Krabi, both province and capital, is one of southern Thailand's most attractive provinces. It's about 900km (509miles) from Bangkok by road.

A domestic flight takes an hour and twenty minutes. Krabi boasts a smart new airport (opened in 2006) about 8km from the capital.

Much of the province is striking limestone 'karst' landscape - the scenery along the coast road is particularly attractive. Most roads are metalled and good quality.

A sizeable minority of the population of Krabi province are Thai Muslims - skimpy clothes and topless sunbathing are best avoided.

Krabi
Krabi town is a standard Thai market town facing a large estuary - busy and noisy. It's worth a visit, but not a good holiday base. Better are the small towns and bays along the northwest coast.

Ao Nang
About 15km by road from Krabi is Ao Nang, a popular seaside resort on a pleasant yellow sand bay. It has plenty of hotels, mostly set back from the beach. The rear of the seafront road has a wide range of interrnational restaurants and souvenir shops. Just behind the shops are a few bars blasting out the thudding techno 'music' beloved by young Thai men. There's also a long stretch of local eating places where the road bends inland.

Ao Nang gets busy in the peak season, and is packed out during festivals and public holidays with young budget travellers and escapees from Bangkok.

Avoiding the hectic periods, it's quite a good place for a family with older children and people who prefer a conventional seaside holiday (accepting that the Ao Nang is very Thai at heart). Theres plenty to do, and prices are a fraction of the prices charged in Phuket and simlar resort areas.

The further west, the better it gets
Moving further along the coastline the sand gets softer and whiter, the people get fewer, and the resorts get more exclusive. All the upmarket establishments have shuttle arrangements to take guests to Ao Nang, usually included in the price.

Things to do apart from the beach
The many offshore islands are attractive and there's plenty of diving opportunities. However, several snorkelling and dive sites are crowded and speedboat prices are high. 'Longtail' local boats are cheaper, but take a long time to reach the less busy islands.

Inland, elephant trekking, hiking, white water rafting, climbing and a host of other 'adventure' activities are in easy reach - book at the small agencies in Ao Nang for the best prices.

Conclusion
If you want an exclusive resort or a honeymoon hideaway, head for the upmarket resorts to the west. If you prefer to be in the thick of it, Ao Nang is a good bet. Either way, Krabi can provide a comfortable holiday in a distinctly Thai ambiance. Act soon thought - there's a 300 room Sofitel hotel underway and several more new 'developments' as the magic of Phuket and Koh Samai sinks under waves of commecialism!