Railay Beach Krabi Things To Do (Our Railay Travel Guide)

Visiting Railay Beach is one of the best things to do in Krabi. We visited Railay twice during our time in Krabi: once, we went rock climbing, and then we chilled for the rest of the afternoon. The second time, we spent a full day exploring everything Railay has to offer.

We loved our time exploring Railay Beach and would love to return and spend a few nights.

About Railay Beach Krabi

Railay, located in Krabi, Thailand, is a secluded peninsula known for its stunning limestone cliffs, clear turquoise waters, and pristine beaches. Many consider Railay Beach in Krabi as an island, as it’s cut off from the rest of the Krabi, much like an island, but it’s actually not. However, the surrounding towering cliffs make Railay accessible only by boat.

The area is a paradise for rock climbers, adventurers who like to explore hidden lagoons and viewpoints, underwater lovers with lots of snorkeling and kayaking opportunities, and those who simply want to unwind on picturesque beaches. 

Railay is undoubtedly the best part of Krabi, and its breathtaking scenery makes Railay a must-visit destination in Thailand.

Getting to Railay Beach Thailand

The only way to get to Railay Beach from Krabi is by boat. Longtail boats from Ao Nang to Railay Beach are available daily from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and the ride takes about 10 to 15 minutes. 

The one-way ticket from Ao Nang to Railay Beach costs 100 THB per person, while the return trip fee is 200 THB. There’s an additional charge of 50 THB after 6:00 p.m.

Boats going to Railay Beach are shared, so you’ll likely need to wait until there are 8 passengers.

Railay Beach Krabi Travel Map

Tip for using the Map: Add our Railay Beach Travel Map to your Google Maps account by clicking the star next to the map title. To use it on your phone or computer: open the Google Maps app – go to the menu – “Your Places” – “Maps,” and you’ll see it saved there.

Things to do in Railay Beach Krabi

While the area is small there are still plenty of things to do in Railay Beach, including rock climbing, exploring caves, swimming, relaxing on the beautiful beaches, and hiking one of the viewpoints. Plus, activities like snorkeling, kayaking, and awesome boat trips to beautiful nearby islands give you lots to do at Railay if you’re coming to stay for more than a day.

Here are the best things to do in Railay, Thailand.

1. Phra Nang Beach

Phra Nang Beach is undoubtedly the best beach in Railay and one of the most beautiful beaches in Thailand. For us, it’s a better choice for relaxing than Railay Beach.

It’s a stunning stretch of white sand framed by dramatic limestone cliffs with beautiful views of small islands in the distance.

The water at Phra Nang Beach is perfect for swimming and snorkeling, and we enjoyed it even in the shoulder season.

Fun fact: The IG famous grotto dining restaurant from Rayavadee Resort is situated in Railay overlooking Phra Nang Beach.

Swim or paddle to Ko Rang Nok Island

Ko Rang Nok Island is just off the shore of the beautiful Phra Nang Beach. You may swim, kayak, or walk (at low tide) to get there and relax on its pristine beach or swim in its clear waters.

It also makes for a beautiful background for photos. 

• Read our Bangkok Complete Travel Guide next!

Dusky Leaf Monkeys

Phra Nang Beach is where you can spot beautiful Dusky Leaf Monkeys in Railay Krabi. We saw lots of them jumping around the trees, even the small babies. The best time to spot them is either early morning or late afternoon (which was our case).

We spent about 30 minutes observing them as they were just too cute and not scared of us at all. 😍

2. Phra Nang Princess Cave

Right at the beginning of Phra Nang Beach is a unique cave called Phra Nang Princess Cave. It is a sacred place for local fishermen who believe a mystical Princess Goddess resides here, so you’ll see offerings, including phallic symbols and lots of penis carvings, to bring fertility and prosperity.

The cave is very small, and besides unique offerings, there’s nothing else to see, so it’s a quick visit.

Right next to Phra Nang Princess Cave is also one of Krabi’s best rock climbing walls. We went rock climbing for the first time there. It’s such a cool location. While it’s not the most technical and advanced climbing location (those are in Tonsai Bay), it’s great for beginner and intermediate climbs.

3. Snorkeling cruise

While visiting coastal Thailand, you need to try snorkeling! Snorkeling is one of the best things to do in Railay Beach, as there are some great snorkeling spots with amazing marine life.

While you can swim out from Phra Nang Beach and do some snorkeling yourself, you’ll experience the best snorkeling in Railay by joining a Snorkeling Cruise, which takes you to the best snorkeling spots around Four Islands in Krabi. That’s what we did!

• Also read: Sunset Snorkeling Cruise (Review)

We absolutely loved this trip! We went to some really cool snorkeling spots and saw lots of corals and fish, including a black-tip reef shark!

In addition, we enjoyed a bioluminescent night snorkel near Railay, which was absolutely magical.

Michael and the rest of the crew were great, and the super cool boat made the experience so much better. We could even jump in the water from the roof!

Another great option for groups or families is to book the same exact boat but for the whole morning. It’s super spacious, you get snorkeling gear, a paddle board, and a kayak, as well as a delicious gourmet breakfast (with champagne!). Click here to check the availability.

4. Rock climbing

Railay in Krabi is famous for its amazing rock climbing opportunities. The abundance of limestone cliffs with various routes suitable for climbers of all skill levels, from beginners to advanced, make rock climbing one of the best activities in Railay.

The stunning views of the turquoise waters and lush greenery make the climbing even more enjoyable. We can personally confirm that, as we did our first rock climbing ever right here at Railay!

We did this rock climbing tour and had a blast, and we can highly recommend it!

With experienced guides and top-notch equipment available, you can feel safe and confident to tackle different challenging routes.

5. Railay Viewpoint East

One of the best things to do in Railay is climb the Railay Viewpoint East, a well-known spot to enjoy breathtaking views of East Railay. 

Hiking to the viewpoint involves climbing an almost vertical wall through a muddy jungle with the help of ropes for the most part, and it takes about 20 minutes. This same path is also the first part of the Railay Lagoon hike.

While short, Railay Viewpoint East is a pretty steep hike, and you should only do it if you’re confident enough to climb like this. We did it a day after it was raining, which made the climb much harder as everything was super slippery. It’s much easier on dry days.

👉🏼 Find the Railay East Viewpoint Loop on AllTrails.

The viewpoint is not super clearly signed at the top, but it’s easy to spot it as it’s the only clearing where the view is actually seen.

Tip: Visit the viewpoint during the high tide. Otherwise you’ll mostly only see wet sand and (almost) no water at the beach. Check tidal charts here.

6. Railay Princess Lagoon

Railay Hidden Lagoon, also known as Princess Lagoon, is Railay’s best hidden gem. It is concealed in an open-ceiling cave, hence its name. Although it may have cloudy waters and sharp rocks, the surrounding foliage and tranquility make it a must-visit site.

While it’s still a known location, it’s not that easy to get to, so it’s never super crowded.

Important: Please note that the hike to the Princess Lagoon at Railay is very strenuous. You need to use ropes to descend, and this part is even more vertical than the start of the hike that leads to the viewpoint. After rain, it’s incredibly slippery and somewhat dangerous.

We had to skip this hike as we visited after rain, and it was too slippery. Few people attempted the hike before us and gave up at the end, as did we.

👉🏼 Find the trail to Princess Lagoon on AllTrails.

7. Bat Cave and West Railay Viewpoint

Our favorite, Bat Cave, is definitely the top thing to do in Railay. As the name suggests, the Bat Cave at Railay Beach Krabi houses a colony of bats. But that’s not the reason why it’s so famous. 

The Bat Cave houses a few stunning viewpoints, one of Railay West and one of Phra Nang Beach.

But the viewpoint at the top of the Bat Cave overlooking Railay West is hands down the best viewpoint in Railay. And the way to get there, going through a cave and even climbing a bamboo ladder, makes it even better.

👉🏼 Find the trail from Phra Nang Beach to Bat Cave on AllTrails.

8. Day trip to Hong Island

A must-visit destination from Railay Krabi is Hong Island, which is Phang Nga Bay’s best island.

Hong Island is a superb day trip destination where you can enjoy its stunning beach and hike up to the incredible 360-degree viewpoint of Phang Nga Bay (one of the absolute best).

On the back of the island, you can also visit a stunning lagoon with a narrow passage. Nearby, you can visit smaller islands, one with another beautiful beach.

You can get to Hong Island by longtail or speedboat tour. Check out this high-rated tour.

Good to know: The entrance fee for Hong Island is 300 baht (about 8 USD) for foreign adults and 150 baht for children and can only be paid in cash. Some tours include this in the final price, but most don’t so keep this in mind.

9. Four Islands boat tour

A must-do thing in Railay Thailand is the Four Islands Boat Tour. You visit the islands that can be seen from Railay’s Phra Nang Beach. These are also called the “local islands of Krabi”.

The usual trip starts on Koh Tub (Ko Thap), famous for its beautiful white sandbar that links to the next stop, Chicken Island, where you can find a chicken-shaped rock formation. You also visit Poda Island and Phra Nang Beach to experience their sandy shores and clear turquoise waters.

Tip: There is a national park fee of 400 THB ($12) you must pay at the “local” islands of Krabi. The fee includes all the islands in the island group. Usually, you pay this on Poda Island or Chicken Island.

Personally, we did this tour, which we feel is an excellent choice if you’re staying in Railay. The tour has lots of amazing snorkeling stops and avoids stopping at the tourist islands (which also means not paying a national park fee), but you still see all the highlights.

• Read more about it in our dedicated article.

10. Kayaking

One of the best Railay things to do is kayaking, as you get to explore nature that’s usually inaccessible on foot, like hidden caves, secluded lagoons, and mangrove forests. 

This is also a perfect way to get away from crowds and find a hidden spot just for yourself. 

You can find kayak rentals at Railay West Beach, costing between 500 and 1000 THB for one day (14-28 USD).

11. Maya Bay and Phi Phi Islands

One of the best things to do in Railay is to go on an iconic day trip to Maya Bay and the Phi Phi Islands. On this trip, you can see the highlights of the Phi Phi Islands, including Maya Bay.

Our recommendation for the best experience is to book the early-bird Phi Phi Islands tour, which will pick you up very early in the morning in Krabi and take you to Phi Phi Islands right at sunrise.

We did a similar trip from Phuket (read our review), and it was well worth it. We saw the best of the Phi Phi Islands in just a day.

You can also organize an overnight trip to Phi Phi Islands from Railay by yourself. That’s what we did on our second Thailand visit. You leave with the earliest ferry from Railay, and return with the latest one next day. We booked our ferry tickets online here.

12. Other Railay Beaches

While Phra Nang Beach is hands down the best beach in Railay Krabi, we need to mention the other three.

Railay Beach

The main Railay Beach is a picturesque beach in Railay Krabi known for its stunning limestone cliffs and crystal-clear waters. It’s one of the top spots to visit in Krabi (also check out the full list of things to do in Krabi!).

Railay’s main beach is pretty shallow, much like Ao Nang, which makes it perfect for families with kids.

The west Railay Beach is basically the main center of Railay, and it’s always lively, especially for sunset. While we personally prefer Phra Nang Beach for swimming and relaxing, Railay Beach is an absolutely stunning place to watch a sunset in Railay.

P.S. don’t be confused by Railay West and Railay East Beach. The main Railay Beach (and the one we talk about) is also called Railay West Beach.

East Railay Bay Beach is where the pier is located. Most of the time, there isn’t much of a beach there at all.

• Also, check out the Chiang Mai Things To Do Travel Guide

Good to know: The whole Railay peninsula is quite affected by tides, so it might happen that there won’t be almost any beach or that there won’t be any water when you visit. We experienced both. 😁 Check tidal charts here.

Tonsai Bay

If you’re feeling adventurous and have extra time, you can hike from Railay to Tonsai Bay. The loop trail takes around 1.5 hours to finish. However, it’s not the easiest one, and parts of the trail might not be in the best condition (overgrown, etc.). If you decide to do this, wear proper shoes.

👉🏼 Find the trail from Railay Bay to Tonsai Bay on AllTrails.

If you don’t want to hike but are still keen on visiting Tonsai Bay, you can just pay for a longtail boat to take you there.

13. Diamond Cave

The Phra Nang Nai Cave at Railay Beach, also known as Diamond Cave, got its name from its large pool, which creates a sparkling effect in the rainy season. Inside, you’ll see wood passageways and illuminated stalagmites and stalactites. 

The entrance fee to Diamond Cave at Railay Beach is 200 THB ($6) per person, and it’s open from 8 AM until 5:30 PM.

While Diamond Cave is a cool place to visit in Railay, we recommend skipping it if you’ve already visited other caves in Thailand (and we did). 

There are so many cool things to do in Railay itself, and Bat Cave is a better choice, plus it’s free. We also decided to skip it as, according to Google reviews, it seems like it’s not worth the price. 

Best restaurants in Railay Beach

Railay Walking Street is the main street in Railay Krabi, full of restaurants, bars, and shops. It connects Railay West with Railay East Beach and is the only area to grab a bite and chill (beside your hotel).

• Check the best restaurants in Railay Beach.

Another cool thing to do in Railay is a Pub Crawl. Check it out here.

Where to stay in Railay Krabi?

Railay Krabi doesn’t lack hotels, so you’ll easily find properties offering both affordable dorms and luxury rooms. However, keep in mind that the prices will generally be a bit higher than the rest of Krabi.

In Railay Krabi, we recommend staying in Railay Bay Resort and Spa for a luxury stay, beautiful Railay Phutawan Resort for a mid-range stay, and Railay Garden View Resort for a budget stay.

Blanco Hideout is a great option in Railay if you’re looking for a hostel.

Railay Bay Resort and Spa (left) & Railay Phutawan Resort (right)

How many days in Railay Beach?

You can easily explore the main highlights of Railay Beach on a day trip from Ao Nang in one full day, but we highly recommend spending at least two to three nights here. That way, you’ll get Railay all to yourself in the evenings and early mornings before day tourists arrive.

Railay offers lots of things to do, and many boat tours to some stunning places around can be arranged from here as well. Therefore, Railay Beach is a great base for staying while in Krabi as you can easily do most of Krabi’s exploration from there. 

Read our complete Krabi Things To Do Guide to see what else is worth doing in Krabi. Or check the Where to Stay in Krabi travel guide.

Otherwise, many people do day trips to Railay from other parts of Krabi. You can do that easily by yourself or you can join an organized trip that also takes you to the islands around Railay. We recommend booking this one!

The best time to visit Railay Beach Krabi

The best months to visit Railay Beach Krabi are between mid-November and February, when it’s mostly dry and not too hot or humid. However, this is also a high season for Krabi, so we recommend booking hotels and tours in advance!

March, April, and May are the hottest months in Railay and Thailand. Ensure you drink plenty of water and use sun protection during these times. The heat here is no joke!

Rainy or monsoon season in Railay Beach generally starts in May/June and lasts until November, peaking in August, September, and October. This is the time when Krabi experiences many downpours and showers.

However, despite the rain, there can still be lots of sunshine and good weather. You just need to be flexible and prepared for the rain.

We once visited Railay at the end of May and had mostly nice weather, although the waves were a bit stronger than usual.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Railay Beach worth visiting? – Personal thoughts

We absolutely loved the Railay Beach area. It offers so many fun and adventurous things to do, plus it has the best beach in the Krabi area. So yes, Railay Beach is definitely worth visiting!

Sure, it can be busy during the peak season (same as any popular tourist places), but as we visited in the shoulder month of May, we didn’t experience that.

Even if you don’t decide to stay overnight, make sure to at least visit Railay for a day for its stunning limestone cliffs, crystal clear waters, laid-back atmosphere, and fun activities. Don’t miss the chance to experience this beautiful slice of paradise in Thailand.

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