Escaping Krabi’s crowds at Ao Nam Mao Beach. Your Ultimate Guide

I love the beaches of Ao Nang in Krabi, I love the breathtaking scenery, the warm water and the cute longtailed boats moored in the shallows. However the main beaches such as Railay and Ao Nang can get extremely busy. They’re popular for good reason, they’ve got all the facilities you’ll need and are a great place to spend the day. But sometimes you just need to escape the crowds right? Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. Here’s my ultimate guide to Ao Nam Mao Beach, my favourite secret beach, Krabi.

This post may contain affiliate links to tours and hotels. These help me earn a small commission if you book via one of them at no additional charge to you. I received no payment or complimentary stay for this review. All opinions are completely my own.

What makes Ao Nam Mao beach so special?

I often like to hop off the beaten path when we’re travelling. There’s something really special about visiting the restaurants and attractions the locals frequent.

Ao Nam Mao Beach is more popular with local residents of Ao Nang who visit with their kids to collect shells, play football and eat at the incredibly well priced beach front bars and restaurants. We actually found this beach by asking the friendly barman from our hotel, the Anana Eco resort for recommendations. I’m so glad we did!

it seems that the further east you head along the beach, the quieter it gets – this is in the opposite direction to Ao Nam Mao pier. We walked pretty much all the way to the end and only had a few stray dogs for company.

The beach is lined with mangroves that jut out into the water. And the views to the surrounding islands and the Railey peninsular are simply stunning. If you stay till dusk then you’ll be treated to some pretty spectacular sunsets.

From Ao Nam Mao pier it’s just ten minutes by boat to Railay if you’re after somewhere more lively. But If you’re looking for a peaceful escape then Ao Nam beach delivers in spades.

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Restaurants and bars at Nam Mao beach

Whilst still relatively underdeveloped, there are still plenty of places to eat and drink at Ao Nam Mao beach. We tried several and they were all great value with delicious food. I recommend walking the stretch of sand and stopping somewhere that looks good to you but these are the ones I recommend.

Joy Beach

This place is incredibly friendly with great food and a quirky, relaxed vibe. Think plastic chairs in the sand, a mish mash of hammocks and cushions and a view that makes you want to stay all day.

We had the Thai Green curry and a nutella pancake for pudding. It was simply excellent and super cheap.

Our waitress was happy to chat and even introduced us to her friendly parakeet. Piper was in heaven!

Find them on Facebook.

7 Sea Beach Club

Whilst not exactly what I would call a beach club, this is another excellent choice for lunch. We struggled to decide where to sit, the netted, shaded hammock, wooded table or recliners in the sand. They somehow made it work!

Not quite ready for a full meal we tried their spring rolls and smoothies which were less than a pound and incredibly tasty.

Find them on Facebook.

Where to stay in Ao Nam Mao

There’s a brilliant 4 star hotel located right on Ao Nammao Beach. It’s called the Villa Cha Cha Krabi and is the perfect place to book if you’re craving an escape from the everyday grind. It has a gorgeous pool overlooking the sea, a western restaurant, bar and family rooms if you’re travelling with kids.

Book your stay at the Villa Cha-Cha Krabi Resort.

Discover more great family friendly hotels in Krabi for further inspiration.

What’s the sand like at Ao Nam Mao bay?

Close to the pier the sand is pretty dark and muddy but the rest of the beach enjoys a narrow stretch of soft, yellow sand.

Parts of the beach are home to tiny scuttling crabs which quickly shot back into their holes when they felt us approaching.

What else can I do at this beach?

If you tire of walking up and down the sand, relaxing with a cold Singha and enjoying freshly cooked Thai meals then you could try Kayaking, paddle boarding or horse riding on the beach. Just ask at one of the restaurants where to go. I have to admit, we were more than happy to watch others than join in ourselves.

You can prebook your horse riding session over on Viator.

How to get to Ao Nam Mao Beach

This one unfortunately isn’t all that easy to find. It’s not well signposted which is probably one of the reasons it stays so peaceful. You’re best bet is to pop one of the beach restaurants or the Villa Cha-Cha hotel in your google maps and head there. Or get a taxi or tuk tuk, asking your hotel to tell the driver where you want to go. Essentially you’ll be heading East out of Ao Nang, along the 4203. As soon as the road runs horizontal with the coast again (you’ll see some water on your left) look for somewhere to park.

You can also hop on a boat from Ao Nang pier which won’t cost much and saves you the worry of finding parking.

Parking for Ao Nam Mao beach

We parked in the 7 Sea Beach Club, stopping there for lunch before our wander on the beach. They were more than happy for us to use their car park for the day.

What else is Ao Nam Mao beach called?

The beach is sometimes referred to as Nam Mao beach, Ao Num Mao or Ao Nam Mao Bay. If you struggle to find it then just ask for directions to Ao Nam Mao pier.

Conclusion

So, if you’re looking for a secret beach in Krabi, Ao Nam Mao is where you should head. It’s not the slickest, tidiest, liveliest beach in the area and there are absolutley other beaches with better sand, better views and better facilities. But, what really mankes this beach special is its hidden location, it’s peace. The fact that the locals love it and the family run restaurants will welcome you with open arms and always have a table for you. We can’t get enough of the place!

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