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If you are visiting Krabi or Ao Nang in 2025, we strongly recommend that you take a trip to Tonsai and Railay. These beaches are truly beautiful. You may have seen stunning photos of dramatic limestone cliffs, jungle islets, and intense turquoise waters. These pictures don’t even do it justice. You have to see these breathtaking beaches for yourself. Even the boat journey to these magnificent beaches is fun and very beautiful.
However, traveling to Tonsai and Railay is not necessarily straightforward. There are no overland routes to either of these beaches; the only way is to take a boat. In this article, we’re going to share a step-by-step guide to help you plan your trip to visit the beautiful Tonsai and Railay.
We have used our first-hand experience and research to write this article. We really hope this helps you plan your trip to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world.
THE BEST WAY TO BOOK YOUR CLIMBING TOUR – Railay Beach Climbing tour on Get Your Guide
FIND OUT MORE THINGS TO DO – The BEST things to see and do in Krabi
What type of boats are available for Tonsai and Railay?
If you have seen inspirational photos of the beautiful iconic long-tail boats in this area, we have some good news for you: the standard shared taxi boats are beautiful long-tail boats. You can hop on the front and get those classic selfies for Instagram or just have that serene moment you have dreamed of. Actually, this is really the only kind of shared taxi boat available for this journey. In this guide, we will tell you everything you need to know. The boat journey from Ao Nang to Tonsai and Railay takes around 20 minutes.
What can you see and do on Tonsai and Railay?
There are several things to see and do in the area. We recommend allowing at least one full day trip to explore this beautiful area. Firstly, if you are interested in climbing or bouldering, then you will love Tonsai Beach. You can rent kit at the Rock Shop or book guided climbing. At the southeast side of the beach, there is a large rocky overhang, which is a great spot for climbing, and there is also a ropeswing here. If you’re hungry and need a bite to eat, there is also a lovely restaurant on the beach.
It is possible to walk from Tonsai to Railay West Beach. The walk takes around 10 minutes and follows an intrepid jungle path. Don’t miss our full guide to getting around the Railay Beach area.
Railay beach is busier and more popular; you can rent kayaks, grab a drink at the bar, grab a bite to eat, and you can even stay in one of the resorts on this beautiful beach. At the southeast side of Railay beach, you can often see dusky leaf monkeys playing in the trees and eating sea almonds.
From Railay West beach, you can walk through the resort to Railay East beach where you will find another climbing spot and some lovely cafes. There is also a path from Railay East Beach to Phra Nang beach. You can trek to the Princess Lagoon (very challenging trek), Railay Viewpoint (also challenging) and Princess Cave (pictured above).
Which beach is better, Tonsai or Railay?
FULL GUIDE TO BEACHES IN KRABI – Learn about the best beaches in Krabi
This is pretty subjective. In terms of scenery and natural beauty, Tonsai and Railay are very similar. They are both extremely beautiful. The main difference is that Tonsai is smaller, quieter, and has fewer amenities. It is likely to take longer to get a return boat from Tonsai. If you are interested in climbing, Tonsai is the beach for you. There are no climbing spots on Railay (at least not on Railay east beach). Railay has more choice with a few places to eat and several resorts. You can also walk from Railay West Beach to Railay East beach and from here walk to Phra Nang Beach and Princess cave.
How much does it cost to take a boat to Tonsai and Railay?
For a shared taxi boat from Ao Nang to Tonsai or Railay beach, it costs 100 baht each way (roughly £2 or $2.50). It is the same price to go to Tonsai and Railay. For a shared taxi boat, you will need to wait until the boat is full (normally 20-30 minutes). You need to buy your return ticket back to Ao Nang at the beach, and the price is the same (100 baht per person)
Do children need to pay to take a boat from Ao Nang to Tonsai and Railay?
This kind of depends on who sells you the tickets and also on your boat driver. Officially, children 4 years and older do need to pay for a boat ticket, and the price is the same as an adult ticket, 100 baht per person each way. However, not all of the ticket sellers or boat drivers enforce the rule strictly.
Is it possible to barter in order to get lower prices to Tonsai and Railay?
It is always possible to barter in Thailand; however, we don’t recommend bartering for boats to Tonsai and Railay. The prices genuinely are fixed prices, and locals will not be willing to barter with you to provide a lower price. If you are arranging a private boat, that is possible to barter for the price.
Where can you take boats from to get to Tonsai and Railay?
There are several locations in Ao Nang where you can take boats to Tonsai and Railay. We have marked these destinations on the map.
- Opposite the Holiday Ao Nang Beach Resort on the southeast side of Noppharat Beach – There is a kiosk selling tickets, and this is a fairly popular boat pick-up, so you shouldn’t need to wait too long. At low tide, you may need to wade quite far through the water to get to your boat at this pick-up location.
- By the river on the southeast side of Noppharat Beach – This is a quieter boat pick-up. The advantage is that boats wait in the river, so you don’t need to wade out of the beach to get to your boat.
- Opposite the L Resort on the northwest side of Ao Nang beach – There is a kiosk, and several boats are generally waiting here.
- On the southeast side of Ao Nang beach near the Last Fisherman Bar – This is a busy and popular longtail taxi boat spot. Boats returning from Tonsai and Railay drop you off at this location, and they don’t offer drop-offs at any other locations.
- Ao Nam Mao Pier in Krabi – From here, you can take longtail boats to Railay East beach. It is possible to walk from Railay east beach to Railay west beach.
Where do boats drop you off in Railay when you return?
Boats returning from Tonsai and Railay only drop off on the southeast side of Ao Nang beach near the Last Fisherman Bar. If you have come from Noppharat Beach, there is a few kilometers walk – which is likely to take around 20 minutes.
What times can you get boats to Tonsai and Railay?
You can take shared taxi boats from Ao Nang to Tonsai and Railay every day of the week throughout the year. They start to sell tickets around 8 am; however, at this time, it is likely to be very quiet, so if you are hoping to take a shared taxi boat, you may need to wait for a while for your boat to fill up. The boats start to get busy by around 9:00 a.m., and the waiting time should be shorter. Shared taxi boats only leave when they are full throughout the day.
In general, it takes around 15 or 20 minutes for the boat to fill up and depart. The last boat departs from Tonsai and Railay around 6 pm. If you are planning to stay on Tonsai beach, you may need to wait a long time for a boat to fill up because this beach is much quieter. Alternatively, you can walk from Tonsai to Railay. There are plenty of boats on Railay, and they depart very regularly at the end of the day.
Top tip: It is not possible to buy return boat tickets, so you will need to purchase your return boat ticket on the beach.
Can you pre-book your boat to get to Tonsai and Railay?
No, it is not possible or necessary to pre-book your boat to Tonsai and Railay. There are plenty of longtail taxi boats waiting around every day of the week throughout the year. There is no way to pre-book your boat, so just show up at the pickup point, buy a ticket, and wait for your boat to fill up.
Can you take private boats to Tonsai and Railay?
Yes, you can arrange private boats to Tonsai and Railay. To arrange a private boat, just go to any of the shared taxi boat pick-up points and speak to one of the members of staff. There are several reasons that you may be interested in taking a taxi boat. Firstly, you may want to have a boat to yourself so that you can take photos and enjoy the scenery. Secondly, you may well want to leave at your own time and not wait for a boat to fill up. Either way, a private boat may be a good option for you. What’s more, it is possible to barter a little for the price of a private boat. Expect to pay around 800 baht (£16 or $20) one way for a private boat and 1,600 baht (£32 or $40) two ways. So no savings for buying two-ways.
Are there any other ways to visit Tonsai and Railay?
Another way to visit Tonsai and Railay beach is to book an island hopping tour. The cheapest option is the iconic 4 islands tour. These tours stop at several islands and snorkeling spots in the Krabi bay area and also include a stop on Railay east of Phra Nang Beach for around 1 hour. This is a great option if you want to enjoy the beautiful islands in the area and also experience snorkeling around some lovely coral reef.
Traveling to Tonsai and Railay – Top Tips
Bring a dry sack: You may need to wade out into the water to get on your boat. At low tide, the boats may not be able to get very close to the beach. This can be risky if you have valuables like phones and cameras in your backpack. Take your time and, if possible, pack your valuables in a dry sack.
Bring dry clothes: Bring a dry change of clothes to the beach. Whether you’re planning to swim or just get caught in a storm, a dry change of clothes will be a welcome comfort.
Watch out for storms: Watch out for storms rolling in during the afternoon; there is not a lot of shelter on the beaches. Storms are particularly likely in September and October. Also, when storms roll in, you will see lots of people running for boats to get back to Ao Nang before the storm hits. Keep an eye on the sky to beat the crowds. Find out more about the best time of year to visit Krabi.
