Railay Beach in Krabi: A Complete Travel Guide
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Rated as one of the most stunning beaches in the world – Railay beach near Krabi. This top beach in Thailand makes it in the top 10 beaches to visit in the world. And it’s no wonder, Railay beach Krabi is out of this world! The Railay beach Krabi viewpoint is a cool spot to see this epic beach from high. But the Railay beach viewpoint is not for everybody as it is a bit of nightmare to get too. But it’s totally worth it. This awesome beach in Thailand is also an epic place for rock climbing, kayaking and swimming. Not to mention the amazing resorts and restaurants! Just like the Nang Yuan viewpoint, this is one to see.
The beauty of Railay beach. You can sit there for hours in awe of the scenery on the unbelievable beach! This is probably the best beach in Thailand without a doubt. I am so glad we made the decision to visit this epic beach, we was staying in Ao Nang looking for things to do and this beach got recommended online. The rest is history! Don’t worry about this beach being crowded like other popular beaches in Thailand, Railay beach really is paradise. I’ve seen some amazing beaches like the best beaches on Koh Tao but this beats them all. Let’s find out why.
9 Best Things to do on Railay beach
There are a few things to do in Railay beach such as the 4 island tour around the amazing islands. Here is some of the things for you;
#1 Railay East
Railay East is a stunning beach located in Railay Beach, Thailand. The beach is known for its white sand and crystal clear waters, making it the perfect spot for swimming and sunbathing. Visitors can also explore the nearby limestone cliffs and caves or take part in various water activities such as kayaking and snorkeling. Railay East is also home to a variety of restaurants for amazing food!
#2 Phra Nang Cave Shrine
Phra Nang Cave Shrine is a popular attraction located in Railay Beach, Thailand. The shrine is situated inside a limestone cave and is dedicated to the Hindu goddess of fertility, Phra Nang. Visitors can explore the cave and admire its unique rock formations as well as the many offerings left by worshippers. Inside the cave, visitors will find statues of Hindu gods and goddesses, inc ense, and other offerings.
#3 Sa Phra Nang
Sa Phra Nang is a stunning viewpoint located in Railay Beach, Thailand. The viewpoint overlooks the beautiful limestone cliffs and turquoise waters of the Andaman Sea. Visitors can take in the breathtaking views while enjoying a refreshing breeze. Sa Phra Nang is also home to a variety of wildlife, including monkeys, lizards, and birds.
#4 Ton Sai
Ton Sai is a stunning beach located in Railay Beach, Thailand. The beach is known for its white sand and crystal clear waters, making it the perfect spot for swimming and sunbathing. Visitors can also explore the nearby limestone cliffs and caves or take part in various water activities such as kayaking and snorkeling. Ton Sai is also home to a variety of restaurants offering delicious local cuisine.
#5 Phra Nang Nai Shrine
Phra Nang Nai Shrine is a popular attraction located in Railay Beach, Thailand. The shrine is situated inside a limestone cave and is dedicated to the Hindu goddess of fertility, Phra Nang. Visitors can explore the cave and admire its unique rock formations as well as the many offerings left by worshippers. Inside the cave, visitors will find statues of Hindu gods and goddesses, incense, and other offerings.
#6 Railay West
Railay West is a stunning beach located in Railay Beach, Thailand. The beach is known for its white sand and crystal clear waters, making it the perfect spot for swimming and sunbathing. Visitors can also explore the nearby limestone cliffs and caves or take part in various water activities such as kayaking, snorkeling, and stand-up paddleboarding. Railay West is also home to a variety of restaurants for amazing food!
#7 Rock Climbing
Rock Climbing is a popular activity in Railay Beach, Thailand. The area is known for its limestone cliffs and caves, making it the perfect spot for rock climbing enthusiasts. Visitors can explore the many routes available and take in the stunning views of the Andaman Sea while they climb. There are also several rock climbing schools in Railay Beach that offer classes for beginners and experienced climbers alike. With its stunning scenery and challenging routes, Railay Beach is the perfect spot for rock climbing!
#8 Viewpoint
Sa Phra Nang is a stunning viewpoint located in Railay Beach, Thailand. The viewpoint overlooks the beautiful limestone cliffs and turquoise waters of the Andaman Sea. Visitors can take in the breathtaking views while enjoying a refreshing breeze. Sa Phra Nang is also home to a variety of wildlife, including monkeys, lizards, and birds. The viewpoint is easily accessible by foot and is a great spot for taking photos and admiring the stunning scenery.
#9 Phra Nang Beach
Phra Nang Beach is a stunning beach located in Railay Beach, Thailand. The beach is known for its white sand and crystal clear waters, making it the perfect spot for swimming and sunbathing. Visitors can also explore the nearby limestone cliffs and caves or take part in various water activities such as kayaking and snorkeling. Phra Nang Beach is also home to a variety of restaurants offering delicious local cuisine.
How to get to Railay beach Krabi from Ao Nang
The only way to get to Railay beach Krabi from Ao Nang is the water boat taxi. It’s only a 20 minute boat ride, but the journey from Ao Nang to Railay beach is incredible. It’s a perfect time to sit back, relax and enjoy the stunning views of Krabi. You will have the chance to take photos of Thailand’s famous limestone mountains, emerald water and the mega long-tail boats.
So how much is the boat ride from Ao Nang to to Railay beach Krabi?
The boat ride to Railay beach from Ao Nang is 100 BHT per person each way. So unless you’re looking to stay at a hotel in Railay beach Krabi, the boat ride will cost you 200 BHT. Which to be fair is not a bad price, it’s a sweet journey and there the time to come back to Ao nang is flexible.
Are you visiting Phi Phi? Check out the best things to do on Phi Phi and the Phi Phi viewpoints
Where do to buy the tickets for the boat ride from Ao Nang to Railay beach?
You need to head down to the Ao Nang beach boat ticket office. This is where you will purchase your ticket for the boat to Railay beach, then you will wait till there’s enough people to make the journey. When there is enough people, one of the Cool open back vans will you take you to the pier. Then, it’s the picturesque boat ride from Ao Nang to Railay beach Krabi.
Another thing you need to know about the boat ride back from Railay beach to Ao Nang. The boat back is not on a timed schedule, so you have to wait on the beach and when there’s enough people your boat will take you back to Ao Nang. However, don’t worry you won’t be waiting long. The last boat from Railay beach to Ao Nang leaves around 6pm, so make sure your there at least ten minutes before 6pm.
You can also book cheap tickets here
The actual location of the beach is on the Google map below:
Railay beach Krabi viewpoint
You ready to see some awesome views from a high? The Railay beach viewpoint gives you a perfect view of Railay beach and the surrounding area. It’s a wicked location for some epic photos and a new Instagram picture. However, it comes with a little bit of a jungle adventure and a climb up some mountain ladders
To get to the Railay beach view-point you first need to walk to the end to of the beach. Which end? If you are facing the sea, head left down the beach until you reach the Railay viewpoint entrance.
Start making your way up through the mini jungle, be careful it’s slippy in a lot of areas and you do have to keep Climbing over rocks, logs and boulders. The things we have to do to see the Railay beach Krabi, it’s worth it though believe me.
On you me way up to the Railay beach viewpoint, you will wonder if your going the right way quite a few times! We did, we was like no this is not the way. But if you just keep heading through the broken path, you will reach two ropes that guide you up the cliff for around 20 metres. Follow these up to the top and again be careful.
Also check out the best secret beach on Koh Samui
You have now reached a good Railay beach viewpoint. Amazing! You can go up the cliff a little further though, which I did. You get to the highest Railay beach viewpoint by climbing some ladders on the edge of the cliff. The ladders can be dangerous and are definitely not suited for those who are scared of heights or have clumsy feet. If you fell from these it wouldn’t be a happy ending. I don’t thing Krabi health services have a rapid helicopter response team.
If you do chose to climb to the highest Railay beach Krabi viewpoint, you will be rewarded with the most picturesque views of Railay beach. As a result, jungle trekking with mosquitoes and risking my life climbing, was definitely worth it for the most epic views of Railay beach.
When making your way back down to Railay beach, take your time it’s very slippy. Also, there are many different ways. We took a wrong path and made our own way down. We made it, but it involved climbing and swinging from branches.
for another amazing snorkelling beach in Thailand, check out best snorkelling beach on Koh Tao for some epic fun.
Check out the amazing Phi Phi private boat tour in Thailand
Railay Beach Krabi resorts and hotels
There aren’t lots of hotels on Railay beach, but I doubt you will find one at a cheap price. The Railay beach hotels are for a more luxury type of holiday. It’s not really somewhere for backpackers and one-night stay-overs. However, the accommodation on Railay beach does look pretty sweet (make sure to check out where to stay Krabi).
One of the hotels I passed was slap bang on the edge of the Railay beach. There was a few tourist there enjoying it’s fine outdoor pool, whilst sipping on a fresh cocktail and eating steaks. These guys are not budget backpackers, but good on them, hotels on Railay beach have got to be one of the best places to stay in the world.
I stayed in accommodation in Ao Nang near the beach called cliff view resort. It’s treehouse style rooms, swimming pool, gym and Buffett breakfast. All for just 500 BHT, definitely one of the best and cheapest places to stay in Ao Nang. It also includes a free shuttle every hour to Ao Nang beach, this is where all Ao Nang’s best restaurants can be found.
The amazing Ao Nang cliff view resort honestly it’s one of the best places in Asia I have stayed at.
Other things to know about Thailand’s Railay beach viewpoint
- There are a few restaurants on Railay beach, however they are quite expensive! I checked them all out looking for somewhere good to eat but was not too much on my budget. None of the Railay beach restaurants matched my criteria.
- Luckily enough the is a side street on the beach that has mega food stalls and shacks. They sell real tasty food and at low prices. I got garlic chicken with rice and it was good, it was also only 80 BHT. As a result, you should definitely eat at the side street if you’re looking for restaurants on Railay beach. The shacks also sell smoothies and pancakes for cheap.
- 2. You will probably be spending your day at Railay beach, so your going to be in the sunshine for hours and hours. What happens when you’re in the sun for too long? That’s right you burn! So make sure you take plenty of suncream and layer up. I had plenty on and I still managed to get a months worth of tanning in one day.
- 3. Make sure to take your own water! The shops on Railay beach are expensive. I paid triple the price for a bottle of water, than what it costs in the famous 7/11 shops in Thailand. Water in Thailand is usually cheap, not on Railay beach so I would recommend taking at least 3 litres per person. You should also take your on snacks to Railay beach, you will end up paying a fortune if not.
- 4. Rock climbing on Railay beach is brilliant, you get to climb to momentarily Railay beach viewpoints. This has been one of the best rock climbing experiences I have done in Asia. The rock climbing is one of the best things to do on Railay beach, therefore it does get busy so make sure you get booked in nice and early!
- The cost of the Railay beach rock climbing is 1000 BHT for half a day. You can either do the morning or afternoon session and each session includes roughly 4 climbs. I did my highest ever climb on Railay beach, which was a massive 30 metres high. Shakey times at the top. If you’re looking for things to do on Railay, then the rock climbing should definitely be on your list!
Visiting Krabi? Check out the Krabi night market on your stay
The below image is a Map of Railay beach;
Summary
A visit to Railay Beach and the Railay beach Krabi viewpoint should for sure be on your list of things to do when staying in Ao Nang. I will remember this beach forever, it’s amazing and unforgettable. All this for just a 20 minute boat ride for Ao Nang. The Railiay beach viewpoint is the number one best thing to do in Railay beach.
I recon this is probably Thailand’s best beach, do you agree?
Other places to visit in Thailand
- best beaches on Koh Samui
- best things to do in Phi Phi
- best beaches on Koh Samui
- the best beaches on Koh Tao
- the James Bond island movie tour
- the 4 island tour Krabi