Hotels in Phra Ae

Phra Ae is a beach district on the west coast of Koh Lanta Yai, the largest island in Krabi Province, southern Thailand. The area centers on a 3-kilometer stretch of sand — one of the longest on the island — backed by casuarina trees and a low-rise strip of guesthouses, restaurants, and dive shops. The sea here is calm from November through April, making it a reliable destination for swimming and snorkeling. During the southwest monsoon, May through October, waves pick up and most smaller operators close for the season.

Most visitors arrive from Krabi Town by ferry — a journey of roughly two hours — or overland via the vehicle ferry from Ban Hua Hin pier. Travelers tend to be a mix of European long-stay tourists, backpackers moving between Koh Phi Phi and Koh Lanta, and Thai families on domestic holidays. Dive operators on the beach run day trips to the Mu Ko Lanta Marine National Park, established in 1990, which protects reefs and small islands to the south. Snorkeling trips to Koh Rok, about 47 kilometers offshore, are a common excursion from Phra Ae.

Accommodation ranges from budget bungalows set back from the road to mid-range beachfront resorts. The main road running parallel to the beach — Route 4245 — connects Phra Ae to the island's administrative center, Ban Saladan, roughly 7 kilometers to the north.