Thailand is a versatile country with busy, happening cities, beautiful white sand beaches, lush green mountains, backwaters and elephants 😍. Krabi has lately become one of the most popular destinations. Here are few Offbeat things to do in krabi, to avoid the crowds and enjoy Pristine beaches, nature trails and backwaters

It was a busy hour, bustling with life at Aonang – Krabi (south Thailand), when I arrived. Pale blue sea, good eateries, beach-front massage parlors, little souvenir stores and night clubs all make the place really vibrant. The best way to explore this beautiful town is by bike. There are many bike rental points around the beach area. I rented a bike for my day of exploring Krabi.

OFFBEAT THINGS TO DO IN KRABI

I did a little research on the offbeat locations in Krabi using the Thailand insider page and spoke to a few locals. Here are a few favourite things to do and expereince from Krabi

Tha Pom Khlong Song Nam

This spectacular nature trail of tranquil mangrove swamps left me awestruck. However, the lack of tourists at the entrance of the trail left me skeptical… Was I at the right place??? A few minutes of exploration deep in the swamps…. there I was having the entire trail to myself, taking a refreshing dose of nature- definitely a hidden gem of Thailand.

There  are some small, authentic Thai restaurants near the trail; the prices are cheaper than those in Krabi. While interacting with the locals, they suggested I visit Thalane Bay, which is about 15kms away

Kayak or sail to the unnamed islands of Thalane Bay

The entire stretch is beautiful, with hills on one side and backwaters on the other. I reached Thalane Bay, but there were hardly any tourists. At one of the kayaking centers, I met Mr. A (yes his actual name was just “A”!) – My skipper, photographer, and guide for rest of the day.

He quickly went to get one of the smallest boats he owned and started sailing as soon as I settled in. We cruised between the thickly populated thickets of mangroves; away from the concrete jungle. I could only hear the musical lilt of water and the screeching of bats deep in the mangrove forest.

It Started raining after a while as we kept sailing to some of the best & untouched islands. Thalane bay is my personal favourite recommendation for offbeat things to do in Krabi.

Grateful to the locals from Tha Pom for suggesting this place. It was an amazing experience.

Also read: SERENE & PRISTINE BEACHES AROUND THE WORLD WITH ALMOST NO TOURISTS

Go Island hopping: 

The famous Thailand Sailing tours include Ko phi phi le, ko phi phi don, koh samui and James Bond islands near Phuket. They are beautiful, blue and emerald water islands, one can either go there in speed boats or the traditional long-tail boats.

If you are trying to avoid the crowds then I recommend Hong island hopping.

Shopping options

Aonang beach and Krabi town have great shopping areas. The clothes, swimwear, and footwear are almost the same in most of the stores. Choose to buy souvenirs from local handicraft stores. There are temporary local markets during the weekends and on specific weekdays. There is a great deal if you are looking for some cheap and local stuff.

The food stalls in these markets are my favorite. I feasted on some unique Thai snacks.

Beachfront massage

There are authentic massage centers near Aonang beach. A few are open Gazebos with Thai music in the background, the aroma of the oils and the Beach Breeze. It can be a very rejuvenating and exhilarating experience

Responsible Travel tips in Krabi, Thailand

1. Tanning is good. Do not apply sun-tan, sunscreen lotions before getting into the sea and pollute the water.
2. Do not litter. Imagine heartbreaking images of bottles and plastic wrappers in front of the coral blue water or a lush green mountain. Don’t contribute to those images.
3. Try Travelling in public transport or e-bikes instead of private taxis.
4. Do not feed the fish in the ocean. Nature has a way of life. The fish knows how to get food on its own. Feeding the fish means that they don’t eat their own food, preferring the easy meal people give them to the algae, allowing the algae to bloom and destroy the coral around it starving it of oxygen and light
5. Stay in locally run hotels and buy local produce from local vendors.
6. Kindly do not encourage elephant safaris or any other animal safaris. The environment in which they train the animals for safaris is not friendly to the beautiful creatures and they undergo a lot of abuse.  Be Cautious in not buying anything made of Ivory

Read a detailed post: Why You Shouldn’t Ride Elephants In Thailand

Am definitely going back to Thailand as I can’t get enough of it. Let me know your experiences of Thailand. Any tips and suggestions for my next trip ? ??