Krabi Airport (KBV): Getting to Ao Nang, Railay & Islands

Krabi airport at a glance

Krabi International Airport carries the code KBV and serves the province's beach areas and the town. Flight information, passenger guidance and facilities are published on the Airports of Thailand site, which is the place to confirm live schedules. Our sources do not give verified distances or drive times, so check a current map or your transfer provider before you fix a hotel check-in time. Ao Nang, Krabi Town and the Railay piers all need onward transport from the terminal.

• Name and code: Krabi International Airport, KBV
• Location: Nong Thale
• Serves: Ao Nang, Krabi Town, Railay (by boat), Koh Lanta and Phi Phi (by ferry connection)
• Live flight data: the official airport site, not this page

Getting from Krabi airport to your destination

Five ground options cover most arrivals: airport taxi counter, minibus or van, public bus or songthaew, pre-booked private transfer, and rental car. Compare them by where you sleep, not by the cheapest headline fare. Prices below are relative bands only, because no verified fare table was available when this page was written. Confirm every fare and journey time with the airport or your provider.

Pick by destination: Ao Nang, Krabi Town, Railay and the islands

Ao Nang and Krabi Town are straightforward road transfers. Ask your hotel for its pickup price first, then compare it with the taxi counter. Railay has no road access, so you take a transfer to a pier and then a longtail boat. Our Krabi ferry boats guide covers the island and Railay crossings. Koh Lanta and Phi Phi also add a ferry leg, so a same-day connection depends on seasonal boat times that you should verify.

• Ao Nang: taxi, van or private transfer. Pick this for a beach-front base, and see choosing a beach base first.
• Krabi Town: taxi or van. Good for a short stay, and a Krabi Old Town base suits budget travelers.
• Railay: road transfer to a pier, then a longtail boat. Allow for boat times and sea conditions.
• Koh Lanta and Phi Phi: road transfer plus a ferry. Confirm the last departure before you book.

Which option should you choose?

Group size, luggage, arrival hour and budget decide this faster than any ranking. Use the short list below as a filter. If two options both fit, pick the one your hotel can confirm in writing.

• If you travel solo and arrive in daylight, then a shared van or public transport saves money.
• If you are a couple with large bags, then a taxi or private transfer removes the hassle.
• If you are a group of four or more, then one private car usually beats several van seats. Compare totals.
• If you land late, then pre-book a transfer rather than hope a counter or bus is still running.
• If your hotel is on Railay, then book the pier transfer and boat plan before you fly.

Arrival-day logistics

Expect the usual flow of immigration for international arrivals, then baggage, then the exit to the transport counters. Verify SIM and ATM availability on the official airport page, because services change. Have a few items ready before you land. Island stays add a deadline, since boats stop running at certain hours that vary by season. Landing late may mean an overnight in Ao Nang or Krabi Town before a morning boat. Seasonal sea conditions also matter, so read seasonal timing and sea conditions before booking a tight connection.

• Hotel address saved in Thai and English
• Offline map of your area
• Cash for the taxi or van, in case cards are not accepted
• Pier name if you are staying on Railay or an island
• Written transfer confirmation if you pre-booked

Airport facilities and departure tips

Check food, shops and check-in desk details on the official airport pages rather than rely on older guides. Several search results date from 2016 and 2023, and terminal changes should be verified before you plan around them. For departures, build a generous buffer for the drive back, especially from Railay, where a boat leg comes first. Airlines set their own check-in cut-offs, so follow the time on your booking. Onward moves after landing are covered in our onward transport around Krabi guide.

Flying in: routes and alternatives

Route patterns include domestic links and some regional flights, but check the official site for current airlines and frequencies. We do not list airline names here because they were not verified. Many travelers connect through Bangkok, and our Bangkok to Krabi options page compares flying with other routes. For the full picture, including non-air options, read ways to reach Krabi overall. First-timers deciding on length of stay can start with whether Krabi suits a short trip.

Mistakes to avoid

Most airport problems come from planning around the beach rather than the transfer. Avoid the errors below, then see what to do in Krabi once you have landed.

• Booking a hotel in the wrong beach area without checking transfer time
• Assuming Railay is reachable by road
• Cutting the departure buffer, especially from island or pier stays
• Treating a quoted price as fixed without confirming the meter or fare
• Landing late with no pre-booked transfer or boat plan