Railay
Limestone Peninsula Reached Only By Boat; World Class Sport Climbing; Phra Nang Cave Beach · Railay, Krabi
Railay is a small peninsula on the Krabi coast between Ao Nang and Krabi town, cut off from the mainland by sheer limestone cliffs, so there are no roads and every visitor arrives by longtail boat. Four beaches share it. Railay West is the postcard: fine pale sand between orange and grey walls, calm water in the dry season and the day boats pulling up on the sand. Railay East, a few minutes' walk across the neck, is mangrove and mudflat, not for swimming, with the budget bungalows, bars and the landing for Krabi town boats. Phra Nang, reached by a path beneath overhanging rock, is a cave beach below stalactites with a fishermen's shrine to a sea princess, and Tonsai, over a rocky headland, is the climbers' beach. Hundreds of bolted sport routes make Railay one of Asia's great climbing areas, with schools teaching beginners daily. A steep rope scramble climbs to a viewpoint and a hidden lagoon, the Diamond Cave has a boardwalk through its chambers, and kayaks and deep-water soloing trips head out among the islets offshore.
Railay Beach, Ao Nang, Mueang Krabi, Railay, Krabi, 81180, Thailand
NO OPENING TIME HERE WAS CHECKED. The typical pattern: the beaches are open all day and night, but shared longtails between Ao Nang and Railay run from about 8 am to around sunset, with a higher fare after about 6 pm and only private charters after dark, and in rough weather boats may stop earlier or switch to the east side or Ao Nam Mao. Boats from Krabi town run from morning to late afternoon. The Diamond Cave has opened about 8 am to 5 or 6 pm; climbing schools start around 8 or 9 am. There is no closing day, but some bungalows, bars and shops close in the low season. The traps that ruin a day are missing the last shared boat back, trying the viewpoint ropes after rain, starting the Tonsai rock scramble on a rising tide and arriving with too little cash. Confirm current times before relying on them.