Railay, Krabi: The Ultimate Guide

Easily one of our favourite places in Thailand, possibly even the world, Krabi is where you simply NEED to visit if you're looking for the ultimate Thailand experience. You know what I'm talking about - the one you see on the postcard with the boats, the mountains, the ocean. That one. I'm here to tell you that I've found exactly where it is. And spoilet: it's Railay, in Krabi, Thailand. And today we're going to tell you all about it.

How to get there:

If you're visiting Railay, chances are, you're going to be visiting from elsewhere in Thailand. Railay is only accessible by boat, so you're probably going to land in Krabi by plane, before transferring to your hotel. From experience, I recommend organsing a transfer with your hotel. They're usually really helpful and will organise the car from the airport for you, as well as the boat. If not, just catch a bus or hail a taxi from the airpot and go to Ao Nang or Ao Nam Mao pier. Simply tell the boat drivers that you are going to Railay, and they'll take you straight there.

Things to do:

Despite it's sleepy seaside town appearance (in the best way possible!) there are SO many different things to do when you're visiting Railay. Whether you're looking to reach that penultimate zen state or try out your adrenaline junkie skills, I can guarantee that there's something for you.

Phra Nang Beach

Phra Nang Beach is undoubtably one of the most beautiful places we've ever visited in our entire lives. From the moment you emerge from the cave lined walkway and get your first glimpse of the ocean, your jaw drops in amazement. In fact, we loved it so much we even made a video all about it, which you can see above. One of the most well-known activities on Phra Nang Beach, besides, you know, being in awe of it's general beauty, is visiting it's cave. Phra Nang Cave is tucked away but you can find it almost as soon as you first enter the beach, and it's known for it's phallic shaped offerings that line the the cave.

For context, leaving an offering is meant to aid you in fertility.

Snorkeling

The snorkeling in Railay is absolutely stunning. On Phra Nang Beach, which is less disturbed by boats, you can see schools of fish swimming past, and within only metres from the shore. We recommend the shallow rocks near Pha Nang cave, it's where we spotted a large group of flying fish while we were snorkeling. We had a lot of luck towards the nearby island too, but be careful of the sea urchins, there are quite a lot.

Diamond Cave (Tam Phra Nang Nai)

📍 2R7R+FV2, Ao Nang, Mueang Krabi District, Krabi 81000

This beautiful cave is only a 5-10 minute walk from the main street of Railay, so you really don't have any excuse not to visit! It's well set up for visitors, with wooden walkways and lighting in place. We paid 100 baht each to get in, I think. The caves themselves were quite small, although beautifully formed, and we loved seeing the little bats lining the ceiling.

Rock Climbing

One of the things that Railay is most well known for is it's rock climbing locations. People literally travel from all over the world to try it for themselves. I've never tried it, so can't vouch from personal experience, but the climbers certainly look happy as they descend! There are rock climbing schools all over Railay, in case you're more of a thrill seeker than us, and want to try it for yourself.

Beach Activities

Whether you're at the main Railay Beach or Phra Nang Beach, you need to try out the different beach sport activities. There are rental places lining the beach, and most are quite reasonably priced, so don't be afraid to get out there and try something new in the water. We've tried the paddle boarding (10/10) and I've heard there are glass bottom kayaks available for night time sessions as well..

Monkey Watching

Not enough people talk about the nature in Railay, but seriously, there's a LOT of it! From fish, to monitor lizards, nothing quite takes your breath away as much as the monkeys. Railay is home to several different species, including some that sit in the trees, gobbling down crabs. How unexpected is that? If you're a seasoned Thailand traveller, then monkeys might not be your thing, but if you're coming for the first time, I'm sure you'll love seeing them (just don't get too close!)

Where to stay:

There are so many different accommodation options in Railay, and there truly is something for all budgets. If you're looking for the five star experience, we absolutely recommend The Rayavadee. I think it's possibly the nicest hotel I've ever stayed at in my life. The room itself was stunning, as was the breakfast, the drive around the grounds in the golf buggy, the patch sun-loungers right next to Pra Nang beach, the list goes on - but the creme-de-la-creme has to be the cave restaurant. You dine in a cave. In an actual cave restaurant. It's even more incredible than you might think, and those views were some of the best I've ever seen.

If you don't have access to a top tier budget, don't worry, there's something for you too! We've sampled a bunch of different hotels in Railay, and documented them in the video below. There are pros to all of the hotels. We really loved the views from the Great View (surprise surprise!), the gigantic spa bath in the Bhu Nga Thani, and the location of the Sand Sea Resort.

How to get around

It's really easy to get around Railay.. you just walk! Railay is really small and largely centres around it's main road, which cuts through from one side to the other. The main road is where you'll find everything you need - food (a LOT of food), convenience stores, reggae bars, ATMs, laundry facilities, clothes and jewelry shops.. If you name it, well, it might not be there, but if it was, it'd on the main street! Basically, if you find the main street, which you csan't miss, then you're all set. You can get from the pier to the main beach, from the restaurant to your hotel.. basically, everywhere!

The only other street you really, really need to know is the one that takes you from Railay East to Pra Nang Beach. Just walk alongside the caves until you find the most beautiful beach you've ever seen in your life. Seriously.

Aside from walking, the boats are there too. If you want to go to Ao Nang, you'll need to catch a boat. It's also how you will start your journey to the airport. You can negotiate with the boat drivers at the pier, before boarding your boat.