Getting Around Ao Nang

Buses, Longtails and Motorbikes

Ao Nang isn't that big, while it's nice to stroll in the evening, by day it's best to save your energy and avoid being fried by the sun. Some of the islands and beaches cannot be reached by road so other modes of transport step in.

Here are some very Thai ways to travel.

Samlor

A samlor is a motorbike fitted with a multi-passenger sidecar which is designed for transporting visitors from one end of the beach to the other.

Samlors and taxis make regular circuits around Ao Nang and you can catch them on any part of the road (or pavement).

Songthew Bus (2 benches)

If you want to travel longer distances, local taxis or sonthaew are converted pickup trucks with 2 benches in the back, covered to protect from the sun, will take you to Krabi town and other beaches.

They're a kind of public transport that goes back and forth between towns. You'll see them diving around beeping their horns, just wave to flag one down and jump on, often you can make friends with the other passengers. Fares are charged per person.

Longtail Boat

If you want to go island hopping (Koh Poda, Koh Gai, and Ko Tup are just offshore) or find a new exotic beach, take one of the longtail boat taxis from Ao Nang Beach.

Tickets can be purchased from the booth near the Phra Nang Inn corner of the beach road. Rates are standardized and posted. A one-way seat to nearby beaches is 60 baht per person, while hiring an entire boat for a day of island exploration starts at 2,000 baht. Travel after dark csosts more.

Note that, especially on return to Ao Nang, there may be 30 empty boats bobbing idly in the sea, but not one will move until it's financially beneficial; i.e., the boat must be full (the definition of "full" is influenced by the season, alignment of the stars, and a lot of luck). That means waiting for additional passengers or negotiating a price for a low-occupancy trip - basically buying the empty seats. (Read more...)