Category: Beaches in Thailand

snorkeling in ao nang krabi

Snorkeling in Ao Nang Krabi: Reminiscing it this CoVid-19 Pandemic

Posted on by Ms. Elle

It was 2019 just a few months before the news of CoViD-19 broke when we and our families from the Philippines visited Ao Nang Krabi. One of the activities we had in mind was to go island hopping in a longtail boat in the morning, and snorkel in the afternoon.

And so we did.

We booked a day-long island hopping trip at one of the shops outside of Ao Nang Regent Hotel, the hotel where we stayed in. For 13 people, the longtail boat rent cost us 173USD. With this amount came a lunch set with fruits and bottled water, and snorkeling gears. Renting a long tail boat or a speed boat is the best way to go Island hopping if there are more than 10 people in your party. This way, you’ll have the entire boat to yourself and you can be yourself without having to worry about disturbing or offending other people, well, especially if you have children with you.

Our snorkeling experience was totally great. The children enjoyed it so much that they want to go back. Unfortunately, two years after this awesome experience the world was immobilized by the CoViD-19 pandemic.

Now (late 2021), Ao Nang and the whole of Thailand is starting to open its border. We had the chance to go and have our annual family staycation at Ao Nang. Although many shops and hotels were open, several have been hit economically hard by the pandemic. Ao Nang beach as well as Nopparat beach were quite, so quite. There weren’t many tourists, and there were little to none island hopping and snorkeling trips.

To have an idea how lonely and quite Ao Nang Beach and Nopparat Beach in 2021, watch this short clip.

Have you ever been to Ao Nang Krabi? If you have already, how did you find your visit then? Are you considering of coming back anytime soon? Tell us on the comment section.

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swimming pool at Phutara lanta resort

Phutara Lanta Resort Koh Lanta Krabi

We stayed in one of the Two-Bedroom Luxury Poolside Suites on the second floor of a two-storey  duplex building.

children looking at fishes in a big aquarium

Kids Fed the Fishes in Aquaria Phuket: Exploring the Largest Aquarium in Thailand

Aside from island hopping, this could be a great destination, especially for families or a group of friends. Aquaria Phuket is divided into four distinct zones, namely Station Aquarius, South China Sea, Coastal Heaven, and Mystic Forest.

Koh yai grand canyon park swimming pool

Koh Yai Grand Canyon Park: Krasaesin Songkhla Thailand

Koh Yai Grand Canyon Park is another great place to create memories with family and friends. It’s a refreshing recreational place amidst the greens of Krasaesin District Songkhla.

Two girls playing chairball

Chairball a Popular Game in Thailand

For someone who’s into basketball and maybe a bit of football, chairball sounds, well, odd and different. It’s different from chairbasketball and certainly not Tchoukball.

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Pitiusas Beach Resort in Koh Lipeh

Posted on by Ryan

One of the resorts in Koh Lipeh that has its own private access to Northern beaches is Pitiusas Beach Resort.  It is located on a tree-studded mountain with its accommodations built in a cascading manner down the slope, so unlike most of resorts and villas in Koh Lanta Krabi.  It is at the Northern side of Koh lipeh a bit far from Pattaya beach where speedboats dock from Pak Barra.

Going there,  one could take a motorbike with a side car that accommodates around 6 passengers, or you could walk all the way up if you know the way.  A word of caution though,  some parts of the road is super bumpy so hold on tight.  And if this is your second visit from a long time,  be careful the geographical make up has totally changed as hundreds of accommodations have sprouted in the past years.

Rooms

Pitiusas Beach Resort has fan and air-con bungalows with front sea view verandas.  The rooms are decorated with Buddha and Thai monuments framed photos. Clean, firm double beds and a clothes cabinet occupy most of the room space. At one corner there is a tiny protruding wooden deck where an ash tray and laminated food menu and services list are placed.  Toiletries, and hot shower in a rather big bathroom are also available.

Other Amenities

  • Room and public Wi-Fi
  • Restaurant and bar
  • Mosquito nets
  • Laundry services
  • No free bottled water in the rooms
  • No free coffee and coffee maker
  • No hairdryer

Restaurant and Bar

Pitiusas’  restaurant and bar is one of the resorts best features. It has a large common front side seaview decks fit out with candle-lit tables, hammocks, and floor cushions. One could just lazily lounge there while sunbathing and seeping some fresh cold drinks.

They serve both Thai and Western dishes. This resort is owned by a Spanish gentlemen who loves diving.  Tao is a very gracious host.  He boasts of his like-no-other French fries, and indeed he has reasons for boasting. My kids love it, in fact we all love it. And meals that require fish are oftentimes fresh as Tao dives everyday to catch some groupers.

kids on the beach at Pitiusas in Koh Lipeh
Pitiusas in Koh Lipeh

The Beach 

Koh Lipeh’s beaches and seawater are among the best in Thailand.  It’s beautiful, clear, sparkling water is refreshing, and definitely a sight to behold.  It is totally inviting!

Activities

Aside from the usual sunbathing and swimming in an almost exclusive beach, there are plenty of things visitors are offered – boat trip, snorkeling tour, fishing tour, kayak tour, massage, sunset yoga, and island hopping tours.  If you fancy night out and experience Koh Lipeh’s night life, Pattaya Beach is right at the other side of the island, a walk away or you could hire a motorbike taxi.

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