Ao Nang (sometimes known as “Ao Phra Nang”, a name the Tourist Authority of Thailand devised some years back, but never really caught on) is a resort town in southern Thailand Krabi Province and the most “westernised” beach in Krabi. The geography of Krabi is quite unique, featuring distinctive rocky outcrops (limestone karsts), pristine tropical rainforest (being only a few degrees above the equator), mangroves and a geological curiosity in the form of a 40 million year old fossilised ‘shell cemetery’.

• Krabi is a popular holiday destination with 132 islands, several of which – Phi Phi Don and Koh Lanta – are inhabited. Most of the other tropical islands belong to the Marine National Park and are protected areas.
• Railay is a small peninsula just south of Ao Nang. Although it is part of the mainland, it is not accessible
  by road because of cliffs and must be reached by boat.

The recent discovery of the remains of one of our hominid ancestors in a rock shelter in Nuea Khlong district makes Krabi the place with the longest known history of continuous human settlement in Thailand. Bits of broken pottery, beads, and coins from as far afield as the Middle East and China have been found on archaeological digs here, suggesting that the area was once a thriving port of call on the ancient trade routes across Asia.

In Ao Nang there are some restaurants that have a “Clean food, Good taste” sign. This signifies that dishes are prepared with boiled water and that the food is always good, all for a reasonable price.

• You’ll find you’ll be paying double the price than that in Krabi Town. Main courses are about 150 baht, and seafood even more (starting at 250 baht).
• Nopparat Thara Beach is a quieter alternative to Ao Nang beach and excellent for a morning or evening stroll, but the beach gets rather narrow at high tide. The further west you go toward the pier there are more businesses catering to Thai, rather to Western visitors, making it a good place to look for budget food.
• Many places will have a man on the pavement trying to lure customers into the restaurant.
• If you eat at the street stalls, the food is not only cheap, but it’s also utterly delicious! Remember that buying beers from 7-Eleven vs in bars and restaurants will save you lots of money.

Orienting yourself in Ao Nang is easy: almost everything is located either along the beach, which runs west-east. A 30-minute stroll takes you from one end to the other, so we walked everywhere while in Ao Nang.

• Grab app (Like Uber)
• Longtail boat, Boats leave constantly from the beach. There is no pier so expect to get at least your feet wet, probably more. Getting waterproof bag for your photo, video equipment and phone is highly recommended. They like to have at least eight people to fill a boat before they will depart or you can pay a little extra.
• Motorbike Taxi, good for a short journey around town, but If you’re going a longer distance, I wouldn’t advise it. It’s not the safest option!
• Rent a Motorbike/Scooter – Rentals start at 200 baht per day. You should have an international drivers license to be able to legally drive, but in reality this rule isn’t enforced. Some companies require you to leave your passport with them as a form of insurance – although some backpackers have been forced to pay extra to get them back so be wary. Bikes are a great way to get around and give you access to a much wider area for far better value than tuk tuks. It goes without saying that you should always wear a helmet. Check out my beginners guide for more.
• Songthaews A ride in a songthaew usually starts around 25-50 THB (£0.60-£1.20, $0.80-1.60 USD). To Krabi Town costs 60 baht.
• Taxi Metered taxis are expensive, but sometimes they’re cheaper than tuk-tuks. Their fares start at 50 THB (£1.20, $1.60 USD) per two kilometers. An hour-long journey is a minimum of 500 THB (£12, $16 USD).
• Tuk-Tuk For just 30 baht per person, a tuk tuk should take you anywhere within Ao Nang. There is a minimum 60 baht charge so if you’re travelling solo it will work out as slightly more expensive. You’ll find plenty of tuk tuks available along the main street, so waiting shouldn’t be an issue.
• Walk, As Ao Nang is a relatively small town you can easily walk pretty much anywhere you need to go. That being said, if you fancy getting around slightly quicker, tuk tuks are a great cheap alternative.

• By Air, The nearest airport to Ao Nang is Krabi International Airport. Direct flights are available from Bangkok and Chiang Mai, as well as a variety of international destinations including Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Shanghai.
  Taxis are available from Krabi Airport to Ao Nang for 600 baht. The trip from the airport to Ao Nang takes 30-40 minutes. A bus service from Krabi International Airport to Ao Nang is also available at 150 baht per person. The bus takes around one hour to reach Ao Nang.
• Bus, although there is no direct bus service from Bangkok to Krabi, buses are available to Krabi Town from the capital. Buses depart from Bangkok’s Southern Bus Terminal and take 10-12 hours, on average, to reach Krabi Town. From Krabi Town, you’ll need to arrange transport to Ao Nang via taxi or minivan.
• Ferry, There are daily ferries that connect Ao Nang to neighboring islands Phi Phi and Koh Lanta to Krabi pier, which is around half an hour from Krabi Town. Transport is a bit limited, but we managed to get to Krabi Town for 100 baht and then get a Songthaew to Ao Nang from there.

• When travelling by ferry to islands around Krabi, it may be preferable to purchase only a one-way ticket so that your trip can be easily altered and you can easily arrange your departure.
• Nopparat Thara Beach is a quieter alternative to Ao Nang beach and excellent for a morning or evening stroll, but the beach gets rather narrow at high tide. The further west you go toward the pier there are more businesses catering to Thai, rather to Western visitors, making it a good place to look for budget food.
• Longtail boats leave constantly from the beach. There is no pier so expect to get at least your feet wet, probably more. Getting waterproof bag for your photo, video equipment and phone is highly recommended. They like to have at least eight people to fill a boat before they will depart or you can pay a little extra.
• Negotiate with long-tail boat drivers.
• Get a group together and charter a longtail boat. Split between four or more people, it should be cheaper than an organized tour.
• Haggle in the markets, especially if buying in bulk.
• If you eat the street food like the locals, you’ll be hard-pressed to spend more than 200 THB a day on food (maybe not even that).
• If you’re on a budget, Ham & Cheese Toasties from 7-11 are a great, cheap & quick meal.
• Beers and drinks are heavily discounted when purchased at 7-Eleven. Purchase a few beers before you go out to the bars and cut your night’s budget by a lot.
• If you travel during May through October, you will be missing the peak season, and save quite a bit, even though you might catch some rain.