Krabi and Phi Phi Island 5D4N Itinerary Under S$400
Krabi and Phi Phi Island are one of a kind despite the many island-type destinations in southeast Asia. I love the landscapes, pristine beaches and the food! From island hopping to hiking, there is a good mix of land and sea adventures.
The best thing is that you don’t have to break the bank for this trip! In this 5 day Krabi itinerary, I will be sharing how my friends and I enjoyed Krabi and Phi Phi Island under a S$400 budget (excluding flights).
This article was kindly sponsored by Klook.
Overview
Krabi and Phi Phi Island Total Cost: S$365 (excluding flights)
- Accommodations: S$96
- Transport and SIM Card: S$87
- Food and drinks: S$129
- Activities: S$53
Krabi and Phi Phi Island Itinerary
| Location | Itinerary | Daily Expenses + Accoms (S$) | |
| Day 1 | Krabi | Explore Ao Nang Beach | 46 + 17 = 63 |
| Day 2 | Phi Phi Island | Hike to Long Beach and viewpoints | 63 + 20 = 83 |
| Day 3 | Phi Phi Island | Island hopping and snorkeling | 57 +20 = 77 |
| Day 4 | Krabi | Hike to Tiger Cave Temple | 53 + 20 = 73 |
| Day 5 | Krabi | Kayak around Railay and Phra Nang Beach | 32 + 20 = 52 |
| Lunch and head to airport | 17 |
It was my second time to Krabi and I am glad we went at a slower pace, perfect for including a 2-night stay on Phi Phi Island. In order to get the most bang for your buck, it is best to travel with a group of friends in order share transport costs. I travelled with 3 other friends, which made it much cheaper than my solo trip to Phuket. This itinerary will include hiking, snorkeling, island hopping, kayaking, and good food!
Day 1: Arrival in Krabi Ao Nang
Collect SIM card: It’s great to have internet connection to research for things to do and get directions. We picked up our 4G SIM card from Klook when we arrived in Krabi airport. I recommend getting a SIM card that includes calls so that you can potentially save different drivers’ numbers and contact them for future rides/car charters.
Transfer from airport to accommodation: If you want to pre-arrange your ride, you can check out the KBV-Krabi airport transfer via Klook. We got a 10-seater van which was more than enough space for 4 people with luggages, and only cost about S$27 in total.
Where we stayed: We decided to stay in Kokotel Krabi Ao Nang because this is near where we will set off for Phi Phi Island the next day. There is no shortage of hostels and boutique hotels for those who are on a budget. Prices start from about S$10 for hostels, and we paid S$67 in total to get a private room.
Explore Ao Nang Beach
After check-in and lunch at a nearby family restaurant, we went to the beach to take pictures, play frisbee and swim for the rest of the afternoon. Looking further on the south side of the beach, there are massage and food vendors. However, they cost more than areas further from the beach.
Dinner at Krabi Walking Street
Krabi Walking Street has all the good food and it is a 30 minute drive away from Ao Nang to Krabi Town. A driver offered a return trip on his tuktuk for 800 THB (S$34), and waited for us while we explored the area for about 2 hours. We loved it because there was so much to eat here!
Day 2: Explore Phi Phi Island
There are countless pictures of Phi Phi Islands online and they are widely covered by many travel blogs. It comprises of 2 main islands – Koh Phi Phi Don, the main backpackers’ hub, and Koh Phi Phi Leh, where the famous Maya Bay is. We wanted to stay for 2 nights primarily to experience the islands at a slower pace.
Ferry ride from Krabi to Phi Phi Island
In 1.5-2 hours, you can get to Phi Phi Islands from Krabi mainland via a ferry. We booked a one-way ticket from Krabi via Klook for S$14, departing at 9:30am. We got picked up at our hotel for a 10 minute bus ride to Nopparat Thara Pier to take the ferry. The ride was quite scenic, and you can enjoy the view from the deck.
Where we stayed: Our hostel (Blanco City Hostel) costs S$20 per person each night, which is the average in Phi Phi Island and Krabi. Most of the budget accommodations are within 5-10 minutes walk from each other. Phi Phi Island looks like a dumbbell and everything you need is found in that thin strip in the middle.
Hike to Long Beach
After lunch, we followed a local’s recommendation to check out Long Beach. True enough, it was less crowded than Loh Dalum beach because it is a resort area. The water was calmer and the sand was softer. It takes 30-40 minutes to get there from the pier, and the path leads you through a forest-y resort area.
There are clear signs guiding you to Long Beach, and you need not worry about getting lost. In order to get back, you can walk or take a boat taxi to Ton Sai beach (100 THB or S$4.30/person).
Climb up to Phi Phi Island Viewpoints
I really enjoyed the panoramic view of the island from the vantage points of viewpoints 1 and 2. The entrance fee costs only 30 THB (S$1.30). There are 3 viewpoints in total, but the last one requires an additional fee.
Based on pictures on Google, we saw that the view was almost the same, just with a higher elevation and a smaller crowd. Since it was also cloudy we decided to forgo the last viewpoint. If you have 30 minutes to an hour to spare this would be a great place to check out! You can also explore the other side of the island by venturing further past the viewpoint down to Rantee Bay.
At night, we had dinner at Garlic 1992 Restaurant which was always crowded whenever we passed by it. Why not go for a massage too? They cost about 300 THB (S$13) for an hour.
Day 3: Island Hopping and Snorkeling
Day trip tours from Phuket and Krabi rush through the Phi Phi Islands even though it is such a big area with so many different beaches, lagoons and snorkeling spots. You could even hire a private boat to take you around to your preferred sites.
This is good if it is your second time visiting and you do not want to join a tour, although it will cost more. The best part about staying on the island is that you can take your time to check out the tours and boat hires.
Join an Island Hopping Tour
The most affordable way to explore the islands is to join a tour, and it’s best for those who are visiting for the first time.
We found our half-day tour by long tail boat from one of the local tour vendors for 400 THB per person (S$17), and it included a simple packed lunch. No doubt this is cheaper than a speed boat tour, so do expect some splashes from the waves and longer traveling time.
One of the unique things you can do is to snorkel after sunset to see bioluminescent plankton!
I recommend deviating from the main pathway to find more affordable local dining options, like Som Tham Thai Food. If you head to the beach after dinner, you can find some fire shows. We found a really entertaining one in front of Carlito’s Bar at 9:30pm.
Day 4: Hike Tiger Cave Temple in Krabi
Before leaving Phi Phi Island to get back to Krabi, we ordered Pad Thai takeout from Breakfast and Friends. It was the best we had so far and we wish we found this place earlier.
Boat ride to Krabi
In order to maximise the day in Krabi, take the early 9am ride out (the second one is at 1:30pm). You will be dropped off at Phi Phi Island Pier near Krabi Town, and there will be counters and drivers outside who you can get a ride from. Getting back to Ao Nang cost 100 THB (S$4.30) per person.
Alternatively, you can buy a 3:30pm ferry ticket to Ao Nang (same pier where you departed) for 450 THB (S$19). If you are able to book about 2 days in advance, you can get cheaper tickets from Klook (~S$14).
Where we stayed: After a hostel stay it was nice to have our own room and a swimming pool to enjoy. We picked Ao Nang Miti Resort for these reasons, and it only cost us S$20 per night each! It was a little further from the beach (20+ minutes walk), but for the price and comfort I think it was worth it.
Our little hiccup: We had planned to hike the Dragon Crest trail in the afternoon, and even engaged a driver for the return trip for 1000 THB (S$43) through the receptionist. However, it had been raining since the previous day, and we found out that it was closed when we got to the trail head. After some negotiation with the driver, he agreed to take us to the Tiger Cave Temple at no additional cost. Thank God for nice people.
Hike to Tiger Cave Temple
Even though I say hike, it really was just 1,237 steps and anyone can do it. We saw children, elderly, men, women, and monks climbing up to the temple. Do cover up and refrain from wearing sleeveless tops and shorts as it is a religious site.
Thankfully, we were let off for our sleeveless tops. Bring your own sarong so that you won’t have to wear the neon yellow ones they rent out (20 THB). The view is really interesting because you get to see vast plantations and even the sea. You get to enjoy the calming atmosphere, and it is so fun to take pictures there.
Overall, it was quite a nice cultural experience, and it took us 30 minutes to climb up.
Sunset at Ao Nang Beach
It was about 5:30pm when we left to go back to the resort, just in time for sunset at the beach. I highly recommend watching at least one sunset in Krabi because the beaches face west and you get unobstructed views. So so magical.
I recommend trying the food at Ao Nang Boat Noodle, because it is affordable and authentic, and they even provide free WiFi. We enjoyed it so much that we ate there 2 nights in a row. I loved having a young coconut together with my meal.
Day 5: Kayak around Railay Beach
This is a big adventure day! Railay Beach is much more appealing than Ao Nang beach in my opinion. It is located in a smaller bay and you will be surrounded by karst structures around the beach. There are other attractions in the same area, including Phra Nang beach and Railay East beach where you can go natural rock climbing.
Getting to Railay West Beach
We bought return tickets for a boat taxi to and from Ao Nang beach for 200 THB (S$9) each. We set off at 11:30am from the beach and it only took 10 minutes by long tail boat.
Rent kayaks: When you arrive, you will see kayaks laid out all over the beach. You can approach any of the vendors for kayak rental. Prices are mostly the same, and they provided life jackets and dry bags. It starts from 200 THB (S$9) per hour for a 2-person kayak. For each additional hour, you only need to pay 100 THB (S$4) more. Since we rented for 2 hours, we paid 150 THB (S$6.50) per person.
Phra Nang Beach and Cave
Kayaking from Railay beach to Phra Nang Beach took about 30 minutes, including a small detour between 2 islets. There are so many photo spots along the way, and I really enjoyed the different views around the cliffs. If you don’t want to kayak, you can even walk from Railay West beach to Phra Nang beach and Railay East beach. It is quite easy to find your way around because there are clear signs.
I recommend exploring this beach at around low tide because you can explore the Phra Nang Cave at the end of the bay. It is pretty big and we had fun climbing up and down the rocks. You can also walk to a small beach on the nearest islet at low tide. We also saw some food vendors selling from their long tail boats, and some were even grilling things!
After this we went on to kayak 40 minutes to Railay East Beach. However, it was not as nice as Railay West and Phra Nang beach. Hence, so we paddled back to Railay West Beach to return our kayaks. Next stop – lunch!
Railay Walking Street and Viewpoint Hike
If you want more affordable food, leave the beachfront resorts and head to Railay Walking Street. We chose Railay Family Restaurant for its authentic local cuisine. From Railay East beach, you can check out the trail to Railay Viewpoint and Lagoon.
It supposedly takes 2 hours to get up and down the viewpoint. The views are the best at high tide since you would see blue waters rather than brown sand. Do be careful if it has been raining because the mud can be slippery.
In order to get back, simply show any long tail boat operator your ticket. We then returned to our resort to chill in the pool. Of course we went back to Ao Nang Boat Noodle for dinner. What an incredible day!
Last Day in Krabi
If you have some time before your flight, consider a cooking class (S$60-70) or the Dragon Crest Trail hike. If you are confident of your paddling skills after the previous day’s warmup, why not kayak from Ao Nang beach to Railay West beach. We paid 200 THB (S$9) per person for 2.5 hours, and it takes 45 minutes each way.
Transfer to airport
We pre-arranged a private car to fetch us from our resort. We booked it via one of the tour agencies along the street. It cost 500 THB (S$21.50) in total, comparable with the 150 THB (S$6.50) shuttle bus service. Sharing the cost of the airport transfer with friends is the best option. Do allocate an hour for the ride, and eat before getting to the airport because it has limited food options.
I believe Krabi is a paradise for those who love beaches and great hikes, even solo travellers. We felt quite safe when we were there, and were comfortable walking together on the streets at night. I hope this itinerary has been helpful. In addition, I highly recommend the kayaking.
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