Krabi or Phuket? How to Choose, and Why Many People Do Both

Both are on the Andaman coast of southern Thailand. Both have island tours, good food and warm water. They are not interchangeable.

Krabi feels like

Limestone cliffs, longtail boats, quieter evenings

Phuket feels like

A big island: more hotels, shopping and nightlife

Between them

About 3 hours by road

Calm seas

November to April

Rougher seas

May to October; boat tours can be cancelled

Choose Krabi if

• You want scenery more than nightlife.
• You like the idea of Railay, a beach reached only by boat.
• You are travelling as a couple and want it calm.

Choose Phuket if

• You want more choice of hotels and restaurants.
• Your group wants evenings out as well as beach days.
• You want a show, a market and an old town as well as the sea.

The boat trips, sorted

From Krabi, the Four Islands tour by longtail boat is the classic: Phra Nang Cave Beach, Chicken Island, Tup Island with its sandbar, and Poda. From Phuket, the Phi Phi Islands by speedboat is the big day out, with Maya Bay and Pileh Lagoon. Phi Phi can be reached from either side, so there is no need to do it twice.

The split we recommend

Two nights in Krabi first, then three in Phuket. Fly into Krabi and out of Phuket so you never retrace the road. You get the quiet, dramatic end of the trip while you still have energy for boats, and finish where the airport, the shopping and the last-night dinner are.