A tourist in southern Thailand was left shaken after a cobra slithered across their neck while they were resting in a hotel room in Krabi province. The incident occurred in the early hours of 27 March, when the guest, staying on the second floor, reported feeling something cold moving across their neck before discovering it was a cobra.

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According to a social media post by the tourist, the incident took place around 5am while they were asleep. Their partner, who had briefly gone to the toilet, returned shouting that a snake was on the bed near their head. Initially confused, the guest said they thought it might be something supernatural before realising it was a snake that had crawled across their neck.

Emergency responder Suthee Naewhat, also known as Bang Cha, from Ao Nang Subdistrict Administrative Organisation, confirmed he was called to the hotel in Ao Nang district following a report from staff. After searching the second-floor room, he located the snake hiding under the bed.

The snake was identified as a cobra and was displaying aggressive behaviour. It was safely captured, placed in a sack, and later released back into the wild.

The tourist recounted that they were lying down when they suddenly felt something cold moving across their neck. Upon hearing their partner’s shouts and waking, they saw the snake and quickly alerted hotel staff, who then contacted authorities for assistance.

Officials believe the cobra likely entered the building via the stairs and slipped into the room through a gap of around 4cm beneath the door. While snakes entering ground-floor rooms is not uncommon in the area, responders noted that such incidents occurring on upper floors are rare.

Authorities have urged hotel operators and guests to remain vigilant, advising that rooms should be checked thoroughly before use. The case highlights ongoing concerns about wildlife entering accommodation in areas close to natural habitats.

No injuries were reported, and the tourists involved were said to be safe following the ordeal. ThaiRath reported that hotel staff in the area are expected to review safety checks and ensure that gaps or entry points are properly sealed to prevent similar incidents.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now ThaiRath 29 Mar 2026

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Surprised we don't get more incidents wrt dangerous snakes. Mostly I see harmless ones here 15km out of Pattaya City, but neighbours have had a couple of cobras too.

Snakes are ubiquitous here. Yeah, it pays to learn the difference between the harmless rat eaters, and the venemous ones. Centipedes can be pretty dangerous too, probably won't kill you, but will give you a painful experience.

21 hours ago, nausea said:

Centipedes can be pretty dangerous too, probably won't kill you, but will give you a painful experience.

Right. The cat caught one several inches long. Huge thing. The wife went ballistic trying to kill it with a broom handle. Then I was given the job of killing it. The head and the tail look the same and realised I was hitting its tail not its head. Once I worked that out a metal mallet finished it off.

Honey why are you hands so cold 😳

--> New fear unlocked.

This is the very reason I always stay in a high rise Hotel.

Note to self: Next time booking a hotel room in Krabi, please bring snake catcher friend from Krabi to stay with me.

A 4 cm gap under the door ? That's asking for trouble .

3 hours ago, Geoff914 said:

Right. The cat caught one several inches long. Huge thing. The wife went ballistic trying to kill it with a broom handle. Then I was given the job of killing it. The head and the tail look the same and realised I was hitting its tail not its head. Once I worked that out a metal mallet finished it off.

No idea why most people want to kill snakes, poisonous or not. They don't like to stay near people. Leave them alone and they will go away. They also efficiently dispose of vermin.

years back

Saw cobra while dirt biking 2x

at Khao Mai Khew.

Mostly the really skinny green snakes.

Cobra snacks I guess.

5 5

Always suprised how few snake carcasses I see on roads.

Midwest USA... many.

This couple got a priceless Thai souvenir story to tell to their friends!

Glad they weren't hurt. Snakes are our friends. They're just passing through because we have a comfortable garden.

Six have gotten into the house in 35 years, green pit vipers. Venomous. Wife is expert at catching them. Prop open a zippered bag with a chopstick. Snakes feel safe in the dark. Pull out the chopstick, zip it up. Release in the garden.

No cobras so far. But a big python got the cat!

3 hours ago, superal said:

A 4 cm gap under the door ? That's asking for trouble .

Maybe they need a net over the bed for mosquitoes ... and snakes!

1 hour ago, unblocktheplanet said:

This couple got a priceless Thai souvenir story to tell to their friends!

Glad they weren't hurt. Snakes are our friends. They're just passing through because we have a comfortable garden.

Six have gotten into the house in 35 years, green pit vipers. Venomous. Wife is expert at catching them. Prop open a zippered bag with a chopstick. Snakes feel safe in the dark. Pull out the chopstick, zip it up. Release in the garden.

No cobras so far. But a big python got the cat!

No cobras so far. But a big python got the cat!....... Was it a Male Python ??Must've have wanted a bit of Pussy.....

2 hours ago, Thingamabob said:

No idea why most people want to kill snakes, poisonous or not. They don't like to stay near people. ....

It seems that this snake DID want to stay near people :)

7 hours ago, Thingamabob said:

No idea why most people want to kill snakes, poisonous or not. They don't like to stay near people. Leave them alone and they will go away. They also efficiently dispose of vermin.

It was a centipede not a snake, keep up. I know the difference, it had legs. The wife had half killed it before I got involved.

Have cobras all over our property and a few locals died last year from bites. I don't think that is normal but a case of random grouping. They love the rocky area around the Mekong river and they get you before you see them from under a rock. Stopped running the jungle trails for the most part about 2 years ago. Just too risky.

Dog got sprayed last week and had to rush him to vet. His head got pretty big and he was miserable but only for about18 hours. He was being his normal pain in the arse the next day. Wife killed that one with a weed eater which is a surprise. She is scared of worms :)

I have nightmares about the snakes here but nothing I can do about it. The baby cobras are really cute and they don't know how to bite for the a week at least( Never verified it). Every year their are fewer snakes on the property and I go months without seeing one at this point. I know where they hangout and I avoid those areas.

8 hours ago, Thingamabob said:

No idea why most people want to kill snakes, poisonous or not. They don't like to stay near people. Leave them alone and they will go away. They also efficiently dispose of vermin.

Not cobras and other predator snakes. That is the case on our property. Some are very aggressive and charge you. They are spooky. Some snakes just hangout around people and will never move on unless they are killed. The deadly tree snakes, huge black scorpions, giant centipedes and other critters have thankfully moved off our property for the most part. If I see a cobra and I can kill it, I will.

Holy Crap.

A couple of months ago, I saw a snake about 5 foot long. It was really awkard. We were metres apart. We were looking at it each other for about 30 seconds. And then it slinked under the barbecue.

Centipedes is why I wear socks

Came out of my room in my 2 level place in Phuket, early morning sleepy/hungover, looked down at my patio, "is that a shirt that blew off where I was drying it?", "a towel"....then I realized it was a big cobra. Beaned it with a sandal and it buggered off.

My pal, forum nic Steelpulse (RIP), lost three dogs over the years to cobras.

Video of the cobra being captured

19 hours ago, Geoff914 said:

It was a centipede not a snake, keep up. I know the difference, it had legs. The wife had half killed it before I got inv

It was a centipede not a snake, keep up. I know the difference, it had legs. The wife had half killed it before I got involved.

19 hours ago, Geoff914 said:

It was a centipede not a snake, keep up. I know the difference, it had legs. The wife had half killed it before I got involved.

I was referring to the post regarding a cobra found in a hotel room in Krabi. Anyway, congrats to you and your wife for overcoming the centipede.

18 hours ago, atpeace said:

Not cobras and other predator snakes. That is the case on our property. Some are very aggressive and charge you. They are spooky. Some snakes just hangout around people and will never move on unless they are killed. The deadly tree snakes, huge black scorpions, giant centipedes and other critters have thankfully moved off our property for the most part. If I see a cobra and I can kill it, I will.

Fair enough. Your choice.

I had two snakes near my motorbike on the side of the road.