Railay Beach is located in southern Thailand and is known for some of the most scenic beaches in the world. Bookended by dramatic limestone cliffs, it’s an iconic destination for rock climbing, island hopping, wildlife, and more.
And the specific lack of cars or motorbikes just gives it that relaxed beach escape vibe. If you have been to Southeast Asia, you know how hard it is to relax with the constant stream of motorbikes, new developments being built (always angle grinders working), lack of sidewalks, etc. So Railay is the perfect beach getaway to add to your Thailand Bucket List.
Tips For Visiting Thailand
Just some quick trip planning advice before we start.
Boats (Getting to Railay Beach)
While technically connected to the mainland, you should think of Railay as basically an island. The mountains block any possibility of road access, so getting there by boat is the only way.
The closest boat access is from Ao Nang Beach and Ao Nam Mao Pier. (But other boat routes are available from other nearby destinations as well.)
Both have ticket offices directly adjacent, with a price of 100Baht per person (≈$3.18 USD).
Note that the longboats don’t run after dark.
From Ao Nang, the ride is a little more scenic as it goes to West Railay. But the service is from beach to beach. So be prepared to wade through the water on both ends.
But if you have luggage, or are less able-bodied, we recommend taking the boat from Ao Nam Mao Pier to East Railay. Because it takes you from dock to dock, and you won’t have to wade through the water.
Tides
It’s worth being aware of tides when visiting Railay. Most of the beaches have pretty dramatic differences between high and low tide. And we’ll mention these things along the way so you can plan accordingly.
Use this Tide Chart to see when low and high tide is during your visit.
Where To Stay In Railay Beach
Railay is a small place with very few accommodation options, and you pay a premium to stay there. So, many people stay in nearby Ao Nang or Krabi, and just take day trips to Railay to explore.
But we have really enjoyed staying at Railay Princess Resort. It’s conveniently located right next to the East Railay Floating Pier. Which, for a place with no cars or taxis, makes check-in and check-out a breeze. Otherwise, you might be lugging your stuff through the sand to get to your accommodation.
You can also find Railay Bay Resort & Spa, which stretches from the East Railay side to the West Railay Beach side. So it can be the perfect spot to stay and have easy access to both areas.
If you are looking for accommodation on Railay Beach, check out Sand Sea Resort.
For the ultimate luxury stay and AMAZING views, check out Rayavadee Resort. This resort has accommodations on the East Railay side, as well as some amazing spots and pool views of Phra Nang Beach. You can also find the Villa Macaque and Villa Languor beachfront in this area too, but these are really only affordable if you are traveling in a group.
And all the way over on Tonsai Beach, there is one resort that basically took up most of the land here, and that is Tinidee Hideaway Tonsai Beach.
Use this map to explore different accommodations in the area.
Alright, now let’s get to our Top Things To Do in Railay Beach!
Railay Beach
Of course, the namesake beach of this area is a must-visit when you come here. Railay Beach, or more specifically, West Railay Beach, is the center of the action here. A long, curved stretch of sand between two giant limestone cliffs. The beach faces west and is an awesome place for incredible sunsets.
The right side of the beach is better for hanging out because it’s roped off for swimming, and away from the constant stream of long tail boats.
Since it faces west, the morning is best for finding natural shade, while afternoons can be a little too hot.
High tide is a better time to swim, because at low tide there is a long shallow shelf.
We are honestly a little bit confused by some things about this beach.
It’s odd that there are no kind of chairs or umbrellas, and with the lack of afternoon shade, it makes it difficult to get comfortable. So most people are just laid out on their towels, and have to swim very often in order to stay cool.
And then, on top of that, for a place with hundreds of daily tourists, the only bars and restaurants are in one strip perpendicular to the beach. So you have to leave the beach to get any kind of food or drinks. We saw a lot of people doing what we did, which is just to walk to the little market off the beach to buy drinks.
But then, there are no trash cans anywhere to be found along the beach or even through town. And yet they have these signs, urging people to take their trash with them. And we are all for people responsibly disposing of their trash to keep our oceans clean. But expecting the visitors to take their trash with them is just not a practical solution.
And there is only one public bathroom, which is a pretty decent walk from the beach. It costs 5 baht, and you need a coin to insert. And they don’t have toilet paper either, so plan accordingly.
Phra Nang Beach
In our opinion, this is the best beach near Railay. It’s located on the southern edge and features scenery that rivals Railay Beach. And of all the beaches in Railay this is the best one for swimming. You deal with a lot less boat traffic because it’s completely roped off. And there’s a lot more natural shade to be found.
To get to Phra Nang Beach, it’s about a 10-minute walk from East Railay, through a cool cave-like path. Where you are very likely to see monkeys. Yes, I know they are cute, but watch out for these little devils, they will steal food, sunglasses, and iPhones right from your hands. So keep your belongings closely guarded.
The first section of the beach is close to Princess Cave, a cool little spot to check out. But fair warning, this cave isn’t exactly family-friendly, because there’s a shrine full of tons of wooden, well… 🍆
But the better reason to check out this cave is to get that iconic view with cave stalactites framing the view.
And the best part of the beach to actually hang out at is to the right, it is a little hard to walk here at high tide. So prepare to wade up your waist in some spots.
During low tide you can actually walk out to the big rock formation you are staring at while you are sitting on the beach.
Also note, there was one little snack shack here, and the only bathroom was on the path out here.
Bat Cave
At the far end of Phra Nang beach, you can find Bat Cave. It’s not well marked and requires a little climbing to get inside, but it’s a very neat spot with awesome views of the beach.
Just walk directly to the far end of the beach, where you will see a tunnel of trees leading up to the limestone wall. Here you can find a rope leading into the cave. You can either use the rope or just climb carefully up the wall.
Then, there are a couple of ladders you will need to climb up to get inside the cave. But then you can just roam around and find cool little windows that look out to the beach. And see if you can find a cool little tunnel, which will lead to an epic view over Phra Nang Beach (pictured above).
Rock Climbing
If you like rock climbing or have any interest in trying, this place will blow your mind. All around Railay there are incredible climbing spots with dramatic rock formations and incredible views. With climbing routes for all ability levels, from advanced and technical routes to beginner-friendly spots.
And there’s a variety of rock climbing schools nearby to help get you get started. Whether you just need to rent gear and get advice from locals about routes. Or book a private or group class to learn from expert guides. Even if you are a complete beginner, they will help you have an unforgettable rock climbing experience.
Book this half-day rock climbing tour if you want a guide to show you the best rock climbing spots!
Taste Of Railay
If you are looking for delicious and affordable Thai Food, this is our favorite spot. It’s a simple-looking restaurant, but it delivers so much flavor on so many Thai classics. Like Panang and Massaman Curry, Pad Thai, Tom Yum Soup, Tom Kha, and even our favorite northern specialty, Khao Soi.
The portions were a kind of small, but with prices this affordable, you could easily order several things for a bigger appetite.
And they also have great views from the tables closest to the street of the limestone cliffs.
East Railay Viewpoint
This short but steep hike gives such an amazing view of Railay. But don’t wear flip flops for this adventure because the trail is muddy, steep, and full of roots.
You’ll find the trailhead along the path to Phra Nang Beach (or pin this location).
When you reach the top turn left to find this incredible viewpoint above the cliffs. It’s prettier at high tide, when East Railay Bay is full of water and not muddy tidal flats.
Blue Lagoon
Also on the path to the East Railay Viewpoint, you can find the “hidden” Blue Lagoon. But the trail down requires some climbing down with ropes. And can be a bit scary if the trail is wet and muddy. So we turned back because it just seemed a little too steep and dangerous for us.
But once you make it down, you can swim and enjoy the breathtaking blue water.
Islands & Snorkeling Tour
One of the most popular day tours from Railay is the “4 Islands Tour”. It takes you to several nearby islands, beaches, and snorkeling spots.
You can book this kind of tour with either a speedboat or long tail boat. The speedboat is faster and more comfortable, but also more expensive.
This tour visits the closest cluster of islands to Railay, which is nice because it doesn’t take hours in a boat to reach your destinations.
Tub Island has a sandbar connecting two islands. And it’s a nice place to swim and take pictures. But honestly, with the number of boats packed on both sides, it kind of took away from the experience.
Then we went over to Chicken Island, named for the rock that resembles a chicken’s head. And here is also a good place to snorkel along the reef. It wasn’t exactly incredible reef, but there were some fish and coral to admire here.
Then we moved to Poda Island for lunch and more time to swim, take pictures, or relax in the sand. Poda Island was definitely the highlight for us. With this stunning rock just offshore, and tall mountains at the end of the beach. Most tours will provide lunch here, which was actually quite delicious. They offered many vegetarian options too!
And lastly, we stopped back at East Railay to visit Phra Nang Beach. So, it’s not exactly 4 different islands, since Phra Nang isn’t technically an island.
Also, it’s important to note that there is a required National Park Fee of 200 Baht per person (≈$6.36 USD) that is not included in the tour price. So be sure to bring some cash with you for this tour.
But in all, the “4 Island tour” is a great way to see many of the best destinations around Railay in one action-packed half-day.
Diamond Cave
This is the most impressive cave in Railay. It’s just a short walk from either side of Railay. Wooden boardwalks make it easy to explore deep into the cave. And it’s well lit to reveal the beautiful patterns and bats living inside.
Also, you are gonna want bug spray here, because the mosquitoes were swarming us at the entrance. But remember to apply the spray before entering because caves are delicate ecosystems, and the residual spray can harm the organisms that live inside.
Something to know is that entry to the cave requires the National Park Fee of 200 Baht per person per day. So it’s a little expensive for just exploring the cave for 10-15 minutes. However, this fee gets you into anything else that requires the national park fee. So we recommend visiting this cave on the same day you do the 4 islands tour.
Tonsai Beach
This is an awesome destination if you are looking for a less crowded beach than Railay or Phra Nang.
It’s known as a popular rock climbing spot with more advanced routes.
We love Tonsai Beach for how laid-back it is, and specifically because it’s not packed with people and restaurants. And it’s easier to find shade throughout most of the day.
But the difficulty in getting here is partially why it’s less busy. At the north end of Railay beach, there’s a short rugged path through the jungle that takes about 10-15 minutes to reach Tonsai. And at high tide, it can be a little difficult to access the path. Alternatively, during low tide you can just walk the beach, but note it’s pretty rocky, so you will want to have some sort of water shoe or sandal.
Or you can pay for a long tail boat to take you over from West Railay Beach.
But keep in mind that you can only swim at Tonsai Beach during high tide.
And there’s really only like one bar and restaurant on the beach.
MaMa’s Chicken
And a little bonus, deep in the jungle behind Tonsai Beach, you can find MaMa’s Chicken. A place that makes one of the best fried chicken sandwiches we’ve ever had. The chicken patty is crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. And then you can douse it in a spicy aioli to round out the perfect lunch.
But one thing I will note is that the hygiene isn’t exactly glowing here. While we successfully ate here and didn’t have any issues, I just can’t lead you here without at least mentioning it! Because it’s quite the adventure to get here!
Go Kayaking
Exploring the waters around Railay with a kayak is such a cool experience. You can rent them right from Railay Beach or Phra Nang Beach. And it’s a fun way to explore freely all the more secluded gems around the rocks.
We found hidden tunnels in the rocks and explored the islands just offshore from Phra Nang Beach.
And renting kayaks can also be a good way to visit Tonsai Beach.
But one thing to note, kayaking will be easier and more enjoyable if there aren’t big waves.
The first time we visited, the water was calm and inviting, but the second time was much windier, leaving the water pretty wavy.
Tree House Restaurant
This restaurant on the East Railay side is a really cool atmosphere after dark. Built into the trees like a treehouse, with fun lighting and live music.
But honestly, don’t come here for the food, come for the cool vibes and the excellent guitar player. He’s just silky smooth and so friendly.
Although if you do come here to east, the Thai entrees are probably the best thing to order. We liked the panang curry last time. But more recently, we just got Thai appetizers, and they were very mediocre.
But still, we love this unique little bar.
Visit A Reggae Bar
If you like reggae music or just the chill Caribbean vibes, then there are a few reggae bars along the Railay Walking Street. Personally, our favorite is called Stoned Bar. They play chill drum and bass music and just have comfy, laid-back cushions to relax on.
You can also find the infamous Boat Bar Railay and Jamaica Bar too. Just listen to the music their playing and see which one is your vibe.
And although recreational weed is currently illegal in Thailand (as of 2025 when I’m writing this), you might be able to find some at these places. So do with that information what you will. And additionally, you can sometimes find mushroom shakes, too.
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