Railay Beach in Krabi
After visiting Thailand 3 times, this is hands down my favorite beach. Baby powder white sand beaches, turquoise water, relaxed atmosphere and picturesque limestone karsts. Imagine the hallelujah mountains from the movie Avatar scattered over the ocean! Railay is truly an unforgettable paradise.
Things To Do
Rock climbing– Railay is known for it’s world class rock climbing and deep water soloing. Deep water soloing is rock climbing without ropes, on an island over the water. If you fall, you simply land in the ocean. I went rock climbing with Base Camp Climbers ($23 USD for a 1/2 day of climbing & gear). Other options are Krabi Rock Climbing and The Rock Shop in Tonsai Bay.
Kayaking– you can rent kayaks right on Railay beach (west) for $3 USD/hour. If you go at low tide, paddle along the rocks at the south end of the beach. Theres a cave you can pass through and exit on the other side. You can also kayak to Ao Phra Nang beach as well as explore the limestone karsts.
Princess lagoon– this is a steep day hike through the forest that’s finishes at a hidden lagoon. It can get muddy so I wouldn’t recommend flip flops.
Markets– theres a walking path that connects Railay East to Railay West filled with markets, street food, bars and restaurants.
Massage– on the walking path, you can find shops that will do massage for $7/ hour.
Tonsai bay
– theres a nice walk to Tonsai. Scroll down for more info on Tonsai.
Nightlife– Railay is a quiet beach with a relaxed atmosphere, but there are plenty of bars if you’re looking for nightlife. Expect to find a bar with hammocks and pillows to relax on. You will not find the crazy beach parties that the Phi Phi islands have.
Railay Accommodation
Avatar Railay Resort– this hotel has a nice pool. It’s located on Railay East right next to the walking path that connects to Railway West ($35/night).
Railay Bay Resort and Spa– theres an infinity pool overlooking the ocean. This is the perfect beachfront location on Railay West. ($60/night).
Note: If you’re looking for cheap accommodation, Railay East is cheaper than Railway West. Railay West has an incredible beach while Railay East does not have a beachfront and is filled with mangroves. However, it’s a short walk to cross over between the 2 sides. Tonsai bay also has cheap accommodation and is walking distance to Railay.
Getting Here
If you’re coming from Phuket, you can catch a 2hr 15min high speed ferry. The ferry leaves from Rassada Pier and is around $20 USD.
Air- you can fly into Krabi International airport. From the airport, take a 30 min taxi ($15 USD) or shuttle bus to Ao Nang ($5 USD). In Ao Nang, you need to take a 10 min boat ride to Railay beach. Boat tickets are sold where the main road meets the beach, next to the Phra Nang Inn, for about $3 USD. It’s called Ao Nang Longtail Boat Service Club. The boats leave whenever they’re full and will drop you off at Railay West.
Know that if you arrive during low tide, the boat cannot take you all the way to shore. You’ll be dropped off as close as they can get and you’ll have to walk through shallow water. Keep this is mind when choosing your footwear.
If there aren’t any boats leaving when your flight arrives, head to Ao Nammao pier. These boats leave about every half hour (when they’re full). They will drop you off at Railay East, West or Tonsai Bay ($2.5USD).
NOTE: the boats stop around 6pm. If you’re on a night flight, you can take a taxi to the Ao Nammao pier and get a private boat to Railay beach (but it’s more expensive). It’s around $30 USD for the boat divided by however many people there are.
The other option is stay in Au Nang for the night.
Tonsai Bay
Tonsai Bay is the beach just north of Railay. You can either take a boat, hike in from Railay West or take the path from Railway East. If you walk north along Railay West, theres a trail through the forest that connects to Tonsai. It’s about a 30 minute walk and you pass some amazing rock overhangs that are perfect for rock climbing. Be careful crossing during high tide.
Tonsai Accommodation
Tonsai Bay Resort– the only beachfront resort in Tonsai (about $23/night USD).
Chill Out Bar and Bungalows– about a 7 minute walk up the road from the beach. Very relaxed setting with hammocks and pillows to chill on ($9/night dorm, $15/night private room).
Tonsai bars
Freedom bar– beach bar in front of Tonsai Bay Resort. Good smoothies and a nice deck area with pillows to lounge on.
Pirate bar– fully decorated 2 story pirate ship with swings, a pool table, ping pong table and other games.
Viking bar– theres a slack line between the trees out front.
Sunset bar– 2 story tiki bar, live music and a rock climbing wall.
Chill out bar– Relaxed hippie vibe with a large lounge space including a treehouse with pillows and hammocks. Theres a coffee shop at the front and they also have rooms to stay in.
The best time to visit Thailand is November- March. Make sure to check the visa requirements before you go. At the time of writing this, you do not need a visa if you’re a US citizen and your passport can’t expire within 6 months.
If you’re looking for a relaxing beach vacation with some adventure, Railay beach is the perfect place. I try not to return to the same location when I’m traveling, but Railay is an exception because I love it here so much. I’ve been to Railay twice and will definitely be going back.
Thanks for reading. If you’re interested in other adventures in Southeast Asia, check out my other posts for tips. If you have any questions please email me. 🙂
