Krabi is a southern province on Thailand's Andaman seaboard with perhaps the country's oldest history of continued settlement. After dating stone tools, ancient coloured pictures, beads, pottery and skeleton remains found in the province's many cliffs and caves, it is thought that Krabi has been home to Homo sapiens since the period 25,000 - 35,000 B.C. In recorded times it was called the "Ban Thai Samor", and was one of twelve towns that used, before people were widely literate, the monkey for their standard, At that time, c. 1,200 A.D., Krabi was tributary to the Kingdom of Ligor, a city on the Kra Peninsula's east coast better know today as Nakhon Sri Thammarat.

At the start of the Rattanakosin period, about 200 years ago, when the capital was finally settled at Bangkok, an elephant kraal was established in Krabi by order of Jao Pray a Nakorn (Noy), the Rajah of Nakorn Sri Thammarat, which was by then a part of the Thai Kingdom. He sent his vizier, the Pra Palad to oversee this task, which was to ensure a regular supply of elephants for the larger town. So many emigrated in the steps of the Pra Palad that soon Krabi had a large community in three different boroughs: Pakasai, Klong Pon, and Pak Lao.

In 1872, King Chulalongkorn graciously elevated these to town status, called Krabi, a word that preserves in its meaning the monkey symbolism of the old standard. The town's first governor was Luang Tehp Sena, though it continued a while as a dependency of Nakorn Sri Thammarat, this was changed in 1875, when Krabi was raised to a fourth level town in the old system of Thai government. Administrators then reported directly to the central government in Bangkok, and Krabi's history as a unique entity, separate from the other provinces, had begun.

During the present reign, the corps of civil servants, the merchants, and the population generally of Krabi and nearby provinces have together organized a royal residence at Laem Hahng Nak Cape for presentation to Her Majesty the Queen. This lies thirty kilometers to the west of Krabi Town on the Andaman coast.

Krabi Size, Location & Boundaries :

Covering an area of approximately 4709 sq km, Krabi province is bounded by Phang Nga and Surathani provinces from the north, Trang province and the Andaman Sea from the south, Trang and Nakorn Si Thammarat provinces from the east and Phang Nga province and the Andaman Sea from the west. Krabi's landscape is undulating and dotted with hills and mountains, the highest of which is Khao Phanom Bencha at 1,350m. Along the 160km coastline of Krabi are alternately bays and capes - which viewed from the air reveal a jagged outline with outcrops of limestone mountains rising up from the sea waters.

Much of the coastal area is covered by mangrove forest which serves as a natural breeding ground for Krabi's diverse aquatic life. Inland, Krabi's extensive deciduous forest area are mainly reserved and feature high flora and fauna biodiversity.

On the North : Lies Phang-nga and Surat Thani Provinces
On the South : Lies Trang province and the Andaman Sea
On the East : Lies Trang and Nakorn Sri Thammarat provinces
On the West : Lies Phang-nga Province and the Andaman Sea

Distances from Krabi to nearby provinces

Industry :

In recent years, with it's natural attractions such as tropical islands, palm fringed beaches, forest waterfalls and caves attracting more and more sunseeking adventure-bound tourists, Krabi has begun to earn a substantial income from its tourism industry. Predominantly however, it is an agricultural based area, with sandy clay soil conditions, like many surrounding provinces, making it ideal for producing rubber, palm oils, oranges, coconuts, and coffee. Rubber is the main cash crop grown with over 700,00 rai being under cultivation for this purpose.

Palm oil comes in second, followed by coconuts. Fishing is widely carried out along the coastline and on most larger islands, and although traditional methods are still in use, modern trawling techniques are threatening numbers and the industry. Shrimp and cockle farming has been a high growth industry since the early 1990's, and there is also a flourishing grouper farming industry.

Climate :

Krabi has a tropical monsoon climate. It's warm all year 'round, but the two periods of April-May and September-October are the hottest. The September-October period is also the wettest. The best time to visit Krabi is during the cool NE monsoon season, from November though March, when it isn't so humid, and the cool breezes keep things comfortable.

The average temperature is around 75°F to 89?F (24°C to 32°C). The hottest time is from April through May, with temperatures ranging from 80?F to 95?F (27°C to 36°C). There are frequent short heavy thundery showers, offering welcome relief from the temperature and humidity.

The Thai New Year occurs on April 13th and everyone sprinkles (or throws) cool water on each other.

Locals enjoy June, July and August, since the weather is usually fine and favourite haunts remain uncrowded. The usual pattern is brief but heavy showers, with plenty of sunshine between downpours. Everything is a little less expensive at this time of year, as well. Temperatures range between 70°F and 90°F (20°C to 33°C).

During September and early October we start to remember our umbrellas. This makes an ideal time to visit abroad. One consolation for those who remain is that the beaches, outdoor restaurants and streets are relatively uncluttered by visitors.

And even at this time, we still get long intervals of sunshine between the heavy showers. Anyway, plenty of lowseason activities, both water- and land-based, still offer themselves in Krabi during this wettest part of the summer season.

Administration :

Krabi is divided into eight districts :

1. Amphoe Muang (Krabi Town)
2. Khao Panom
3. Ko Lanta
4. Khlong Thom
5. Ao Luek
6. Plai Phraya
7. Lam Thap
8. Nuea Khlong

Geography :

Krabi's mountainous physical geography is broken by highlands and plains on the mainland; the provincial administration also covers more than 130 islands big and small in the Andaman. Natural forest cover is chiefly mangrove and Cassia trees. Krabi's sandy clay soil conditions are perfect for a variety of agricultural products, including: Rubber trees, palms, oranges, coconuts, and coffee. The Krabi River flows 5 kilometers through the city and falls into the Andaman at Tambon Pak Nam. There are other streams as well: The Klong Pakasai; the Klong Krabi Yai; and the Klong Krabi Noy; these have their source in the province's highest range of mountains, the Kao Panom Benja.

Population :

Krabi's estimated population, as of 31 March 2001, was 366,919.

Communications :

Mail and Postal Services Open: 8am to 4.30pm. The Thai post service is usually reliable. Urgent or important items can be sent by EMS services. This is faster and safer but the cost is higher. Krabi Town's main post office is located on Uttarakit Road, near the Customs Pier (See Map). Telecommunications/Internet International phone calls, bureau fax, and Internet services are widely available throughout Thailand. Krabi Town's post office and most hotels can provide telephone and fax services and Internet services are springing up in all the main tourist areas, catering for Internet savvy tourists.

Banks :

Krabi Town has a number of banks that provide standard services, Mondays to Fridays, except public and bank holidays, between 8.30am and 3.30pm. Check our town map for location details. Currency exchange centers also operate from 7.00am to 9.00pm, seven days a week including holidays.

Important Telephone :

Numbers Hospitals
Krabi Hospital 611-202, 611-210, 611-2203
Ao Lak Hospital 681-159, 681-510
Koh Lanta Hospital 697-017, 697-100

Assistance
Provincial Tourist Police 637-308
Immigration Office 612-740
Tourism Authority 212-213
Provincial Travellers Assistance Centre 612-740

Present Day Government :

Krabi is divided into eight districts: Muang (Krabi town), Kao Pan om, Klong Tom, Plai Praya, Koh Lanta, Ao Luk, Lam Tap, and Neua Klong.