Railay, Thailand
TRAVEL GUIDE
Railay is located on the southern coast of Thailand and is known for its picture-perfect paradise beaches.
If you want incredible sunsets, beautiful beaches, and majestic coral reefs then Railay needs to be on your travel bucket list. It’s here you can explore the islands, coast and colourful coral. With the occasional coconut cocktail and canoe trip!
Whether you want the chilled-out vibe or you’re more of an adventure seeker, Railay has something for everyone. So below is a list of where to stay, eat, and explore … with a few handy tips along the way!
EXPLORING RAILAY
how to get to railay
Being a peninsular, because of the high cliffs and lush jungle, you're disconnected from the rest of the coastline. The detachment from the rest of the Krabi province lends itself to the carefree and relaxed atmosphere, cutting off from the rest of the world and the busy streets of Ao Nang.
There are no roads leading into Railay which means there are no cars or mopeds so you can only reach Railay by boat.
You can get a boat to Railay from multiple locations. The most popular way of reaching Railay is from Ao Nang beach, right by the town. You can buy tickets from most tour operators which sit along the main roads, in-between the restaurants and souvenir shops.
For more information on how to get to Railay and travel tips, check out our article 7 HANDY TIPS FOR VISITING RAILAY.
Check out this article “Finding Your favourite Thai Beach” by Fan Club Thailand, which features our top suggestion of which beach to visit!
WHERE TO STAY in RAILAY
We’ve stayed in two different hotels while in Railay.
The Railay Bay Resort & Spa and the Sand Sea Resort.
➜ Links to all accommodation
Both of these hotels sit on the west side and offer multiple swimming pools, breakfast, and beautiful rooms. We like these hotels are you can have your own villa, not just a room. These can include outside porches with chairs and tables. We loved starting each day, drinking our morning coffee while watching the monkeys play in the trees above us.
If your budget allows then it’s preferred to stay on the west side in Railay. This side has fewer hotels (so fewer people) and has a beautiful beach where you can watch the sunset into the ocean every night.
➜ Tip: We made sure when choosing the hotels that we included breakfast. Cafes and restaurants in Railay are quite expensive, probably the most expensive we experienced in Thailand. So if breakfast is an option when booking your hotel for a cheap fee, we’d suggest including it during your stay.
WHAT TO DO in railay
There are many things to do on the mainland in Railay along with boat trips elsewhere. Here are a few suggestions of things to do in Railay.
Rent a Kayak // You can rent a kayak from Railay Beach and Phra Nang Beach. Paddle around the tall limestone cliffs that dramatically stick out from the crystal clear waters. We enjoy kayaking during the sunset to make it extra special.
Prices are roughly 200 Baht for 1 hour, 400 Baht for 2 hours and 1,000 Baht for the whole day. Along with the rental of the kayak and paddle, you receive life vests and a waterproof bag for your belongings.
Watch the Sunset // Railay is known for its spectacular sunsets. During this time many visitors come and sit on the beach to unwind and watch the sunset over the ocean. It’s always a nice, tranquil moment of appreciation for the beautiful place you’re in and a break from the busy day of activities.
Rock climbing // With the immense limestone cliffs, Railay is a great location to go rock climbing. There are multiple companies which offer half-day to three-day courses for beginners or for those more advanced. Head to the Krabi Rock Climbing school to see the variety of courses available. Prices range from 1,500 Baht to 8,500 baht.
Wildlife Watching // Railay has monkeys, bats, lizards, snakes and exotic birds. Our favourite animals to see are the Dusky leaf Monkeys, also known as the Spectacled Leaf Monkey. You can sit on the beach and watch as they swing from tree to tree behind you, eating fruit and playing with their families.
Diamond Cave // Diamond Cave or Tham Phranangnai in Thai, is a 5-minute walk from the main road of shops and restaurants. With a narrow entrance, you follow the looped wooden walkway around handing rocks and sparkling stalagmite rock formations. The cave was named after the sparkling reflection from the hanging rocks when touched by light. The cave is small and takes less than 30 minutes to explore. It’s a great place to visit if it’s raining or overcast.
TIP: It’s best to visit during the rainy season (between July and October) as the cave fills with a pool in the centre. And keep an eye out for bats!
PLACES TO EAT IN RAILAY
Railay is a small place, with one main street lined with cafes, restaurants, bars and shops. It’s easy to walk along the colourful street, read the menus and see what sparks your appetite.
Here are a few suggestions of places we’ve enjoyed for food and drink:
Kohinoor Indian Restaurant // Being British, we are big lovers of Indian food. On each of our visits we’ve treated ourselves to a meal at this Indian restaurant! Butter chicken curry and a garlic naan?! Yes please.
Avatar Railay Resort // This resort offers fantastic live music along with brilliant food and cocktails.
Summer Fresh @ Railay Beach // A small cafe perfect for brunch. With colourful smoothies, salads and baguettes, this is a great place for a healthy meal only a 30-second walk from the beach.
Swasdee Railay 65 // A great place to hang out and enjoy cocktail happy hour!
railay beaches
Railay had two main sandy beaches - Railay Beach and Phra Nang Beach. Both of these beaches are filled with deep emerald-green turquoise water.
Railay Beach is a world-famous beach, for obvious reasons. With the soft, white sand at your feet, grand limestone cliffs that wrap around the view and colourful long-tailed boats lined up, Railay Beach is one of our most beautiful views in Thailand.
Railay Beach is very accessible to cafes, bars and restaurants which is great if you want to stop for some shade and refreshments. It’s also the best beach to watch the sunset.
Phra Nang Beach is located around one of Railay’s southern cliffs. This is roughly a 15-minute walk from Railay Beach. Phra Nang Beach tends to have fewer visitors than Railay Beach and is quieter because there are significantly fewer long-tailed boats. Railay Beach has constant long-tailed boats coming and going with visitors which means at times it can be less relaxing because of the loud noise of the boats.
ISLAND HOPPING from Railay
The highlight of our trips in Railay are the island-hopping boat trips.
This is when you can venture from Railay and explore the spectacular limestone cliffs, and secluded beaches on paradise-like islands and see the most colourful coral you’ve ever seen.
On the boat trips we’ve taken we’ve visited:
Hong Island // Set against the amazing backdrop of Phang Nga Bay, you disembarked on a floating pier and walked along the long stretch of powdery white sand. Here you can snorkel, relax on the beach and unwind with a smoothie in hand. You can also do the 40-minute trek to the Hong island 360° Viewpoint for panoramic views.
Koh Lao Lading // Also known as “Paradise Island” and it’s very clear to see why. With beautiful scenery, a small bay surrounded by limestone cliffs, white sand and clear water for snorkelling.
Lagoon Of Koh Hong Island // The word ‘Hong’ in Thai means ‘room’. The ‘room’ is a turquoise lagoon at the centre of the island that can only be reached by boat through a narrow entrance. Here you can take a dip and swim through the mangroves!
Koh Phak Bia // The island's signature feature is the 8-metre-high limestone rock that has eroded at its base. The island has a sandy beach on one side and a rocky beach on the other.
Snorkelling // The boat docks so you can jump off the side to discover the exotic underwater kingdom of beautiful coral beneath you. The water is so calm and clear, you can bob along following schools of fish including my favourite - the Rainbow parrotfish!
You can book your trip from one of the many tour companies along the main street in Railay. These trips start from Railay Beach where you get a speed boat or long-tail boat waiting for you. Most tours will provide you with snorkeling equipment, life jackets, and food and drink.
Railay isn’t the only location offering these boat trips. So if you’re not staying on Railay, don’t worry. You can get a similar boat trip from other locations like Ao Nang.
➜ Tip: If you’re travelling with a group, it might be cheaper to hire a private boat rather than go on a tour. On the first visit we took a speed boat which was filled with many visitors and there was no flexibility. On our second trip (there were 5 of us) we hired a private long-tail boat as this worked out the same price and was much more special. With a private boat, we had more flexibility, deciding when to leave the location and move on to the next.
HOW MANY DAYS SHOULD I STAY in RAILAY?
Each time we’ve visited Railay we’ve stayed for 3 or 4 days. This gave us enough time to relax and have a couple of lazy afternoons yet enough time to explore the area and go on a day trip to other islands.
Below are a few examples of things to do in Railay. This will give you an idea of how many days you’d like to stay in this paradise-like area.
