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All you need to know to visit Railay
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Southern Thailand
980 km from Bangkok
Province of Krabi
S
Southern Thailand
980 km from Bangkok
Province of Krabi
S
Budget
Recomm. stay
3 jours ou +
Visits
Practical guide to go and visit Railay
Hidden behind huge limestone mountains, the Railay Isthmus in Krabi province, is only accessible by the sea. For those who love beautiful beaches and amazing sceneries, it is probably one of the most beautiful places in Thailand but more and more people know about it ! On Railay West coast, there is a long sandy beach surrounded by high limestone formations with sometimes steep walls ideal for climbing and sea with clear blue water, it is a real festival of colors. Railay West is the most frequented place. Normal because Railay East beach is a lot less beautiful. Otherwise accessible quickly from Railay West beach by a rocky path or by the forest, Tonsay beach is less frequented, more and more charming, I think... A Railay, you will be between tourists exclusively, the place was developed only to accommodate holidaymakers, there is no real local life. Its relative inaccessibility still protects Railays but year after year, it is becoming a fashionable destination. It is already quite expensive to stay in Railay West. Tonsai, offers more affordable accommodations with a more rudimentary comfort. Otherwise, the most affordable rooms are on Railay East side.
Accommodations in Railay
Sleeping for cheap in Railay is complicated. On Railay West, you will only find quite luxurious resorts. On Railay East, accommodations are more modest and cheaper but it remains one of the highest quality/price ratios in Thailand. Personally, I recommend the Garden View Resort at the end of Railay East. I keep a very good memory of its bungalows in a lovely garden for a reasonable price compared to other places around. Otherwise, the good plan is to go to Tonsai Beach. In the forest leading to it, there are several places with wooden and very basic bamboos huts where you can stay in Robinson Crusoe way for cheap. But it is difficult to book in this accommodations since many do not have phone (at best they can be reached on a mobile phoe numbers, I indicate the phone numbers on the accommodation detailled page when I managed to get one).If you book online in a beautiful resort on Railay West, do not hesitate to contact them to see if they offer boat transfer from Ao Nang. Most of them do.
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My recommandations
People often ask me what accommodations I recommend in Thailand, here are my recommandations in Railay.
Practical information about Railay
There are no cars in Railay, just a couple of 2 wheels. You will therefore get around by walking or by boat to reach the neighboring beaches of Tonsaï or Phra Nang for example. There also are day trips from Krabi or Ao Nang. But you can just as well come by your by taking a longtail boat (150 THB to come, 150 THB to go back) to here. The advantage of taking a tour is that they generally bring you discover the Phra Nang Cave or even the inner lagoon. Be aware that there is no pontoon to welcome the boats in Railay and if you come here by longtail boat, you may have to carry your suitcase up your head fro several tens of meters between the boat and the beach. There is a convenience store in Railay West. Prices are of course more expensive than on the mainland.How to go to Railay ?
Railay can only be reached by boat. Often Railay resorts have their own speed boats connecting Ao Nang (20 km from Krabi) to Railay. Otherwise longtail baots will take you from Ao Nang or Chao Fah Pier in Krabi town to Railay West. Count between one hour and one hour and a half. In the high season, ferries also arrive from Koh Phi Phi and Koh Lanta, they stop offshore and longtail boats pick up passengers going to Railay.How to get around in Railay ?
In Railay, there are no real roads, no cars and very few 2 wheels vehicules, just roads, nature and resorts. You can only get around by wlaking or hire a longtail boat to jump from one beach to another.Weather & climate in Railay
Railay has a tropical savanna climate. On the Andaman coast like Phuket, Krabi province has to a six months long rainy season between May and November with heavy rainfalls often brief but regular. On average, it rains less in Krabi than in Phuket.The best time to come to Railay is from December to March and especially in January-February. During summer it rains oftent especially from August to the end of October, the worst period to come to Railay.
When to go to Railay ?
How to ask in Thai to go to Railay ?
I want to go to Railay / Yak paï ti Railay.Where is Railay ? / Railay you ti naï ?
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