Krabi Airport Transfers | The Thailand Guides

Krabi Airport (IATA: KBV) is a mid-sized regional airport about 15km northeast of Krabi Town and roughly 30km from Ao Nang - the main tourist strip on the coast. Railay Beach, the area’s most iconic destination, cannot be reached by road at all: a longtail boat is the only way in. Knowing this geography before you arrive saves confusion at the taxi stand.

Airport Layout

KBV has a single terminal with domestic and international gates. Transport options - minivans, taxis, and tour operator desks - are inside the arrivals hall and immediately outside the exit. The airport is smaller and less frenetic than Phuket or Bangkok, and the queues move quickly. Unlike the big Bangkok airports, no surcharge is imposed on top of the listed fare at the transport desk.

Fixed-Rate Taxi - Standard Option

Krabi Airport operates through a staffed transport desk where you pay a fixed rate and are assigned a vehicle. Fares are displayed on a board at the desk.

Approximate fixed rates from KBV (as of 2026):

To Krabi Town (Muang Krabi): approximately THB 350–450 (20–25 minutes)
To Ao Nang Beach: approximately THB 550–650 (30–40 minutes)
To Klong Muang / Tubkaek area: approximately THB 600–700 (35–40 minutes)
To Nopparat Thara Beach: approximately THB 600–700 (35–40 minutes)
To Shell Cemetery / Sai Thai: approximately THB 400–500 (25–30 minutes)

There are no metered taxis at KBV. Do not accept offers from unlicensed drivers who approach you inside arrivals - use the official desk.

Shared Minivan - Cheapest Road Option

Minivan shuttles departing from the airport serve the main destinations on a shared basis. These are the most budget-friendly road option and work well if you are flexible on departure timing. Vehicles depart when they have enough passengers, or on a fixed schedule depending on the operator.

Approximate shared minivan fares from KBV (as of 2026):

To Krabi Town: approximately THB 150–180 per person
To Ao Nang: approximately THB 150–200 per person

Several operators compete for this business at the airport - prices at the desk may be slightly negotiable if the minivan is nearly full. Journey time is comparable to a private taxi since all vehicles use the same road. The trade-off is waiting time and potential detours to drop other passengers before you.

Minivans are commonly offered by local operators and also by the larger agencies such as Phantip Travel and Phetpailin, which have desks in arrivals.

Private Transfer - Groups and Comfort

Pre-booked private transfers give you a confirmed driver and no waiting time. Given the distances involved - particularly to Ao Nang, which is 30km from the airport - the premium over a shared minivan is modest for groups.

Operators including Kiwitaxi, Welcome Pickups and GetTransfer allow online pre-booking. Approximate private sedan rates:

To Krabi Town: from approximately THB 500–700 (as of 2026)
To Ao Nang: from approximately THB 700–900 (as of 2026)

For groups of four or more, a private van to Ao Nang works out roughly equivalent per person to the shared minivan, with the added benefit of direct delivery to your hotel gate.

Getting to Railay Beach from KBV

Railay is surrounded by limestone cliffs on three sides and open sea on the fourth. There is no road access - you must arrive by boat.

The route from KBV:

Take a taxi or minivan from the airport to Ao Nang Beach (see rates above, approximately 30–40 minutes by road)
From Ao Nang’s main beach pier, take a longtail boat to Railay East (approximately 15–20 minutes, fare approximately THB 100–150 per person, departing when the boat has 8–10 passengers or by private charter for approximately THB 1,000–1,500)

Alternatively from Krabi Town pier (Chao Fah Pier):

Longtail boats run to Railay East and occasionally West, approximately 45 minutes, fare approximately THB 150 per person
Less convenient from the airport than going via Ao Nang

Important timing note: Longtail services typically stop running after dark (after approximately 19:00–20:00). If your flight lands late in the evening, you may need to overnight in Ao Nang or Krabi Town and take the first morning boat to Railay. Factor this into your planning.

During high season (November–March), pre-book your first night’s accommodation at Railay well in advance - the beach has a fixed number of rooms and fills up.

Grab at Krabi Airport

Grab coverage at KBV is limited. It functions reasonably well within Krabi Town and Ao Nang, but airport pickup availability is inconsistent - especially in the afternoon when demand peaks. Do not plan your airport transfer around Grab unless you have confirmed a driver in advance through the app.

Connecting to Phuket or Koh Lanta from Krabi

To Phuket: A shared minivan from Ao Nang or Krabi Town to Phuket takes approximately 3–3.5 hours by road via Phang-Nga. Operators including Phantip Travel run this route regularly. Fare approximately THB 250–350 per person. Alternatively, speedboat transfers operate in high season from Ao Nang to Phuket’s east coast, cutting travel time but increasing cost (approximately THB 600–800 per person, 2–2.5 hours).

To Koh Lanta: Speedboat + vehicle ferry combination, approximately 1.5–2 hours in high season. Operators depart from Ao Nang Beach. Fare approximately THB 400–600 per person depending on season. In low season, the speedboat service may be suspended - check locally. Road transfer via the car ferry at Ban Hua Hin is an alternative.

Hiring a Car from KBV

Car hire desks operate in the arrivals hall - Budget, Thai Rent A Car and local operators are represented. A hire car is useful for exploring Krabi Province beyond the main tourist corridor: Khao Phanom Bencha National Park, Tham Seua (Tiger Cave Temple), and the Bang Ben mangrove area are all best reached independently.

International driving licence required. Road conditions outside main routes can be rough, particularly on the peninsula roads south of Ao Nang. Book in advance through GetRentacar to compare rates. Note that a car is not useful for Railay - the island-hopping areas require boat access regardless.

Practical Tips

Railay access ends early. If Railay is your destination, land before 17:00 if possible. Longtail boat service to Railay from Ao Nang runs until approximately 19:00–20:00 in high season, earlier in low season. Check with your accommodation.
Low season (May–October) brings fewer services. Some speedboat routes to Koh Lanta and the outer islands are suspended from June–September. Minivan and longtail services continue but may run less frequently.
Avoid unlicensed touts. Krabi’s arrivals area has persistent touts offering rides. The official transport desk has fixed, displayed rates - always use it.
Get a SIM at the airport. AIS and DTAC counters are in arrivals. An eSIM for Thailand is also a clean option if you prefer to activate connectivity before landing.
For island hopping, Krabi is one of the best-positioned bases in Thailand. From Ao Nang you can reach Koh Phi Phi, Koh Lanta, the Four Islands, and Bamboo Island by day-boat. For organised tours from Krabi, see tours in Krabi.

Plan Your Trip

Flights - Find the best fares to Thailand
Travel Insurance - Get covered before you go
eSIM - Stay connected from landing
Car Rental - Compare prices across providers

→ For more on the area, see our guides to Ao Nang, Railay Beach, and things to do in Krabi.

Krabi Airport Transfer Guide: KBV to Ao Nang, Railay & Krabi Town