Ao Nang, Thailand - The Perfect Balance of Coastline and Culture

When people talk about Thailand, you usually hear about the crazy parties in Phuket or the late nights clubbing in Bangkok, but that's not really our style. Don’t get me wrong, we like to drink and party, but more so on the low key end. Ao Nang is a place where you have access to all the sights and scenes, but are far enough away from the busy crowds of tourists.

My wife at Maya Bay during our island tour

Where is Ao Nang and how do you get there?

Ao Nang is located in southern Thailand's Krabi Province. It is one of the many take-off points for the long-boats in the area. It is right off the Andaman coast beachfront and provides access to the dive/snorkeling sites on nearby islands.

“Our flight from Bangkok to Krabi was only $45 USD!”

Getting to Ao Nang is relatively simple. First catch a flight out of any major Thai city to Krabi (KBV). Our flight from Bangkok to Krabi was only $45 USD! Next, you’re going to have to take either a bus or taxi into Ao Nang. This will take roughly 30 minutes, but I would suggest you stay awake during the car ride. The landscapes you will pass are absolutely breathtaking. It is also an excellent way to get an idea of things to do during your stay.

The most popular mode of transportation for visitors, the back of a truck

Where should you stay?

We’ve been fortunate enough to visit Ao Nang a couple times so here is a list of places we’ve stayed at and how much we paid (prices may have changes since):

• Aonang Phu Petra Resort - A beautiful resort located off the main strip. You get your own bungalow with a sizable porch and tropical mountainside views.
  $65 USD/night
• Vogue Resort & Spa Ao Nang - Located in the middle of the main strip, this hotel keeps things very close at an extremely affordable price! Just a 5 minute walk to the beach too.
  $50 USD/night
• Aonang Villa Resort - Right on the coast, this hotel sports two huge swimming pools and many options to eat/drink. This place puts you smack dab in the middle of everything!
  $60 USD/night

They are quite the romantics over at Aonang Villa Resort

What can you do when you to Ao Nang?

There is so much to do in this town, having been there for about two weeks I feel like we haven’t even scratched the surface. While you can spend your days eating food, drinking beer, and relaxing on the beach, here are a few other highlights from our trips to Ao Nang with tips that we’ve learned along the way.

You can easily spend your days on beautiful beach and I wouldn't judge you for that

Island Hopping

One of the more popular touristy activities is of course island hopping. You can organize a group tour to travel via long-tail boat to many of the surrounding islands (Phi Phi, James Bond, and Hong Island to name a few).

Pulling the anchor before we take off

Each spot felt like going to a tropical Disneyland. If you are on one of the many group tours, they will drop you off at a specific beach, then 30 minutes to an hour later you’re herded back to the boat. Beautiful locations and scenes, but far too many people.

Me and my new friend on Phi Phi Island

An Evening at the Ao Nang Thai Boxing Stadium

If you happen to be in Ao Nang on a weekend, you will definitely come across a truck with music blasting out of a loudspeaker promoting Thai Boxing matches. These events are filled with all types of people: tourists and locals alike. If you are interested in seeing trained athletes duke it out and crowds of screaming supporters, check this place out. This cost us roughly $20 per ticket.

It wasn't busy when we went, but the energy was still high!

A Walk Up Tiger Cave Temple

At first we walked into a cave area where the monks gathered and prayed. We noticed a small staircase in the front and figured that was the beginning of the long journey to the top everyone talks about. Come to find out, this led to a separate area where the tiger of the temple was said to have been.

This area does not take you to the steps, but is still nice to visit

We walked back and went further down the road to come across the true beginning of our 1200+ step voyage. I still suggest paying your respects inside the cave. There always seems to be a lot going on in there.

Be careful, the monkeys will steal you belongings if you don't secure them

Pay attention as you walk, some of the steps are uneven and very steep

We came across monkeys, passed the elderly, got passed by the elderly, but eventually made it to the top. The view was amazing and 100% worth the hike up the mountain. You can spend as much time as you want once on the top, just give yourself enough daylight to come back down. While there are steps leading down, not all of the are even/equal height and you don’t want to tumble down 1200 stairs.

The most notable feature is the large golden Buddha

There are other shrines and monuments on the peak

We couldn't get over the amount of detail in all of these sculptures

Visit Krabi for the Day

Take a short taxi or bus ride into downtown Krabi and you’ll find even more places to explore. We spent a half day just walking around the town, grabbing a bite to eat, soaking in all the sights of the city. To be honest though, we preferred hanging out in Ao Nang much more. There was less traffic and it was a more laid back experience overall. I would recommend going into Krabi for shopping, night markets, or buying supplies.

You'll probably notice the birds that decorate the streets of Krabi

Try All the Food You Come Across

There are so many delicious Thai and Indian restaurants in this town! One place we loved in particular was E-San Seafood, but we like to call it “Mama and Papa’s Kitchen.” This two-person operation is nothing fancy, but the magic that they are able to produce cannot be rivaled. They are the nicest couple to talk to and some of the best cooks in town.

Mama & Papa's restaurant

The seafood in Ao Nang is all fresh and deliciously prepared. Whether you go to a fancy sit-down restaurant or stop by one of the many food carts on the street, you will not be disappointed!

Fresh seafood everyday of the week

The food was seriously one of our top highlights of Ao Nang, but the food is usually our top highlight of any place we visit. I guess we just really like to eat!

Thirsty? Don't worry, coconuts are available everywhere you turn!

We will be back!

As you can tell, we have fallen in love with the town of Ao Nang. So much so that we convinced our friends to join us on our second trip back. They were not disappointed either. We don’t have any children now, but I could see us going back to Ao Nang with a larger family and just enjoying the low-cost high-fun environment. We’ll see you again Ao Nang!

Another beautiful sunset on Ao Nang Beach

Happy Traveling!
Bradford Tennyson

Thanks for checking out my article on Ao Nang, I hope you enjoyed the stories and photos. Hopefully this inspires you to travel/re-visit the area for yourself. As always, all photos were shot and edited by myself. Please ask for permission if using any content, I’m happy to share it with you!

Feel free to ask any questions or leave comments on my post. I love having conversations about my travels!

---

What gear did I use?

• Canon 5D Mk III
• Canon 6D Mk I
• Tamron SP 24-70mm Di VC USD
• Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM
• Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM
• Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L USM
• B+W 82MM F-PRO Circular Polarizer

---

Check out some of my other posts from Southeast Asia:

Travel | Our First Day in Vietnam and...SCAMMED!
Travel | Sights and Tastes of Hội An
Travel | Exploring the Marble Mountains of Vietnam

---

Please follow me @bradfordtennyson! Thank you so much for your love and support!