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ES Christmas in Krabi – locals, expats and visitors
In our experience, Christmas in Krabi feels different depending on who you ask. Traditionally, Thai locals do not treat it as a major holiday, but that doesn’t mean they haven’t latched onto the commercialism and fun of it all (in fact, if you’re in somewhere like Bangkok or Phuket, it feels like Christmas is in celebration overdrive.)
What used to be the occasional Santa hat in a shop (and perhaps a bit of tinsel here and there) has now been replaced with colourful anime Christmas characters, month-long Christmas songs pulsing out of hotel speakers, and shops selves stacked with festive treats.
For the expat community, things take a different turn. People who have lived here for years often create their own version of Christmas. Some organise beach picnics on the twenty fifth. Some book a simple roast dinner at a local restaurant. Others spend the day outdoors on the water rather than around a table (we host our usual Croisière au coucher du soleil à Krabi every year on Christmas Day too!)
Most tourists arrive expecting at least a bit of festive atmosphere and they’ll certainly find it, just not in the same way as at home. For us, everything feels a bit more comical and light-hearted, rather than traditional.
Restaurants put on special menus, and while most large mainland hotels really go to town on their decorations, the beach resorts decorate lightly and perhaps host Christmas Eve/Christmas Day dinners and parties. You’ll often see families eating seafood instead of turkey, but (in our experience) most visitors end up loving the fact that it feels easy rather than organised.
For more information around what Christmas is actually like here, the sections below cover the questions people ask us the most. These are based on years of watching how locals, expats and visitors share the season.
What is the weather like in Krabi at Christmas?
A decade ago, we would have said that December is one of the most reliable months for steady weather. However, especially over the last few years) we’ve found the start of the month to often carry its fair share of morning rain. By the end of the month, rain still appears occasionally but it usually passes quickly. The sea is calmer than in previous months which makes our boat trips and island hopping easier. The air feels cleaner in the mornings which suits early hikes or quiet beach walks.
Local tip: Morning light around the islands is soft and the beaches are quieter. Our Private Morning Boat Trip offers the luxury of having the entire boat to yourselves at a fraction of the cost compared to our Private Sunset Tour – great for groups or families who’d like the tour to themselves.
Where should you stay in Krabi at Christmas?
This is really quiet dependant on what kind of traveller you are, and what experiences you’re hoping to get out of Krabi. An overview of the main areas:
Ao Nang
Located 30-minutes away from Krabi Town, Ao Nang still feels very central, lively and easy for booking trips and finding food. It gets incredibly busy around the last week of December, so expect more movement along the beach road.
Local tip: If you want sunset views, choose a west facing beach or resort. It makes evenings feel more relaxed, and you can watch Krabi’s iconic sunsets from the comfort of your balcony or terrace.
Railay
A great choice if you want scenery and calm. Railay is only reachable by boat, which naturally limits crowds in the evening (however, the daytime hours are particularly busy with tourist flocking for a day/half-day visit.) Evenings are peaceful, and a lot of the resorts decorate their trails ad restaurants with pretty, colourful light displays.
Klong Muang and Tub Kaek
These areas suit people who want more space and a quieter base. You still have good sunsets, good sand and easier evenings.
Ville de Krabi
It’s business as usual for most places in Krabi Town on Christmas day, with lots of businesses running their own little menu takes on Christmas to excite visitors, expats, and locals alike.
Local tip: We like to pop into Much & Mellow Café for early morning pastries and coffee.
What Christmas and New Year events happen in Krabi?
We recently came across several blogs and articles that claimed Krabi is not event heavy at Christmas. Respectfully, we disagree.
We’ve seen hotels construct entire child-sized gingerbread houses in their foyers, huge Christmas trees (including a giant coconut ‘tree’ along the main beach of Ao Nang), and plenty of Christmas-themed dinners and bar celebrations.
New Year is the lively part of the season. Ao Nang usually has fireworks, and the beach fills up with people – from about 9pm on-wards, heading down the main streets of Ao Nang is a challenge (and most expats avoid driving at that time due to safety concerns.)
How far ahead should I book accommodation in Krabi for Christmas?
Christmas week is one of the busiest times of the year in Thailand – with many tourists swapping colder conditions for tropical travels. Popular hotels fill early – and return visitors will often scoop up popular villas and suites as early as 6-8 months early.
If you want specific room types or beachfront locations, confirm them well in advance. If you are flexible with dates or areas, you can wait longer but the choice becomes smaller.
Local tip: If you want to stay on Railay, book your airport transfer and boat arrangements early. Near Christmas the pier becomes busier than usual. For airport transfers, we recommend private driver Anthony. He worked in hotel hospitality for years before setting up his own transfer company – you can contact him and make reservations via his Facebook Page – Anthony Krabi.
What are the best things to do in Krabi around Christmas
While a traditional Christmas get-together might still be your go-to, we recommend taking a look at some of the weird and wonderful alternatives happening around Krabi before you commit to plans. Part of the charm of celebrating the season in a new setting can be embracing a different approach. Here are a few of our favourites …
Avatar-inspired Christmas Eve to Boxing Day Festival at Reeve
We weren’t kidding when we told you that Christmas in Krabi is often far from traditional. Reeve Beach Club will be turning the holiday season on its head this year, with an Avatar-inspired set of celebrations, including a live DJ performance, fire show, dance party, bartender show, and visit from Santa.
See the Avatar Christmas programme
Christmas by boat with Krabi Sunset Cruises
A unique way to celebrate Christmas and an experience you’ll talk about for years to come. While some might want to keep things simple with a morning stroll and a restaurant meal somewhere, we’ve found that lots of visitors to Krabi want to head home with a fun festive story … and that is where our own trips often come in!
Our Christmas Day Sunset Cruises do run, but they fill quickly because the weather is usually steady and the sea is at its best. You will see a quieter side of the islands and it’s a peaceful way to escape the usual holiday rush.
Book a spot on a Christmas Cruise
“Jungle Bell” Christmas Eve Dinner at Panan
Located just a 5-minute walk up the main street from the beach, Panan Resort has always been big on Christmas decorations – large traditional trees in the foyer, and even a giant gingerbread house to bring out a smile in the steadfast grinch of your group.
This year, they’re hosting a ‘Jungle Bell’ Xmas Eve dinner (riding on the coattails of this years’ Jurassic World hype.) In true Panan style, their dinner will cater to everyone – the menu includes classic roast turkey with all the trimmings, but also offers a Thai, Indian, Korean, AND Japanese corner – topped off with arrival cocktails and live cooking demonstrations.
Explore the Panan Christmas menu
Plateaux festifs de Hotdog & Coldcat
Nous rencontrons beaucoup de gens qui ont loué des villas à Krabi pour accueillir de grands groupes et des familles - et pour ceux qui cherchent à organiser des réunions privées autour d'une table traditionnelle, beaucoup d'expatriés de Krabi ont quelques adresses préférées de gastronomes. L'un d'entre eux est Hotdog & Coldcat, une boulangerie, un traiteur occidental, un restaurant et un magasin de vins et spiritueux tout à la fois.
Cette année, ils ont déjà commencé à promouvoir leurs menus de fête - plateaux gastronomiques, plats emblématiques de Noël et friandises décorées, avec la possibilité de collecter des produits entièrement préparés ou des produits réfrigérés prêts à cuire.
Explorez la page Facebook de Hotdog & Coldcat pour les mises à jour et les commandes.
Les habitants, les expatriés et les voyageurs fêtant chacun à leur manière, la saison à Krabi se résume à un mélange de traditions plutôt qu'à un plan préétabli. C'est une période détendue, amicale et facile à apprécier, que vous souhaitiez un repas classique ou un après-midi sur l'eau.
