There’s no doubt that Thailand is the ultimate destination for affordable beach holidays, so if you’re looking for the best itinerary for Phuket and Krabi, this two week itinerary for Krabi, Phuket and the Phi Phi Islands has got you covered!
A Phuket Krabi itinerary is one of the best choices for travelling in Thailand thanks to the affordable prices, amazing Thailand beaches, stunning hotel and resort options and the easy international travel access.
Plus let’s not forget the range of activities and things to do in Phuket and Krabi that will keep you entertained whether you’re looking for a relaxing beach trip or an action-packed Thailand adventure.
This Krabi and Phuket itinerary can be done in this order or in reverse, so if you’re arriving from Bangkok or elsewhere in Thailand, you can easily adapt this itinerary to suit you.
Phi Phi Islands
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How long to spend in Phuket and Krabi?
The answer to this really depends on what your trip involves and what kind of trip you want.
This is a two week itinerary for Phuket and Krabi with 6 days in each location and two days in Phi Phi in the middle. I think it was the ideal balance of time for island trips and tours, sightseeing and also beach and relaxation time. But you could condense this into a 10 day Phuket and Krabi itinerary if you wanted to.
Two weeks would also be a great amount of time for a Bangkok, Phuket, Krabi itinerary with 2-3 days in Bangkok at the start or end of your trip if your international flight arrives or departs from Bangkok.
If you’re visiting Phuket and Krabi as part of a longer trip around Thailand, I would suggest a shorter Phuket Krabi itinerary - 5 days to 10 days depending on the total length of your trip.
However if you’re planning a beach trip to Thailand where your priority is island hopping, beaches, great weather and relaxation, I’d say a two week itinerary in Krabi, Phuket and the Phi Phi islands is a great amount of time for a beach trip.
I personally wouldn’t do a 14 day Phuket itinerary, I think that’s too long for just Phuket. But including Krabi, Phi Phi Islands and Koh Lanta is a great way to see more on your itinerary in that area of Thailand.
Longtail boat on the beach
What’s the best time of year to visit Phuket and Krabi?
If you're planning to visit Phuket and Krabi, the ideal time to go is from November through April. During this period, the weather is perfect - not too hot and also the driest time of the year - perfect for beaches and watersports.
Although this also means that November-April is the peak season so it can be more crowded. If you’re looking for less crowds and cheaper prices, I’d recommend travelling in the shoulder seasons - September or May
Although a word of warning, we travelled in late August - early September and while we had some gorgeous days, it was still the rainy season and we had some days of torrential downpours that didn’t make island hopping much fun - so definitely weigh this up when it comes to monsoon season in Southeast Asia and whether visiting Phuket is worth it.
One of our better weather days!
How to get to Phuket and Krabi?
Luckily, both Phuket and Krabi have international airports, although Phuket Airport is significantly bigger. If you’re coming from other locations in and around Asia, you might be able to fly directly into Phuket or Krabi.
If not, the most common route is an international flight into Bangkok and then a transfer to domestic with a flight to either Phuket or Krabi depending on whether you start this itinerary in Phuket or Krabi.
We flew in and out of Phuket and were easily able to arrange a taxi from Phuket Airport to Phuket Old Town to start our trip, then a taxi to return us from Krabi to Phuket Airport at the end of our trip.
Phuket airport is at the northern tip of Phuket Island, so if you’re staying in the south of Phuket, it can take an hour or more to get to your accommodation. Krabi airport is located much closer to Krabi Town - just 15km away.
To travel between Phuket and Krabi takes around 2.5 - 3 hours by bus or taxi.
How to get around in Phuket and Krabi?
It can feel overwhelming planning an itinerary with multiple locations, but for your Phuket, Krabi, Phi Phi itinerary, I really want to emphasise that the areas are well-connected and Thai people are so lovely and helpful, if you feel really stuck, someone will always know someone who can help you arrange a ride!
For long distances such as the ride between Phuket and Krabi, I recommend a private taxi transfer or bus if you’re on a budget.
You can book bus and taxi transfers using 12Go - my go-to booking app for public transport in SoutheastAsia.
However for shorter journeys, if you want to get to the beach that’s 10 minutes from your hotel, or if you’re going out for dinner somewhere that’s not within walking distance, I recommend using the Grab app. Grab is like Uber and you can download the ride hail app on your phone and use it as you normally would use Uber. I’ve had no trouble adding my UK banking cards to the app and using it to get around Phuket and Krabi.
Longtail boat
Best restaurants in Phuket
I’m not a foodie blogger, but I do love food so rather than telling you where to go to eat on each day of your itinerary, I’ll write a list here of my favourite food spots and where to eat in Phuket and Krabi.
Where to eat in Phuket:
Street food at Sunday Walking Market (Phuket Town)
One Chun Cafe & Restaurant - Thai (Phuket Town)
Raya Restaurant - Thai (Phuket Town)
Three Monkeys Restaurant - Thai and Japanese (outside Phuket Town)
Lae Lay @ Khao Khad (Panwa)
No. 6 Restaurant (my favourite!!) - Thai (Patong - two locations)
Fat Mamma Burger (Patong)
Sultan’s Grill - Turkish (Patong)
Where to eat in Krabi:
Kodam Kitchen - Thai (Ao Nang)
The Hilltop - Ao Nang
The Grotto - need to book in advance and take the boat to Rayavadee Resort
Tandoori Night’s Restaurant - Indian (Ao Nang)
The Last Fisherman - seafood (Ao Nang)
Where to stay in Phuket and Krabi: 2 week itinerary hotels
The best area to stay in Phuket
We moved around quite a lot during our trip, mostly because it was my birthday and I wanted to try out lots of nice hotel, ha!
We did stay in Phuket Town the first night but I don’t really think it’s necessary, there’s not a lot to see there after the first day, but it is convenient for boat trips (although most Phuket, Krabi tour itinerary groups will pick you up directly from your hotel wherever you are).
There’s a lot of towns and hubs around Phuket which made it difficult to decide the best place to stay in Phuket. I think it depends what you want from your trip, so here’s a few ideas:
Patong - the party hub
Phuket Town - convenient for the pier or if you’re on a shorter itinerary
Kata Beach - more beachy, less touristy, chilled
Panwa - far away but less touristy and chilled
Karon Beach - a compromise between Kata and Patong
We stayed at thePanwaburi Beachfront Resort in the south Phuket Island area of Panwa - it is out the way but the unique hotel is absolutely stunning and very affordable!
For Patong, check out The Four Points by Sheraton or Kalima Resort and Spa Just make sure wherever you book in Patong, unless you’re planning to party, stay somewhere far away from Bangla Road so you don’t hear the club music until 5am every day!
For Kata Beach, check out Blu Pine Villa or The Shore (Adults Only)
Panwaburi Beachfront Resort in Phuket
The best area to stay in Krabi
We stayed in Ao Nang beach for most of our one week in Krabi as there’s plenty of restaurants, bars and activities, tours pick up from there and it’s also where the longtail boat pier is for Railay Beach.
We stayed at a fairly affordable, standard hotel in Ao Nang, Aonang Viva
We also stayed at two beautiful, unique hotels in Krabi just outside Ao Nang on my birthday weekend. Although both were outside Ao Nang, they provided free shuttles several times a day to get into Ao Nang in 10 minutes if you want to go there for a day trip, the beach or evening meal.
My favourite was the beautiful Venice Krabi Villa Resort
We also stayed at the Anana Ecological Resort Krabi
The perfect two week Phuket and Krabi itinerary
Week 1: One week in Phuket
Day 1 - Phuket Town
Phuket Old Town - Soi Rommani
You'll start your adventure in the heart of Phuket - Phuket Town. Phuket Town is a quaint little place that's full of life and colour. There's of course no entrance fee to visit the town, and you can easily get there by local bus or taxi from anywhere on the island.
Spend time getting lost in the maze of streets, explore local markets and soak up the unique blend of Chinese, Malay, and Thai cultures. Don’t miss Soi Rommani (Soi means street) and Thalong Road - they’re both in the heart of the town and are lined with the iconic colourful Sino-Portugeuse style houses.
Every Sunday is the famous Sunday Walking Market which I highly recommend if you happen to be in Phuket on a Sunday (you can always swap this day in the itinerary so you can visit on a Sunday). The market is a thriving, bustling place with so much street food, live performances, souvenir and trinket stalls and entertainment from 4-10pm on Thalang Road.
If you’re not staying in Phuket City, you might be interested in an afternoon Phuket city tour like this one to see the main sights.
Day 2 - Wat Chalong and Big Buddha
Wat Chalong
Head over to Wat Chalong, Phuket's most important Buddhist temple. It's free to enter, but donations are welcomed.
The vibrant temple complex is full of glittering gold and colourful red, orange and purple hues. It’s beautiful and obviously great that it’s free but if you’ve spent time at the temples in Bangkok already, this temple honestly isn’t as majestic as those in Bangkok and you could probably skip it (I’d rather tell the honest truth here!)
If you’ve not seen temples in Bangkok though, it’s well worth visiting and you can get here in around 20 minutes from Phuket Town. We took a Grab taxi here using the app or alternatively you could go as part of a guided tour liek this one which takes you in and around Phuket’s main sights.
In the afternoon, make time to visit the Big Buddha, a massive 45-meter tall statue sitting on top of Nakkerd Hill which you’ve probably spotted in the distance already!
It's a bit of a drive, but the awe-inspiring views of Phuket are definitely worth it. It's also free to visit, though donations for the continuing construction are appreciated. Again, you could visit as part of a Phuket sights tour - these are great for budget travel and seeing a lot in a short space of time.
Alternatively, my recommendation is to spice up your visit to Big Buddha… I did this trip on as my 2-week 30th birthday trip and I made it my mission to do something new every single day!
On this day, we booked onto an ATV off roading experience to visit Big Buddha. This was a 2.5 hour adventure which included pick up from our hotel, we were taken to the hill and given our safety brief and then we spent 2 hours off roading in the Phuket jungle, flying through the forest on our ATVs, with a 20 minute stop at Big Buddha before whizzing back along the trails again to return our ATV and be taken back to our hotel.
ATV tour to Big Buddha Phuket
Big Buddha Phuket
This was one of the most unexpectedly fun activities on our trip and I highly recommend it for something a bit different from your usual sightseeing tours!
You can book the exact ATV and Big Buddha tour here - note that there’s an option with or without the Big Buddha included so make sure you book the correct one you want!
Day 3 - Phuket Elephant Sanctuary and beaches
Phuket Elephant Sanctuary
Most people want to experience seeing the elephants in Thailand, but so many locations are not truly ethical (even if they say they are). For example, bathing with elephants and washing elephants is not ethical as bathing is an important social interaction time for elephants which is disrupted if humans are there.
I highly recommend a visit to the Phuket Elephant Sanctuary for truly ethical elephant experiences in Thailand. Phuket Elephant Sanctury is home to only rescued, elderly or disabled elephants - no elephants are born and raised in captivity here.
The only direct interaction you have here is feeing them at their feeding time, then you go into the park area and roam around to meet and learn more about each elephant from a distance. They also have a treetop walkway so you can observe elephants below in their natural environment without disrupting them.
Tickets are 3,000 Baht (£68) which is definitely one of the more expensive elephant experiences, although if an ethical experience is important to you, it’s amazing to see how the money you spend it used to buy elephants from dangerous and unethical places so PES is able to save them.
The price of the ticket also includes transfer from your hotel anywhere on Phuket Island, at the time we were staying in Cape Panwa and the sanctuary is located in Pa Klok in the north of Phuket Island. So our 45 transfer was included in the price both there and back.
The ticket also included snacks, drinks and a buffet lunch.
There are morning and afternoon slots for the Phuket Elephant Sanctuary, we did the morning but you can choose what suits you best and book your slot here.
For the rest of the day, enjoy time to chill out and relax (you’re on holiday after all!) either at your hotel pool or on some of Phuket's beautiful beaches. Most beaches are free to access and you can rent a sunbed for around 100 Baht.
Day 4 - James Bond Island boat trip
James Bond Island on a very rainy day!
James Bond Island is one of the most iconic landmarks in Thailand after it was used in the 1974 The Man with the Golden Gun James Bond movie.
Khao Phing Kan is the actual name of the island which is located in Phang Nga Bay on the northeast side of Phuket island. The area is also home to several other sights which are usually included in the full day James Bond island tour.
This is the tour we booked which included hotel transfers, a full day on a traditional longtail boat, visiting James Bond Island, kayaking in the mangroves and Talu Cave, visiting the floating village at Panyee Island, lunch on Panyee Island and the Monkey Cave temple.
Unfortunately we had awful weather on the day of our trip but despite that, I’d still say it was one of my favourite activities we did in Thailand purely because of the variety of activities included. I’m not a huge fan on spending a whole day on the beach, so this was a great combination of active activities, islands, culture and unique places to see.
TIP: This is a full day trip that takes around 10 hours so be prepared and pack everything you need. I suggest water sandals, sunscreen, towel, water, snacks and a change of clothes.
Panyee Floating Village
Day 6 - Phuket Beaches and Muay Thai
Beach in Phuket
After a full day tour the day before, I always like to schedule a slower day for the day after and you can’t miss Phuket beaches while you’re in Thailand!
Some of my favourite Phuket beaches:
Kata Beach
Karon Beach
Freedom Beach
Patong Beach
Nai Thon Beach
Wherever you’re staying, you might be within walking distance of a beach, or you could take a Grab to the nearest one.
Or enjoy the facilities at your Phuket hotel!
In the evening, get ready to experience Thailand’s national sport - Muay Thai at a boxing stadium!
You’ll probably see (and hear!) the megaphones advertising the matches which usually happen 3 nights a week. We saw a boxing match at Patong Boxing Stadium Sainamyen. But there’s also another stadium in Patong called Bagla Boxing Stadium.
Regular tickets cost 1,500 baht, ring side tickets come with a free tshirt and cost 1,800 baht. If you book for Patong Boxing Stadium in advance on their website, you can also get hotel pick up included in the price of the ticket! Details here.
We walked to the stadium as our hotel was nearby in Patong but you could also take a Grab or tuk tuk.
Muay Thai stadium in Patong
TIP: A word of warning, (from someone who was very naive and thought that Muay Thai was like wrestling), this is actual boxing and we saw a lot of the fighters get knocked out, I don’t know what I was expecting, maybe I thought it was more staged but it wasn’t. Also the warm up sessions were kids learning how to fight which was a bit uncomfortable. But after that, the whole experience and atmosphere in the stadium was a lot of fun!
Day 7 - Travel to Phi Phi Islands
Phi Phi Island
It's time to say goodbye to Phuket and head to the breathtaking Phi Phi Islands. It’s up to you what you would prefer here. There are ferry’s to the Phi Phi islands and this is the best option if you’re planning to stay on the Phi Phi islands for a night or two. A ferry ride from Phuket to Phi Phi costs about 700 Baht and takes around two hours.
The Phuket to Phi Phi Island ferry can be booked here.
If you’re going directly to Krabi or if the weather is bad, I would suggest going from Phuket to Krabi by road - buses are as cheap as £6 from Phuket town bus station. Or a private taxi transfer can be arranged by your accommodation or a nearby travel agent, this usually costs around 3,000 baht (£68) but is definitely more cost effective if you’re travelling in a group with lots of bags as the taxis are usually a minibus and can fit 8-10 people.
As the weather was looking bad, we opted to do a Phi Phi Islands day tour from Phuket on the day before we took a bus to Krabi.
The islands are a paradise for divers, snorkelers, and beach lovers. We didn’t have great weather for our time there but we still had a lot of fun jumping off the boat in the lagoon at Phi Phi Lay, seeing the famous Maya Bay from the Beach movie and snorkelling in Bamboo Island.
We also docked at Ton Sai Beach on Phi Phi Leh and had lunch, saw Viking Cave and Monkey Bay.
TIP: This was another full day tour from Phuket so the travel time by speedboat was long, I would probably recommend doing the Phi Phi Islands tour from Krabi rather than Phuket as the islands are closer to Krabi so the day trip is a lot more comfortable. We just didn’t have time for that unfortunately!
Phi Phi Islands boat tour
Week 2: One week in Krabi
Day 8 - Phi Phi Islands
Vibrant water of the Phi Phi Islands
Whether you’re staying a night or two on the Phi Phi islands or just visiting for the day, take advantage of the islands' fantastic snorkeling and diving spots, or relax on one of the many beautiful beaches.
All beaches and activities are free, but hiring gear will come at a small cost, as will renting a sunbed.
If you’re spending time on the island, I highly recommend hiking up to one of the 3 famous viewpoints on Phi Phi island to see the unique sand bar and strip of land that splits the island in two, with turquoise blue water on either side.
You can wander around on foot or rent a bicycle for about 200 Baht per day to explore the island. Some hotels also provide bikes for free for for a smaller fee.
If you’re looking for somewhere to stay on Phi Phi Island, if you’re on a budget check out Phi Phi The beach Resort
Or for a more luxurious island vacation, check out Saii Phi Phi Island Village
Day 9 - Travel to Ao Nang, Krabi
If you’re travelling from Phi Phi Island, there are a couple of ferry companies with different ferry times departing from either Ton Sai Pier or Laem Tong Pier on either side of Phi Phi Island.
There are also faster shared speedboat options available if you’re short on time or part of a bigger group.
Most boats and ferries will also drop you at Krabi pier, which is fine if you’re staying in Krabi Town. If you’re staying in Ao Nang, Railay or anywhere else further up the coast, you will need to take a taxi from the pier to your hotel.
TIP: We personally preferred Ao Nang as a base for our stay in Krabi as there was plenty to do, Krabi tour package pick ups were no problem, there were lots of restaurant and bar options and the longtail boat pier to Railay beach leaves from Ao Nang Beach.
Day 10 - Railay Beach
Long boat to the beaches and islands in Thailand
Railay Beach is probably the most famous beach in Krabi and it can only be reached by boat.
There is a pier at Ao Nang beach along the main road (next to Reeve Beach Club) that has regular departures to Railay Beach, Tonsai Beach and Phanang Beach. Reaching Railay Beach from Ao Nang takes around 15 minutes and costs 100 baht each way (200 baht round trip).
Spend the day at beautiful Railay Beach, enjoy the views and the sandy beach, there’s cafes and bars for refreshments throughout the day. Caves and rocks make it a popular rock climbing area but you can also explore some of the caves too.
TIP: Further along the coast from Railay Beach is also the famous Grotto restaurant which is part of the Rayavadee Hotel. The restaurant is in a cave on the beach with stunning views and the best part is that you don’t need to be a guest at the hotel to eat there, you can contact them directly to book and it really is an incredible spot for a special occasion or romantic dinner.
Day 11 - Hot Springs and Tiger Temple
Emerald Pool hot springs
Krabi hot stream hot springs
We did two tours during our time in Krabi and I honestly can’t pick which one I loved more but this one was more of a surprise - I had no idea until we booked it that there are hot springs in Krabi!
This day tour takes you to the stunning Emerald Pool hot springs and you can also see the nearby Blue Pool (which is stunning too but it’s too hot to swim in!) We also visited Hot Stream, a hot spring waterfall that flows into the river. After the hot springs we went to Tiger Temple and climbed the infamous 1,260 steps to the top.
The tour included lunch, pick up and drop off from our hotel in Ao Nang and we had a fantastic tour guide, Tan, who really went above and beyond to take us to every location in the reverse order so we could swim in the hot springs without the other tours, we had Emerald Pool to ourselves with just the 6 of us in our group and it was magical!
Tiger Temple summit
Tiger Temple summit views
Steps to Tiger Temple
TIP: a quick word of warning for the Tiger Temple. The steepness of these steps is no joke. We consider ourselves fairly fit people, we go to the gym and walk 10,000 steps every day but this was a struggle, especially in the humidity of September! I really recommend you have plenty of water, do not rush yourself and if you are struggling - don’t force yourself to do it. It sounds like I’m being dramatic but a tourist did die once they reached the top earlier in 2023 and if you have any underlying health conditions, heart conditions, asthma or respiratory illness - either give yourself enough time or rethink doing the hike. We thought 1,260 steps sounded short but it’s a 309 metre vertical ascent over 1,260!
Day 12 - Krabi beaches or resort day and fire show
After a busy day at Tiger Temple and the hot springs, make sure you give yourself time to enjoy your resort and the beaches around Krabi.
Here are some of my favourite Krabi beaches:
Railay Beach
Ao Nang Beach
Phra Nang beach
Pai Plong Beach
Tonsai Beach
While you’re in Thailand, don’t miss the famous fire shows! We saw two fire shows in Krabi.
There is a fire show on Ao Nang Beach (towards the south end) which is free and gets quite busy. From what I can gather this should happen every night but because the weather was bad for part of our trip we only saw it once!
The alternative is the free fire show that happens every night at 8pm at Reeve Beach Club in Ao Nang. You can either go for dinner and the show or simply arrive a bit before 8pm and grab a drink at the bar like we did! The show lasts about 20 minutes and was amazing to see with the backdrop of the beach and waves crashing in the dark - definitely recommend this if you’re looking for dinner and a show for a memorable experience!
Ao Nang fire show at Reeve Beach Club
Day 13 - Hong Island day trip
Hong Island beach view from the viewpoint
Hong Island
I had never heard of Hong Island before this trip but I definitely think it’s a hidden gem compared to Phi Phi Islands and Koh Lanta. This was the second day tour we did in Krabi and I was blown away again!!
The tour visits 5 islands and is focused on swimming, snorkelling and generally just a fun day of island hopping in the sunshine.
First stop: Daeng Island (the red island) which is a great stop for jumping off the boat and snorkelling
Second stop: Lading Island which was one of my favourites with a stunning sandy cove, loads of fish and a beautiful beach swing
Next stop: Pakbia and Rai Island where you’ll see the stunning sand bar, more snorkelling and beautiful island landscapes dotted around you
Then: Hong Island with stunning beaches and a spectacular viewpoint you can hike up to. There’s also an option for kayaking here and a break for lunch
Finally: the Hong Island “secret” lagoon. Depending on the tide you can get out the boat here and walk in the lagoon because the water is only up to your knees
The whole tour is by longtail boat and includes hotel pick up and drop off with lunch, water and snacks too.
Koh Lading
Hong Island Lagoon
We were travelling in the rainy season so I’m sure that had an impact but we had almost every location completely to ourselves, it felt like a private tour for just our small group of 6 people and this was the day before my birthday so it felt extra special!
TIP: if you enjoy your trip or your guide makes it extra special, don’t forget a tip and to leave a good review. We learnt that guides are given more work based on the amount of reviews they get, so leaving reviews really does help!
Day 14 - Relax and travel back to the airport
Your final day! Depending on your flight time, you can use this time to relax at your resort, by the pool or at the beach.
Most hotels will hold your luggage and allow you to continue using the facilities even after you’ve checked out of your room.
If you need to travel from Krabi to Phuket airport, allow 3 hours for this journey and you can book a taxi or minibus from your hotel or a local travel agent. I also have a contact who helped us arrange a trip back to Phuket Airport for a reasonable price so if you’d like his Whatsapp number, please let me know!
For Krabi airport, it’s an easy Grab ride away!
Summary: the best Krabi - Phuket itinerary for Thailand
I hope this Thailand Phuket Krabi itinerary has helped you piece together how you want your 2 week itinerary for Phuket and Krabi to look.
Although it can feel overwhelming to plan itineraries with multiple locations, on this itinerary, Phuket Krabi and the Phi Phi islands are all well connected and Thai people are always so kind and willing to help - don’t be afraid to ask your hotel, your tour guide or any of the travel agents you see in the street for a price and make sure you compare!
I hope you enjoy your 2 week itinerary, Krabi, Phuket and Phi Phi islands are so beautiful and there is so much to do that you’ll find something for everyone on your trip!
Pin for your future trip!
