Krabi is one of those places that most travelers think they already know—towering limestone cliffs, famous beaches, island-hopping tours, and sunsets that flood social media feeds. But after spending time beyond the postcard spots, I realized some of the best experiences in Krabi happen away from the crowds. Hidden lagoons, quiet beaches, local viewpoints, jungle corners, and places that still feel surprisingly untouched completely changed the way I saw this part of Thailand. This guide to the best hidden gems in Krabi is for travelers who want more than the usual itinerary and are ready to discover a side of Krabi that many visitors miss.
Discover a secret, isolated beach
(Had Yao Beach)
We start this guide to hidden gems in Krabi with Had Yao, one of the last crowd-free and untouched beaches in Thailand, mainly because it’s not very close to any big city or important tourist site. Needless to say, it’s one of the last places in the Krabi province where tourism still hasn’t started booming, and the area lacks proper tourist infrastructure.
However, if you want to get off the beaten track and relax on a beach where you won’t find many other people, only a few places in Thailand can give you that experience. Had Yao Beach is one of them. If you want to visit Had Yao, keep in mind that the weather isn’t very good during the rainy season, and that might be a problem since there aren’t many other activities you can indulge in.
Stay at Purin Resort & Restaurant — one of the closest resort-style stays if you want easy access to this remote stretch of coast.
Visit the Two-Emotion Monster canyon
(Khao Garos)
Khao Karos is a surprisingly unfrequented bay and one of the last areas in Thailand that isn’t under a constant tourist siege. This is partially due to the remoteness of the place and the fact that one would need a kayak to thoroughly explore this bay, surrounded by lush mangrove forests and towering limestone mountains. As you’re exploring the area, you’ll inevitably notice a giant, devilish-looking face that appears on one of the rocks.
Because of this rock, the whole place is nicknamed “the Canyon of the Two-emotion Monster”. In the morning, before the sun climbs up in the sky, the shade makes the rock look like a grieving ogre, while in the evening, the moon rays make the rock look like a monster with a devilish smile. It’s truly one of nature’s most fascinating sights, and it’s a real surprise how most people don’t even know about this place.
Additional tip: You can reach the canyon via a DIY kayak trip, or alternatively, there are a few long-tail boats that go to the bay, and you can always pay a boat rider to take you there.
Stay at Ao Luek Panoramic Pool Villa for the most convenient base to explore Ao Luek’s bays and limestone landscapes.
Find a cave with a miraculous viewpoint
(Bor Thor Cave Viewpoint)
I know you must have heard of the stunning view from the Tiger temple or the Railay viewpoint, but what if I tell you that you’ll find one of the best views in Krabi in a hidden cave located in one of Thailand’s most remote bays? Bor Thor Cave is surrounded by mangrove forests that have formed cavities of various shapes and sizes that look like giant windows.
It’s a fascinating natural phenomenon that gives you a unique feeling of being in a cave with windows. If that’s not a reason enough to visit, you should also know that these caves have traces of prehistoric humans and various ancient paintings on the wall, which is kind of surprising, considering the remoteness of these caves…
Most people visit the cave with a guided tour, but it can be reached independently. To do this, one would have to get on a long-tailed boat at the Khuan O Boat Landing or negotiate with one of the local boat owners to take them there. The trip takes around 20 minutes.
Stay at Ao Luek Panoramic Pool Villa since it’s one of the closest comfortable stays for exploring the Bor Thor cave area.
Discover a beautiful, unknown viewpoint
(Din Daeng Doi Viewpoint)
For some reason, it seems like only a handful of foreign travelers have visited this gorgeous place. If you try to find some more information about it on the internet, you won’t find anything useful, unless you speak Thai. If you want to reach the viewpoint, follow the main road from the Ban Din Daen Mosque, and you’ll inevitably see a hill on your right-hand side.
A short 15-minute trek on the dusty road will lead you to the top of the hill, where you can see a beautiful 360-degree sunset view of Krabi. The place is very unfrequented because apparently, even many locals don’t know about it. In fact, you might as well be the only person in the area. Amazing, isn’t it?
Stay at Blu Monkey Hub & Hotel Krabi Town if you want a practical base close to Krabi Town and easy road access to the viewpoint.
Check out a former pirate hideout
(Ko Talabeng)
Koh Talabeng is basically a giant rock island in the middle of the Andaman Sea that kind of resembles Jurassic Park. When looking at the gigantic rocks towering over the sea from far away, I couldn’t help but notice that the island looks like a perfect destination for filming the next sequence of “Pirates of the Caribbean”. Also, the island actually has a long history of being a pirate shelter in the past, which isn’t surprising, as the series of caverns on Koh Talabeng has everything needed to be a secret pirate hideout.
These hidden caves, filled with fascinating stalagmites and stalactites, and surprisingly, fresh drinking water, are probably the most interesting part of the trip and a place where you can take some amazing photographs. And if that’s not enough, what makes a trip more fun than the opportunity to interact with wild monkeys? The island can be reached independently by paying a boat rider to take you to the island and agreeing on a pickup time for the return.
Stay at Pimalai Resort and Spa on Koh Lanta and take a boat trip to the island from there.
Discover one of Krabi’s “rough diamonds”
Koh Jum
Koh Jum is perfect for travelers searching for remote, underdeveloped destinations that still haven’t been spoiled by mass tourism. The island consists of three small villages where a traditional way of life is preserved. The southern village is known as Koh Jum, while the northern village is known as Koh Phu, and the locals won’t appreciate it if you mix up the names.
The island’s infrastructure isn’t very developed; most locals live in wooden bungalows, the three villages are connected by one so-called main road, and cars are a rare sight on the island. The rural communities are very welcoming towards tourists, and visiting this island sure is a different but fascinating experience… If you want to visit this island, the best way to do this is to get a longtail boat from Laem Kruat Pier.
Stay at Koh Jum Beach Villas to fully experience the island’s quiet atmosphere and avoid rushing back to the mainland.
Try to find Krabi’s Secret Beach
Laem Chamuk Khwai
While most beaches in the Krabi province are always crowded, there’s still one beach where you can have all the peace and privacy in the world. Hence, the deserving nickname “The Secret Beach”. The beach is located on the tip of Krabi’s Phra Nang Peninsula and requires a short jungle walk to get to. You won’t find many tourists here simply because they don’t know that it exists.
If calmness and serenity aren’t a reason enough for you to visit, I should also mention that the Secret Beach gives a great and unique view of all of the neighboring islands in the distance because it’s located on the most remote western tip of the peninsula.
Stay at Bhu Nga Thani Resort & Villas Railay for the easiest access to the peninsula and its hidden beaches.
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Take a day trip to the “next Krabi”
Koh Libong, Trang Province
Because of turmoil in the past, Thailand’s southern provinces have remained vastly unexplored. However, despite all the problems in the region, several places are 100% safe to visit, but don’t get a lot of visitors. One of those places is the Trang province and especially the island of Koh Libong, which can easily compete with some of Krabi’s most beautiful beaches. It’s a great place for people who want to have a peaceful holiday in Thailand and enjoy some of the world’s best beaches without constantly rubbing elbows with tourists.
I definitely recommend you to explore this still uncommercialized part of Thailand before it becomes “the next Krabi”. There are a lot of long boats that go to the island, starting from the Hat Yao Pier. Despite the recent turmoil in Thailand’s southern provinces, Koh Libong is still a very peaceful place without a history of any violent events.
How does one get to the island? Long-tail boat? Are there places in the vicinity that travelers should know not to go to for safety concerns?
There are a lot of long boats that go to the island. Not that I can think of, as Trang province is one of the safest regions in Southern Thailand, but one should still follow the news when traveling in this part of Thailand, just as a precaution. The island is a very peaceful place without a history of any violent events.
Stay at Andalay beach resort Koh Libong if you want to spend a night and experience this peaceful island properly instead of doing a rushed day trip.
How did you like this guide to hidden gems in Krabi? Did you ever visit any of these places? Do you know of any other hidden gems in Krabi? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.
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