Photo spot in Krabi
The Emerald Pool
Krabi, Krabi Province
A spring-fed pool in the Khlong Thom forest an hour inland, the colour of antifreeze because of the dissolved limestone, with a hotter blue pool a short walk further up the trail and a boardwalk through lowland rainforest to reach both.
Best time
Late morning, when the sun is high enough to get down through the canopy and turn the water — the colour is a lighting effect and in flat shade it is grey-green and disappointing
Best angle
From the boardwalk above the pool looking down into it, so the colour fills the frame; at water level it photographs as a pond
Entry fee
A national-park ticket at the foreigner rate
Opening hours
Typically 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM, last entry mid-afternoon
Crowd level
High
Best outfit colors
Overview
Best time to visit The Emerald Pool
The best time to photograph The Emerald Pool is late morning, when the sun is high enough to get down through the canopy and turn the water — the colour is a lighting effect and in flat shade it is grey-green and disappointing, when crowds are typically high. Arrive a little early to claim your angle and catch the softest light before the day tips over.
Poses & angles
Photo tips for The Emerald Pool
The strongest shots at The Emerald Pool come from the boardwalk above the pool looking down into it, so the colour fills the frame; at water level it photographs as a pond. Work a few of the pose ideas below, shoot wide for context and tight for detail, and give yourself a couple of extra minutes to get the frame right.
On the boardwalk above the pool with the water below
Outfit guide
What to wear at The Emerald Pool
For photos at The Emerald Pool, white, emerald, sand and olive work beautifully — they stand out against the setting without fighting it. Pick one hero colour and keep the rest of the look calm so you stay the subject of the frame.
Best outfit colors for photos
Trending wear for this spot
Popular modern looks travellers are wearing across Krabi.
Traditional wear for this spot
Timeless, cultural outfits worn across Krabi.
Eat nearby
Food near The Emerald Pool
Hungry after the shoot? Search the Krabi food guide by craving to find something good nearby.
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Good to know
Local tips
The colour needs sun. Go between about ten and two, and skip it entirely on an overcast day — this is the one sight here where the weather decides whether it is worth an hour's drive.
The Blue Pool further along the trail is hotter, more vividly coloured and closed to swimming; the Emerald Pool is the one you can get into.
It is usually sold as a combined day with the hot springs waterfall nearby, which is a series of thermal rock pools you sit in. The pairing is a genuinely good half day.
It is an hour and a bit each way inland from Ao Nang, which surprises people who booked it as a morning.
The Emerald Pool
As a lake in Krabi, The Emerald Pool gives you one strong photographic idea - the sections below are how to get it onto the sensor. Budget for entry (a national-park ticket at the foreigner rate); the posted hours are typically 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM, last entry mid-afternoon.
📸 The shot
Shoot across the water early or late, when the surface doubles the sky and everything else is a reflection problem.
The frame to set up first is the one this guide's angle row describes - from the boardwalk above the pool looking down into it, so the colour fills the frame; at water level it photographs as a pond - and everything else is a variation on it.
🌄 Light and crowds
The light window is the short version in the timing row: late morning, when the sun is high enough to get down through the canopy and turn the water — the colour is a lighting effect and in flat shade it is grey-green and disappointing. Build the visit around it rather than around the clock.
It runs busy - arrive at the opening or wait out the wave; the shot exists either way, it just takes turns.
👕 What to wear
Of the colours that suit this spot, white keeps a frame clean even when the background is busy. The pose rows on this page are built for the spot - start with the one about on the boardwalk above the pool with the water below and adapt from there.
💡 Before you go
The colour needs sun. Go between about ten and two, and skip it entirely on an overcast day — this is the one sight here where the weather decides whether it is worth an hour's drive.
Questions
The Emerald Pool — FAQ
What is the best time to visit The Emerald Pool?
At The Emerald Pool, aim for late morning, when the sun is high enough to get down through the canopy and turn the water — the colour is a lighting effect and in flat shade it is grey-green and disappointing. For the best composition, try from the boardwalk above the pool looking down into it, so the colour fills the frame; at water level it photographs as a pond.
Is there an entry fee at The Emerald Pool?
Entry to The Emerald Pool is by a national-park ticket at the foreigner rate.
What are the opening hours of The Emerald Pool?
The Emerald Pool is open typically 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM, last entry mid-afternoon.
What should I wear at The Emerald Pool?
White, emerald, sand and olive photograph especially well here. Explore the trending and traditional outfit ideas on this page for full looks.
How crowded does The Emerald Pool get?
Crowd levels are typically high. Visiting late morning, when the sun is high enough to get down through the canopy and turn the water — the colour is a lighting effect and in flat shade it is grey-green and disappointing helps you avoid the busiest window.