Emerald Pool Krabi: Green Water in the Forest and How to Get There
Railay EcoThe Emerald Pool sits in Khlong Thom district, Krabi province, roughly 60 to 70 kilometres from Krabi town — about an hour to an hour and a half by car. It is a natural pool clear enough to see the sand on the bottom, coloured green-blue by minerals in the groundwater and the light filtering through the canopy. From the car park you walk about 800 metres along a forest path. The path is mostly flat and comfortable even with children or older travellers. Two places most people pair with it on the same day: the Hot Springs nearby, and the Blue Pool a further walk in from the Emerald Pool itself. This guide covers the route, the entrance, the walking distances, and when the water is at its clearest.
Where is the Emerald Pool, and why is the water green?
The Emerald Pool lies in a protected forest area of Khlong Thom district, southeast of Krabi town. It is nowhere near the coast — it sits in the middle of lowland forest.
The water comes from an underground spring that flows year round, not from a mountain stream. That is why it is clearer and warmer than a typical waterfall pool. The temperature sits around 30 degrees Celsius, so you can soak comfortably without the cold shock.
The green-blue colour comes from two things working together: minerals dissolved in the groundwater, and a pool floor of pale sand and limestone. When sunlight comes through the treetops and hits that floor, it reflects back green. The shade of green shifts through the day depending on how much light gets through.
How to get to the Emerald Pool
The site is inside a forest reserve with no public bus to the gate, so you need a private vehicle or a tour.
Driving yourself
The most flexible option, because you can continue to the Hot Springs on the same day.
- Leave Krabi town on the main road south towards Khlong Thom district.
- Turn off at the signposted junction for the Emerald Pool, then follow the village road in.
- There is a car park at the entrance gate. From there you walk in yourself.
Coming from Ao Nang adds roughly 20 kilometres — allow another half hour.
Hiring a car with driver, or joining a tour
Suits anyone who does not want to drive, or wants several inland stops in one day.
- Most inland tours pair the Emerald Pool with the Hot Springs, since they sit close together.
- Some add Wat Tham Suea or a viewpoint, which pushes your return to late afternoon.
- Ask clearly whether the price includes the conservation-area entry fee — many operators charge it separately.
What time of day is best?
Aim to arrive when the gate opens, for two reasons.
- The water is at its clearest before enough people get in to stir up sediment from the pool floor.
- The sun is not yet overhead, the forest path is shadier, and photographs pick up the water colour better than in the afternoon.
Mid-morning to midday is the busiest window, because the tour vans all arrive together.
Entrance fee and walking distance
These are the two things people most want to know before setting out.
Entrance
The Emerald Pool sits inside a protected area, so there is an entry fee collected at the gate before the walking trail. Thai and foreign visitors are charged at different rates, and there is a separate child rate. These rates are adjusted periodically, so check the current amount on the sign at the gate or ask your operator beforehand. Bring cash — the gate may not accept other payment methods.
The walk
From the car park to the Emerald Pool is roughly 800 metres on a surfaced path with very little gradient. Allow 15 to 20 minutes at an easy pace. Rainforest lines both sides of the trail and there are benches along the way.
If you continue to the Blue Pool, add roughly 600 metres from the Emerald Pool. That section turns to dirt and tree roots, so shoes with real grip help.
Can you visit the Blue Pool and Hot Springs too?
Yes, and it is the route most people plan. You just need to know each site's limits.
The Blue Pool
A deep-blue spring pool further in from the Emerald Pool. Swimming is not allowed here, because it is the spring that feeds the whole system.
- The blue is noticeably deeper in colour than the Emerald Pool, which makes it the better photo stop.
- It closes during parts of the year so the area can recover. Ask at the gate before walking in.
- After heavy rain the day before, the water turns cloudy and will not look like the photos online.
The Hot Springs
About 10 to 15 minutes away by car — a warm stream running down through rock basins you can sit in. Noticeably hotter than the Emerald Pool.
- Most people soak here after the forest walk, because it helps tired legs.
- Do not stay in continuously for long stretches; get out and rest between soaks.
- There is a separate entry fee from the Emerald Pool.
The order we suggest for one day
Start at the Emerald Pool early for clear water and fewer people, walk on to the Blue Pool if it is open, then drive to the Hot Springs in the afternoon before heading back. You never double back on yourself, and the whole thing takes half a day to most of a day.
Other inland spots you can add are collected in our guide to things to do in Krabi that aren't the beach.
When is the water clearest, and what should you bring?
The pool is clear year round, but not equally clear every month.
The clearest window
December through April is clearest — less rain means less sediment washing in, and there is enough sun to bring out the green. This is also the busiest window, so go early.
The rainy months
May to October brings rain in bursts. Several heavy days in a row turn the water cloudy and wash out the green. The trade-off is far fewer people and much greener forest. Pick a day two or three days after the rain has stopped and the water is usually still clear.
Monsoon is when inland trips have the advantage over sea trips, since they do not depend on the swell. For how each monsoon month actually behaves in Krabi, see our Krabi monsoon guide.
What to bring
- Swimwear worn underneath — changing facilities are limited and queue up. Easier to arrive ready.
- Towel and a dry bag for wet things on the drive back.
- Shoes with grip, especially if you are walking on to the Blue Pool.
- Cash for the entry fee and the stalls at the gate.
- Drinking water — there are no shops along the trail.
- Insect repellent — the path runs through rainforest.
Do not bring your own food to eat at the poolside, and do not use sunscreen or soap in the water. This is a natural spring that flows on to feed the forest system downstream.
Want the Emerald Pool and the Krabi sea in one trip?
Most visitors have two or three days in Krabi and want both clear sea and clear forest water, without knowing which day to spend where.
Railay Eco Tour is a local team born and raised in Krabi. Checking the swell forecast every morning is part of our routine, so we can tell you which days are right for the sea and which days are better swapped for an inland run to the Emerald Pool. Sequencing it that way means you do not lose a day to a trip where the water was never going to look good. Sea days run from the half-day 4 Islands tour, which leaves you half a day spare, up to the full-day Hong Islands tour when you want the whole day on the water. If you are planning the whole trip from scratch, read our complete Krabi travel guide alongside this, then tell us how many days you have and we will order them for you.
Frequently asked questions
Which province is the Emerald Pool in?
The Emerald Pool is in Khlong Thom district, Krabi province, roughly 60 to 70 kilometres from Krabi town — about an hour to an hour and a half by car.
Can you swim in the Emerald Pool?
Yes, you can get in and swim. The water sits around 30 degrees Celsius, so it is not cold. The Blue Pool further in, however, is closed to swimming because it is the source spring for the whole system.
How far is the walk from the car park to the Emerald Pool?
Roughly 800 metres on a surfaced path with very little gradient, about 15 to 20 minutes at an easy pace — manageable with children or older travellers. Continuing to the Blue Pool adds roughly 600 metres on dirt and tree roots.
Is morning or afternoon better for the Emerald Pool?
Morning is better. The water is clearer before crowds stir up sediment, the sun is not yet harsh, and the tour vans have not all arrived at once. Mid-morning to midday is the busiest window.
Can you do the Emerald Pool and the Hot Springs in one day?
Yes. They sit 10 to 15 minutes apart by car. The usual pattern is the Emerald Pool in the morning and the Hot Springs in the afternoon, taking half a day to most of a day, with a separate entry fee at each site.
References
- Wikipedia: Khlong Thom District: location and district boundaries
- Wikipedia: Krabi Province: geography and seasons
- Department of Tourism, Thailand: tour operator standards
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