Visit Ban Koh Klang Community (Krabi)

Located just opposite Krabi Town and separated from it only by a branch of the river, the small island of Koh Klang is unlike any of the other beach and tourist islands in Krabi province.

Rural, living off agriculture and fishing, and a little bit of tourism, mostly local, the predominantly Muslim community that lives there is very welcoming and has managed to preserve the place, its traditions, and its crafts.

On Koh Klang, you can:

• see batik making, this fabric dyeing technique using melted wax, and create your own design (from 50 THB)
• explore the countryside, the free-roaming buffalo and goats, the rice paddies, and the special organic rice grown here (rice season is generally from August to December)
• take an ecoprinting workshop, a technique that involves transferring pigments from leaves and flower on a fabric (350 THB)
• see a maker of miniature longtail boats, the traditional Thai boat (well, he is not always in his workshop, personally in 4 visits, I have never seen him)
• see stingless beehives and taste their honey with numerous health benefits and a slightly tangy taste
• visit a floating fish farm and eat in its fish and seafood restaurant

While you can reach Koh Klang Island simply by crossing the river from the Thara Park pier in Krabi town, or by chartering a longtail boat from the Chao Fah Pier, which hosts a charming little night market every evening and features the Giant Crab statue, I recommend taking a more comprehensive boat tour that includes Khao Kanab Nam, the two most famous rocks on the Krabi River, their cave with its monkeys, and the mangrove tunnel at the end of which you arrive at... Koh Klang! (see my video). The boat tour, which includes visits to the island's highlights, generally takes half a day. You can also choose to stay longer and even spend the night. There are several guesthouses or homestays, and the fantastic Islanda Hideaway Resort that my daughter and I loved in the low season when prices are lower. I have rarely seen such welcoming and kind staff!

While the southern coast of Ko Klang Island in Krabi faces the sea, don't expect picture-perfect beaches ideal for swimming (especially at low tide), but there is still a lovely, secluded beach that's pleasant for walking, and if you stay at the Islanda, you'll have access to its beachfront pool.