a hidden gem
There are many beautiful and stunning locations in Thailands Krabi province. One of these places is Crystal Lagoon Krabi in Nong Thale. Even though it is only 30 min from Ao Nang beach, relatively few people know of it. I’ve been living here for 10 years and only just discovered it now!!!.
Mostly people when they come here, only have their focus on the main attractions. They all want or need to go to Phi Phi Island, Railay Beach, the 4 Island Tour, the Hong Islands, and the Emerald Pool 60km from Ao Nang. Most visitors will visit only 1 or 2 of these places. As beautiful as these location may be, generally they are overcrowded (unless you go very , very early in the morning).
getting there
Getting here you have to rent a bike or come with a taxi. You need to drive north in direction Nong Thale from Ao Nang. Then you need to make a right turn after a shop called “Shark Fishing”. You continue down this road for a few kilometers and then make another right to reach the Lake View Restaurant.
This is a lovely restaurant with a lovely view. Here you need to rent a Kayak to get to the Crystal Lagoon Krabi. The Kayaks cost 200 THB per person for the day. When you come back and have built up an appetite, don’t miss out on having a meal at their restaurant. Their food is very tasty and good value for money.
reaching the Crystal Lagoon Krabi
The Crystal Lagoon is actually a stunning fresh water spring that has flooded this small valley in recent geological history. You have to navigate this lake from the Lake View Restaurant by kayak. It takes about 30min of paddling to reach the end of the lake. The lake is not deep only 1-3m, but the bottom is mostly made up of very soft sediment, so don’t try and walk. I have and sank almost up to my hips in the mud, hahahah.
All the way from the restaurant you need to follow these white buoys marking the way. Navigation is a bit tricky here because this is a flooded forest valley and there are submerged tree trunk’s everywhere, and small rocks sticking out of the water. It’s an amazing but also slightly eerie out here. You feel like you are in a forgotten land or in the lord of the rings crossing the Dead Marshes.
At the end of the lake you have to navigate through this narrow passage in the forest to reach the actual Crystal Lagoon. A very beautiful forest with a unique sub-aquatic vegetation growing here, just below the surface. When you reach the pond, park your kayak on the left or right.
the lagoon
You have now reached the goal of your journey, take off your clothes and jump in!!!! The water here is cool, clear, and refreshing. The feeling of floating and swimming here, is simply sublime. In the midst of this small jungle, you have found a small piece of heaven, an oasis for the tired traveler.
There are some small platforms made from bamboo here, where you can relax and soak in the ambiance. The closer you get to the end of the pond the current from the spring increases. If you have a dive mask, bring it!!!!. There are gasses trapped in the ground and slowly get released all over the bottom, not as spectacular as a geysers, nevertheless beautiful when light reflects in the bubbles. Also there are a number of fish species living here. I have seen 4 different kinds so far and a large aquatic snail which lays pink eggs along the shore.
After soaking, enjoying, and admiring it’s time to go back, my stomach is growling. It’s time to paddle back and enjoy a meal at the Lake View Restaurant. What lovely Thai delight shalt I have for lunch today??
Mark
11 December, 2022 @ 14:06
Hola. Me podría mandar la ubicación exacta para Google Maps. ?
Till Jungmann
1 January, 2023 @ 16:02
si es possible, estas por alli ahora?