Krabi Airport Transfer Guide — Shared Van, Taxi, Grab & Private Transfer from KBV 2026

First things first

Krabi has one small, simple airport — but the places you stay are spread out

The good news: Krabi International Airport is small and easy to navigate — a few steps past baggage claim and you're facing every transport counter at once. The thing to know first is that Krabi's accommodation is split across several zones, and the time and fare to each differ quite a bit. Krabi Town is closest to the airport (~15 km). Ao Nang, the main tourist base, is about 27 km away. And Railay has no road access at all — you finish the trip by longtail boat from Ao Nang or Krabi Town. Sort out which zone your hotel is in first, then read the option that matches you.

KBV

Krabi International Airport
The province's only airport

Krabi's single airport handles domestic flights (Bangkok via both Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi, plus other Thai cities) and seasonal international routes. It sits on the Phetkasem highway east of town, about 15 km from Krabi Town and about 27 km from Ao Nang.

IATA: KBV

From Krabi Town: ~15 km (~20–25 min)

From Ao Nang: ~27 km (~30–40 min)

Note: no train or metro — every transfer is by road

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Krabi's zones
Pick one before you book — fares nearly double between them

Krabi isn't one single centre. Krabi Town is the transport hub with budget prices, Ao Nang is the main beach strip with the most restaurants and tours, Khlong Muang and Tubkaak are quiet resort stretches, and Railay is reachable only by boat. Pick the wrong zone and transfers can quietly eat your budget.

Closest to airport: Krabi Town

Main tourist base: Ao Nang · Noppharat Thara

Quiet, resort-style: Khlong Muang · Tubkaak

No road, boat only: Railay

Zone

Distance from airport

Drive time

Taxi (approx.)

Krabi Town

~15 km

~20–25 min

~฿350

Ao Nang

~27 km

~30–40 min

~฿500

Noppharat Thara · Khlong Muang · Tubkaak

~28–35 km

~35–45 min

~฿500–600

Railay

no road access

car + boat ~1–1.5 hr

ride to Ao Nang + boat ~฿100–150

Check before you go: The fares above are approximate ranges compiled in 2026. The airport counters post their prices clearly, but numbers shift year to year and around peak holidays (Songkran / New Year). Glance at the price board before you pay.

From KBV airport

Into town and out to Ao Nang — 5 ways compared

Krabi has no metro and no train — every transfer is by road. Read this once and you can choose before you leave Arrivals.

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Shared van / airport minibus

KBV → Krabi Town / Ao Nang · the budget favourite

Step past baggage claim and you'll see the shared-van counter in the arrivals hall. Tickets are sold per person — about ฿150 to Ao Nang (Krabi Town slightly less; the board at the counter lists each zone). Vans leave once enough passengers board, so expect a wait of roughly 15–30 minutes. Depending on the run, they drop at main points or right at your hotel. For one or two travellers this is clearly cheaper than taking a taxi alone.

~฿150 to Ao Nang best value for 1–2 people leaves when full enough

Best if: you're travelling solo or as a pair, on a budget, not in a rush, and staying in Krabi Town or Ao Nang. Departures thin out in the evening — on a late flight, be ready to switch to a taxi.

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Airport bus

KBV → Krabi Town → Ao Nang · cheapest, but limited departures

A bus runs the airport – Krabi Town – Ao Nang corridor at intervals, costing less than the shared van (roughly ฿90–150 depending on destination). The catch: the fare and the timetable change often, and the service has paused entirely in some periods — so treat whatever is posted on the day as the truth. If a departure happens to line up with your flight it's great value, but don't build your whole arrival plan around it; keep the van or taxi as the fallback.

cheapest option limited departures · timetable shifts confirm on the day

Best if: you're on a tight budget with light luggage and a departure lines up with your landing. Skip it if you're in a hurry or arriving in the evening.

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Airport taxi (fixed zoned fares)

KBV → every zone · door to door, fastest on arrival

Krabi airport taxis work on fixed fares by zone, paid at the official counter in the arrivals hall — staff then walk you to the car. Roughly ฿350 to Krabi Town, ฿500 to Ao Nang and ฿600 to Khlong Muang/Tubkaak (approximate; the price board at the counter is clearly posted). No haggling, no meter to watch, and it's the quickest of the on-the-spot options. For a group of 3–4, the per-person cost lands close to the shared van anyway.

~฿350 Krabi Town ~฿500 Ao Nang pay at the counter, prices posted

Watch out: If someone approaches you on the walk out offering a "private car", head straight to the official counter with the posted prices — freelance offers are usually pricier or vaguer. Keep your coupon or receipt until you reach the hotel in case you need to check anything later.

🚐 🌴 ⛰️

The airport–Ao Nang run takes ~30–40 minutes, past palm plantations and Krabi's limestone karsts

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Grab — ride-hailing app

KBV → Ao Nang / Krabi Town · available, but don't make it your only plan

Grab works in Krabi, but there are clearly fewer cars than in Bangkok or Phuket. When several flights land together, or late at night, you may wait a long time or not get a match at all. Including the airport fee, the total usually lands close to the taxi counter (about ฿400–550 to Ao Nang, varying by time of day). The pickup point may be outside the terminal, so follow the signs and pin your location precisely. The upside: you see the fare in the app before you book and can pay by card. Calling a Grab back from Ao Nang or Krabi Town is much easier than from the airport.

fare shown in app limited cars long waits at peak times

Best if: you already use the app, you're not in a rush, and you have a fallback — the taxi counter is always there in the hall if no driver accepts.

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Pre-booked private transfer

KBV → any zone · the most comfortable arrival

Book a private transfer before you fly and the price is locked in: a driver waits at the exit with a name board, helps with the bags, and takes you straight to your hotel with no queue and nothing left to figure out. That makes it the easy choice for groups, small children or older travellers, lots of luggage, or a late-night landing. It costs somewhat more than the taxi counter, but it removes every moving part from the arrival.

name board at the exit price locked before you fly great for families · late flights

Tip: Compare private Krabi airport transfers on Klook (search "Krabi airport transfer") and enter your flight number so the driver tracks your actual landing time — see Krabi airport transfers on Klook →. Still picking your zone? See where to stay in Krabi.

The second leg — by boat

Reaching Railay and the islands from the airport

Railay has no road access — ride to Ao Nang or Krabi Town first, then finish by longtail boat.

If you've booked Railay, know this before you land: Railay is a peninsula walled off by cliffs, with no road in — boats are the only way. The usual route is a van or taxi from the airport to Ao Nang (~30–40 minutes), then a longtail boat for another 10–15 minutes; allow about 1–1.5 hours all in. The regular boats generally stop by early evening, after which you're chartering a whole longtail at a higher price, sea conditions permitting. If your flight lands in the evening, one night in Ao Nang followed by a morning crossing is far simpler.

🛶 ⛰️ 🏝️

Ao Nang to Railay by longtail takes ~10–15 minutes — the one leg no car can do

Ao Nang → Railay West

Longtail boats leave from the Ao Nang beachfront and Noppharat Thara, around ฿100–150 per person for the 10–15 minute hop. Buy tickets at the beachside booth; boats go once roughly 6–8 passengers board, or you can pay the difference to leave sooner.

Time: ~10–15 min · regular boats usually finish by early evening

Krabi Town → Railay East

Boats from Chao Fah pier in Krabi Town take about 45 minutes, around ฿150. The east side is the pier-and-mangrove side — it's a short walk across to the west-side beach.

Best if: you're based in Krabi Town, or fancy the river-to-sea route

To the islands — Phi Phi / Lanta

Ferries and speedboats to Ko Phi Phi, Ko Lanta and other islands leave mainly from Khlong Chilat pier in Krabi Town, with plenty of tour and transfer operators also picking up from Ao Nang. Book ahead in high season.

Plan the island leg: Krabi island hopping, done right

Monsoon season, May–Oct — build in slack

During the southwest monsoon the seas get rougher; longtails and island boats can be delayed or paused for stretches. Listen to what operators say on the day, allow extra time for the trip back to the airport, and don't book tight onward connections.

Read more: Best time to visit Krabi

Before you leave Arrivals

Get these 4 things sorted — smooth in, sure out

Krabi's airport is small and uncomplicated, but knowing these four things up front means there's nothing left to puzzle out on the spot — from the moment you land to the day you fly home.

Where the counters are, and how you pay

The taxi and shared-van counters sit in the arrivals hall with prices posted. Pay at the counter, take your coupon, and staff walk you to the vehicle. Some counters take cards or QR payment, but cash is the sure thing.

Trick: keep small notes handy for the ride and the boat

Carry some cash

Vans, longtail boats and plenty of beachside places still run on cash, even though bigger businesses take QR payments. There are ATMs and a currency exchange in the terminal — take out enough for the first day and top up in town.

Most useful: ฿100 notes and coins for the boat fare

Data ready before you land

With data you can call a Grab, check the map and message your hotel before you even leave the terminal. Install a Thai eSIM at home and switch it on when the wheels touch down — the fastest way to be online.

Pick a SIM/eSIM: Thailand eSIM and SIM guide

The trip back — book it ahead

There's no counter waiting for you on the way out: book your return ride through your hotel or a local agency at least a day ahead, at fares close to the inbound trip. From Ao Nang allow about an hour; from Railay, with boat plus car, leave around 3 hours before your flight — more in monsoon season.

Onward travel in Krabi: Getting around Krabi, the practical guide

Frequently asked

FAQ · before you land in Krabi

How far is Krabi airport from Krabi Town and Ao Nang?

Krabi International Airport (KBV) is about 15 km from Krabi Town (roughly 20–25 minutes by road) and about 27 km from Ao Nang (roughly 30–40 minutes). Noppharat Thara and Khlong Muang/Tubkaak are slightly further. Railay has no road access at all — you take a vehicle to Ao Nang or Krabi Town first, then a longtail boat. Decide which zone you are staying in before you book, because times and fares differ quite a bit.

What is the cheapest way from Krabi airport to Ao Nang?

The airport bus is cheapest if a departure lines up with your flight (roughly ฿90–150, but the timetable is thin and changes often — check on the day). Next is the shared van at around ฿150 per person, sold at the counter in the arrivals hall; vans leave once enough passengers board. For a group of 3–4, a zoned taxi to Ao Nang at around ฿500 works out close to the van per person and gets you there faster.

How much is a taxi from Krabi airport to each zone?

Krabi airport taxis use fixed zoned fares paid at the official counter inside the terminal: roughly ฿350 to Krabi Town, ฿500 to Ao Nang and ฿600 to Khlong Muang/Tubkaak (approximate — the price board at the counter is clearly posted, so check it on arrival). There is no haggling, staff walk you to the car, and you keep a coupon until you reach your hotel.

Can I use Grab at Krabi airport?

Yes, but there are clearly fewer cars in Krabi than in Bangkok or Phuket. When several flights land together, or late at night, you may wait a long time or not get a match at all. Including the airport fee, prices usually land close to the taxi counter. The pickup point may be outside the terminal, so follow the signs and pin your location carefully. Treat it as a backup rather than your main plan — calling a Grab back from Ao Nang or Krabi Town is much easier than from the airport.

Is there a train or metro from Krabi airport into town?

No. Krabi province has no railway line and no metro — every transfer from the airport is by road, whether shared van, bus, taxi or Grab. If your final stop is Railay or the islands, take a vehicle to Ao Nang or a Krabi Town pier first, then continue by longtail boat or ferry.

My flight lands late — can I still reach Ao Nang or Railay?

Ao Nang, yes — the airport taxi counters meet scheduled flights including late arrivals (shared vans thin out in the evening). Railay is a different story: the regular longtail boats usually stop running by early evening, after which you are chartering a whole boat, which costs more and depends on sea conditions. If you land late, book one night in Ao Nang or Krabi Town and cross to Railay in the morning.

Krabi travel guide

Sights, stays and the zones explained — everything before you go

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Getting around Krabi

Longtail boats, songthaews and scooters — the practical version

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Where to stay in Krabi

Ao Nang, Railay, Krabi Town and Khlong Muang compared properly

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Krabi island hopping

The 4 Islands, Hong Islands and Phi Phi — pick the right trip and boat

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