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If you’re planning a visit to Phra Nang Beach in 2025, we have some great news for you. Phra Nang Beach is one of the most unique and beautiful beaches in Thailand and maybe in the world. This may sound like an exaggeration – but the pictures should speak for themselves. Many people visit this beach to see the beautiful Princess Cave.
If you’re investing all the time and money it takes to plan a trip to Thailand, we strongly recommend that you take a little bit of time researching your destinations carefully. There are some things you need to know before you visit Phra Nang Beach. That’s where we can help.
This article is designed to tell you everything you need to know in one place so that you can plan your visit, whether you are visiting tomorrow and cramming some last-minute research or planning to visit later in the year and just perusing destinations. We hope that this guide helps you get to grips with this stunning location, and more importantly, we hope that we can give you all the key information that you need for your trip independently and on a budget.
Don’t miss our FULL GUIDE to the best beaches in Krabi
It is possible to walk to Phra Nang Cave beach from all of these hotels & resorts. Go where the wifi is slow and the scenery is amazing! Find out more about getting around in the Railay beach area.
What is the best way to get to Phra Nang Beach from Ao Nang?
Phra Nang Beach is located on the south side of the Railay peninsula. Although this is a very popular destination in the area, it is also relatively remote and a little bit tricky to get to. The Railay Peninsula can only be accessed by boat. Find out more – How to get to the Railay Beach Area from Ao Nang.
Here is a step-by-step guide showing you how to get to Phra Nang Beach.
1 Find a taxi boat pick up point
The cheapest way to get to Phra Nang is to take a shared taxi boat. The shared taxi boats cost 100 baht per person each way. This is definitely a fixed price, and the locals will not be willing to barter. It is not possible to pre-book your boat ticket, and you cannot buy return boat tickets in advance because they are shared taxi boats. You’ll need to turn up, buy a ticket, and then wait for a boat to fill up. This typically takes around 20 to 30 minutes, depending on the time of day, but there is no guarantee. There are several different pickup locations in Ao Nang: East side of Ao Nang beach, west side of Ao Nang Beach, and the East Side of Landmark beach. The prices are the same from all of these locations.
2 Take a boat to Railay West Beach
The shared taxi boats are the beautiful and iconic longtail boats, so we recommend coming ready to get your classic self Thailand selfies on the front of the boat. In order to get to Phra Nang Beach, you will need to take a shared taxi boat to Railay Beach (in Ao Nang, they only take you to Railay West Beach). The boat journey is beautiful, fun, and takes around 20 minutes.
It is important to be aware that you may need to paddle out into the water, especially at those tides when the boats cannot get close to the beach. If possible, we recommend putting your valuables in a dry sack and take care as you are paddling through the water to the boat.
3 Walk to Railay East Beach
Once you have been dropped off at Railay beach, you will need to walk to Phra Nang Beach. The walk is 1.1km and takes around 15 to 20 minutes. It is a very beautiful walk. Here is the route to walk from Railay West beach to Phra Nang.
You will need to find the footpath leads through the Railay Bay Resort and Spa to Railay East beach. There are several footpaths running through the resort, but not all of them are open to the public. The correct footpath is close to the center of the beach, and we have marked it on the map. The walk from Railay West Beach to Railay East Beach is pretty straightforward and only takes around 5 minutes.
4 Walk to Phra Nang Beach
When you reach Railay east beach, you will need to turn right and walk to the south side of the beach. At the south side of the beach, you will see a small shop and some public toilets. There is also a footpath that leads through the forest all the way to Phra Nang Beach. This path is a few hundred meters in length and takes around 5 minutes to walk. Around halfway along this footpath, you will also notice the steep trail leading to Princess Lagoon.
Alternative 1: Take a private boat
If all of this sounds slow and awkward, you can also get a private taxi boat to Phra Nang Beach, starting at around 800 baht (one way). To get a private taxi boat, you need to go to the same pickup location as the shared taxi boats. There are a few advantages of getting a private boat: firstly, you will have the whole boat to yourself so you can enjoy taking plenty of shameless selfies. Secondly, you don’t need to wait for about to fill up. Once you have paid for a private boat, you’ll be able to depart straight away, and they will use one of the classic longtail boats. Thirdly, taking a private boat means that they will take you all the way to Phra Nang Beach.
Alternative 2: Take an island hopping trip
FIND OUR MORE – Island Hopping Trips in Krabi
Another way to see Phra Nang Beach is to take the 4 island tour (island hopping trip). This generally costs between 800baht and 1,500baht depending how you book (£16 – £30 or $20 – $40). Check whether the price includes National Park fees (200baht per person). We found a 4 island tour for as little as 800 baht including national park fees. Most 4 island trips include a visit to Railay East or Phra Nang beach. If you like to get things sorted online you can book a fantastic 4 island tour on KLOOK for very competitive prices.
How do you get to Phra Nang Beach from Krabi town?
The journey details are pretty similar if you’re traveling from Krabi town with a few important differences. If you are hoping to get to Phra Nang Beach from Krabi town, you will need to go to Ao Nam Mao Pier to get a shared taxi boat. The prices of a shared taxi boat are the same, 100 baht per person each way. The boats drop you at Railay East beach. From here, you just need to find the footpath to Phra Nang Beach and then take the short walk there.
How much does it cost to visit Phra Nang Beach?
It is free to visit Phra Nang Beach. There are no entry tickets fees or permits required to visit this area. The only cost that you need to consider is the cost of your boat trip each way, which amounts to 200 baht per person. If you’re traveling with kids, they may try to charge children four years and older a full adult fee for the boat; however, this rule is not strictly enforced.
What can you see and do on Phra Nang Beach?
Here are a few things that you can see and do on Phra Nang Beach.
Princess Cave
One of the main attractions on this beach is the Princess Cave, which is situated on the east side of Phra Nang Beach, very close to the footpath. The cave itself is not very big or deep, but it does have a fascinating Palad Khik fertility shrine (a phallic symbol originating from Indian Hinduism).
Koh Rang Island
One of the things that makes Phra Nang Beach so beautiful is the stunning cliffs and islands around this bay. From the beach, you can see the jungle-covered Koh Rang Island with its unique steep profile.
Bioluminescent plankton
If this unique beach isn’t beautiful enough on its own, you can also see bioluminescent plankton here. There are a few ways to see the bioluminescent plankton; you will need to be on this beach at night. However, the shared taxi boats only run until 6 p.m., so you will either need to have a place to stay in the area. Alternatively, you can use a private boat to see the plankton (this will cost around 1,600 baht two ways). There are also island hopping tours in the area that include a visit to this beach to see the bioluminescent plankton.
Princess Lagoon & Railay viewpoint
Don’t miss our full guide to Princess Lagoon
Princess Lagoon and the Railay Viewpoint – Very close to Phra Nang Beach, you can also take an intrepid and very challenging jungle expedition to reach the secluded Princess Lagoon and the Railay viewpoint. Be aware that this is a very steep and challenging trek, not for the faint of heart. The start of this trek can be found on the footpath between Railay East beach and Phra Nang Beach.
If you’re planning to trek the Princess Lagoon, make sure that you have good footwear; trainers are ideal and bring a small day bag with plenty of water. We recommend allowing a few hours for this expedition and never attempt this route during or after a rainstorm. There are several sections where you will need to do vertical climbs (up and down), and there is a rope along most of the route. A high level of physical confidence and fitness are required for this trek.
What is the best time to visit Phra Nang Beach?
You can visit Phra Nang Beach throughout the year. If you are taking a shared taxi boat, the boats start operating around 8 a.m. However, you will need to wait for the boat to fill up, so you may not be able to depart until around 8:30 or 9 am. If you take one of the early boats, you should be able to reach Phra Nang Beach relatively early in the morning. At this time, it is cool, calm, and beautiful.
One of the massive advantages of Phra Nang Beach is the natural shade due to its deep cliffs and overhangs. For example, if you want to enjoy the beach around the Princess Cave area, there is a large rocky overhang creating natural shade throughout the day. This is a great spot to relax on the beach and even enjoy paddling and swimming, and we particularly recommend this shaded spot for families with young kids.
FIND OUT MORE – Don’t miss our FULL GUIDE To Krabi with kids
You can visit this beach throughout the year; however, the driest months are from January to March when average rainfall is relatively low, and the chance of stormy weather is minimal. The wettest months to visit Phra Nang Beach are September and October. Even in these months, you can still get spells of lovely sunny weather. In many cases, the storms in Thailand are short and intense. During the rainy season, heavy storms often roll in during the afternoon. Don’t miss our full guide to the best time of year to visit Krabi.
Can you buy food and drinks on Phra Nang Beach?
There is a restaurant available to the public on Phra Nang Beach (it is called Khrua Phra Nang). This restaurant enjoys a premium location and charges premium prices. Expect to pay at least 1,000 baht per person (£20 or $25) for a meal at this restaurant. The food is very tasty and good quality; however, this is extremely expensive in Thailand.
If you’re looking to find good places to eat in the area, we recommend trying out some of the cafes or restaurants around Railay Bay. There are no other shops, cafes, or restaurants available to the public on this beach. If you are planning to spend a day on Phra Nang Beach, we recommend bringing snacks and drinks with you. Remember that prices in this area are particularly expensive.
What facilities are available at Phra Nang Beach?
There are no public facilities available on Phra Nang Beach. The nearest public toilet is situated at the south side of Railay East beach (at the start of the footpath leading to Phra Nang Beach).
Top tips for visiting Phra Nang Beach
- If you are planning to spend a day on the beach, remember to bring plenty of food and drinks. There is only one restaurant in the area, and it is extremely expensive.
- If you are looking for a shaded area to relax, we recommend setting up close to the Princess Cave area.
- If you are hoping to stay in the area, there are a couple of affordable guest houses situated at Tonsai Beach. It is possible to walk all the way from Tonsai Beach to Phra Nang Beach (this walk is likely to take around 30 – 40 minutes).
- It is important to recognize that Phra Nang Beach is both remote but also very popular; therefore, don’t expect to get the beach to yourself. It is likely to be crowded throughout the year. If you really want to have a secluded paradise beach to yourself, you will need to take a private boat trip in the area and speak to your boat driver about the best secret beaches. Tonsai beach is the quietest beach in the area.
- Remember that the last taxi boats return to Ao Nang around 6:00 p.m. each evening; therefore, we recommend setting off in plenty of time to make sure you get back to Railay Beach before the last shared taxi boat departs. You will be at the mercy of local boat drivers to get a private boat back to Ao Nang.
- When you are packing a day bag, think through everything you will need carefully. We recommend using a dry sack to keep your valuables safe and dry. We also recommend bringing swimming stuff, a towel, sun protection, a beach mat, and plenty of water.
