7 handy Tips for Visiting Railay
PRACTICAL ADVICE & HANDY TIPS
Fancy a sandy beach, coconut cocktails and the most beautiful sunrise you will ever see?
Heading to Railay was one of the most beautiful experiences we had while on our trip to Thailand. Below are some handy tips we’ve put together for your up and coming trip, including where to stay and how to get to this stunning peninsular.
Heading to Railay? Check out our article “Railay, Thailand Travel Guide”, for suggestions on where to stay, eat, drink and explore.
money
The first thing we noticed when we got to Railay (apart from the stunning scenery obviously) was that everything seemed at least triple the price of what we’d gotten used to in Thailand.
Nearly everything costs more in Railay due to its location. There are no 7-Eleven’s, so buy things like water, suncream and snacks before your trip to save you wasting money. We found we spent a lot of money buying bottled water as you can’t drink the tap water so stock up on the necessities.
2. atm’s
There are a couple of cash machines in Railay on the main walkways which are easily accessible. These have the usual 180-baht fee for each transaction. We would suggest bringing enough cash for your trip instead of taking out money every time you need some and paying the extra fee on top each time.
3. beware of the monkeys
When we arrived at our hotel we were warned about leaving the patio doors open as monkeys can come in and steal things.
They can be quite vicious and are very clever, especially when they can smell food. We saw one monkey steal a ladies bag, take out her lunchbox, take off the lid and start tucking in!
Check out this article “Finding Your favourite Thai Beach” by Fan Club Thailand, which features our top suggestion of which beach to visit!
4. which side?
Should I stay on the east or west side of Railay?
The east side of the peninsular has more hotels which are definitely more budget-friendly but the beach is nowhere near as nice as the west side. This side of the beach isn’t sandy and is covered in mangroves.
We would suggest staying on the west side (if your budget allows) as this side has fewer hotels (so fewer people) and has the beautiful beach including the opportunity to watch the sun set into the ocean every night.
If you can’t stay on the west side you’ll still be able to get to the beach either way. It’s a 10-minute walk to get from one side to the other.
This leads us to number 5.
5. Pack light
Railay is only accessible via boat. So when you arrive the boat will drop you off at the beach, meaning you have to wade to the shore in shallow water while carrying your bags. So as you’re stepping into sometimes knee-high water it’s best not to have tonnes of luggage on you.
If you enter from the east side and need to make your way to the west side or vice versa, you’ll have to walk roughly 10 minutes on an uneven pathway. Again this is a lot easier if you just have a backpack, rather than wheeling around a large suitcase.
6. Peak time?
The peak season is from December - April and this is the dry season. If you want to have perfect weather we’d recommend visiting between January - March. But as it’s peak season it may be very crowded and hotel prices will increase.
We visited at the beginning of May and we didn’t find it crowded at all and had lovely weather.
7. Transport
Railay is a peninsula, but it feels more like an island because of the high cliffs and lush jungle that cuts it off from the rest of the coastline. There are no roads leading into Railay which means there are no cars or mopeds so you can only reach Railay by boat.
The closest airport to Railay is Krabi International, located about 30 kilometers from Railay. The airport provides a shuttle that can take you to Ao Nang or Ao Nammao pier for 150 baht. From the pier, you can buy a boat ticket which will take you to Railay.
Ports which can take you to Railay
Year round:
Kong Ka Pier (Krabi town)
Khlong Jilad Pier (Krabi Town)
Ao Nang beach
Peak season only:
Saladan Pier (Ko Lanta)
Rassada Pier (Phuket)
Ao Tonsai Pier (Ko Phi Phi)
Depending on your hotel they may be able to organise your transport and deal with this for you so check on their website and contact them.
