Shopping in Krabi

Handicrafts

The range of handicrafts available in Thailand is incredibly wide. With skills that have been passed down for generations, the art of Thai crafts has long been a reflection of Thai people's creativity and ingenuity. The intricate details and designs are a display of inventiveness, and the meticulous methods proof of perseverance.

There are plenty of fantastic handicrafts available, from furniture to clothes, accessories to toys, which also have a long history in Thailand and make appropriate gifts or souvenirs. Some handicrafts are still very much catered towards a Thai – or Buddhist – audience.

Thai Spa Products

A trip to the Land of Smiles is not complete without a spa treatment or massage. Consider buying spa products to take home. You'll find a selection of coconut oils, scented candles and indigenous plant oils for purchase.

You may also buy beautifully carved soaps, body scrubs, foot soaks, reed diffusers and herbal compresses as souvenirs to take home. Thai Spa products make great gifts for friends, co-workers, and family. Spa products contain many benefits not only for your skin health but also to help you relax.

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is available throughout Thailand – wherever there are tourists you'll find bottles for sale with English labels. Coconut oil is rightly very trendy these days and it can be used for cooking or for your beauty regime.

You can get this oil from a hotel gift shop or a market. A high price tends to indicate higher quality, and most packaging will be in English to tell you whether it's cooking grade or for external use only. Coconut oil has several health benefits, the most important one being its usefulness in hair care and skin care.

Dried Fruit

There is lots of fruit in Thailand, and most of it is seasonal. Tropical fruit from Thailand is very famous and can be easily found at a local market. When visiting the country, it is advisable to try fruit like durian, mango, banana, coconut, and pomegranate.

For those who desire to bring the taste of tropical fruit home, dried and vacuum sealed fruit is available at airport duty-free shops, local markets and even in shopping malls. Whether it's a sweet or a healthy snack, we'll leave that up to you, but it's unique. Dried fruit also makes for an interesting gift for friends back home.

Thai Sauces and Spices

Thailand is famous for its food, which is known for its spices, sauces, and herbs. Sauces and spices are a must-buy if you like to continue eating authentic Thai and enjoy unique flavors at home. Purchase a few packets of spices or perhaps some hot pepper sauce.

Sauces and spices make great souvenirs and are available nearly everywhere. There's a great selection of commercially packaged sauces and spices in the duty-free shops, local markets, shopping malls and even in hotel souvenir shops.

Maharaj Market

Maharaj is also known as the 'Morning Market', and as the name suggests, it's a lively and active place, even before sunrise. It starts off as a wholesale market as early as 04:00, when the aisles are packed with carts and shoppers. After about 09:00, it'll quiet down a little bit and then finally wind down around noon.

What to look for?

The newly renovated Maharaj Market in Krabi is nicely organized and despite its heavy traffic, the market is clean and easy to navigate. There are sections for fruit, vegetables, fish, meat, dry food stuffs, and a huge breakfast pre-made food area.

The minute you walk in, you will know that Maharaj is the kind of Asian market people described to you when traveling through this part of the world. It's full of exotic goods, both dry and fresh; whether rice, spices, chili paste, colorful fruit and vegetables, tropical fish, home-wares, clothes and more.

What to eat and drink?

It's an excellent place to taste some real Thai food and hospitality. Most of the food is for the locals, so it is take away style. But you can have a seat at a small table behind some of the shops. A must-try are especially the fruit smoothies.

Address: Wat Mai, Amphoe Mueang Chanthaburi, Chang Wat Chanthaburi 22000, Thailand

Opening Hours: Daily from 04:00 - 12:00.

Chao Fah Night Market

The Krabi Night Market is also called Chao Fah Weekend Market and it features outdoor food stands and stalls along the roadside. It's a chance to enjoy a great range of local dishes, such as barbecued seafood and meat, curries, and more, in a lively Thai market atmosphere.

What to look for?

The Krabi Night Market is a perfect place to enjoy an early evening in a relaxed and chilled atmosphere. Many Thai people like to come here after work for a stroll in the fresh sea breeze coming from the Andaman Sea.

Set on a 1,400sqm parking lot, Krabi Night Market is the gathering of something like 30 food stalls with hundreds of plastic tables and chairs. There aren't many tourists at the market but local people eat fresh seafood in view of the ocean.

What to eat and drink?

This market offers the biggest choice of cuisine in Krabi, along with sweets and beverages. You will get to sample Thai-style fast food, famous seafood dishes and Chinese and Muslim cuisine. Most dishes cost around 35 - 50 baht, while drinks are about 10 - 15 baht. The seafood items are more expensive but hardly ever go over 100 baht per plate. And you can enjoy a healthy fruit juice afterwards.

Location: Chao Fah Pier, on Kongka Road, Krabi Town

Opening Hours: Daily from 5pm until midnight