Railay is a peninsula so hemmed in by cliffs that no road reaches it, so you arrive by longtail boat, about 15 minutes from Ao Nang or from Krabi Town. That isolation is exactly its charm. Railay West is the picture-perfect main beach for swimming and sunsets, lined with resorts, while Railay East is a mangrove-fringed backpacker strip, and a short path leads to Phra Nang Beach, one of the most beautiful in Thailand, where a limestone cave shrine (Tham Phra Nang) is filled with offerings to a sea princess. The cliffs have made Railay a world-class rock-climbing destination, with hundreds of bolted routes and operators running beginner half-day courses on the rock. A muddy scramble behind Railay East climbs to a viewpoint and a hidden lagoon for the more adventurous. There are no banks or big shops, so bring the cash you need, and consider staying a night to enjoy the beaches once the day boats have gone.
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