, because the town is the closest stop from the airport.
Klong Muang is a calm resort strip with bigger hotels, nice sunsets and fewer people than Ao Nang. That quiet is the point, but it also means fewer passing taxis and buses. Ask your resort about pickup when you book, and keep their contact handy. The extra cost of a direct car is worth it here.
Krabi Town is easy from the airport, cheap to reach and a good base if you like local food, markets and evenings by the river. It is not a beach town, so you will travel to Ao Nang or the piers for sea days. Many island tours pick up from both Krabi Town and Ao Nang hotels, so staying in town does not stop you from going out on the water.
If you are not sure which area to choose, Ao Nang is the easiest first base: most transport, most restaurants, the boats to Railay and the widest choice of day trips are right there.
Rest on day one, and book your first trip for day two. After a flight and a transfer, a slow afternoon on the beach and an early night are worth more than squeezing in a tour.
When you are ready for the sea, the island tours pick you up from your hotel, so no more transport puzzles. The 7 Islands Sunset Tour runs in the afternoon (13:30 to 19:30), includes transfers from Krabi and Ao Nang, a BBQ dinner and swimming with bioluminescent plankton after dark, and costs from ฿1590 for adults. It is a gentle first outing if your sleep is still off. The 4 Islands tour by longtail boat starts at 08:30, costs from ฿1290 for adults and stops at Railay's Phra Nang Beach, which is a nice way to see Railay without moving your luggage.
The sunset trip suits travellers who arrived tired and want an easy afternoon start; the 4 Islands longtail suits early risers who want beaches and snorkelling in one day.
On both tours the national park entrance fee is paid separately: 400 THB per adult and 200 THB per child aged 3 to 11. For a wider comparison of the boat days, read which island tour from Krabi to choose, or browse all trips on the Go Krabi Tours home page.
Quick checklist before you land: Thai baht in cash, your hotel name and address saved offline, your flight number sent to whoever is picking you up, and a plan B if the flight is late. With those four things sorted, the trip from the airport is the easy part.
By taxi or private transfer it is usually comfortably under an hour, depending on traffic and weather. The shared bus takes longer because it stops in Krabi Town and along the way.
Payment options at the counters can change, so it is safest to have Thai baht in cash. There are cash machines and money exchange counters in the airport.
No. The airport is inland, so you first go by road to a pier such as Ao Nang beach, then take a longtail boat to Railay.
Yes, the boatmen carry suitcases every day, but the landing is often in shallow water, so a soft bag is much easier. Wheels do not roll in sand, so be ready to carry your case to the path.
Pickup details depend on the tour. Many tours collect guests from hotels in Krabi and Ao Nang, and the exact meeting time is given right after booking, so check the tour page for your hotel area.
Yes, the official counters in the arrivals hall are the safe choice at night. Avoid agreeing a ride with someone who approaches you inside the terminal, and send your hotel details to someone if you travel alone.
Ao Nang is easier for beach time, boats to Railay and island tours. Krabi Town is better for local food and markets and is closer to the airport, which helps on a very late or very early flight.
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Updated 9 November 2026.
