Traveler guide · 4 min
Where to Stay in Ao Nang, Krabi
How Ao Nang is laid out, what each area is like, and where a backpacker hostel fits.
Quick answer
Ao Nang is the main beach base in Krabi province, about 15 km from Krabi Town (Wikivoyage). Most travellers pick between three kinds of place: right on Ao Nang beach, along the Ao Nang strip a short way back from the sand, or on the quieter Nopparat Thara beach to the west. The Hangout is on the strip: about a 15-minute walk or 5 minutes by moto to the beach.
How Ao Nang is laid out
Ao Nang beach and Nopparat Thara beach run roughly northwest–southeast alongside Ao Nang Road, with a headland and a creek (Khlong Haeng) between them. Longtail boats leave from the beach for nearby islands, and Railay can only be reached by boat, not by road (Wikivoyage).
In high season, roughly 1 November to 30 April, Ao Nang is the busiest and most tourist-oriented beach in the province, and prices run high by Thai standards. Wikivoyage describes Nopparat Thara as a quieter alternative that is good for a morning stroll or watching the sunset.
Beachfront, strip or Nopparat Thara?
Beachfront puts you closest to the boats and the sunset. The strip trades a walk to the sand for everyday things close by: food, convenience stores, tour desks and nightlife. Nopparat Thara suits you if you want it calmer and don't mind being a bit further from the main strip.
- Want the shortest walk to the boats: look at the beachfront
- Want food, tours and nightlife on your doorstep: the strip
- Want a quieter beach: Nopparat Thara
Why a hostel on the strip works for backpackers
The Hangout is a social hostel and bar at 376/38-41 Moo 2, Ao Nang. It is not on the sand, and we say so up front: the beach is about a 15-minute walk or 5 minutes by moto.
- Dorm beds in capsule-style bunks with air-conditioning: 8-bed mixed, 8-bed female and a 10-bed mixed dorm with ensuite
- Free towels, soap and shampoo; guests aged 18–55
- Café & bar on site, with a weekly programme of pub crawls, pub quiz, killer pool and music nights
- Tour desk for island trips, airport and boat transfers, and motorbike rental
- Rated 8.9 on Hostelworld and 8.1 on Booking.com, as stated by those platforms
Booking a bed
Book direct through our booking page, or reserve on Hostelworld or Booking.com. Arriving by air? See our Krabi Airport to Ao Nang guide, and our tours page for Hong Islands, 4 Islands, Phi Phi and other day trips from Ao Nang.
Quick FAQ
- Where is the best area to stay in Ao Nang for backpackers?
- It depends what you want. The beachfront has the shortest walk to the boats, the strip has food, tour desks and nightlife within a short walk of the beach, and Nopparat Thara is quieter. The Hangout is on the strip, about a 15-minute walk from the beach.
- Is The Hangout on the beach?
- No. It is on the Ao Nang strip, about a 15-minute walk or 5-minute motorbike ride from the beach.