# Railay Beach, Krabi > Railay is a peninsula between Ao Nang and Krabi Town, cut off from the mainland by limestone cliffs — you can only get there by boat. The main beach, Railay West, has white sand beneath sheer walls. A longtail from Ao Nang takes about 15 minutes and costs about 100 baht (unofficial). Swim on the west side; the east shore is mangroves. Allow a day. Web page: https://yesgo.io/thailand/krabi/railay-beach - City: [Krabi](https://yesgo.io/thailand/krabi), Thailand - YesGo score: 36/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 3 h - Opening hours: Beach — 24 hours; boats ≈ 8:00–18:00 - With kids: Fine with kids - Entry: Free — public beaches - Longtail from Ao Nang: About 100 baht per person, ≈ 15 minutes; more after 18:00 - Swimming: At Railay West and Phra Nang; Railay East is mangroves — no swimming - Landing: A 'wet landing' — into knee-deep water from the boat - Rock climbing: Schools and gear rental at Railay and Tonsai - Best time: November–April; boats run less often May–October - Coordinates: 8.01141, 98.83653 - Facts checked: 08.11.2026 ## Key facts - **Boat only** — there's no road — cliffs cut the peninsula off from the mainland (source: English Wikipedia) - **4 areas** — Phra Nang, Railay West, Railay East and Tonsai (source: English Wikipedia) - **1970s** — the first tourists — backpackers — began arriving (source: English Wikipedia) - **Rock climbing** — Railay's limestone walls draw climbers from around the world (source: English Wikipedia) - **Mangroves** — cover the east shore, which isn't suitable for swimming (source: English Wikipedia) - **≈ 15 minutes** — by longtail from Ao Nang (source: English Wikipedia) - **Diamond Cave** — a cave with a walkway inside, on the trail to Tonsai (source: English Wikipedia) - **Ferries** — run from Railay West to Phi Phi and Phuket (source: English Wikipedia) ## What is Railay? **Railay** is a small peninsula between Krabi Town and Ao Nang. Tall **limestone cliffs** cut it off from the mainland, so you can get there **only by boat**. That's what makes it special: there are no cars, and the beaches lie beneath sheer, jungle-covered walls. The peninsula has four parts. **Railay West** is the main beach, with white sand and a short walking street of cafés. **Railay East** has the pier, mangroves and a boardwalk of restaurants and bars. **Tonsai** is for climbers and backpackers. **Phra Nang** is the cave beach at the southern tip. ## Boats and prices From **Ao Nang Beach**, shared longtails take **about 15 minutes** and cost **about 100 baht** per person; the boat leaves once 8–10 passengers have gathered. After 18:00 the fare goes up. Boats also run from Krabi Town and Ao Nam Mao pier to Railay East. Landing at Railay West is a **'wet landing'**: the boat pulls up to the beach and you step into knee-deep water. Bring a waterproof bag. Return boats leave from the same beach; check the time of the last one. > **Trails and cliffs — take care** The trail to the viewpoint and lagoon above Railay is very steep: in places you scramble over rock and mud holding onto ropes, and it's slippery after rain. Go only in proper shoes and not alone. Climb only with a school and an instructor. Railay East isn't for swimming — it's mangroves and mud. ## What to see and do - **Railay West beach** — white sand with cliffs on both sides. - **Phra Nang Beach** and its cave — 10 minutes on foot. - **Rock climbing** — schools for beginners and experts. - **Diamond Cave** — a walkway inside the cave on the way to Tonsai. - **The viewpoint and lagoon** — a steep trail with ropes. - **Sunset** on Railay West. ## How to get to Railay 1. **From Ao Nang Beach** — by longtail, about 15 minutes, to Railay West. 2. **From Krabi Town** — by longtail, about 30–45 minutes, to Railay East. 3. **From Ao Nam Mao pier** — by longtail, about 10–15 minutes, to Railay East. 4. **From Phi Phi and Phuket** — by ferry to Railay West in season. 5. Railay West and Railay East are 5–10 minutes apart on foot. ## How long do you need, and when to go? Give Railay **a full day**: a morning boat from Ao Nang, a swim at Railay West, a walk to Phra Nang, then sunset and the boat back. Many people stay overnight to see the beaches without the day-trippers. The best time is **November to April**: calm seas and frequent boats. In the monsoon season, May to October, the waves are bigger and boats run less often, sometimes not at all. ## Is Railay worth visiting? Yes: it's one of Thailand's most beautiful places — white sand, turquoise water and sheer cliffs — and with no cars it's peaceful. The YesGo take: Railay West and Phra Nang are crowded by day, and everything on the peninsula costs more than on the mainland. Come early in the morning or stay the night to see the beach empty. ## Before you go: checklist - [ ] About 100 baht in cash each way - [ ] A waterproof bag — it's a wet landing - [ ] Proper shoes for the trails - [ ] The time of the last boat back - [ ] Sunscreen and water ## Krabi beaches: compare and choose Krabi beaches and bays rated by YesGo. - [Ao Nang Beach](https://yesgo.io/thailand/krabi/ao-nang-beach) — YesGo score 41/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · free; longtail to Railay ≈ 100 baht - [Phra Nang Beach](https://yesgo.io/thailand/krabi/phra-nang-beach) — YesGo score 37/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · free; toilets charge - [Railay Beach](https://yesgo.io/thailand/krabi/railay-beach) — YesGo score 36/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · free; longtail ≈ 100 baht - [Koh Tup and Chicken Island](https://yesgo.io/thailand/krabi/chicken-island) — YesGo score 27/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · park fee ≈ 400 baht; boat extra - [Koh Poda](https://yesgo.io/thailand/krabi/koh-poda) — YesGo score 25/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · park fee ≈ 400 baht; longtail ≈ 300 - [Khao Phanom Bencha National Park](https://yesgo.io/thailand/krabi/khao-phanom-bencha) — YesGo score 22/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · ≈ 200 baht - [Than Bok Khorani National Park](https://yesgo.io/thailand/krabi/than-bok-khorani) — YesGo score 22/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · ≈ 300 baht; kayaking extra - [Emerald Pool](https://yesgo.io/thailand/krabi/krabi-emerald-pool) — YesGo score 20/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h 30 min · ≈ 400 baht; Hot Spring Waterfall ≈ 200 - [Koh Hong](https://yesgo.io/thailand/krabi/krabi-hong-island) — YesGo score 16/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 4 h · park fee ≈ 300 baht; tour extra ## Krabi by sea in a day A morning boat from Ao Nang Beach to Railay, Phra Nang Beach in the afternoon, and back to Ao Nang for sunset. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers. 1. [Ao Nang Beach](https://yesgo.io/thailand/krabi/ao-nang-beach) — YesGo score 41/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · free; longtail to Railay ≈ 100 baht 2. [Railay Beach](https://yesgo.io/thailand/krabi/railay-beach) — YesGo score 36/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · free; longtail ≈ 100 baht 3. [Phra Nang Beach](https://yesgo.io/thailand/krabi/phra-nang-beach) — YesGo score 37/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · free; toilets charge ## Good to know Railay is a peninsula of beaches in Krabi. Phra Nang is a separate beach at its southern tip. Rayavadee and Railay Bay Resort are simply hotels on the peninsula. ## Tips - The best shot of Railay West is from the water as your boat comes in. - Come early in the morning — before the groups. - Everything costs more on Railay — bring water from the mainland. - The beaches are 5–10 minutes apart on foot. - Nearby: [Phra Nang Beach](https://yesgo.io/thailand/krabi/phra-nang-beach) and its cave. ## Questions ### How do I get to Railay? Only by boat: about 15 minutes from Ao Nang, 30–45 minutes from Krabi Town. ### How much is the boat to Railay? About 100 baht per person from Ao Nang (according to guides). ### Where can I swim on Railay? At Railay West and Phra Nang; Railay East is mangroves. ### Can you go rock climbing at Railay? Yes, there are schools for beginners and experienced climbers. ### Is there an entry fee? No, the beaches are public. ### Can I stay overnight? Yes, there's accommodation for every budget on the peninsula. ### When is the best time to go? November to April. ### How long do you need? A full day. ## How we checked There's no official website. The peninsula and its areas are described from English Wikipedia; in line with YesGo policy we don't mention the events of 2004. The 100 baht longtail fare and hours come from 2026 guides and are marked unconfirmed. Travel times from Krabi Town and Ao Nam Mao come from guides. The viewpoint trail is described from guides, covering its difficulty without detailing incidents. Phra Nang has its own page. ## Sources - English Wikipedia — Railay Beach: peninsula, boat-only access, four areas, Railay East mangroves, rock climbing, Diamond Cave, ferries - 2026 travel guides — longtail fares and hours, wet landing (unofficial) - OSM — Railay West coordinates - YesGo general facts for Thailand — payment, transport --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.