Ao Nang To Railay Beach: The ULTIMATE Guide 2025

Find out everything you need to know about traveling from Ao Nang to Railay Beach. Being so close, it’s definitely worth the trip, though your only option to get there will be via boat.

Ao Nang is without a doubt a super popular spot on those backpacking Thailand itineraries. You’ll get to enjoy one of the most iconic areas in the country, right on the beach.

Though unfortunately, even though Railay Beach is part of the mainland, it isn’t the easiest place to get to. For example, we can’t just jump on the back of a Grab Bike or taxi like elsewhere.

It may just be just a few kilometers from Ao Nang Beach to Railay Beach, but you’ll need to take a long tail boat for $3.24 / 100 THB one way or $6.48 / 200 THB for a return trip.

This is a pretty iconic way to see the Southern beaches, so you’ll also be able to tick that off your bucketlist. You can stay overnight if you wish, or simply do a day trip, which is a lot easier on the wallet.

I’ve done a couple different trips to Railay Beach over the months I’ve spent in Thailand. Sure, it’s a pretty damn touristy spot, but it’s super beautiful, especially at sunset.

Now let’s get into all the finer details for traveling to Railay Beach, including how to catch a long tail boat, prices, schedules, and more.

Is It Worth Visiting Railay Beach If You Are In Ao Nang?

Okay, if you’re going all the way to Ao Nang, just go that one step further and also visit Railay Beach.

It seriously makes for the perfect day trip, considering how close it is to Ao Nang. All it takes is a simple long-tail boat trip to navigate between these two hotspots.

Unfortunately, Railay Beach is not accessible by car or on foot.

The long tail boats are a pretty cool way to travel around when in Southern Thailand. You’ll be able to get some epic views of the bays, impressive limestone cliffs from the boats, and they are pretty affordable, and also fast.

Where You Can Catch A Long Tail Boat

So theres a few options dotted around Ao Nang where you can catch a long tail boat from to get to Railay Beach.

Be aware there are a few ‘questionable’ spots where you can also catch a long tail boat to Railay. Though generally these aren’t ones I would recommend.

Ao Nang Longtail Boat Service Club: This is in the center of Ao Nang Beach and is the most popular place to travel from, so wait times are pretty short.

After you have purchased your ticket, you can wait in the restaurant and boat for a boat driver to shout Railay. This is how you know it’s your turn.

Regardless of where you book, you may need to walk quite a distance to get onto the boat over slippery rock pools.

If it’s high tide, you’ll need to get wet up to about your knees before you can climb on board. The same thing happens at Railay Beach.

How Much Is The Long Tail Boat To Railay?

The ticket cost to Railay Beach from Ao Nang is $3.24 / 100 THB one way or $6.48 / 200 THB for a return trip. There is an additional $1.62 / 50 THB charge after 6.30 pm.

At the ticket counter, you can choose whether you’d like a one way or a return ticket. If you decide to book a return, be aware that there will be a set time for you’ll have to head back.

Unfortunately, you can’t just hang around Railay Beach until you’re ready. Instead the standard time is about 3 hours after you arrive.

Personally, for me, this isn’t enough time to enjoy this paradise at all. Theres plenty of things to do here which I will get into below.

However, if you want to check out the scenery, grab a meal, and swim at a couple of beaches, you’ll be pushed for time. Even though it is a relatively small area, there are quite a few things to check out.

So, instead of booking a return trip instead buy a one way ticket to Railay Beach, and, once there and ready to leave, book another ticket back to Ao Nang for $3.24 / 100 THB.

What Time Do The Long Tail Boats Operate

If you want to make the most of your day, you’ll want to head out to Railay Beach early in the day.

This was the case for us, and was well worth it!

The longtail boats from Ao Nang operate from 8 a.m. to 6 pm, seven days a week, which is perfect for most travelers..

However, if you have a late flight arriving in Krabi and you want to travel straight to Railay, then you’ll need to organize a private longtail boat.

If you’re in this situation your accommodation should be able to help you out with a reliable driver and boat ride, just make sure to agree on a price in advance.

My Experience Traveling From Ao Nang To Railay Beach

We decided to get up early to travel to Railay Beach by catching the first long-tail boat at 8.00 am.

For some reason, I never manage to sleep in. This meant waiting around for 15 minutes or so until enough people turned up to fill the boat.

Once the driver was ready, he called up down to the shoreline, where we walked out into the water and jumped onboard. There were 8 of us onboard which is the standard number it takes to leave.

The journey to Railay Beach only takes 10 minutes. Though the views are amazing and you’ll have your eyes staring at the shoreline the entire time.

Once we arrived at Railay Beach the driver let us know when to meet back at the beach.

Looking back now everyone was late to this meeting time as you do need at least a full half a day to really experience Railay, rather than a few hours.

Things To Do In Railay Beach

Now, not surprisingly, you’ll find plenty of awesome things to do here in Railay Beach.

Whether you’ve decided to stay here a couple of nights, you’ll for sure be spoilt for choice.

Railay West Beach

The beach on Railay West is where you’ll first arrive to this paradise. Your long tail boat will pull up alongside the sandy shores, giving you your first taste of this popular spot.

This is definitely one of the best sights in Thailand. And yes, the photos do look like that in real life. With the colorful long tail boats all lined up, steep cliffs, and palm tree covered beaches.

This is also one of the better spots to go swimming, though make sure to do so on either side of where the boats park.

It’s definitely the perfect place for a dip with so much space to spread out that it feels a lot more private.

You can go snorkeling here if you wish. Though you’ll be best to do this close to the rocks, as the long tail boats zip in and out quickly. You don’t want to get hit.

Railay East Beach

Railay East Beach is less of a swimming beach than the one you’ll arrive at.

Honestly, there isn’t much going on here apart from the wharf, where larger boats arrive.

Rock Climbing

Railay is actually a rock climbing hot spot and one of the best places to do so in Thailand.

No stress if you aren’t a professional. There are some smaller beginner-sized rock faces that you can learn to climb.

If you’re keen to get a bit more into it, then check out the Half Day Rock Climbing Course run through Real Rocks Climbing School. For $48.00, you’ll have a trained guide, all equipment, and spend 4 hours learning all the techniques while climbing for some epic views.

Phra Nang Beach

Phra Nang Beach seems to have a much different vibe than the main Railay Beaches. Basically, it’s quite tucked away down a little walk, so it’s a bit more secluded. However, that doesn’t mean it’s quiet. Not in the slightest.

Now, I’m unsure whether we visited at high tide, so there wasn’t much beach, but Phra Nang Beach was absolutely jam packed when I visited.

It was actually hard to relax with so many people. Surprisingly, the majority seemed to be Thai tourists, compared to the usual international traveler.

There’s also quite an unusual feature of the penis cave. Yes, you read that correctly!

The idea behind this is that these penis carvings are gifts from fishermen and locals as offerings to the princess of the cave, who will bring them prosperity.

Railay Beach Viewpoint

As much as I love a good viewpoint, unfortunately, the Railay Beach Viewpoint is not the easiest to get to. Rather than a hike, it’s more of a climb.

This is because a lot of the time, you’ll actually be using a rope to pull yourself up the cliffside. Even though the entire trail is only 1km long, it’s not something that is suitable for everyone.

If you’re brave enough to take on the viewpoint, just make sure you are equipped. You’ll need proper shoes with a decent grip. You won’t get far in sandals.

If you’re extra brave, once at the top, you can then climb down into the secret lagoon. This is in no way safe, especially if there has been rain, so proceed with caution.

Head Out Kayaking

If you are keen to explore a bit more, you can kayak from Railay West. You’ll find plenty of kayak rentals on the beac,h which you can either hire per hour or by the day.

There’s quite a few little tunnels and passages on the cliffsides which you can check out. Though remember to be careful, especially in shallow areas where there may be coral underneath.

Rates start at $6.48 / 200 THB and increase by $3.24 / 100 THB for each additional hour. You can do a full-day hire for $25.93 / 800 THB.

There are even transparent kayaks if you really want that Instagram experience.

Enjoy Sunset On The Beach

Okay, I know we’re in Thailand and the sunsets are pretty damn amazing! But seriously, there’s something special about Railay Beach, the cove, the cliffs, palm trees, it’s just magic.

Head down to the shoreline to watch the sky turn to the most beautiful shade.

If you’re visiting on a day trip, you could even time your boat ride back to Ao Nang to be during this sunset hour.

Meet The Local Monkeys

There will no doubt be plenty of monkeys around Railay Beach. This is their home and the endless supply of tourists provides them with plenty of food and entertainment.

If you want to find them, your best bet will be along the trail to Phra Nang Beach.

They seem to chill here and check out all the tourists as they walk past. Be aware that you’re best not to carry food around them, and avoid plastic bags as they associate this with food.

Honestly, they do scare me so I always stay away, and even though you may find them cute, please keep your distance. It’s not worth the hassle if you get bitten and need to go to the hospital!

Where To Stay In Railay Beach?

Okay, let’s start with my one main regret here, which is not booking to stay at Railay overnight.

This secluded spot is absolutely incredible, and I would’ve loved to watch the sunrise and have the beach to enjoy without all the day trippers.

So, 100000% if you can afford it, do stay at least 1 night. Just be prepared that prices here are higher than in other places on the mainland due to the isolation.

In terms of accommodation, you don’t have too many options available, especially if you are looking for something budget friendly. This is simple because it’s only a small area with a limited amount of available land.

The cheapest choice you’ll have is Rapala Rock Wood Resort. Here, you can find a basic private room starting from $50.00 per night.

Now, theres 1 hostel on the island if you are keen to save some money and stay in a shared dorm. This is Blanco Hideout Railay. There’s a bunch of dorm options from 4 bed to 12 bed, so you can find the perfect budget vs amount of snorers you’re comfortable with.

If you’re looking for something a tad more luxurious, you’ll for sure need to up your budget. My favorite is Avatar Railay, which is an adults-only resort, and has rooms as cheap as $70.00 in the shoulder seasons of October and May.

Rapala Rockwood Resort A cheap and cheerful option. From $50.00 per night for a basic room. BOOK NOW	Avatar Railay A favorite with travelers. A with all the amenities, from $70.00 per night. BOOK NOW
Blanco Hideout Railay The only hostel on Railay and dorm rooms starting from $8.00 per night. BOOK NOW	Railay Bay Resort For a luxurious and romantic holiday. Rooms starting from $65.00 per night. BOOK NOW

How To Get To Ao Nang From Other Parts Of Thailand

Okay, so if you’re still figuring out how exactly to get to Ao Nang to start your adventures, no stress, I’ll explain that all below.

Though if you’re backpacking Thailand and tossing up whether or not to add this bit of Southern Thailand to your itinerary, just do it!

I thoroughly enjoyed the three days I spent in Ao Nang, which, of course, included a day trip to Railay Beach.