Ao Nang: A Central Location with a Modern Flair

Ao Nang’s central location in the Andaman Sea and many sporting activities make it a very popular all-around beach destination. Families come to Ao Nang to enjoy their favorite sports together. Hiking, snorkeling, rock climbing, kayaking, elephant trekking, cycling, Thai cooking classes – Ao Nang holds plenty of opportunities for the adventure-seeking traveler. A few low-key bars and two nightclubs provide for some entertaining nightlife as well.

Ao Nang is very westernized and a fetching place to shop for some fine hand-tailored clothing.  After traveling around remote islands in the area that have few amenities, Ao Nang is the mainland stop for travelers to decompress, use a fast internet connection, make a few phone calls, and maybe eat a cheeseburger.

Ao Nang in Andaman Sea in Thailand is known for its spectacular resorts. Its resorts take luxury, fine dining and entertainment very seriously, but for a more reasonable price than can be found in other areas nearby. Its central location makes it a perfect jumping off point for island-hopping day trips to some of the more remote locations in Thailand's Andaman Sea, such as Railay.

It’s only a 20-minute long-tail ride away from Railay, which is a peninsula connected to Ao Nang, but cut off from it by towering limestone cliffs. It is only reachable by sea, and Ao Nang is the closest connector. Finding accommodations on Railay can be tricky during the high season, so staying in Ao Nang is a good option that many travelers choose. Ao Nang is appealing for island-hopping tours or sea-kayaking adventures in general. Also, most major sport companies are based in Ao Nang.

Most of the services and hotels in Ao Nang are located along either the main beach road or on short side streets. Highway 4203 heads west into town, then runs north along the beach about 500m, and then heads back inland for a bit before curving towards the coast again at Hat Noppharat Thara. Ao Nang is not a very big city and is relatively easy to navigate.

All of the information offices on the strip are private tour agencies and most offer international phone calls for about 10 baht/min. and internet access for approximately 1baht/min. Several banks have ATMs and foreign-exchange windows on the main drag, open from 10am to 8pm daily.  The nearest post office is in Krabi Town (20 minutes away), so many of the 'finer' hotels in Ao Nang offer postal services on site. There are plenty of banks and ATMs along the beach road and there are a couple of exchange booths near the Phra Nang Inn.

There are at least seven companies in Ao Nang that offer sea-kayaking tours to mangroves and islands around Ao Nang. Some companies offer personal tour guides and paper bag lunches, so it’s a good idea to inquire about what’s included in their packages. Some of the more popular destinations include the lofty sea cliffs and wildlife-filled mangroves at Ao Thalane and the sea caves and paintings at Ban Bho Tho that are between two and three thousand years old. The caves are also filled with layers of archaeological shell formations.

Ao Thalane is a karst-walled cavern that holds some of the oldest and most beautiful, exposed rock formations in Krabi. Paddlers negotiate the canyon by either entering or exiting the mangrove estuaries that make Ao Thalane so scenic and unique. The sandstone over 300 million years old and was formed before the ancient reefs and shells of marine organisms made the karsts that are visible today.

Another interesting opportunity in Ao Nang are the half and full-day cooking classes offered at Krabi Thai Cookery School. For between 1000 and 2200 baht, travelers can learn the secrets of Thai cooking. Much of the appeal of Thai cuisine lies in the spices, and a full day course will introduce students to the main spices – many of which are unique to the area and difficult to track down outside of Southeast Asia.  Students choose a dish that they would like to make from a prepared menu and then learn how to make something authentic that will always remind them of their time in Thailand.

When planning your travel to Ao Nang, book your ferry rental with us at phiphi-ferry.com. We travel between Phuket and Koh Phi Phi, Koh Lanta, Railay, Ao Nang, Krabi, and all of the other beautiful small islands in the surrounding area. It is easy to make your reservations online. We also provide shuttle services from hotels in Phuket, Krabi, Ao Nang or Railay. We provide fast, easy and reliable service. Book online, print your e-ticket and present it upon arrival at the gate for quick and comfortable service to this one-of-a-kind destination.

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