Krabi Province Guide: History, Towns and Local Products
Krabi is the postcard of the Andaman Sea: limestone cliffs dropping into turquoise water, longtail boats on the sand and islands like Phi Phi and Ko Lanta a short ride away. About 6 million visitors a year come for exactly that view.
This guide covers what makes Krabi different from the rest of the Andaman coast: the key dates of its history, its main districts, the festivals worth planning around and the local products its makers sell. Makers based here will find a few ideas on selling further afield, too.
Krabi
Limestone, Islands and Longtails
An Andaman coast of limestone towers and islands: Railay, Ao Nang, Phi Phi and Ko Lanta, with a Buddhist and Muslim culture all its own.
By the SnapSellGo Thailand Desk · Updated September 2026 · 8 min read
Made in Krabi
Specialities of Krabi. Makers from the province are setting up shop.
Cards marked "Known for" describe local specialities, not live listings. Real products appear here automatically once Krabi producers publish them.
Why Krabi is more than a beach
Krabi takes its name from an ancient Siamese sword, and two crossed swords appear on the provincial seal. Its landscape of limestone towers, or mogotes, rises both inland and out of the sea, and four national parks protect its coast and reefs.
It is also one of Thailand's most mixed provinces: about 65% of residents are Buddhist and about 35% Muslim. Before tourism, rubber and oil palm made its fortune, and palm plantations still cover about 1,568 km².
Limestone towers
Karst cliffs rise from the sea at Railay and Phi Phi and from the forests inland.
A sword on the seal
Krabi is named after an ancient Siamese sword, shown crossed on its seal.
Two faiths, one coast
About 65% of residents are Buddhist and about 35% Muslim.
Rubber and palm
Oil palm covers about 1,568 km² of the province.
Krabi through the centuries
Krabi's recorded history is recent, but its caves and cliffs have sheltered people for tens of thousands of years.
- PrehistoryCaves around Krabi hold some of the oldest traces of human life in Thailand.
- 1872King Chulalongkorn raises Krabi to the status of a town.
- 1875Krabi becomes a province reporting directly to Bangkok.
- 1900The administrative seat moves to the mouth of the Krabi river.
- 1999Krabi International Airport opens.
- 2004The Indian Ocean tsunami hits Phi Phi and the Krabi coast.
- 2018Maya Bay on Ko Phi Phi Le closes to let its reef recover; it reopens in 2022.
Finding your way around Krabi
Krabi has eight districts and about 484,000 residents (2024). These are the districts you will hear about most.
| District | What you find there |
|---|---|
| Mueang Krabi | Krabi Town, Ao Nang beach, Railay peninsula and the Phi Phi islands. |
| Ko Lanta | A long island district with quiet beaches and old fishing villages. |
| Khlong Thom | The Emerald Pool, hot springs and lowland forest. |
| Ao Luek | Mangroves, sea caves and kayaking among the limestone. |
Festivals, seasons and the best time to visit
Krabi's year is set by the monsoon. Plan around these if you can.
Local specialities and the OTOP programme
OTOP labels a product by the tambon, or sub-district, that makes it, and Krabi's list follows its plantations and coast. Rubber and palm oil are the backbone of the local economy, and coconut oil and coconut products are sold across the province.
Krabi is also known for batik, hand-drawn and dyed cloth with patterns of the sea and the cliffs, and for dried seafood from its fishing villages.
As Krabi producers join SnapSellGo, their products show up in the carousel above. There is no commission to pay, just an annual fee for the shop.
Short on time? A longtail to Railay and back to Ao Nang for sunset. Into nature? The Emerald Pool and the hot springs of Khlong Thom. Travelling in the green season? Kayak the mangroves of Ao Luek. Buying local? A piece of Krabi batik.
Good to know before you go
Are the Phi Phi Islands in Krabi province?
Yes. The Phi Phi Islands, including Ko Phi Phi Le and Maya Bay, belong to Mueang Krabi district, Krabi province.
Why was Maya Bay closed?
Maya Bay closed in 2018 to let its coral reef and beach recover from heavy tourism. It reopened in 2022 with visitor limits.
What does the name Krabi mean?
Krabi is named after an ancient Siamese sword. Two crossed swords appear on the provincial seal.
When is the best time to visit Krabi?
November to April, when the Andaman Sea is calm. From May to October, the monsoon brings rain and rougher seas.
Sources: Wikipedia entries for Krabi province, Ko Phi Phi and Railay. Population: 2024 registration data. Lunar festivals move from year to year, so check dates before travelling. Cover photo: West Rai Leh by Krzysztof Golik, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.