krabi beaches

[femi fan]

Hoping to hear first hand accounts from those who live in krabi regarding quality of the beaches. I'm looking mainly at either ao nang or nopparattara, and with the noppa beach if there's any difference on either side of the river. I do like my white sand, but i'm getting conflicting reports from different sites about this, and i like to enjoy walks along the beach too. Not fussed about swimming much.

It seems to me that most of the accommodation is back from ao nang beach along the approach road, whereas in the noppa beach it looks like more is along the beach, or very near it.

I am also open to suggestions of other beaches that are beautiful, but less busy than the above two. Even if no accommodation, but just great places to visit on a motorbike.

Coming down from chiang mai on friday evening, so hope the weather's good there!

Cheers!

[donx]

I prefer Nopparat Thara beach for several reasons. It is a National Park so it's not built up along the beach. It's a larger beach than Ao Nang beach and when the tide is low you can walk far out away from the road. But it doesn't really matter where you stay because access to these beaches is easy unless you plan on walking every time. And the best beaches in Krabi require a boat ride so make sure you visit some of these beaches because they are so beautiful.

[femi fan]

thanks donx.

I have managed about three trips to krabi province over the years, i always used to go the other side for my beach holidays! I've stayed in ko jum twice, railay beach once, and have visited phi phi and a few other islands which were indeed out-of-this-world mindblowingly beautiful!

However, due to my more usual beach holidays, i always like to be in a bungalow and near or on the beach. I'm hoping nopparat will suit me in this way.

Did you particuarly recommend one side of the river over the other? It seems from my research that the western half is quieter because the eastern half seems to have a road by the beach?

Leaving chiang mai tomorrow, so my excitement builds! I was down in ko jum and krabi town last august, so it's a quick return for me, and clearly in the good weather season.

Cheers for the input.

[klongmuang]

There is no river separating Nopparathara beach. Coming from Ao Nang, the beach starts with a small river and at the end is another river on which the ferry pier is located, as well. In between you have about 2 km of beach and not much people, except on weekends when the locals are going.

[donx]

I have not spent time at the Western section of Nopparat Thara Beach. It's more out of the way but that may be exactly what you're looking for. I believe you are referring the beach where The Emerald Bungalow Resort Krabi is situated. Hopefully others that have been to this section of the beach can provide more information.

http://www.the-emerald-bungalow-resortkrabi.com/

[femi fan]

Oh. Confusion! I could see from maps that ao nang sort of merged into nopparat, but then read that at the end was a pier or something where you could get a one minute boat ride across the mouth of the river to the other section of nopparat. I saw bungalow operations called PAN, Sandy, Long Beach, from memory.

[taninthai]

Oh. Confusion! I could see from maps that ao nang sort of merged into nopparat, but then read that at the end was a pier or something where you could get a one minute boat ride across the mouth of the river to the other section of nopparat. I saw bungalow operations called PAN, Sandy, Long Beach, from memory.

you are correct nopparat beach is separated by a canal ,just go to the pier and get a boat to take you across the canal .its a nice quiet beach the first resort you come to is j2b beach bungalows really nice place.

[siamod]

I always thought this beach (across the river) is called long beach. Never been there and want to check it out on my next trip to Krabi in one week. Usually i´d like to go to Nopparatara or Khlong Muang beach which is a bit more far but pretty quiet.

[animalmad]

Hi I live in Aonang, there is no need to get a boat to cross the 'canal' as apart from the fact there is a road bridge linking the two areas in low tide there is no water in it! The distance from accomodation to beach is similar in both areas and there is a hotel in aonang right on the beach with no road separating it where as in nop you cross the road. Neither beach is particularly stunning in terms of sand and water but I prefer the aonang side near the cliffs. You can easily access noppatara to go walking as in low tide as suggested you can walk far. Also worth a visit is railey as its a stones throw by Longtail!

[femi fan]

I always thought this beach (across the river) is called long beach. Never been there and want to check it out on my next trip to Krabi in one week. Usually i´d like to go to Nopparatara or Khlong Muang beach which is a bit more far but pretty quiet.

It seems to have various names! Some call it nopparat beach, but clearly west of the big river at the western end of the main nopparat beach. I've heard it called Long Beach and Pan Beach. Our taxi driver from krabi town didn't know where it was, and it's not even on the main krabi map!! I did some explorations while staying in the town on a motorbike, found this beach, and since it was exactly what i'm looking for i was well chuffed.

I'll answer my own question in this thread next week when i get back home to chiang mai. But this beach i'm on, nopparat, and ao nang beaches could not be more different. After a trip to railay beach this morning it was magnificent to get back to our beach where peace is screaming at you! I am flabbergasted that this beach exists so close to ao nang which is the kind of beach i avoid like the plague in thailand. just my requirements mind, but ao nang may as well be any place in the world.

Do check the beach out! There is pan beach bungalows, long beach villas, sand beach bungalows and j2b. Take your pick. Top beach and views, and not even on the bloody map, just amazing!

[siamod]

I will leave Chiang Mai on monday to go to Krabi. How about sandflies at long beach/pan beach? On some beaches they like to attack me, like (unfortunatly) on my favourite island koh jum.

[taninthai]

Keep it quiet we don't want the whole of ao nang to know about it.

[femi fan]

ao nang lot would be lost on jum or this beach i'm on at the moment, so no danger there!

I"ve been attacked most days by these sandflies on long/pan beach. Never known anything like it, makes mosquitos seem lame! But no big deal really. They have some red paste at the bungalows and that takes any itching away. My wife who normally cops it with the mozzies has had no sandfly bites, so they're obviously picky.

I see it as a small price to pay for being on this beach. Beats the heat and haze of chiang mai this month!!

I think they're mostly active when the tide is low.

Been to ko jum twice before, and never had any sandfly problem then. Ko Jum is ace! But not gone there this trip. Next time.

Sandflies and long beach or ao nang... take your pick!!