The Railay region, accessible only by boat, is home to some of Thailand's most beautiful beaches, high limestone cliffs that ambitious rock climbers attempt to scale, and wildly beautiful landscapes that you'll remember long after you return home.

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The beauty of Railay is already known by the crowds of tourists who head here on day trips, but you'll only know the true magic of Railay when you decide to spend the night and enjoy the place without thousands of visitors.

What to do in Railay?

Railay offers a large number of activities and places of interest, it's up to you what you choose. The most popular activities include the following:

Beaches and swimming - Railay has several beautiful beaches and some of them are among the most beautiful in the whole world.
Rock climbing - Railay is a great climbing destination for beginners and advanced climbers alike, a number of local agencies offer trips that you can join and climb some of the local steep limestone cliffs.
Snorkelling - there are nicer locations in Thailand for snorkelling from the beach, but even so, watching the underwater life can be interesting.
Lake Sa Phra Nang - a steep trail takes you to a beautiful lookout over Railay and to a unique lagoon, with curious macaques keeping you company along the way.
Princess's Cave - a small cave at the end of Phra nang beach, which is a sacred place for local fishermen.
Diamond Cave - a large limestone cave complex on the hill above Railay.

Rock formations on Railay

Railay beaches

There are several beaches in the Railay area that are distinctly different from each other and you can visit them during your stay in Railay. Which beaches can you find in Railay?

Railay West Beach - the most famous beach in Railay, which is usually packed with boats from the nearby resort of Ao Nang, it's nice for swimming at high tide but virtually impossible to get into the water at low tide.
Railay East Beach - the beach where the big ferries and smaller boats to Krabi Town leave from, the area is rather covered in mangroves and not very good for swimming.
Phra Nang Beach - Railay's most beautiful beach with white sand, azure water and views of limestone cliffs.
Tonsai Beach - a little hidden but very beautiful beach on Railay, which can only be reached by boat or on foot at low tide from Railay West Beach, there is also a rather challenging jungle trail through the hills from Railay town, it is a popular destination especially for rock climbers.

Accommodation in Railay

You'll have no trouble finding accommodation on Railay, just expect prices to be slightly higher than in other parts of Krabi province. Choose from the following accommodation:

Simple bungalows and hotel rooms up to 65 usd - Railay Garden View Resort ***, Rapala Rock Wood Resort **
Luxury hotel resorts to 130 usd - Railay Bay Resort & Spa ****, Sand Sea Resort Railay Beach ****

Transportation to Railay

Railay is only accessible by boat and cannot be reached by any other means. You can choose between the following public transport:

Hat Railay East pier - longtail boats come here from Krabi town and larger boats come here from Koh Phi Phi, Phuket, Koh Lanta and sometimes other islands.
Railay West and Tonsai Beach - longtail boats come here from Ao Nang

The price one way from nearest Ao Nang is 100 thb. From Krabi you pay 200 thb and from Phuket for example a ticket to Railay is 700 thb.