7 Day Phuket and Krabi Itinerary

The Best of Two Provinces

Phuket and Krabi are neighboring provinces on Thailand's Andaman coast, each offering distinct experiences. Combining them in a one-week itinerary gives you the best of both: Phuket's island tours and infrastructure alongside Krabi's dramatic Railay cliffs, quieter beaches, and laid-back atmosphere. The two are connected by a 2.5 to 3 hour road transfer, making a combined trip easy to arrange.

Days 1 to 4: Phuket

Day 1: Arrival

Arrive at Phuket International Airport. Transfer to your hotel (Kata, Karon, or Kamala recommended). Settle in, beach time, casual dinner.

Day 2: Phi Phi Islands

Full day Phi Phi Islands speedboat tour. Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon, snorkeling, Bamboo Island. Return by 5:00 PM.

Day 3: Phang Nga Bay

Full day Phang Nga Bay tour with kayaking. James Bond Island, sea caves, Koh Panyee floating village. Return by 5:00 PM.

Day 4: Phuket Exploration

Morning: Phuket Old Town walking tour, lunch at local food court. Afternoon: Beach time, spa, or optional half-day trip to Coral Island. Evening: Sunset at Promthep Cape, seafood dinner at Rawai.

Transfer Day

Day 5: Phuket to Krabi/Ao Nang

Morning: Check out of Phuket hotel. Transfer to Krabi (2.5 to 3 hours by car/minivan, approximately 3,000 to 4,000 THB by private car or 300 to 500 THB per person by shared minivan). Arrive in Ao Nang by midday.

Afternoon: Settle into your Ao Nang or Railay accommodation. Explore the area, walk Ao Nang beach. Evening: Dinner along the Ao Nang beachfront. The night market has good food stalls.

Days 5 to 7: Krabi

Day 5 (continued from transfer): Ao Nang Exploration

After settling in, walk to Ao Nang beach, check out the longtail boats, explore the town.

Day 6: Railay Beach and Rock Climbing

Take a longtail boat from Ao Nang to Railay Beach (15 minutes, 200 THB per person). Railay is only accessible by boat and feels like a separate world.

Morning: Beach time at Railay West (the main beach) or Phra Nang Cave Beach (one of the most beautiful beaches in Thailand).
Afternoon: Try a half-day rock climbing course (1,000 to 1,500 THB) or walk to the Railay Viewpoint and Lagoon (steep, adventurous trail).
Evening: Dinner at Railay or return to Ao Nang.

Day 7: Four Islands Tour or Hong Islands

Full day Four Islands Tour from Ao Nang (the classic Krabi island tour):

Chicken Island (Koh Kai), with its distinctive rock formation
Tup Island, connected to Chicken Island by a sandbar at low tide
Poda Island, beautiful white sand beach
Phra Nang Cave Beach, with its limestone cave and crystal clear water

Cost: 800 to 1,500 THB by longtail, 1,500 to 2,500 THB by speedboat.

Alternatively, visit the Hong Islands for the famous lagoon and excellent snorkeling (2,500 to 3,500 THB per person).

Departure

Fly out from Krabi Airport (closer than returning to Phuket) or transfer back to Phuket Airport if your flight departs from there (allow 3 hours for the transfer).

Budget Summary (7 Days, per person, mid-range)

Accommodation: 17,500 THB (2,500 THB/night x 7)
Food: 8,400 THB (1,200 THB/day)
Tours (3 major tours): 7,500 to 10,000 THB
Phuket to Krabi transfer: 500 THB (shared minivan)
Local transport: 3,000 THB
Activities and extras: 4,000 THB
Total: approximately 40,900 to 43,400 THB (about 1,170 to 1,240 USD)

Tips

Book Krabi accommodation in advance during peak season. Railay and Ao Nang get busy.
Consider flying into Phuket and out of Krabi (or vice versa) to avoid backtracking.
Pack light for the transfer day. Minivans have limited luggage space.

This combined itinerary gives you the full Southern Thailand Andaman coast experience. For a longer trip, see our 10 day Southern Thailand itinerary. Browse available tours to start planning.

What to Pack for a Dual-Destination Trip

Traveling between Phuket and Krabi means you will use various forms of transport including minivans, longtail boats, and possibly ferries. Use a soft bag or backpack rather than a hard suitcase for easier management on boats and in cramped vehicle spaces. Keep a day bag with essentials (swimsuit, sunscreen, water, camera) easily accessible for impromptu beach stops along the way. Waterproof bags are essential, especially for the longtail boat transfers to Railay which can be splashy in certain conditions and at certain tides.

Alternative Transfer Options

Instead of the road transfer from Phuket to Krabi, you can take the ferry via Phi Phi. Take the Phuket to Phi Phi ferry, spend a night or two on Phi Phi Don exploring the famous viewpoint and enjoying the evening atmosphere, then continue by ferry to Krabi the next day. This turns the transfer into an adventure and adds one of the most popular islands to your itinerary. The ferry connections are reliable during the dry season with multiple daily departures in each direction between all three destinations.