Railay Beach is a peninsula on the Krabi coast that cliffs cut off from the road, so you arrive by longtail, about 100 THB from Ao Nang. It has four beaches: Railay West for swimming, Railay East for the pier, Phra Nang Cave Beach and Tonsai. Above them, a rope climb leads to the viewpoint and the lagoon. We checked fares and prices on 14 November 2026, and we mark every figure that is only reported.
From Railay, the island tours and the Tiger Cave Temple near Krabi Town are the other things to do in Krabi within a day.
Tours and activities to book in Railay
These four outings take place on Railay or stop there, with live prices and availability.
Krabi: Half-Day Rock Climbing at Railay Beach
A four-hour climbing class at Railay Beach, in the morning or the afternoon, with an instructor.
- Duration: 4 hours
- Free cancellation
- Pickup included
4.9(768 reviews)
See prices & availabilityFrom $47per person
Krabi: 4 Islands Tour by Longtail Boat or Speedboat
4 Islands tour by longtail or speedboat, with Poda, Tup and Chicken islands and Phra Nang Cave Beach.
- Duration: 6 to 6.5 hours
- Free cancellation
- Pickup included
4.6(2,296 reviews)
See prices & availabilityFrom $32per person
Railay Illuminated Clear Kayak Night Tour Bioluminescence
Night paddle along the cliffs of Railay in a lit clear kayak, to see the glowing plankton.
- Duration: 2 hours
- Free cancellation
4.4(90 reviews)
See prices & availabilityFrom $68per person
Krabi: Rock Climbing Tour at Railay Beach
A full day of climbing at Railay, with caving and an abseil from a viewpoint over the beach.
- Duration: 8 hours
- Free cancellation
- Pickup included
4.9(46 reviews)
See prices & availabilityFrom $83per person
Railay beaches: West, East, Phra Nang Cave Beach and Tonsai
The four beaches sit around one small peninsula and are linked by footpaths, except Tonsai, which takes a scramble or a boat. Only two of them are good for swimming.
| Beach | Swimming | Best for | How to get there |
|---|---|---|---|
| Railay West | Yes | Sunset, kayaks, boats to Ao Nang | Longtail from Ao Nang |
| Railay East | No, mangrove and mud | Pier, cheaper rooms, bars | Longtail from Ao Nam Mao or Krabi Town |
| Phra Nang Cave Beach | Yes | Princess Cave, cliffs, calm water | Paved path from Railay East |
| Tonsai | Best at high tide | Climbing, simple bungalows | Rocks at low tide, jungle path or longtail |
Railay West: the swimming beach
Railay West is the longest stretch of sand and the one most visitors mean by Railay Beach. The longtails from Ao Nang land here, kayaks are rented on the sand, and it faces the sunset. Resorts line the back of the beach but none sits on the water, so the whole beach is open to the public.
Railay East: mangrove and pier, no swimming
Railay East is a mangrove shore, not a beach for swimming. Boats from Ao Nam Mao and Krabi Town tie up at its floating pier. At low tide the water pulls back far from the shore and leaves mud, and some hotels send a tractor to carry passengers from the boat to dry land.
The walkway along the shore has the cheaper bungalows, bars and minimarts, and the path to the viewpoint. It is five to ten minutes on foot to Railay West through the middle of the peninsula, along the walking street.
Phra Nang Cave Beach and the Princess Cave
Phra Nang Cave Beach, at the southern tip, is the prettiest of the four, with fine sand, cliffs on both sides and the islet of Happy Island just offshore. A paved path from the south end of Railay East leads there in a few minutes, under the cliffs and past the macaques.
At the end of the beach, the Princess Cave (Tham Phra Nang) holds a shrine filled with carved wooden phalluses, from pocket size to about a metre. Fishermen leave them for the spirit of a princess, asking for safe trips and good catches, and others come to pray for a child. It is a shrine, so keep your voice down and leave the offerings alone.
From about 10 am to 3 pm, dozens of tour boats drop day-trippers here, as Phra Nang is a stop on most 4 Islands tours from Ao Nang. Boats selling Thai food, burgers and shakes park at the far end around lunchtime. After 4 pm the beach empties, and that is the time to come if you sleep on Railay.
Inland, the Diamond Cave (Phra Nang Nai), signposted from Railay East, has a lit walkway past limestone formations and bats. Sources give an entry fee of about 200 THB for adults and opening hours of about 8 am to 5 pm, neither confirmed for 2026.
Tonsai Beach
Tonsai, north of Railay West, is the climbers' beach, with simple bungalows and bars under the cliffs. At low tide you can walk over the rocks from the north end of Railay West, but the rocks are sharp. Otherwise take the jungle path, reported at 15 to 45 minutes and badly signposted, or a longtail for about 100 THB.
At low tide Tonsai is rocky and muddy, and at high tide the sand almost disappears, so it is not the beach for a swim. Skip the rock route with a big bag or after rain.
How to get to Railay Beach: longtail prices and times
There is no road to Railay, so everyone arrives by boat. Longtails run from three places on the mainland. Each one waits until about eight seats are sold, and you pay in cash.
| From | Lands at | Reported fare, one way | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ao Nang beach | Railay West | 100 THB, about 50 THB more after 6 pm | 10 to 15 minutes |
| Ao Nam Mao pier | Railay East | 100 THB | About 15 minutes |
| Krabi Town pier | Railay East | 150 to 200 THB | 25 to 45 minutes |
| Railay West | Tonsai | 100 THB, or walk at low tide | 5 to 10 minutes |
Railay Beach from Ao Nang
Most visitors come from Ao Nang. Buy a ticket at the longtail booth on the beach, wait for the boat to fill, and you land on Railay West 10 to 15 minutes later. Local guides give 100 THB a person in 2026, and one gives up to 150 THB. Keep your return ticket.
After 6 pm the fare goes up by about 50 THB. The last shared boat back is reported around 6 pm in the dry season and 5 pm to 5:30 pm in the monsoon. After that you charter a whole boat at a price agreed with the boatman.
From Ao Nam Mao and Krabi Town
Ao Nam Mao, a few kilometres east of Ao Nang, has a pier at both ends of the trip, which makes it the easy start with luggage. The boat costs about 100 THB and takes 15 minutes to the floating pier of Railay East. From the airport, shuttles and taxis can drop you there.
From Krabi Town, longtails leave from the river pier for Railay East. Fares of 150 to 200 THB are reported, for 25 to 45 minutes. One couple who used it found a posted schedule every two hours from 9 am, though boats really leave when full.
Some boats also link Railay with Phi Phi and with Koh Lanta, mainly in the dry season. Coming from Phuket, the fast boat lands near Ao Nang, from where you take the longtail.
Luggage, low tide and the last boat
Ao Nang and Railay West have no pier. You climb in and out of the boat in water up to your knees, so wear sandals, pack light and keep your phone in a dry bag. The boatmen help with bags, but a large suitcase is hard work.
If you arrive at Railay East, count up to about one kilometre on foot from the end of the pier to a hotel on Railay West or on the hill. Some resorts send a golf cart if you ask in advance. At low tide, a tractor may carry you from the boat to the shore.
Railay viewpoint and lagoon hike: how hard is it?
The trail starts halfway along the paved path from Railay East to Phra Nang Cave Beach, at a small shelter with a sign for the viewpoint. It is short but steep: you pull yourself up a red clay slope and rock steps with knotted ropes. Most people reach the top in 10 to 20 minutes.
At the ridge the path splits. Left leads to the East Railay viewpoint, with a view over Railay East and the mangrove. Right drops into a gorge and then down to the Princess Lagoon (Sa Phra Nang), a pool ringed by cliffs. The descent to the lagoon is harder, steeper and with fewer ropes.
We found no ticket and no official opening hours for the trail. Go in daylight, and early, before the heat and the queue at the ropes, which take one person in each direction.
A sign at the start bans parachuting and base jumping from the viewpoint. In January 2026 a British tourist who tried an illegal base jump from the cliffs of Railay was left stranded on the rock face and had to be rescued, local press reported.
Railay rock climbing: schools, levels and 2026 prices
Railay rock climbing takes place on more than 700 bolted routes, from grade 5a for beginners to 8c+, according to a climbing guide updated in May 2026. The main areas are Railay West, Railay East and Tonsai. Climb in the morning in the dry season, before the sun hits the walls.
| Option | Reported price, 2026 | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Half-day group class | 1,200 to 1,800 THB a person | About 4 hours, 4 to 6 students, gear included |
| Full-day group class | 2,000 to 2,500 THB | About 7 hours, often with an abseil |
| Private guide, full day | 2,800 to 3,500 THB | Booking sites list private half days at about 3,600 THB |
| Gear rental for climbers | 250 to 400 THB a day | Ropes and quickdraws 200 to 300 THB more |
The schools have desks on the walking street between Railay East and West. The ones named most often are King Climbers, Wee's Climbing School, Hot Rock and Real Rocks. A beginner's half day needs no experience, and the school lends the shoes and the harness. Ask how many students share one instructor before you pay.
Accidents happen on Railay's walls, including falls that ended in hospital. Climbing with a school is the safe way to start, and helmets are part of the standard kit.
Deep water solo
Deep water solo means climbing a cliff above the sea without a rope and dropping into the water. On Tonsai, Basecamp Tonsai runs trips reported at 1,500 THB a person, for three to five hours, with old climbing shoes, a mask and lunch. Departure times follow the tide, as the water has to be deep enough below the wall.
Kayaking around Railay, and the May 2026 accident
Kayaks are rented on Railay West, reported at about 200 THB an hour. The classic loop goes north into Tonsai bay, back across Railay West and around the point to Phra Nang Cave Beach, with sea caves on the way. At low tide you can land on the small beach of Happy Island.
On dark evenings some operators take clear kayaks with lights along the cliffs, to watch plankton glow in the water. Book through your hotel or a desk on the walking street.
Railay day trip or a night: East vs West and Ao Nang
A day trip from Ao Nang is enough for the beaches, the viewpoint and a swim. Count five to six hours, and add a half day for climbing. Take a boat around 8 am and you get Phra Nang before the tours arrive.
A night on Railay is the way to see the beaches empty, at sunrise and after 4 pm. It also saves the evening boat, the surcharge and the wade with a bag. One or two nights is what most travellers choose, as rooms and meals cost more than in Ao Nang.
Railay East vs West for a night
Railay West has the beachside resorts and the sunset, at higher prices. Railay East and the hill behind it have the cheaper rooms and the bars, a few minutes on foot from the beach. Rayavadee, the luxury resort, runs along Phra Nang. Tonsai has the simplest bungalows.
If a room on Railay is too dear, sleep in Ao Nang and take the morning boat. It also suits a longer trip that moves on to Khao Sok, about three hours inland by road.
Prices, cash and monkeys on Railay
Everything on Railay arrives by boat, and there are no roads and no cars, only footpaths, carts and the odd tractor. Travellers report meals and drinks at about twice the price of the mainland. Some buy snacks and drinks in Ao Nang before crossing.
Bring cash. The longtails, the small shops and many restaurants take baht only, and there are few ATMs on the peninsula. Mobile data works, but hotel wifi can be weak.
Two kinds of monkeys live on Railay. Dusky leaf monkeys, grey with white rings around the eyes, stay in the trees. Macaques come down to the path to Phra Nang and the beach to grab food, bags and sunglasses. Do not feed them, keep food out of sight, and see a clinic after a bite or a scratch.
Best time to visit Railay Beach and the rainy season
The dry season runs from November to April, with calm sea and dry rock for climbing. December to February is the busiest and the dearest. From May to October the monsoon brings storms, often in the afternoon, and wet rock for two to four hours after each one.
In the rainy season the Andaman swell can stop the longtails. A climbing guide reports that boats are cancelled about one day in three during the monsoon, and the last boat leaves earlier. Keep a spare day if you have a flight to catch.
The sea at Railay West and Phra Nang is calm in the dry months. On rough days boatmen warn swimmers off, and where a red flag flies, do not swim. The viewpoint and lagoon trail is best left alone from June to October, when it is rarely dry.