Krabi Travel and Destination Guide

Andaman Sea

The Andaman Sea provides us with images of natural aquatic beauty, perfect sea-scapes and idyllic beaches that form the way we see “paradise” in the modern world. These images conjure feelings of unattainable perfection, impossible beauty, and yet are easily accessible through the shores of western Thailand, particularly Phang Nga Bay, Krabi and the island Phuket.

Discover the Andaman Sea

The Andaman Sea is south of Myanmar and is part of the Indian Ocean. It has an area of 797,700 km, 400 km2 of which is Thai National Marine Park around the area of Phang Nga Bay.

The bay features forty-two islands and islets. The outside stalactites with fantastic caves and lagoons with mangrove inside make for an incredible exploration. These are the remnants of an ancient coral reef system that once stretched out across the shallow seas of south East Asia during the Permian Period, approximately 250 million years ago.

The island remnants are known as "karsts". Rainforests in the area amid the unique limestone formations are technically ""tropical evergreen forests", a reminder of a 160 million years old forest Eco-system that is older than both the Amazon in South America or the rainforests of Central Africa.

This is because the Sunda Shelf which contains Southern Thailand remained close to the equator while other continental masses were shifting location and moving through different climate zones. It was also unaffected by the Ice Age which altered so much of Europe’s landscape.

The species diversity in the Phang Nga province represents preserved species from this era mixed with later emergings from the modern age. It’s a fascinating place.

At the end of the bay, surrounded by provinces of Krabi and Phang-Nga, one can see at that main land exactly the same limestone formations. The only difference is that those formations there are called "mountains" and on the by "islands."

Thriving as living coral communities 225-280 million years ago, there is a reef system five times longer than the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, and an absolute joy to explore. Snorkeling trips from Krabi and Phang Nga province are not to be missed, and the Phi Phi Islands are idyllic snorkeling spots.

The islands, (or mountains - when part of the Krabi mainland) are abundant in caves. Some feature prehistoric cave painting.

Andaman Sea Accommodation

The finest accommodation form which to explore the Andaman Sea is to be found in Krabi and the Phang Nga province. Luxury villas hug the shore line in Krabi, and in Phang Nga, fully independent villas make the most of the rural, undeveloped surroundings. Kayak trips are available from Phang Nga Bay, out into the marine park of the Andaman, the perfect way to explore the surface of the water. Kayaking and snorkeling is available during stays on both Krabi and the Phi Phi Islands, and do explore deeper still, take a liveaboard diving trip from Phuket and visit some of the best dive sights in the world.