The second stop on the tour is 3 nights in Krabi province, one of the most popular destinations for herping in Thailand - for good reasons. The towering limestone karst formations and tidal mangrove forests provide the perfect backdrop to a tropical herping adventure, as well as holding a unique diversity of herpetofauna. We will explore this extraordinary karst landscape by day and night, searching at night for the emblematic beautiful pit viper (Trimeresurus venustus), mangrove cat snake (Boiga melanota) and the locally common melanistic dog-toothed cat snake (Boiga cynodon). During the daytime, we will search along rocky streams and karst valleys hoping to encounter monocled cobra (Naja kaouthia) or even the elusive king cobra (Ophiophagus hannah), as well as other large colubrids such as red-tailed racer (Gonyosoma oxycephalum) and keeled rat snake (Ptyas carinata). On top of herpetofauna, we have previously encountered mammals such as Sunda slow loris, banded palm civets, greater hog badgers, mouse deer, leopard cat, and even glimpsed a sunda pangolin on our expedition here in 2023.
On our final day in Krabi, we will hire a longtail boat to travel through the mangrove estuary with the ambition of encountering resting mangrove pit vipers (Trimeresurus purpureomaculatus), as well as marine file snake (Acrochordus granulatus) and other rare aquatic species. Dog-faced water snakes (Cerberus schneiderii) can be found in tens if the tidal conditions are favourable. We can also explore the mangroves on foot in search of other rare mangrove mud snakes, more mangrove pit vipers and even Malayan kraits (Bungarus candidus).
Throughout our time in Krabi, we will be staying at a scenic resort situated at the base of the limestone karst formations. There will be a restaurant with wifi and food served morning-to-evening, on top of 24 hour access to high-quality herping. Even within the bungalows, common wolf snakes (Lycodon capucinus) and golden flying snakes (Chrysopelea ornata) are often found.