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Looking for a real getaway ? Looking for that hard-to-find island paradise away from the crowds ? It definitely exists here in the Andaman region. You’ll find it right here on this beautiful island world of Krabi province.
Getting about the islands requires a boat – easy to find on Phuket. The alternative, renting a self-drive car, is also a great way to see the whole region. The roads are generally good, travelling is safe and comfortable accommodation can be found in all directions. Plus the scenery is simply stunning. Our trip to Krabi on January 4, 2001 with The Phuket Island Hopper was really big fun.

After we were picked up at the beautiful Diamond Cliff Reosrt in Patong Beach, we were brought to Sirey Pier. Altough, the Phuket Boat Lagoon was a bit more comfortable and nicer to depart, the people do their best to please each and every participant with free fruit and snacks. Upon arrival around 9.30 am in Krabi we’ve been touched by the fantastic scenery of Chicken Rock for relaxing and snorkeling. Then on to Koh Pa Da before reaching the white sandy beach of Rai Leh Beach and amazing Hat Tham Phra Nang which is perhaps the most beautiful beach in the area. At one end is a tall limestone cliff that contains Tham Phra Nang Nok (Outer Princess Cave), a cave that is said to be home of a mythical sea princess. Local legend says that during the 3rd century BC, a passing royal barque carrying a charismatic Indian princess named Sri Guladevi foundered in a storm.
Local fisherfolk place carved wooden phalli in the cave as offerings to the Phra Nang (Holy Princess) so that she will provide plenty of fish for them. Inside the cliff is a hidden lagoon called Sa Phra Nang (Holy Princess Pool) that can be reached by following a sometimes slippery cave trail into the side of the mountain.

A second, larger cave on Laem Phra Nang was discovered only a few years ago. The entrance is in the middle of the peninsula near a batch of beach huts on East Rai Leh. This one is called stone waterfall of sparkling quartz. Local mythology says that this cave is the grand palace of the sea princess while Tham Phra Nang on the beach is her summer palace. The cliffs around Ao Phra Nang have become a world-wide mecca for rock-climbers and it’s easy to arrange equipment, maps and instruction from beach bungalows on (both East and West) Hat Rai Leh.

The islands off Laem Phra Nang are good for snorkeling. Besides and Ko Hua Khwan there is a nearer island of Ko Rang Nok (Bird Nest Island) and, next to that, a larger, unnamed island (possible part of the same island at low tide) with an undersea cave. Some of the bungalows do reasonable priced day trips to these and other islands in the area.

A delicious lunch was waiting at the center of Ao Nang beach, not far from Rai Lay by boat. The afternoon was spent by visiting several nice beaches in the neighbourhood, giving us the possibility to do some great snorkeling and swimming in crystal clear waters.
On one of the unhabited islands, we saw a huge snake. She was sleeping under a rock. There was another smaller snake(?) at sea trying to take shelter in a slippery dark hole....What a trip it was.