Beach Battle!

NemoGuides wrote an article about beach battle between Phuket vs Krabi (Ao Nang).

http://nemoguides.com/thailand/phuket-vs-krabi-ao-nang/

KhanomBeachMagazine added Khanom Beach to it:

Beach Battle: Phuket vs Krabi (Ao Nang) vs Khanom 

 

Phuket’s beaches are long and wide.

Phuket and Krabi are both popular beach destinations in the Southern Thailand. Phuket has more gorgeous sandy beaches but Krabi is known for its unforgettably beautiful scenery. Khanom is not well-known yet but like Phuket it has gorgeous sandy beaches and like Krabi an unforgettably beautiful scenery, Khanom still have its authentic beauty.

Which, therefore, should you travel to, Phuket, Krabi or Khanom?

 

1–0 Khanom vs Phuket or Krabi, first point to Khanom!

Phuket and Krabi both have airports, but there are more flights to Phuket from all over Thailand and the rest of Asia, Phuket’s flights tend to be cheaper than Krabi’s. 

Khanom is in the middle between two airports, Surat Thani (domestic and international) and Nakhon Si Thammarat (domestic and soon to be international). Yes Phuket and Krabi has more international flights but Khanom has two airports and both tend to be cheaper than Krabi and Phuket.

The distances between Phuket airport and city or beach will usually take approximately 30 minutes to Phuket town, 40 minutes to Patong Beach, and around one hour to Kata Beach and Karon Beach. 

Distance between Krabi Airport and Ao Nang is approx 30 km and takes between an half hour and one hour, depends on traffic in high season.

Distance between Surat Thani airport or Nakhon Si Thammarat airport approx one hour driving distance to Khanom.

2-0 Khanom vs Phuket or Krabi, second point to Khanom

Khanom’s most popular beach is a long beautiful almost “private” white sand beach (8 km) and a few gorgeous smaller beaches to choose from. Sunbathing is the keyword.

Phuket’s beaches are far superior for sunbathing comparing to Krabi, and there’s much more choice for beaches in Phuket. Phuket has several long and beautiful white sand beaches, whereas Krabi only has a handful of beaches to choose from. In particular Ao Nang, Krabi’s most popular beach, falls well behind of Phuket’s beaches.

3–1 Khanom vs Phuket or Krabi, both Khanom as Krabi has a point here

Khanom sceneries are beyond expectations, mountains, pink dolphins, caves, pancake rocks, authentic fisherman’s village, local walking street on Saturday, Thai local markets.

Krabi’s sceneries are unforgettable. Even if you’ve seen Krabi’s vertical limestone mountains in endless postcards they never stop fascinating.

Krabi’s Princess Bay is a stunner.

4–2 Khanom vs Phuket or Krabi, all destinations have a point here

Phuket’s hotels tend to have larger swimming pools. Most of the hotels in Ao Nang, moreover, are located a good distance from the beach. Hotels in Khanom doesn’t have large swimming pools like in Phuket but they almost all located directly on the beach. 

5–3 Khanom vs Phuket or Krabi, both Krabi and Khanom has a point here

Krabi is more packed with adventurous activities than Phuket: you can learn rock climbing and explore caves, and even though you can do canoe trips to beautiful Phang-Nga Bay from both of the destinations, it is more straightforward to do them from Krabi.

Khanom is also packed with a lot of adventurous activities: exploring caves, mountain hiking, beachbiking, pink dolphins watching, bicycle tours (quiet roads), fishing tours, natural fish spa, Unesco heritage in Nakhon Si Thammarat, boat and snorkeling tours are all available.

5–4 Khanom vs Phuket or Krabi, point to Krabi

Phuket is taken over by a taxi mafia that keeps prices high for transportation. Moving around in Krabi is much cheaper. Khanom doesn’t have much taxi’s, best way moving around is to hire a scooter or a car the roads are good and quiet, there is no taxi mafia.

5–5 Khanom vs Phuket or Krabi, point to Phuket

If you are looking for parties, Phuket has much livelier nightlife. Krabi’s evenings are rather quiet. Khanom’s evenings are quiet, there are only a few (beach) bars, the ample moon beach party every month is more like a family event, with local food and live music.

6–5 Khanom vs Phuket or Krabi, point to Khanom!

Krabi does not have a notable sex tourism industry unlike Phuket. Khanom doesn’t have sex tourism. 

6–6 Khanom vs Phuket or Krabi, point to Phuket

Phuket has better and more varied shopping and restaurants choices than Krabi. Phuket scores the last and decisive point! Khanom doesn’t have varied shopping, only local shops, coffee shops, local markets and a walking street on Saturday, there a some very nice restaurants, local and international (see more detail on this website). There is a big shopping mall (Central Plaza) in Surat Thani and this year Central Plaza in Nakhon Si Thammarat will open their doors.

All in all

Khanom is better for a pure beach holiday in an authentic Thai environment, but if you are into activities like shopping and nightlife, Krabi and Phuket is the right choice for you.

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