Railay beach – Krabi
Railay beach – Krabi
One of the most popular and beautiful locations in the Krabiregion is Railay.
When talking about going to Railay there can sometimes be some confusion due to the geography of the area. There is a cape, Laem Phra Nang, which can only be reached by boat from Krabi Town and Ao Nang. This promontory is sometimes called Railay-beach called, although the whole consists of three main beaches. Footpaths have been built between the beaches, so that you can walk from one beach to the other.
Pra Nang Beach
This part of the cape is shown as Ao Phra Nang or Hat Tham Phra Nang on some maps. In Thai, 'ao' means bay, 'hat/had' means beach, and 'tham' means cave. 'Phra Nangh' is the divine woman. The locals worship this woman at Phra Nang Cave.
Pra Nangh is not large, but it is the most beautiful beach on the cape and you can swim well. The sand here is the whitest and most beautiful if you compare it to the other beaches of Railay. At the end of the bay you will find Phra Nang Cave (also known as the Princess Cave) and this part of the beach offers plenty of shade.
Railay – western beach
The western beach of Railay is wide, beautiful, and nestled between limestone cliffs. It is a popular destination for day trippers coming this way from Krabi Town and Ao Nang. If you want to find good accommodation here, you will pay a bit more than at the eastern beach of Railay.
Railay – eastern beach
This is where most boats arrive from Krabi town. The beach here is quite narrow and at low tide you can see the not so attractive mud spots. Despite its less attractive appearance, the beach still has a number of positive points. In addition, it is a short walk from Railay West Beach and Phra Nang Beach. Spending the night here is also a lot cheaper than in the rest of Railay. This also makes it a favorite destination of budget travelers and rock climbing enthusiasts.
Food and drink
There are several restaurants where you can eat and drink. These are located by the coconut palms on the western beach of Railay. On the eastern beach you will find several resorts where good food and drinks are served. Boats also sell food and drink, and on the beaches vendors walk around selling drinks, fruit, ice cream, sweetened corn on the cob and som tam (a spicy papaya salad).
What is there to see and do?
If you take a day trip to Railay, you will probably come there to relax, swim and take in the beautiful surroundings. If you're up for something active, you can climb the limestone rocks - even if you've never done this before. The area is a magnet for rock climbers and experts are on hand to teach you. There is also a secret lagoon that you can access without much professional climbing skills. However, you must have a reasonable condition and enough strength for this. You climb over plants, among other things.