How to Celebrate New Year in Krabi Thailand
From Christmas to New Year in Thailand
Living in Thailand during the holiday season, we celebrated Christmas on the picturesque island of Koh Lanta. As New Year’s approached, we started thinking about where to ring in the new year.
Choosing Krabi for New Year
While enjoying authentic Thai cuisine on the peaceful island of Koh Yao Noi, we weighed our options. Bangkok’s big celebrations were tempting, but Krabi—just a short trip away—quickly became our top choice.
Why Krabi Stood Out
With its legendary New Year’s festivities, lively atmosphere, and tropical scenery, Krabi’s charm won us over. Celebrating the New Year here soon became the highlight of our holiday plans.
Short on time?
Book Your Stay Early in Krabi
Planning an unforgettable New Year’s Eve in Krabi? 🎉 Booking your accommodation early is essential! As one of Thailand’s top holiday destinations, Krabi’s hotels, resorts, and guesthouses fill up quickly during the festive season.
From our experience, nearly everything was fully booked just a week before New Year’s Eve. To avoid last-minute stress, secure your place well in advance.
Where to Stay in Krabi for New Year
💡 Travel Tip
Make Your New Year Stress-Free: Booking early makes your New Year celebration in Krabi stress-free and memorable. Get ready to ring in the year surrounded by stunning landscapes and festive vibes!
Krabi offers a variety of stays for every traveler and budget. You can choose from luxury beachfront resorts, peaceful jungle retreats, or hotels close to the action.
- Centara Ao Nang Beach Resort & Spa Krabi – A perfect beachfront escape with sea views and direct access to Ao Nang Beach. Enjoy luxury rooms, a relaxing spa, and great dining.
- Aonang Fiore Resort – One of our favorite hotels in Krabi. Hidden in the jungle, it offers peace and nature. The resort is about a 25–30 minute walk to the beach and has its own park. We loved the calm atmosphere and natural beauty — a great pick if you want a serene escape.
Centara Anda Dhevi Resort & Spa in Krabi is a serene retreat near Ao Nang Beach. We stayed here for two months and absolutely loved it! The spacious rooms, relaxing spa, and large lagoon-style pool made for a perfect tropical getaway. The breakfast was incredible, and the internet was super fast, making it an ideal spot for both relaxation and work.
Red Ginger Chic Resort is a great budget-friendly hotel in Krabi. We stayed here for a week and were impressed with the quality and value. The hotel offers excellent internet, making it convenient for work or leisure. It’s also perfectly located, just a short walk from the night market and close to all the exciting activities in the area. A perfect choice for those looking to explore Krabi on a budget!
New Year’s Eve in Ao Nang: Celebrate with Beach Parties, Fireworks, and Live Music
Ao Nang is the heart of New Year’s celebrations in Krabi. Beach parties, live music, and fire shows light up the night. The streets come alive with music, fireworks burst across the sky, and lanterns float overhead, creating a magical scene.
It’s the perfect place to welcome the New Year with energy and excitement. Whether you join the crowd on the beach or enjoy dinner at a lively restaurant, Ao Nang offers a celebration full of culture, fun, and stunning views.
Ring in the New Year: A Formal Beachfront Dinner Experience
If you want an exceptional New Year’s celebration, Reeve Restaurant in Krabi is a top choice. This beachfront spot is filled with festive decorations and a lively atmosphere, perfect for ringing in the year.
A favorite for both locals and tourists, Reeve offers delicious food with stunning ocean views. Located in the heart of Ao Nang, it sits on the beach and is surrounded by vibrant streets.
The menu blends Italian, Japanese, Thai, and international flavors, so there is something for everyone. The night comes alive with a special New Year’s show and an exciting fire show — an unforgettable way to celebrate your Krabi getaway.
🎆 Fun Fact
Ao Nang is one of the only places in Thailand where you can watch fireworks burst above the sea and limestone cliffs at the same time.
New Year’s Eve at Reeve Restaurant
Imagine starting your evening with a delicious multi-course dinner right by the beach. As the night goes on, the excitement builds with a lively countdown to midnight, an impressive fire show, and incredible music.
The atmosphere is electric, and the energy is contagious. At Reeve Restaurant, it’s clear that everyone is having a blast, making it one of the best places in Krabi to celebrate New Year’s Eve.
Fire Shows and Local Festivities
Reeve Restaurant may have had the best fire show in Krabi. We also saw one at Ao Nang Landmark Market the same night, but Reeve’s performance stood out. The music matched the fire perfectly, and the choreography was fantastic. We highly recommend their show — it’s a spectacular experience you won’t want to miss.
Reeve is a great choice for a formal New Year’s Eve dinner, but we were looking for something more. We wanted to celebrate the Krabi way, blending with the locals and experiencing how they welcome the new year. After enjoying the music and fire show at Reeve, we continued our night by diving deeper into the vibrant atmosphere and unique traditions all around us.
Sky Lanterns and New Year Magic: A Krabi Tradition You Must Experience
Releasing sky lanterns on New Year’s Eve is a meaningful tradition in Thailand. By sending lanterns into the night sky, people let go of negative emotions and past misfortunes, making room for new experiences in the year ahead.
As the sky filled with lanterns, we were amazed by how many people joined in — locals and tourists alike. The sight was magical, almost like a fairytale. Glowing lanterns lit up the sky while their reflections danced on the sea.
It was a breathtaking moment of dreams and wishes rising into the night. If you celebrate New Year’s Eve in Krabi, don’t miss this tradition. Make a wish before you release your lantern, let go of the past, and embrace the possibilities of the year to come.
Buying Lanterns in Krabi
You can buy sky lanterns for 100–200 baht at the beach or along the streets. Keep in mind that sellers don’t provide lighters or matches. Make sure you buy your own in advance.
We didn’t have one, and it was tricky to find someone to help light our lantern. Planning ahead will make the experience much smoother.
Exploring Local Flavors and Live Music At New Year Eve
The night continued with stops at various local restaurants and bars for drinks, immersing ourselves in the vibrant atmosphere and enjoying live performances. It was truly an enjoyable experience
Street Food on New Year’s Eve
On New Year’s Eve, it felt like street restaurants appeared out of nowhere in Krabi. The sudden wave of food stalls was incredible, and they filled up quickly as the night went on.
The streets turned into a vibrant and bustling scene, with everyone eager to celebrate and enjoy the local cuisine.
Vegan Options in Krabi
If you’re vegan, you’ll have no trouble finding food during New Year’s celebrations in Krabi. Many street restaurants offer tasty vegan dishes, making sure everyone can enjoy a festive meal.
Ao Nang Landmark Night Market
Before heading to the beach to watch the fireworks, we stopped at the Ao Nang Landmark Night Market. The market had a long, well-organized program filled with local performers and dancers. There was even a comedy show, though it was in Thai, so we didn’t understand much.
It was still fascinating to see how the locals celebrated the New Year. With so many people around, finding a free table was tough, but we managed to get one. We enjoyed the lively performances and music as we waited for the fireworks.
A Festive Market Atmosphere
The Ao Nang Landmark Night Market was beautifully decorated and very welcoming. Bright lights and colorful decor created a festive vibe, while people enjoyed tasty food and laughed along with the performances.
It was a lively and heartwarming celebration that captured the true spirit of New Year in Krabi.
Celebrating with the Locals
Our best experience was immersing ourselves with the locals. We had never seen so much happiness and joy on New Year’s Eve as we did in Krabi. The celebration was unforgettable. People danced, set off fireworks across the beach, and created an electrifying atmosphere.
The beach came alive with BBQs, tables, blankets, and even big speakers brought from home. Locals quickly invited us to join their parties as we walked by. Many shouted with excitement for us to sit, share their tables, and celebrate together.
It was an incredible and heartwarming moment, unlike anything you would see on a beach in California. This memory will stay with us for a lifetime.
A Family-Friendly Celebration
We were amazed to see so many tents set up for little kids to sleep in while their parents celebrated and danced the night away. The beach was filled with blankets and overflowing with food.
The scale and joy of it all were mind-blowing. It was a vibrant, family-friendly celebration that added a special touch to the New Year festivities in Krabi.
New Year’s Eve at Nopharat Thara Beach
Seeing everyone dance while lanterns lit up the sky, loud music filled the air, and celebrations spread across Nopharat Thara Beach was incredible.
The atmosphere was electric and created a truly unforgettable New Year’s Eve experience.
Countdown at Ao Nang Beach
After celebrating with the locals under the starlit sky, we walked down to Ao Nang Beach for the countdown and fireworks. The atmosphere was electric. People screamed, danced, and eagerly awaited the arrival of the new year.
It was a vibrant celebration filled with hope and new dreams, making it an unforgettable part of our New Year’s Eve in Krabi.
Unforgettable New Year’s Eve in Krabi: A Toast to New Beginnings and Global Adventures
Happy New Year from Krabi, Thailand! This was the best New Year’s celebration we have ever experienced. It was truly indescribable.
We wish you an incredible year ahead filled with adventures and travels around the world. May your dreams come true in the months to come. Here’s to new beginnings and unforgettable experiences!
Post-Fireworks Chaos: Navigating Krabi’s Endless New Year’s Celebration
Returning to the hotel was a challenge. The streets were packed, and nothing was moving. We were glad we chose to walk and left our motorbike at the hotel.
As we made our way back, people were still dancing and singing in the streets. The New Year’s party in Krabi felt like it would never end!
