Hey there, so you’re thinking of visiting Krabi? Awesome choice! It’s truly stunning. But you’re wondering about the cleanliness, huh? Look, no place is perfect, and Krabi is no exception. But let me give you the lowdown from a friend’s perspective.
Krabi is very dirty in many respects and yet there is some hope on the horizon. Over the past 20 years it has gotten slightly better than it was.
See Wildlife at Night in Krabi’s Rainforest! (We keep it as clean as we can!)
“Dirty” is Subjective – Isn’t It? Yes, and No!
Some visitors come to Krabi, Thailand (and all Thailand destinations) with the expectation that it will be as clean as some of the other worlds major island destinations, like the islands of Hawaii or Bermuda or Fiji. The reality is often different here in Thailand. We have some amazing beaches that are very clean and we also have some beaches that are horribly dirty and polluted.
Hawaii’s world class hotels and resorts have the money and spend the money to keep the beaches in front of their properties looking near perfect. Some places in Krabi will clean to this level, but it’s more the exception than the norm.
Whether a place is considered dirty is a very subjective judgment isn’t it? We have heard people both complain and praise some of the beaches that have trash washed up on the shore. Some people are very discerning and other people are not really bothered by it. This probably has something to do with their environment and where they came from originally.
To us, coming from the USA, Krabi is horribly dirty and yet we don’t think about it too much on a daily basis. We tend to focus on the more positive attributes of the place!
How Dirty Is Krabi, Thailand?
Beaches
Generally, Krabi’s beaches are pretty clean. Railay Beach West, for example, is famously pristine with its white sand and turquoise waters. You’ll find plenty of spots to relax and soak up the sun and not have to worry about stepping on broken glass or a sharp beer bottle cap. But it does happen! On New Year’s Eve we took our family to one of our favorite Krabi Beaches, “Klong Muang.” There, I found a large broken bottle piece half buried in the sand. I picked it up so my 4 year old didn’t step on it.
You will also occasionally encounter some seaweed or minor debris washed ashore, especially after storms or winds. You will see glass, plastics, hypodermic needles from hospital refuse, and other scary debris. Make sure your children wear sandals at least as they walk through the sand on Krabi (Thailand) beaches.
Though Thailand is known for it’s lovely islands and beaches, the locals here just haven’t prioritized cleaning up the beach trash, litter, and junk that washes up daily with the tides. Some hotel staff are tasked with it. Others have given up like on Thailand’s Gulf coast from Bangkok to Surat Town. Beaches will be littered with junk and hotels just don’t spend the money to keep them clean all the time.
Some beaches get cleaned more in the high season. Others literally are never cleaned.
Beaches on islands without resorts are bound to be littered with junk coming in with the tide. Thailand’s Tourism department just isn’t concerned with it, it seems. There may be occasional 5 or 10 year clean ups of a place, but it is often needed at least weekly. Daily would be ideal for most places, as you can imagine.
So, you will find beaches in Krabi invariably with some trash around from high tides and from mostly locals who just still haven’t learned not to litter. The entire country, to be honest, is suffering from a literal littering nightmare. You can see it in every city and on every beach and in every park. Thailand’s beaches are dirty overall. Krabi’s beaches are no different, they are dirty overall.
Krabi City and Beach Roads, Streets, and Highways
We have lived here in Krabi for almost 20 years and though it does appear to be getting a little bit better, the streets, roads, and highways continue to be littered with trash, mostly from locals.
One major problem in Krabi and the ENTIRE COUNTRY is that there are not enough waste receptacles (Trash-cans). There are very few. That means residential and business waste overflows the trash cans between pickups. That makes the neighborhood, cities, and everywhere, look like a trash dump right before the garbage trucks come to collect the trash.
Business owners and home owners will usually pick up trash that is around their property. On a big city street, that just doesn’t happen as much as it should. Winds blow trash from cans all over the streets. Huge homeless dog packs roam the city streets pulling trash from cans all up and down the streets. People often put trash on the trunk of their car to take to the trash can located dozens of meters away, and forget and end up dumping a trash bag on the city street at 80 kph – causing a real mess.
The main towns in Krabi can get a bit dusty, especially during the dry season. You’ll notice some litter here and there, and the roads can be a bit bumpy in certain areas. But overall, they’re generally well-maintained and safe to navigate.
Buildings
Krabi has a mix of modern and traditional buildings. Many of the newer hotels and resorts are well-kept with clean exteriors. However, you’ll also find some older buildings that might show signs of wear and tear. Older buildings that are not high-end or high-class are not taken care of well, not cleaned often enough and not repainted NEAR enough.
Most places in Krabi Town fall under this category. Old, dirty, paint chipping off everywhere, and though not at the level of say Burma or Laos, it’s not too far off either! To be fair, the hot humid conditions create havoc with most paints and they flake as the concrete under them soaks up moisture! It’s a neverending problem here.
Dust in Krabi’s Air
Dust can be a real issue in Krabi, especially during the dry season (from November to April). You might notice some dust blowing around, particularly on the roads and in open areas. This is due to a lot of construction of new homes, businesses, schools, places to eat, etc. Krabi has been constantly growing over the years and there is no end in sight.
During the dry season you will really notice the dust flying around and getting in your eyes and chest, but it is not as bad as in Pattaya, Bangkok, or Phuket.
Water Quality
Drinking Water
Nobody drinks the water from the tap here in Krabi or anywhere in Thailand at all. The water is filled with chlorine and other cleaning chemicals and trace metals. You would be well advised to purchase bottled water at the 7-Eleven or grocery store like most people. Don’t rely on a handheld filter that is supposed to take nearly all of the bad ingredients out of the water. Just buy bottled water and be as safe as possible.
Freshwater Streams, Lakes, and Ponds
Freshwater streams coming off mountains can be safe to sit and swim in. We do it all the time at the national park where Dragon’s Peak Trail is in Tub Kaek. We also sit in streams over at Khao Phanom Bencha Mountain resort where they fill their pool with freshwater running off the mountain. The water tends to be clean because at these locations there is no agriculture where they spray with pesticide or any other chemicals. Krabi has rubber and palm trees, not food agriculture.
The Hot Spring and Crystal Pool are both OK to swim in. We have never heard of anybody getting sick as a result of swimming at these locations.
Ocean Water in Krabi Town (Krabi River)
The brackish water that makes up the Krabi River where it joins with the Andaman Sea at Krabi Town tends to be extremely dirty and filled with trash. The tides routinely bring in tons of trash, and even the beach at Thara Park is littered with trash that nobody bothers to pick up. There are broken bottles and metal pieces and plastic pieces that kids and adults can cut their feet on inside the water near Thara Park, please don’t wade in the water there.
Ocean Water in Ao Nang, Noppharat Thara, and Tub Kaek Beaches
The water at the major beach locations on the mainland tend to be fairly clean, aesthetically, but if you look closely, you can see trash is really all over the place.
The real problem is raw sewage from hotels and resorts that just run a pipe into the water at the beaches. This is horrible especially at the place known as Monkey Beach in Ao Nang Beach. You can smell the dirty sewage and water and of course there is a hazard to swim there but there are no signs warning against it. It’s a cesspool of bacteria and yet people swim there every day, ignoring the smell.
To sum it up, the water quality in Krabi varies depending on the location. The freshwater streams are generally clean and clear, making them perfect for swimming and snorkeling. The ocean waters far out by Ko Phi Phi and other far out islands, are great for diving and snorkeling.
Inshore there are serious concerns about sewage and pollution in certain areas.
Sewage
One must-ask question before you book at room at a hotel or resort on the beach in Krabi or anywhere in Thailand is:
Does your hotel run sewage straight into the ocean, or do you have a waste collection container buried under the property that you routinely pump out to remove the sewage?
Air Quality
Air quality in Krabi is generally very good. This is one highlight of our area and one of the main reasons we chose to live here for almost 20 years. The air is very good to breathe and it is mostly humid except for a short time during Dec to February when we could have some dry-air days. People with asthma do well living in and visiting Krabi.
For very short periods – days sometimes – Krabi’s air may be clogged with particles from Indonesia or Malaysia burning crops at the end of the season. This happens maybe once a year, but sometimes as many as 3-4 times per year.
Overall, the air quality in Krabi is fantastic.
Burning Crops
Agricultural burning is a common practice in the region during the dry season. This can lead to air pollution and black soot settling on surfaces in most areas of Thailand. Here in Krabi we are virtually FREE OF THIS pollution! One great reason to visit Krabi, our air is some of the best in Thailand.
Overall Assessment of Krabi as 20 Year Locals
Krabi is a beautiful destination with a lot to offer. If you can ignore the dirty areas of Krabi, you’ll have a much better vacation! The cost of living and visiting Krabi is nothing like Hawaii and some of the other world-class locations in the world where they put a premium on keeping the beaches in pristine condition.
While some cleanliness issues exist in Krabi, most people just enjoy it anyway and chalk it up to Thailand being about 40 years behind industrialized nations that recognize the benefits of clean beaches, water, and common areas.
Here’s Our Advice
- Choose your accommodation carefully: Look for hotels and resorts that are environmentally conscious and have proper waste management and sewage treatment systems. You’ll need to ask them by email or online form to get that answer in most cases.
- Be mindful of your impact: Avoid littering and use eco-friendly products whenever possible. Show others the right way to act by picking up your own and someone else’s trash.
- Visit during the rainy season: If you’re concerned about dust and air quality, consider visiting during the rainy season (from May to October).
- Research local initiatives: Support businesses and organizations that are working to improve environmental sustainability in Krabi.
Ultimately, the level of cleanliness you experience during your time in Krabi is subjective. While some areas might not be perfect, the natural beauty of the region is undeniable and well worth your tourist dollars to come and visit and see what our lovely province and country is like!
By being mindful of your impact and choosing your accommodations wisely, you can help minimize your environmental footprint and enjoy a memorable trip to Krabi.
I hope this gives you a good overview! Let me know if you have any other questions.
Disclaimer: This overview is not meant to be derogatory toward all beachfront resort/hotel locations, it’s just to promote awareness among tourists visiting our area.
I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions.
