Exploring Nong Thale, Krabi

At the southern province of Thailand lies a lovely stretch of land and water towards the west coast, the beautiful town of Krabi. This limestone laced shore by the Andaman Sea has breathtaking beaches and a variety of things to do. From spending relaxed vacations and chilling by the hammocks to day tours to nearby islands and shopping for touristy items in the flea markets, there is a lot to see on a trip to this part of Thailand. About 4-5 days are good enough to explore the island. A good mix of beachy bays, rocks, hills, caves and parties, Krabi sure is a perfect blend of a small town and oceanic shores. Why Nong Thale? While Ao Nang is really famous for its beaches, location and connectivity, let’s explore the relatively less famous but unspoilt shores of Krabi’s underrated “Nong Thale”. Nestled in a relatively quiet area, its natural scenery, untouched waters and soothing waves in fact, make it better than the rest of Krabi in a number of ways: Better scenic views Peaceful and quiet atmosphere Non-commercial beaches Private, untouched shores Clean water ATM, car rentals and other facilities nearby A number of hotels and resorts to choose from Good bars, restaurants and massage parlours around the area Breakfast with a view Breakfast with a view Day tours: There are a lot of places nearby. Take a tour to the places below, keeping at least 4 hours in each place (and 1-2 hours travel time): Phi Phi Islands Hong Islands Maya Bay Railay Bay Ao Nang Things to do: Though people say there isn’t too much to do at Nong Thale and advise you against it, take a look at the list of things you can actually do and then decide for yourself. Bike around: Rent a bike and ride around the small town’s lush green stretches. Ride aimlessly to the end of the roads. Visit the market: Head to Nong Thale’s market area to shop, eat and drink. Foot massage: Indulge in a relaxing and rejuvenating foot spa at one of the countless massage parlours along the market stretch. Bargain and ask for a head and back massage to be included in the same price. Walk and click: Walk uphill till you reach an amazing dead end to a National Park and click all along. Party all night: If you really want to dance, you will have to venture out to Ao Nang that has discotheques that play music around 10 pm onwards. For grooving and chilling at the bars, enjoying good music, confine yourself to the Klong Muang area of Nong Thale. Biking around Klong Muang Biking around Klong Muang Bars and restaurants: Most of these bars open only in the evening. It is advisable to go there post 9 pm for more fun, music and life. Some of the interesting themed bars and restaurants that I came across are located at Klong Muang and Mueang Krabi District: Lazy bar Sunset Bar Eden Bar Summer Beach Bar Cocktails Sawasdee Banana Leaf Thai Restaurant Coffee Club Though there are several restaurants and cafes lined up along the road, serving Thai and Indian cuisines, a special mention of the ‘Coffee Club’ has to be made – a cute little cafe with a cosy entrance and coffee tables spread out to at least six covers, Parisian cushion covers and coasters, a seating area outside and a quaint corner with a bench, wooden birds, plants and vases to accentuate the theme and feel of the cafe. Coffee Club, Krabi Coffee Club, Krabi Getting around: Taxi Shuttle Hire a car Rent a bike to move around Tail boat or motor boat rides to far flung islands Carry along: Swimsuit Beach wear Snorkel and mask Sunscreen Camera Anyavee Tubkaek Beach Resort Anyavee Tubkaek Beach Resort Places to stay: Anyavee Tubkaek Beach Resort Phulay Bay, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve Hotel Sofitel Krabi Phokeethra Golf and Spa Resort The Tubkaek Krabi Boutique Resort Amari Vogue Krabi Dusit Thani Krabi Beach Resort While some of the options above have private bays and beaches to themselves, the others have a golf course and indoor swimming pool. Pick any depending on your budget and choice of stay. We stayed at Anyavee Tubkaek Beach Resort at Aumphur Muang after reading a number of reviews on Trip Advisor and booked a Jacuzzi balcony, ocean-facing view. The room was beyond perfect! A private beach in a secluded surrounding, somewhere between the sun and the endless ocean, a dip into the ocean whenever we wanted, a dock on the first floor overlooking the bay reserved for breakfast, dinner at the restaurant along the beach serving amazing Thai food and warm staff that attended to us at all times. What more could we ask for?! Sunset at Krabi Sunset at Krabi The wow moment! The point where our hearts literally stopped beating was when we reached neck-deep in the ocean, right amidst the deep blue water and calm waves to watch the sun set in the horizon. It felt as though the shore sucked the sun within, creating pink skies at first and purple-orange as the sun drowned deeper into the ocean bed right where we were…