Railay is a small peninsula near Ao Nang in Krabi, cut off from the road network by limestone cliffs, so you can only get there by boat, usually a longtail from Ao Nang that takes about 15 minutes. Swim at Railay West or Phra Nang Cave Beach, sleep on Railay East or Tonsai if you are on a budget, and treat the viewpoint trail as a real climb, not a stroll.
There are no cars on Railay, only footpaths, a few tractors and service vehicles. That, and the towering cliffs on three sides, is what makes it special. Railay has four main beaches: Railay West, the main swimming beach; Railay East, a mangrove shore where many boats land; Phra Nang Cave Beach at the southern tip; and Tonsai, a separate bay to the north-west that attracts climbers and backpackers.
Our Krabi guide gives an overview of Railay among the province's other areas. This page goes deeper into what makes a Railay visit work: the boats and tides, which side to stay on, and the hike that sends people to hospital every year.
Railay at a glance
- Access
- Boat only; longtails from Ao Nang (about 15 minutes), Ao Nam Mao and Krabi Town
- Ao Nang longtail fare
- Reported at around 100 baht per person by day, more after dark (October 2026; check the posted board)
- Swimming beaches
- Railay West, Phra Nang Cave Beach, Tonsai
- Not for swimming
- Railay East (mangroves and mudflats)
- Protected area
- Part of Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park; rangers patrol the area
- Best season
- November to April; boats and swimming are affected by the monsoon from about May to October
- Cash
- Bring enough; boats are paid in cash
Longtail boats from Ao Nang: how the system works
Most visitors come from Ao Nang, the main beach town a few kilometers along the coast. Tickets are sold at the longtail cooperative's booth on the beach road. The boats do not run to a timetable: each one leaves when about eight to ten passengers have bought tickets, so in quiet periods you may wait a while, or pay for the empty seats to leave at once.
Fares are set by the cooperative and posted at the booth. We could not find an official copy online; reports in 2026 put the daytime fare at around 100 baht per person one way, with a higher fare after dark. Pay only at the booth and keep your ticket for the return trip if you buy a return. The ride takes about 15 minutes and lands at Railay West.
There is no pier at Ao Nang or Railay West. You wade out to the boat and climb in over the side, often in knee-deep water, so wear shorts and keep phones and passports in a dry bag. With a large suitcase, the boatmen will help, but a backpack or soft bag is far easier.
Expect to get wet getting on and off. Longtails at Ao Nang and Railay West pull up on the sand, not at a pier. Pack valuables in a waterproof bag, carry your shoes, and travel light if you are staying on Railay.
From Krabi Town, Ao Nam Mao and the airport
Longtails also run from Krabi Town and from Ao Nam Mao, a small bay east of Railay, to Railay East. The trip from Krabi Town is longer than from Ao Nang. From Krabi airport, most people take a taxi or a shared minivan to Ao Nang or Ao Nam Mao and continue by boat; Grab and Bolt both list Krabi among their service areas.
Low tide: walking to the boat and around the rocks
The tide changes Railay more than most beaches. On Railay East, the sea goes out a long way at low tide, leaving mud and mangrove roots. Boats from Krabi Town and Ao Nam Mao then cannot reach the shore, and you may have to wade or walk across the flats to a landing point or a floating platform. Wear sandals you do not mind getting muddy and ask your boatman where you will land.
Low tide also opens walking routes. At the northern end of Railay West, a path over the rocks to Tonsai is passable at low tide; at high tide, the inland jungle path is the safer choice. Check the tide table at your guesthouse, and do not start a rock walk with a rising tide behind you.
Railay West, Railay East, Phra Nang and Tonsai compared
| Beach | Swimming | Atmosphere | Accommodation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Railay West | Good in the dry season | Main beach, sunset, boats from Ao Nang | Mid-range to upmarket resorts |
| Railay East | No (mangroves, mud at low tide) | Walkway, bars, restaurants | Cheaper guesthouses and resorts |
| Phra Nang Cave Beach | Very good in the dry season | Day-trippers, cliffs, cave shrine | One luxury resort |
| Tonsai | Fair; rocky at low tide | Climbers, backpackers, simple | Basic bungalows |
The two main sides are a five-minute walk apart across the peninsula, so you can sleep on cheaper Railay East and spend the day on Railay West. Phra Nang Cave Beach, reached by a walkway along the cliffs from Railay East, is the most beautiful of the four, with a cave shrine to a sea princess at its eastern end where local fishermen leave offerings. It gets busy with tour boats in the middle of the day; go early or late.
The viewpoint and lagoon trail: take it seriously
From the walkway between Railay East and Phra Nang, a trail climbs the cliff to a viewpoint over both sides of the peninsula, with a branch that drops into a hidden lagoon inside the rock. It is short, but it is not a hiking path in the usual sense: you pull yourself up steep, often muddy red clay and rock using fixed ropes, and the descent into the lagoon is steeper still.
Accidents happen here. In March 2018, The Nation reported that an Argentinian visitor fell down a very steep section of the lagoon cliff, broke her leg and needed a five-hour rescue by more than 20 climbers and a doctor. In October 2018, The Phuket News reported that an American climber died after a fall on Railay's cliffs.
The Railay lagoon trail is a rope climb, not a walk. Go only in dry weather, in shoes with grip (not flip-flops), with both hands free and water in a backpack. Turn back at the viewpoint if the lagoon descent looks beyond you; many experienced travelers do. Never go alone, and tell someone at your accommodation before you set off.
Rock climbing on Railay and Tonsai
Railay and Tonsai are among Asia's best-known sport-climbing areas, with hundreds of bolted routes on limestone. Several climbing schools run half-day and full-day courses for complete beginners, and rent gear to experienced climbers. Choose a school with a physical shop, ask about the guide's qualifications, check that ropes, harnesses and helmets look in good condition, and ask what their insurance covers. Many travel insurance policies exclude climbing unless you add it; our guide to travel insurance for Thailand explains what to check.
Never climb without a rope ("free solo") to reach a viewpoint or a photo spot. In January 2026, park rangers also had to rescue a British man who had crashed into a cliff near Tonsai while paragliding illegally inside the national park.
Where to stay on Railay
Railay West has the more expensive resorts and the sunset view. Railay East has a long walkway of mid-range and budget places, restaurants and bars, and is where most people on a budget end up. Tonsai is the cheapest, with simple bungalows aimed at climbers; it is quieter and more basic, and power and services can be limited. A few places sit in the jungle behind the beaches, a short walk inland.
Everything arrives by boat, so prices for rooms, food and drinks are higher than in Ao Nang. Bring enough cash from the mainland, because Thai ATMs charge foreign cards 250 baht per withdrawal (350 baht for Mastercard at KBank and SCB, October 2026). Our article on using ATMs in Thailand explains how to limit fees.
If you are weighing Railay against a base on the mainland, our guide to where to stay in Krabi compares it with Ao Nang, Krabi Town and Klong Muang. Many visitors do Railay as a day trip from Ao Nang and stay one or two nights only if they climb.
Railay in the monsoon
Krabi's rainy season runs roughly from May to October. According to the Thai Meteorological Department's 1991–2020 averages, Krabi receives around 210 to 290 mm of rain a month from May to October, compared with 36 mm in February. Longtails still run on most days, but crossings can be rough or canceled in bad weather, and the sea at Railay West can be wavy. The UK Foreign Office notes that boats in Thailand have sunk in rough monsoon seas; if a boatman or the weather looks wrong, wait for the next one. The lagoon trail is also more dangerous when wet.
Railay is a natural stop on longer trips: our pages on Krabi island tours and on ferries to Phi Phi cover the next steps.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get to Railay Beach?
Only by boat. Most people take a longtail from Ao Nang beach, about 15 minutes, buying a ticket at the cooperative's booth on the beach road. Boats also run from Ao Nam Mao and Krabi Town to Railay East, a longer trip.
How much is the longtail from Ao Nang to Railay?
The cooperative posts its fares at the booth in Ao Nang; there is no official copy online. Reports in 2026 put the daytime fare at around 100 baht per person one way, with a higher fare after dark. Boats leave when they have about eight to ten passengers.
Is Railay East or Railay West better?
Railay West is better for swimming and sunsets and has the more expensive resorts. Railay East has no swimming beach but cheaper rooms and more bars and restaurants. They are only a five-minute walk apart, so many people sleep on the east side and swim on the west.
Is the Railay viewpoint hike dangerous?
It can be. The trail is a steep climb on clay and rock using fixed ropes, and visitors have been seriously injured, especially on the descent to the lagoon. Go in dry weather with proper shoes, never alone, and turn back if it feels beyond your ability.
Sources
- The Nation – Tourist injured in fall from lagoon cliff at Phra Nang Beach (March 2018) (checked October 2026)
- The Phuket News – American tourist in rock-climbing fall dies in ICU (October 2018) (checked October 2026)
- The Thaiger – Illegal paragliding leaves British tourist injured on Krabi cliff (January 2026) (checked October 2026)
- UK FCDO – Thailand: Safety and security (boats, swimming) (checked October 2026)
- Thai Meteorological Department – Climate normals 1991–2020 (Krabi station) (checked October 2026)
- Grab Thailand – Transport services and cities (checked October 2026)
- Bolt – Cities in Thailand (checked October 2026)