[top photo: A couple kayaking in the clear waters of Ao Poda, Thailand.]

KRABI is all about white beaches, exotic wildlife, limestone caves and mountains.

Just an hour and 20 minutes journey by plane from Bangkok, Krabi is on the west coast of southern Thailand.

As it is predominantly an agricultural area, visitors can see many rubber, palm tree and coconut plantations.

For adventure-seeking tourists, Krabi does extend her fair share of fun and excitement.

It is surrounded by about 200 islands where you can explore all you want. The most popular areas for tourists are the Phi Phi Islands, which comprise six islets.

With its many beaches, Krabi is a great place to learn how to dive.

There are numerous first-rate dive shops in the vicinity that offer affordable scuba certification from beginner to master instructor levels.

But if diving is not your cup of tea, you can still opt for snorkeling in this marine environment.

Other activities you can try include exploring limestone cliffs.

There are kayaking trips that will take you to spots which are inaccessible by foot, and where you'll get to explore the nooks and crannies of the limestone formations.

Eroded by natural forces over thousands of years, these hidden caves and lagoons are a must-see, but only when the tide is right.

And don't worry, because the best part about this is you will not need to sweat to see the sights.

Licensed tour guides will expertly manoeuvre you through the meandering routes.

There are also several national parks on the island, and there are a variety of attractions for visitors to explore, including caves, rocky outcrops, waterfalls and rock pools.

Not all are accessible by foot though. You can rent mountain bikes or motorbikes to get you in.

Some of the popular national park treks can be found in Khao Phra Bang Khram Bang Teao village, and Koh Phanom Bencha National Park.

After you've tired the muscles out from jungle trekking, head to Krabi's natural hot springs known as Crystal Pools.

The pools are about 70km south of Krabi Town, set amidst a tropical jungle.

Temperature in these pools is about 35 deg C, and the waters are sure to soothe your muscles.

If time permits, you can check out the Tiger Cave Temple, just on the outskirts of Krabi Town.

The temple is so named as there is a rock formation near it that resembles a tiger claw.

Visitors to this site can choose between two different routes. One comprises approximately 1,237 steps that will take you up to the hill top.

The second is only 130 steps, which leads you up to the little cottages where the monks reside. There are about 250 monks and nuns living in the temple compound today.

For those who want to experience a slice of nature still largely untouched by urbanisation, Krabi is the place to go.

Joanna Hor Peixin, newsroom intern

This article was first published in The New Paper.