Ao Thalane or Thalane Bay is one of the most beautiful mangrove forests in the whole of Thailand. About 20km from Krabi Town this section of the coast is covered in dense foliage that wraps all the caves cliffs and amazing shaped Karsts.
This area of Krabi is perfect for cruising around in a Kayak. The small inlets, caves and hidden lagoons can be discovered on this kayaking tour, the shade from the jungle all around you keeping it cool. Krabi’s coastline is an amazing sight, to actually get to paddle a kayak around it is a very memorable experience. Kids love to kayak, its so close in to the nature its a really immersive experience.
The famous Karst mountains provide the backdrop for this area with its complex network of channels than meander through the dense mangrove.
Kingfishers, Herons and crab eating Maceques inhabit this area along with ever present monkeys who will keep you company and sometimes even hitch a ride on your kayak. The area is undeveloped and tranquil and with caves and steep cliffs jutting straight out of the water. Its a great place for taking some photos of real Krabi nature.
The tour guide will give you basic instruction of using the paddle and the kayak and life jackets are provided. The tour is not too energetic, you are cruising on flat calm water so it is quite within the capabilities of first time kayakers or kids. Most of the kayaks are three seaters although its normal to use one kayak for two adults. Its quite awkward to have three people paddling so it is best if one adult goes in one kayak with one child if they want to paddle or with two adults and one younger child not paddling.
The tide makes a difference and the best time for a kayaking tour is at a mid tide time, very high tide or very low time are not in anyway dangerous, and you do get to see different things at any time of day. At a mid tide though, more of the area is accessible so its possible to go deeper into the forest and if you have the choice, then this is the best time to go. At low tide though, it is possible to see more of the caves and all the nature that lives in the muddy ecosystem so its still interesting.
