Krabi's hot springs are located in Khlong Thom, about 65 km southeast of Ao Nang and Krabi Town. Two of them are worth the trip. The Hot Stream Waterfall (Namtok Ron in Thai) is the spring most tour operators refer to as "Krabi's hot springs." Hot water cascades over several rock pools in the forest and flows into a cool river. The surface temperature ranges between 35 and 42 °C. The Saltwater Spring, about 11 km to the west, consists of pools of naturally saline, hot water (around 40 to 45 °C) nestled among the mangroves. Here, there are private family pools, and the spring opens earlier.
Both attractions charge foreign adults an entrance fee of 200 baht. For a first visit, I would recommend the waterfall, as it's more beautifully situated and about a 20-minute walk from the Emerald Pool. The salt spring is perfect for a relaxing soak at 5 a.m. before the heat sets in. Neither location is accessible by public transport, so you'll need to take a tour, a taxi, or your own car.
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Key facts
Foreign adults pay 200 Baht at both locations.
Children pay 100 baht. At the hot springs, the shuttle bus from the entrance costs approximately 20 baht per person, and parking costs approximately 50 baht per car. Entry to the salt springs costs 20 baht per car. Please bring cash, as only cash payments are accepted at the hot springs entrance.
The salt spring opens at 5:00 AM.
It is open daily from 5:00 AM to 8:00 PM. The hot stream opens at 8:00 or 8:30 AM, depending on the source, and closes at 6:00 PM. Tour groups can reach it from around 9:00 AM.
About an hour from Ao Nang
The hot spring is located about 64 km from Ao Nang (a 1 to 1.5-hour drive) and about 50 minutes from Krabi Town. The salt spring is located about 11 km west of it, on the Krabi side.
Soak for 15 to 20 minutes.
The water at the waterfall has a temperature of approximately 35 to 42 °C, and in the salt pools, it's 40 to 45 °C. After 15 to 20 minutes, you should get out of the water, drink some water, and cool off in the hot stream.
Wear shoes with non-slip soles.
The rocks at the hot stream are slippery and sharp in places. Water shoes or sturdy sandals make accessing the pools much easier. There are no lockers at either spring.
The plan for rainy days
The hot springs work in all weather conditions and are therefore the best alternative in Krabi when the boats to the islands don't run from May to October. The Emerald Pool is about 20 minutes from the Hot Stream.
Krabis hot springs in comparison
The entrance fees are for foreigners. Thai residents pay significantly less at Hot Stream. Temperatures vary depending on the pool and water source; the hottest pools are too hot to sit in. Opening hours are subject to change, so check the day before if you plan to visit outside of regular hours.
The hot springs, one after the other.
Two public springs in Khlong Thom, a smaller one in Nuea Khlong closer to the airport, and a resort spa next to the waterfall.
Which hot spring in Krabi would I choose?
For a first visit, the Hot Stream waterfall is highly recommended. It perfectly matches the image you'd expect: a warm waterfall in the forest with a cold river for a refreshing dip. It forms a natural counterpart to the Emerald Pool, which is about 20 minutes away. Arrive right when it opens, and you'll have the main waterfall almost entirely to yourself for a while.
For a proper soak, the saltwater spring is recommended. The water is hotter and saltier, the pools are private, and the spring opens at 5:00 AM, allowing you to enjoy the sunrise in the water and be back in Ao Nang by mid-morning. However, there is little shade, so it can get quite hot by late morning. For families with children, the family pools and step-free access of the saltwater spring are easier than the slippery rocks of the hot stream. However, the river and shallow pools of the hot stream offer more fun for children.
Doing both in one day is easy, as they are only 11 km apart. I would start at the salt spring as soon as it opens, then continue to the emerald pool at 8:30 am, and finally finish at the hot spring.
How to get to the Krabi hot springs
There is no public transport to Khlong Thom, so there are three options. A tour is the easiest. Half-day tours to the hot springs and Emerald Pool, including hotel pick-up, cost around 700–1000 baht. Full-day tours include a visit to the Tiger Cave Temple on the way back. Keep in mind that all tours arrive at the same time.
A taxi or private driver will cost approximately 1,500–2,500 baht for the day from Ao Nang or Krabi Town, depending on the journey time. Agree on the price before starting your journey. The return trip from the springs is difficult, so it's advisable to have the same driver wait for you rather than taking a Grab taxi for the one-way trip.
If you're traveling by car, you'll start early. From Ao Nang, the drive takes 1 to 1.5 hours on good roads, and from Krabi Town it's 50 minutes. You can easily rent a car at Krabi Airport. The journey is long by scooter, and you'll need an international driving permit that also covers motorcycles.
Tours to hot springs and the Emerald Basin
Almost all tours offering hot springs include the Hot Stream Waterfall, usually along with the Emerald Pool and often the Tiger Cave Temple. Full-day tours last 8 to 9 hours, including lunch and hotel pick-up. A few tours stop at the saltwater spring instead; check the list of stops if you prefer this. Some tours also include a kayaking trip through the Ao Thalane mangroves.
The combination of the hot springs with the emerald pool
The Emerald Pool is about a 20-minute drive from Hot Stream and, together with it, makes for a classic half-day trip into the Krabi interior. The cool, spring-fed green pool is located in the forest of the Khao Phra Bang Khram Nature Reserve, 800 meters from the car park or accessible via a 1.4-kilometer boardwalk. Entry costs 400 baht for foreign adults and 200 baht for children. It's open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. I would recommend visiting the Emerald Pool first thing at 8:30 a.m., before the tour vans arrive, and saving the hot water for later. My guidebook to the Emerald Pool also describes the Blue Pool, the walking trail, and the opening times.
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Best time to visit the hot springs
The time of day is more important than the month. Day trips start arriving at the hot spring around 9:00 AM, and the main waterfall is overcrowded from then on. I would therefore recommend arriving right when it opens. It's especially busy on weekends and Thai holidays. For the saltwater spring, a visit around 5:00 AM is recommended, before the heat builds up in the unshaded pools.
The hot springs are open year-round. From December to March, Krabi experiences its dry season with 24 to 82 mm of rainfall per month (measured at the nearest weather station). At the same time, it is hot, with maximum temperatures reaching around 33 to 34 °C from January to April. An early morning soak is particularly recommended during this period. From May to October, rainfall increases to 237–350 mm per month, boats to the islands do not operate in rough seas, and the forest is lush and green. The hot water is best enjoyed on cool or rainy days. Therefore, if you are in Krabi during the rainy season, you should visit the hot springs on days when the boats are not running.
What you should bring
Bring swimwear, a towel, water shoes or non-slip sandals, plenty of drinking water, and small baht notes for the entrance fee, shuttle, and parking. Remember to bring mosquito repellent for the shady path to the hot stream and a hat for the salt spring, which offers little shade. There are no lockers, so leave your passport and valuables at the hotel. The hot stream flows into the river, so biodegradable sunscreen is a better choice there.
Rules of conduct and health in hot springs
Do not bathe for longer than 15 to 20 minutes. The combination of heat and high humidity can lead to dizziness, dehydration, and overheating more quickly than expected. Therefore, be sure to get some fresh air, drink something, and cool off in the river or shade before re-entering the water. Be careful of the hot pools and occasional hot streams along the paths at Hot Stream, as these can cause scalding.
Wear appropriate swimwear. Many visitors bathe fully clothed at the salt spring, so shorts and a t-shirt over your swimwear are perfectly acceptable. Please do not bring food or drinks into the pools and leave soap and shampoo away from the salt spring. Stay on the paths and do not enter the pools marked as closed.
What I would skip
I would avoid the hot spring at midday if I could, as that's when tour groups crowd the main waterfall. I would also avoid the saltwater spring at midday, as the sun beats down on the pools and there's hardly any shade. And I wouldn't necessarily recommend a day trip to the Bang Phueng hot spring in Nuea Khlong. While it's conveniently located on the way to the airport, the Khlong Thom hot springs are the real reason to visit.
The hot springs and their surroundings
Khong Thom Nuea Hot Stream Waterfall Krabi
Khlong Thom saltwater thermal spring
Krabi Hot Spring Park
Ao Phang Nga National Park
Wareerak Thermal Springs & Wellness
Viewpoint at the Tiger Cave Temple
Plan the rest of your days in Krabi.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently asked questions about the hot springs of Krabi in comparison.
Entry costs 200 baht for foreign adults and 100 baht for children, both at the waterfall and the saltwater spring. For the waterfall, there is an additional charge of approximately 20 baht for the shuttle bus and approximately 50 baht for parking; the saltwater spring costs 20 baht per car. Payment is cash only.
The saltwater spring is open daily from 5:00 AM to 8:00 PM. The waterfall with hot stream opens at 8:00 or 8:30 AM and closes at 6:00 PM.
The Hot Stream is ideal for a first visit: warm rock pools in the forest, a cool river below, and the Emerald Pool just 20 minutes away. The saltwater thermal spring offers a longer, hotter soak in private family pools from 5:00 am, although there is little shade there in the late morning.
The distance is approximately 64 km, which corresponds to a car journey of 1 to 1.5 hours. From Krabi Town, it's about 50 minutes. The salt spring is located about 11 km west of the hot stream, so it's a bit closer.
Yes, by taxi or private driver for about 1,500–2,500 baht per day, or by rental car or scooter. There is no public transport, and it's difficult to find a return trip, so have your driver wait.
Swimwear is recommended at the Hot Stream, ideally with water shoes due to the slippery stones. Many visitors bathe fully clothed at the salt spring, so shorts and a t-shirt are sufficient. Discreet swimwear is the best choice at both locations.
Stay in the heat for 15 to 20 minutes at a time, then go outside, drink water, and cool down. The heat and high humidity in Krabi can cause dizziness and dehydration.
Yes, it's very simple. The two places are about 20 minutes apart, and most tours include both. Visit the Emerald Pool first at 8:30 a.m. and then relax in the hot spring.
Yes, that's precisely when they're most useful. The springs flow year-round, a cool or rainy day is ideal for hot water, and they're the obvious alternative when the boats to the island are out of service.
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I lived in Bangkok for four years and traveled throughout the country from there. The guidebooks reflect my personal opinion and are written as I would explain things to a friend planning a trip.
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