Ao Luk, Thailand + Add a trip

Automobiles

While National Car Rental (+66 (0) 7569 1939) and Budget (+66 (0) 7563 7913) have offices at the airport, you probably don't want to drive in Krabi. It's easy - and cheap - to call for a taxi to ferry you from place to place.

Planes

Krabi Airport is serviced by Thai Airways (www.thaiairways.com) and a handful of budget carriers. There are several daily flights from Bangkok, as well as one daily flight each from Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. Well-heeled travellers already in Southern Thailand can consider jetting direct to their resort via seaplane: Destination Air services the area very efficiently (www.destinationair.com).

Trains

There are no direct trains to Krabi. If you really want to take it slow (and we advise against it), you can take a train from Bangkok to the Nakhon Si Thammarat main station and then catch a bus or taxi (www.railway.co.th).

Dialing

Thailand: +66. The area code for Krabi is 075. Drop the '0' if dialling from overseas.

Reads

Do go / Don't Go

By far the best time to visit Krabi is between late November and April, with January and February being the ideal months. May marks the start of the rainy season, which continues until October. Apart from the gloomy weather, many businesses close during this season, and there can be an abundance of jellyfish in the waters, so swimming and snorkelling is more hazardous.

Cuisine

As in Phuket, freshly foraged Andaman seafood is what most visitors feast on in Krabi. Dishes are likely to be barbecued, marinated and garnished with numerous herbs and spices. Southern Thais like their food spicy, so be prepared to drink a lot of water - or Singha Beer - with your meals. Southern Thai dishes worth tasting include kaeng som, a slightly sourish fish in a delicious broth flavoured with tamarind; and massaman, a more-ish yellow curry with peanuts and sweet potatoes. If you're seeking variety, head to Ao Nang, which has the widest selection of restaurants.

Taxis

Easier to call than to flag down, Krabi's taxis are cheap, convenient, and charge according to distance.

Tipping

Tipping is not necessary but it's appreciated for exceptional service.

Currency

Thai baht. £1 is approximately THB65.

Packing

Seaside chic: bring a good pair of shades, lots of sunscreen, your best bikini, and long-sleeved linens for the evening. For beach joggers, or those who want to try their hands and feet at rock-climbing, sportswear is a good idea. Waterproof footwear comes in handy (i.e. rubber flip-flops).

Arts

Tiger Cave Temple, or Wat Tham Sua, is a historic complex where ancient stone tools, pottery shards and holy images etched onto clay have been excavated. Housing temple and monastery, the peaceful area is shrouded by natural forests and a host of limestone caves. Be warned: with close to 1,300 steps, the journey up to the temple is often said to be a pilgrimage in itself - but the reward is a 360-degree panorama of ocean and forest.

And...

Shopping

While quality shopping in Krabi is admittedly sparse, there are some night markets within Krabi town. For those wanting to grab some souvenirs, touristy trinkets are available almost everywhere, particularly in Ao Nang, as are the ubiquitous silk scarves, hammocks and sarongs.

Viewpoint

Tour operators will tell you that the best view of Krabi is up near Tiger Cave Temple (which is definitely worth visiting), but we think the coolest vistas comes from high up the cliffs of Phra Nang. However, to get 'high up' you'll need to climb. Sign up for a rock-climbing course, heave yourself up the sheer limestone cliffs that dot this gorgeous bay, and your sense of achievement will still be overshadowed by all the natural, geology-master-class beauty around you.

Something

Thailand's beaches are free to the public. With an abundance of definition-of-paradise beaches to explore on Krabi, you can skip, hop and laze your way through them at no cost. Fossil Shell beach, 20km from Krabi town, is especially fascinating; its shoreline is jam-packed with fossilised shells dating back millions of years.

April Songkran is the New Year according to the Thai calendar. After honouring local monks and family elders, the populace hit the streets for massive water fights. May and October Floating Boats of the Sea Gypsy (Loi Ruea Chao Le Festival): on the day of the 6th and 11th lunar months' full moon, the sea gypsies of Koh Lanta gather at the beach near Ban Saladan village to float boats on the water, banishing misfortunes and bringing good luck. November The Andaman Sea Festival celebrates the opening of Krabi's tourist season; expect lots of fanfare with cultural shows and various watersport competitions. Loy Krathong is Thailand's most romantic festival. At dusk, the launching of handmade banana leaf vessels down the river, and lanterns into the sky, symbolises the release of sins.