Table of Contents
If you haven’t visited Railay Beach you haven’t seen Krabi. This really is one of the main things to do in the area. And for good reason. Railay beach genuinely ranks amongst some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Railay is situated between impressive limestone cliffs coated in lush jungle. Not only is this beach a beauty, there are also lots of epic things to do in the area.
But what is Railay actually like to visit in 2025? What can you do there? What things can you do at Railay? And what can you buy on the beach? And what are prices like? In this article we will answer these questions and more. So whether you’re weighing up whether to visit, or whether you’re doing some last minute panic research – we have all the info and details you need.
We have used our own first hand experience to write this article. Actually we have visited Railay and the surrounding beaches many times over the years. We just keep coming back! This has given us a lot of knowledge and tips to share to help you make the most of your visit to this dreamy tropical beach.
LEARN MORE ABOUT BEACHES IN KRABI – Don’t miss this full guide to the best beaches in Krabi
Map of Railay
Don’t miss our FULL GUIDE – Everything you need to know about how to get around the Railay Beach area
You will notice that there are actually two Railay Beaches:
- Railay East Beach (less beautiful but has climbing and a path to Phra Nang beach).
- Railay West Beach (more beautiful and idyllic, likely to be more busy).
It is possible to walk between each of these beaches, and the walk takes around 10 minutes. You need to walk through the Railay Bay Resort. If you’re planning to visit Railay Beach from Ao Nang, you will be dropped off at Railay West Beach. We will focus on Railay West Beach in this article.
Tonsai vs Railay – Which beach should you visit?
Learn more about Tonsai – Full Guide to Tonsai Beach
1 Visit both beaches
The good news is you don’t necessarily have to choose between the two. It is very easy to visit both beaches in a single day and spend a decent amount of time at both locations. What’s more, it is possible to walk between Tonsai and Railay in around 15 minutes. If you are planning to visit both beaches, we recommend visiting Tonsai first. The taxi boat price to each of these beaches is the same from Ao Nang (100 baht per person each way). Tonsai is a much quieter beach, and therefore it can take a long time to wait for boats to return to Ao Nang.
2 Stay on one beach
However, you may wish to just spend your day on one of the beaches. So, you may be trying to decide whether to visit Tonsai or Railay. In this case, we would encourage you to consider what activities you want to do and what vibe you are looking for. If you are interested in rock climbing, then we highly recommend a visit to Tonsai. There is a climbing shop that offers kit rental and guided climbs, and there is a beautiful area for bouldering with an impressive overhang. Oh yeah don’t miss the rope swing on Tonsai. Tonsai is a much quieter beach. In fact, it is possibly one of the quietest beaches in the area, so if you’re looking for peace and tranquility, we highly recommend staying at Tonsai.
However, if you prefer to be around people and you’re looking for somewhere with more facilities, including shops, restaurants, and bars, then we highly recommend heading straight to Railay Beach. Also, from Railay West Beach, it is very easy to connect to other beaches by walking. You can walk to Railay East Beach and Phra Nang Beach in around 15 minutes. You can often see Dusky Leaf monkeys playing in the trees at the southeast side of Railay West Beach (near Railay Bay Resort and Spa).
Are there any restaurants at Railay?
There are in the region of 10 – 20 cafes and restaurants in the Railay area. Most of the restaurants are located towards the north side of Railay (between the west and east beach). Most of the restaurants serve local Thai food, and the prices are on the high side. Unfortunately, the quality is not necessarily consistent with the higher prices. There is one very good restaurant in the area. We highly recommend the Welcome Back restaurant for its creative and delicious menu of local food and the reasonable prices. The seafood menu is particularly good; this restaurant is situated on the north side of Railay East Beach.
Are there any shops on Railay Beach?
Yes, there are actually quite a few shops in the Railay Beach area. This includes small convenience stores selling drinks and snacks. They also have a couple of rock climbing shops where you can buy or rent climbing kit. There is even a small pharmacy situated on the path between Railay East and Railay West. Prices are more expensive in this area (typically around 20% higher than Ao Nang). If you’re traveling on a budget, we recommend bringing your own food and drinks with you when you visit Railay Beach.
Are there any public toilets on Railay Beach?
There aren’t many toilets around in the area. There are some public toilets situated at the south side of Railay East Beach. You could also try one of the restaurants, cafes or resorts.
What things can you do on Railay Beach?
Here are a few things that you can do on Tonsai Beach:
- Rent a kayak (150 baht, 1 hour single kayak or 250 baht, 1 hour double kayak).
- Go snorkeling (Bring your own snorkel and mask).
- Swimming (swim in the swimming ropes to stay safe from boats).
- Trek to Princess Lagoon and the Railay Viewpoint (this is a very challenging trek).
- Visit Princess Cave on Phra Nang beach (around 15 – 20 minute walk from Railay West beach).
How do you get to Railay Beach?
Don’t miss our FULL GUIDE – How to travel to Tonsai & Railay Beach
1 Take a share taxi boat
There is no overland access to Railay beach. The only way to reach this remote area is by boat from Ao Nang or Krabi. If you are traveling from Ao Nang, you will be dropped off at Railay West beach. If you are traveling from Krabi (Ao Nam Mao Pier), you will be dropped off at Railay East Beach.
The cheapest way to travel to Railay Beach is to take a shared taxi boat; this costs 100 baht per person each way. The shared taxi boats are the iconic longtail boats. You may want to take this opportunity to get some insta-selfies.
To take a shared taxi boat, you just need to arrive and book your ticket and then wait for the boat to fill up. There are several longtail boat pick-up points, and we have marked these on the map above. It is not possible to pre-book your tickets, and you generally only need to wait around 20 minutes for a boat to fill up. Shared taxi boats start at 8 am and finish at 6 pm. If you arrive at 8 am, you will probably need to wait longer for a boat.
It is the same price to take a taxi boat to Tonsai or Railay. It is not possible to pre-book your return ticket, so you will need to get your return boat ticket on Railay Beach (the price is the same 100 baht), and boats leave regularly.
If you are traveling with kids, the official rule is that children who are 4 years and older need to pay for a ticket, and the price is the same as an adult ticket. However, this rule is not strictly enforced.
2 Take a private boat
Alternatively, if you do not want to take a shared taxi boat to Railay Beach, it is also possible to pay for a private boat. They are still the same longtail taxi boats – you just get the whole boat to yourself. All you need to do is go to one of the long boat pick-up points and ask about private boats. They generally charge around 800 baht per boat each way, and you may be able to barter a little to get a lower price. No need to wait, and you have the whole boat to yourself for photos or a nice nap.
How do you get a boat back to Ao Nang from Railay?
It is super easy to organize your return boat. Just buy a ticket on Railay Beach (100 baht) and then show your ticket to a driver. When he has enough people, he will direct you to hop on the boat, and off you go. If you take a return boat from Railay to Ao Nang, you will be dropped off at the South side of Ao Nang Beach (near the Last Fisherman Bar).
Is there anywhere to stay on Railay Beach?
Railay Village Resort – spacious luxurious paradise villas surrounding a beautiful pool immersed in lush green grounds. Reserve Railay Village on Agoda. Book Railay village on booking.com.
Railay Bay Resort & Spa – Large, beautiful, lush and luxurious Resort. Deluxe cottages and amazing facilities. Beachfront pool and sun loungers. Reserve Railay Bay Resort on Agoda. Book Railay Bay Resort on booking.com.
Railay Phutawan Resort – a great combination of luxury and value for money. Stunning jungle cliff location. Reserve Railay Phutawan on Agoda. Book Railay Phutawan on booking.com.
Bhu Nga Thani Resort Railay – check out the stylish contemporary resort – stunning location on the north side of Railay East beach. Reserve Bhu Nga on Agoda. Book Bhu Nga on booking.com.
One of the BEST resorts in the area (see picture above) – don’t miss the superlative 5-star Rayavadee resort on the south side of Railey East Beach. Reserve Rayavadee on Agoda. Book Rayavadee on booking.com.
Garden view Resort Tonsai – Great option if you’re looking for a budget stay in the area. This tranquil guest house is clean, beautiful and tranquil. Great value for money. Reserve Garden view on Agoda. Book Garden view on booking.com.
