So beaching and island tours are off the list, well, unless you are a duck. Thankfully there’s lot of other interesting things to do and places to visit, so the rain doesn’t spoil your time in Krabi.

Visiting a temple is a great way to learn more about the local Buddhist faith. The main temple in Krabi town is Wat Gaew, and just outside the town you will find ‘Wat Tham Seua’. The latter has a steep set of steps leading to a hilltop Buddha and pagoda; however, if it is very rainy this trek might be best avoided as it could become quite slippery.

Other things to do include: sampling local cuisine, shopping or taking a Thai cookery course. If you fancy soaking up the local culture instead of the rain, then just find a nice cosy café bar with comfy seats, a good view and good food.

The newly opened gallery showcases work from established Thai artists, as well as regular exhibitions of work from locally based artists. Open from 10:00 to 17:00, Tuesday to Sunday, the gallery provides insight into Thai art and popular techniques.

Many art pieces are for sale, and as the majority depicts landscapes from around Thailand, they make beautiful souvenirs or gifts.

As Krabi develops at record rate, it is a relief to see cultural, educational and recreational institutions form a branch of the growth. Other new additions include a WWII ship which is presently being converted into Krabi town’s first museum, and a library in the new temple, which will house the south’s largest collection of Buddhist literature.

Like most Thai towns and regions, there are certain dishes and culinary combinations native to Krabi. The pungent hot and sour curry, gaeng som, takes pride of place at the top of any local favourites menu. It’s a staple in southern Thai diet but the strong sour smell usually makes a bad first impression on Western diners. However, when eaten with rice and a selection of accompanying vegetables, the curry actually isn’t as offensive as it first smells!

Other local specialties include the aforementioned, rice topped with red pork and rice noodles in a thick coconut curry. This noodle dish is one of the cheapest meals around at just ten baht per plate, although you should always allow 20 baht as you are sure to go back for seconds. A shellfish known as hoi chak jeen, is also a popular delicacy, and is only found in the waters surrounding the Krabi coastline.

A lot of hotels offer special packages geared towards honeymooners. There is nothing quite like waking up with your new bride (or husband) and stepping onto your own private veranda with the sound of the ocean and a magnificent sea view bejewelled by limestone escapements.

The vast majority of Krabi’s luxury resorts offer spa facilities and treatments as well as the usual swimming pool, sauna, jacuzzi, gym and sports equipment.

Alis Hotel is a contemporary-looking hotel with modern rooms in Ao Nang’s upmarket area which is highly recommended. The Baan Oriental features a private luxury villa with its own swimming pool that sleeps up to 10. So there is plenty of space around for inviting neighbours back for a cocktail or two. Somkiet Buri Resort can be found right slap bang in the centre of Ao Nang with decent value rooms in their pleasant oasis of green.

The water comes here through thermal springs which seep up from volcanic chambers deep underground to the surface. And the hollowed-out smooth stone ‘bathtubs’ stay filled with crisp spring water at a nice steady 35ºC to 40ºC.

The water contains many mineral salts which are said to help various ailments from rheumatism and skin complaints to sciatica. And even if you are feeling fit as a fiddle there’s undoubted benefits from relaxing in hot water and watching the world go by in this pristine natural jungle setting.

The nature reserve also contains a great ‘Crystal’ or ‘Emerald’ Pool in the forest’s which is perfect for swimming.

Tours to Crystal Pool and hot springs are available from lots of travel agencies or you can find it yourself by rented bike or car. An entrance fee of 200 baht applies for the Crystal Pool and Khao Phra Bang Khram Nature Reserve and of 90 baht for the hot springs only.

The ‘I’m Outta Love’ singer told an interview with UK newspaper The Daily Telegraph that she is desperate to make the Andaman Coast her next vacation spot.

She said: “Top of the list is Thailand as I’m a huge beach fan and I’ve heard that the beaches there are even more beautiful than the Caribbean, particularly Krabi, so that’s on my wish list.”

The 40-year-old went on to describe her favourite place to stay as Lucerne’s Park Hotel Vitznau in Switzerland, which features inside and out heated swimming pool, spa, gym and lake views.

So any hoteliers around Krabi now know what to install to make the pop queen happy in her stay here in Thailand’s southern reaches.

Anastacia set up the Anastacia Fund to promote breast cancer awareness amongst younger women after falling victim to the disease herself in 2003. She has made a full recovery had has recently been performing alongside Celine Dion in Las Vegas.

These allow visitors to appreciate the lush jungles without even damaging the surrounding ecosystems or environment. The Andaman Sea contains among the planet’s most scenic wonders and is world-renown for amazing limestone mountains that jut from water as vertical rock crags.

Many of these islands are uninhabited by local people and so the bay is mostly virgin forest and untouched by civilization. But hidden around the coves are countless tunnels, caves and lagoons  known as ‘hongs’ (or rooms in Thai). These Hongs are formed by collapsed caverns that get eroded over millions of years by natural forces. Some can be explored by underground tunnels as long as the tide is perfect.

Visitors embarking on kayaking safaris are strongly discourage from eating, touching, smoking or  removing shells for souvenirs. For this reason good companies will limit group numbers of to avoid overcrowding, and ensuring a ‘high quality, low impact’ operation.

Visit 1stopkrabi for more information.

So rather than just staying to the main tourist hotspots it makes sense to rent a local boat for a short from Ao Nang, Krabi Port or Railey and spend a while exploring. Now monsoon season is past it should be possible to reach most of those listed, and you can even tour some with kayaks with a local guide.

Koh Poda

Located just eight kilometres from the mainland, Koh Poda is a tiny island less than one kilometre across, covered in palm trees and practically encircled by a glistening sand beach.

The irresistible scenery and fantastic snorkelling makes this a popular choice, although it remains refreshingly uncrowded most of the time.

Chicken Island (Hua Khwan or Koh Gai/Kai)

Named after a strange rock formation resembling an ostrich head and next, one end of this island has beautiful beaches whilst the other has steep cliffs. Although thee is nowhere to stay on here, the rich coral life and warm water makes in an enticing spot to visit.

Koh Talu

A small island only 45m high with typically strange limestone formations. The island is home to a large number of swifts – providing the essential nests for Chinese Bird’s Nest Soup.

Koh Mor & Koh Tap
These two offer easy snorkelling, and when the tide is low it is possible to walk from one island to the other along the sandy white causeway.

Koh Hong

Situated 25kms northwest of Ao Nang, these tiny islands are just gorgeous. Hidden lagoons and spectacular beaches with shoals of multi-coloured fish that will literally eat out right out of your hand. Not to be confused with Koh Hong in Phang Nga Bay, and a good spot for sea kayaking.

Koh Yao Yai & Noi (Big & Small)

Two large islands right slap bang between Krabi and Phuket. While fishing is still the main commerical activity here, these islands are slowly opening up for visitors. Some family-run bungalows and small resorts have developed, but it is still a wonderful place to get a taste of local culture.

Lush vegetation with some 300-year-old trees surround the site with smaller caves littering the ragged mountainside. And apart from being a centre of meditation, this is also a site of historical and archaeological interest. Pottery remains, stone tools and a mold for producing Buddha footprints have all been excavated.

The main temple cave has bizarre photos of split cadavers and internal organs. They are supposed to highlight the transitory nature of the body as compared with more spiritual matters.

And for those who manage to scale the 1,272 steps up the limestone tower, the magical “footprint of the Buddha” awaits with stunning panoramic vistas of the Andaman coast. Even if you are fighting fit, with the humidity and heat this is a difficult walk for anyone. But once you reach the summit, there’s no doubt it will be worth the effort.

Not surprisingly this destination has become more and more popular and its tourist infrastructure has been well developed, but wonderfully retaining the area’s natural beauty. Most of the action can be found at Ao Nang as well as Ao Phai Phlong, a strip of resort facilities along a fabulous beach that is extremely busy during the Christmas season. Home to all modern western comforts, this destination retains its typical Thai atmosphere, with numerous restaurants, souvenir shops and cheap clothes outlets.

At Rai Leh visitors can enjoy this coastline’s most appealing beach, which is accessible by boat solely. It too is favoured and busy with rock climbers. But many tourists are content to unwind on the beach and appreciate the spectacular view.

The two Phi Phi islands is Krabi’s treasure, which boast Thailand’s most jaw-dropping scenery, consisting out of towering limestone mountain formations that are sandwiched between sweeping bays of turquoise water and white sandy beaches. Diving options here are especially excellent, but the resorts and hotels get busy and rather pricey.

There is no beach in Krabi town but it is laid-back and situated on a huge river mouth with a promenade. In Krabi town visitors have the option to truly appreciate the locals’ friendly character, while there are plentiful guesthouses, good shops and restaurants and it is in general cheaper.

Several intriguing attractions are positioned within an easy drive of Krabi. Shaped over the past 70 million years, the Shell Fossil Cemetery is a coastal bizarre landscape. The Tham Suea temple remarkably sits beneath a karst butt in an overhanging cave. A strenuous climb to the chedi on the summit reveals breathtaking vistas. Several fantastic national parks are situated in this area as well.

Phuket provides the nearest international airport and frequent ferries sail to Krabi. Reasonably efficient buses provide regular services as well, arriving all the way from the capital of Bangkok.

Brief guide to Krabi