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Voykit pocket guide · Thailand
Ao Luek
อ่าวลึก
Skip Ao Luek as a base: visit the caves on a half-day trip from Krabi Town or Ao Nang. One night only if you want to kayak Tam Lot and Tam Pii Hua Toe without the crowd.
Ao Luek is a quiet town 50 km north of Krabi, known for three caves you reach by kayak or longtail boat. The caves are the only reason to stop: Tam Lot is a drive-through cavern, Tam Pii Hua Toe (Big Headed Ghost Cave) has ancient carvings and large skulls, and Tam Pet (Diamond Cave) sparkles with mineral formations. Most travellers see them on a guided tour from Krabi and move on.
- Country
- Thailand
- Local name
- อ่าวลึก
- Best months
- Nov–Apr
- Avoid
- May–Oct (rainy season, some caves may flood)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- THB
- Money
- Currency is the Thai baht (THB, ฿). Cards work in malls, hotels and many restaurants; street food, markets, boats and small taxis are cash.
- Daily spend
- Budget ฿800–1,200 excl. bed · Mid ฿1,500–2,500 excl. bed · High ฿3,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- AIS and TrueMove H sell tourist SIMs at airport arrivals; passport registration is required.
- Emergency
- Police 191 · Ambulance 1669 · Tourist police 1155
- Plugs
- Types A, B, C, O · 220 V · 50 Hz · Most sockets take flat US pins and round European pins; type O is the Thai three-pin standard. UK plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Street food: Nothing.; Sit-down restaurant: Leave ฿20–100 or the coins; skip it if a 10% service charge is on the bill.; Taxi / Grab: Round up to the next ฿10 or ฿20.; Massage: ฿50–100 per hour to the therapist, in hand.; Guide / driver day: ฿300–500 for the guide, ฿200–300 for the driver.; Hotel porter / housekeeping: ฿20–50.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Street refill machines charge about ฿1 a litre; bottled water everywhere.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in malls and hotels; squat toilets with a water bucket in rural stops. The hose ('bum gun') replaces paper; paper goes in the bin in older buildings. Some public toilets cost ฿3–5.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Longtail boat to Tam Pii Hua Toe, 1 hour | ฿400 |
| Donation at Tam Pet (Diamond Cave) | ฿100 |
| Simple Thai meal | ฿60–120 |
| Bottle of water | ฿10–20 |
| Motorcycle taxi within town | ฿30–60 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- KBV · Krabi International Airport
- About 40 km (25 mi) south; taxi or bus to Ao Luek, about 45 minAbout 25 mi (40 km) south; taxi or bus to Ao Luek, about 45 min
Typical fares
- Krabi Airport → Ao Luek, taxi
- about ฿600–800, 45 min (check)
- Krabi Town → Ao Luek, bus
- about ฿50–80, 1 h (check)
- Longtail boat Bor Tor Pier → Tam Pii Hua Toe, 1 h
- about ฿400 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Hire a car or motorbike in Krabi to reach the caves. Motorcycle taxis are available in town. Longtail boats from Bor Tor Pier to Tam Pii Hua Toe: about 400 baht per hour (check).
See and do
Known for
- Tam Lot drive-through cave
- Tam Pii Hua Toe (Big Headed Ghost Cave)
- Tam Pet (Diamond Cave)
- Kayaking and longtail boat trips
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Krabi Town | Bus or taxi, about 50 km (31 mi) southBus or taxi, about 31 mi (50 km) south | About 1 h |
| Ao Nang | Bus or taxi via Krabi Town, about 60 km (37 mi)Bus or taxi via Krabi Town, about 37 mi (60 km) | About 1.25 h |
| Rai Leh | Taxi to Ao Nang then longtail boat, about 1.5 h total | About 1.5–2 h |
| Ton Sai | Same as Rai Leh, then walk or climb over the headland | About 2 h |
| Had Yao | Taxi, about 30 km (19 mi) southTaxi, about 19 mi (30 km) south | About 40 min |
Sleep
- Ao Luek town centre
- A few guesthouses and homestays; basic, no nightlife.
- Bor Tor Pier area
- Closer to Tam Pii Hua Toe; limited accommodation.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | สวัสดีsawasdee |
| Thank you | ขอบคุณkhob khun |
| How much? | เท่าไหร่thao rai |
| Where is the cave? | ถ้ำอยู่ที่ไหนtham yoo tee nai |
| Can I rent a boat? | เช่าเรือได้ไหมchao ruea dai mai |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: A wai (palms together, slight bow) to return a greeting; a smile and nod for shop staff; avoid: Waiing children or service staff first — it confuses; hugging strangers
- Head and feet: Keep feet on the floor, sit with legs folded to the side in temples; avoid: Touching heads (even children's), pointing feet, stepping over people or food
- Temples: Covered shoulders and knees, shoes off, sit lower than monks; avoid: Women touching monks or handing them things directly; climbing Buddha images
- Monarchy: Stand for the royal anthem in cinemas and at 08:00 and 18:00 in public places; avoid: Any joke or comment about the royal family; stepping on a banknote
- Keeping calm: Stay polite and smiling when things go wrong ('jai yen' — cool heart); avoid: Raising your voice; public anger loses the argument
- Names: Khun plus first name ('Khun Somchai'); nicknames are normal; avoid: Using the family name alone
- Home visit: Shoes off; bring fruit or sweets; step over the threshold, not on it; avoid: Sitting with feet towards the family shrine
- Beckoning and pointing: Palm down, fingers waved towards you; point with the whole hand or chin; avoid: Pointing at people with a finger or with your foot
Scams and watch-outs
- Caves may close during heavy rain; check conditions locally.
- Tam Pet requires a torch (the monk lends one) and a 100 baht donation.
- No ATM in Ao Luek; bring cash from Krabi.
Ao Luek is safe; watch for slippery cave floors and muddy paths. Bring insect repellent and a torch. Cash is essential.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Ao Luek yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Tam Lot drive-through cave
- Tam Pii Hua Toe (Big Headed Ghost Cave)
- Tam Pet (Diamond Cave)
- Kayaking and longtail boat trips
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Ao Luek, revision 5232913 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5232913
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/ao-luek). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.