When you feel fine silky sand under your feet and see nothing but the beauty of endless beaches and the turquoise sea, you know you arrived in heaven. Krabi was the second destination on our two-week trip around Thailand. And after three days in Bangkok, it was about time to get some tan at the beach (best travel time: January-March).

My colleague Sandra and me decided to go to a peninsula in Krabi called Railay Beach. You only get there by a long-tail boat that brings you either from Krabi Town, Ao Nam Mao, or Ao Nang within a short time to this beautiful beach. When we arrived there, we were fascinated by the wonderful endless sand beaches.

All in all, you find three beaches in Railay, you can do several activities and trips from there and you find wonderful hotels to stay in. Find here everything you need to know about Railay Beach.

 

 

Beaches in Krabi

Railay West

Also known as sunset beach it is the main beach of Railay and the port of arrival for all long-tail boats. Thus, it can be loud sometimes. But still, it is wonderful to walk along the Railay Walking Street with its small stores, bars, and restaurants and watching the boats coming and going. Due to its western location, you get the best sunset from this beach. So sit down in a bar or restaurant and just watch the beauty of nature.

 

 

Railay East

Less attractive, but with lots of cheaper bars and restaurants Railay East is the right spot for backpackers. It is a narrow beach that is surrounded by many mangroves and fishing boats. If there is no low tide, you can get easily to Krabi Town with a long-tail taxi.

 

 

Phra Nang Beach

Just a 10-minute walk from Railay East you find Phra Nang Beach. With soft sand, clear blue water, coral reefs, and caves this beach definitely shows off its perfection. It’s the ideal beach to hang out or walk along the sandbar to the two islands at low tide.

 

 

Activities in Krabi

Climbing

The main attraction at Railay is climbing. People from all over the world come to the peninsula to climb the many cliffs and rocks. You find a lot of climbing schools around Railay Beach that offers classes for both beginner and those with intermediate skills.

 

Caves

At Railay Beach, you can discover several caves. Princess Cave has decorative wooden and colorful items stuck in the sand. Diamond Cafe, therefore, is quite large and is accessible from Railay West and Railay East.

 

 

Lagoon

If you’re up for a 45-minute discovery tour, visit the Sa Phra Nang. It’s a hidden lagoon that is difficult to reach because you have to climb and it can be slippery. But it’s definitely worth the trip. Make sure to wear appropriate clothes since you can get dirty. Also, the lagoon is tidal so try to get there when it’s high tide. Otherwise, it can be disappointing.

 

Koh Phi Phi

Everybody knows Koh Phi Phi from the movie “The Beach“. That’s why it’s a popular destination for many tourists so be aware that it can be pretty crowded. From Railay Beach, you get there by a high-speed ferry. It’s a whole day trip with a snorkeling option and you can expect beautiful island groups with dreamy storybook beaches.

 

 

Where to stay in Krabi

There are so many beautiful hotels in Railay Beach. We decided on the Railay Phutawan Resort because it’s surrounded by nature, it has an infinity pool and is affordable, too. All rooms are authentic Thai bamboo cottages that give you the pure jungle feeling. But you can also use the search box below to find the perfect hotel in Krabi.

 

Booking.com

 

 

 

If you’re missing food suggestions now, I can tell you walk around, discover the area and I’m sure you will find great bars and restaurants. The peninsula is small so you don’t need any advice. However, the best way to find good food is where most people are anyways.

If you want to know more about my Thailand itinerary, check out my other posts about Bangkok and Koh Tao. Any further questions or suggestions? Let me know in the comments below!

 

 

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