Railay Beach Krabi, also known as Rai Leh, is a peninsula with no roads connecting it to the rest of Krabi and no vehicles. Therefore, the only way to visit Railay Thailand is by boat.
Railay Beach is a stunning beach, but it also refers to the whole area that’s a must-visit in Krabi, Thailand. Railay offers much more than just a stunning beach; there are awesome viewpoints, a hidden lagoon, cool caves, and lots of fun activities such as rock climbing, kayaking, and snorkeling.
We dare to say Railay is the heart of Krabi. While we initially thought it would be underwhelming, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves there.
We personally went to Railay on more occasions, using different piers, so here is your guide on how to get to Railay Beach in Krabi, including our tips.
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How to get to Railay Beach from Krabi
Depending on where you stay in Krabi, there are different options for getting to Railay Beach, but they all include a longtail boat.
- Read before your trip: Best areas & hotels in Krabi (Guide)
TRAVEL TIP: If you’re short on time but still want to visit Railay Beach (which you should), consider joining a tour like this one, which takes you to Railay but also to other awesome and must-visit islands around Railay! 😊
In case you don’t know, a longtail boat is a traditional Thai watercraft with a long, narrow hull and a long engine shaft with a propeller at the end. These boats offer an affordable way to get around Thailand and are commonly used for transportation and tourism. Their design allows them to navigate shallow waters and access remote areas. They also usually have sun covers.
Getting to Railay Beach from Krabi Town or Tubkaek
If you want to visit Railay Beach from Krabi Town or Tubkaek, the best way is to take a Grab or taxi to Ao Nang Beach. The ride is about 20-30 minutes. From there, you then take one of the longtail boats to the peninsula.
Another option is taking a Songthaew (shared pick-up truck/taxi) to Ao Nang. This is a cheaper option than a taxi, but you might need to wait a bit longer to depart, and it stops more often, making the journey a bit longer.
Getting to Railay Beach from Krabi Airport
To get to Railay Beach from Krabi Airport (KBV), you can take a private transfer to Ao Nang for about 14 USD. The ride usually lasts about 30 minutes. From there, shared longtail boat transfers are available.
Alternatively, a shuttle bus from Krabi Airport to Ao Nang costs around 4 USD and runs hourly from 8 am to 8 pm. The ride can last about an hour, depending on the number of passengers, and stops before Ao Nang.
Best piers to get to Railay Beach
There are two main piers for getting to Railay Beach from Krabi. The most commonly used one (and the best one) is Ao Nang Pier (location).
There’s also Ao Nam Mao Pier (Ao Num Moa Pier – location), which is great if you’re in the area, but the boats depart with less frequency than in Ao Nang.
Klong Jilad Pier, located south of Krabi Town, is often mentioned as an alternative way to get to Railay Beach. However, according to recent reviews, no boats actually go to Railay; only ferries to Phi Phi Islands. Either way, this pier is too far away from Railay, and it wouldn’t make sense to go from there.
Getting to Railay Beach from Ao Nang – best choice
The best and cheapest way to get to Railay Beach Krabi from Ao Nang is by a shared longtail boat.
Longtail boats from Ao Nang to Railay Beach, Krabi, go daily from 8 am to 6 pm, and during night time from 6 pm until 12 pm (night time is charged extra, plus there are fewer boats).
The boat ride to Railay from Ao Nang lasts from 10 to 15 minutes, depending on sea conditions, and it arrives at Railay West Beach.
The one-way Ao Nang to Railay Beach ticket costs 100 THB (less than 3 USD) per person. There’s an additional charge of 50 THB if you travel after 6:00 pm.
As this is a shared boat, you’ll likely need to wait until there are 8 passengers before departing. In high season, this is usually not a problem. We traveled this route in the shoulder season and waited 10 minutes max.
Good to know: There are actually two locations at Ao Nang Beach from where longtail boats depart, Location 1 (check here) and Location 2 (check here). Both are fine to use.
Don’t go to Thailand before reading these!
- Phi Phi Islands Things To Do + Travel Guide
- Koh Phangan Complete Guide
- Your Bangkok Guide
- Phuket Full Travel Guide
- Things To Do in Chiang Mai + Guide
- Chiang Rai Travel Guide
- Krabi Guide
Getting to Railay Beach from Ao Nam Mao Pier
Another way to get to Railay Beach Krabi is by using Ao Nam Mao Pier (location).
Longtail boats from Ao Nam Mao Pier, Krabi, usually depart every 2 hours starting at 9 am.
The boat ride to Railay from Ao Nam Mao Pier lasts about 15 minutes, depending on sea conditions, and it arrives at Railay East Pier.
The one-way ticket from Ao Nam Mao to Railay Beach costs 100 THB (less than 3 USD) per person.
As this is a shared boat, you’ll likely need to wait until there are 6 passengers before departing. In high season, this is usually not a problem. We traveled this route when we went rock climbing in Railay in the shoulder season and waited 10 minutes max.
Timing and frequency of longtail boats to Railay Beach
The timing and frequency of longtail boats to Railay Beach vary depending on the season and weather conditions. Generally, longtail boat services operate from early morning until sunset, with boats leaving approximately every 30 minutes during peak times.
From Ao Nang Beach, longtail boats to Railay Beach start going regularly from 8 am until 6 pm, and then at night time from 6 pm until 12 pm.
Remember that factors like high or low tide can also impact boat departures and arrivals, so it’s recommended to plan your journey accordingly to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience getting to Railay Beach.
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Price of longtail boats to Railay Beach
A shared, traditional, longtail boat to Railay Beach costs 100 THB (less than 3 USD) one way per person. An additional price of 50 THB is added for departures after 6 pm.
Important: We don’t recommend booking a return ticket right away. There are different companies operating here, therefore, it’s better to book your return boat to Ao Nang directly at Railay Beach once you’re ready to leave. That way you’re not bound to any specific company.
Good to know: Since this is a shared boat, you might need to wait for enough people to gather before departing. At Ao Nang pier that’s usually 8 people.
If you want to go before the scheduled time, you need to pay for the whole boat (as if there were 8 passengers), which is 800 THB (around 22 USD), but you might try to negotiate for a bit lower.
Recommended Experiences
Useful tips for taking a longtail boat to Railay Beach
Have cash – Boat tickets are paid only in cash! Ideally, have small notes.
Save money on conversion fees and ATM transactions. Get a Wise card!
Tides matter – During low tide, water intensely retreats at both Ao Nang and Railay Beach, and since the water starts far out, you’ll need to walk on the wet sand for a bit or even jump in or out of shallow water.
Take flip-flops – Because of the reason above, it’s good to be barefoot or in flip-flops. However, we recommend taking shoes with you if you plan to climb the viewpoints in Railay.
Sea conditions – Depending on sea conditions (waves, wind, etc.), your departure and arrival points might change. Be prepared for a potentially bumpy boat ride, sometimes even a bit of a wet one.
High season (December to March) – If you’re visiting during high season, arrive early! Railay Beach is an extremely popular spot in Krabi, so it will be very crowded. Ideally, you can book accommodation in Railay to have it all for yourself before day trippers arrive.
Different drop-off point – Depending on the sea conditions and season (usually only high season), you can also choose to be dropped of at Phra Nang Cave Beach instead of Railay West Beach. We personally prefer Phra Nang, so this is a great option!
Different Railay Piers – If you want to return from Railay to Ao Nang, you need to find a longtail boat on Railay West Beach. If you wish to return to Ao Nam Mao Pier from Railay, you need to go to Railay East Pier. This is important if you park your scooter near one of the piers. 😊
Getting to Railay Beach from other parts of Thailand
Getting to Railay from Bangkok
The distance between Bangkok and Railay Beach in Krabi is almost 800 km (500 miles). The fastest way to get to Railay from Bangkok is by flying into KBV Krabi Airport (check flights). From there, you can take a shuttle bus or private transfer to Ao Nang Beach (check options here) and then a longtail boat to Railay.
Otherwise, you can book a combo transfer that takes you directly from Bangkok to Railay Beach in Krabi (check all options and prices).
These usually take much longer (like 16+ hours) but are quite affordable. We did these transfers often while in Thailand (for example, when we went to Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, and Koh Tao).
Getting to Railay from Phuket
It’s easy to get to Railay Beach from Phuket by a ferry or, a better option, take a minibus from Phuket to Ao Nang and catch a longtail boat to Railay Beach. Or there is even one taking you directly to Ao Nam Mao Pier.
The ferry from Phuket to Railay Beach takes around 1 hour and costs around 17 USD per person. However, there is only one per day. Check the full schedule and prices here.
Minibuses from Phuket to Ao Nang Krabi run frequently (at least once every hour), and the ride takes about 3-4 hours. Check the full schedule and prices here.
Getting to Railay from Phi Phi Islands
It’s easy to get to Railay Beach from Phi Phi Islands by speedboat or ferry – check the schedule and prices.
The speedboat from Phi Phi Islands to Railay Beach takes around 40 minutes, while the ferry takes longer, about an hour and a half.
Speedboats cost 23+ USD, while ferries cost around 13 USD. However, speedboats from Koh Phi Phi to Railay depart more often than ferries.
Where to stay at Railay Beach
Our recommended hotels in Railay Krabi:
$$$ Railay Bay Resort and Spa – tropical-style cottages, beachfront pools, and a massage service at the spa.
$$ Railay Phutawan Resort – well-equipped rooms and a stunning sea view from the bar and pool.
$ Railay Garden View Resort – rustic stay in its hillside bungalows
Read our complete Where To Stay in Krabi guide to help you decide which area is the best choice for you, plus recommendations of the best hotels.
Things to do at Railay Beach
When it comes to things to do, Railay Beach is worth visiting for at least one full day!
It is known as the best rock climbing spot in Thailand, especially for beginners and hobbyists.
- Read more about our rock climbing experience in Railay.
You can also enjoy water activities like snorkeling, kayaking, and paddleboarding.
If you prefer to relax, the beach offers soft white sand and crystal-clear waters perfect for unwinding. Don’t miss the mesmerizing Phra Nang Cave Beach; it’s our favorite!
In addition, you can hike to several amazing Railay viewpoints for breathtaking panoramic views of the region.
- Read more in our complete Railay article!
Frequently asked questions
Railay Peninsula is accessible only by boat; there is no road connecting Krabi with Railay. So, no, it’s not possible to walk from Ao Nang to Railay Beach.
Longtail boat from Ao Nang Beach is the best way to reach Railay Beach Krabi.
To get to Railay Beach from Krabi Aiport, you first need to take a Grab, taxi, or shuttle bus to Ao Nang Pier and then take a longtail boat to Railay West Beach.
The last daily boat from Ao Nang Beach to Railay Beach is at 6 pm, but there are night boats operating from 6 pm until 12 pm. The price for a night boat is 150 THB (around 4 USD), and the daily boat is 100 THB (less than 3 USD) one way.
Final thoughts – our experience
We visited Railay Beach from both Ao Nam Mao Pier and Ao Nang Pier. Personally, we would recommend Ao Nang Pier as a better choice as more people come there and there are more boats. However, no matter which one you choose, the process is pretty straightforward.
As we visited during extremely low tide at Ao Nang Beach, we were transferred from the lower Ao Nang location to the one further up along the beach instead. That spot has a deeper canal where longtail boats can come during low tide. However, the transfer was arranged and included in our ticket. This might happen to you, as boat departures depend on tides, weather, and sea conditions. So, there is no need to worry, as they will make it work!
Thank you for reading our Guide on getting to Railay Beach, Thailand. We hope we helped you plan your trip. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below.
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