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Railay Beach, on a boat-only peninsula next to Ao Nang in Krabi, packs four very different areas into a small space, and most disappointment comes from picking the wrong one. The short version: swim at Railay West or Phra Nang, eat and drink at Railay East, and stay at Ton Sai only if you climb or want the cheapest rooms.
Ao Nang has its own long beach and two quieter ones nearby. The islands you reach on boat tours add more sand, but they are day stops, not places to stay.
Photo-topo
Four sectors, not one beach
Read the peninsula as four sectors and the choices get simple. Railay West is the sand: fine white sand, shallow water, cliffs at both ends, the landing point for most longtails from Ao Nang, and the best swimming at its north end, while the south end is a little rocky under the water (Wikivoyage).
Railay East is the working side: longtails to and from Krabi Town, the boardwalk, restaurants, bars and the cheaper rooms, and Wikivoyage is blunt that it is not good for swimming or sunbathing. Phra Nang is the southern tip under the cliffs, with the cave and its shrine, and the crowd arrives with the island tours around midday. Ton Sai is the cove around the corner, where the climbers and the cheapest beds are.
The cliffs
The photo-topo: where the routes actually are
Railay's climbing is on the walls above the beaches, not on a crag you hike to. Wikivoyage counts over seven hundred bolted routes in limestone graded on the French scale, most of them steep and challenging, with only limited possibilities for beginners.
Above Phra Nang the wall is the one you can watch from the sand: Wikivoyage notes that here climbers start right off the beach. Ton Sai holds the cheap climber lodging and the practice routes, and Railay East is where the climbing shops and the guide operators sit. If you need a 60-metre rope, sixteen quickdraws, a harness and the rest, hire them locally rather than carrying them.
Two warnings from Wikivoyage worth repeating before you tie in: the sea air corrodes the steel, so the bolts and the threads may be of questionable integrity and bolt failure is not uncommon here; and the rock is superb but not perfect, with the occasional loose section, including the stalactites Railay is known for. There are guide operators and schools on Railay East, from introductory courses to a belay partner, plus local guidebooks.
Four beaches, four sets of senses
See
White sand and karst at Railay West, mangroves and boardwalk at Railay East, the cave shrine at Phra Nang, climbers on the walls at Ton Sai.
Hear
Longtail engines at the landings, a bar or two on the Railay East boardwalk, and mostly wind and water at Ton Sai.
Feel
Fine sand at Railay West, mud underfoot at Railay East at low tide, and warm rock under your hands on the routes.
Railay East is not good for swimming or sunbathing; the north end of Railay West is the best water.
The beaches compared
| Railay West | Fine white sand, shallow water, cliffs on both sides. Best for swimming (north end), sunsets and resort stays. Most longtails from Ao Nang land here. |
|---|---|
| Railay East | Mangrove edge with a boardwalk. Best for restaurants, bars and cheaper rooms. Not good for swimming or sunbathing. |
| Phra Nang | Southern tip, fine white sand under cliffs, with Phra Nang Cave close by. Best for scenery and the cave shrine. |
| Ton Sai | A cove around the corner from Railay West. Best for climbers, backpackers and cheap rooms. |
| Ao Nang Beach | The main beach of the town. Best as a base with restaurants, markets and the tour piers. |
| Nopparat Thara and Pai Plong | Two more beaches walkable from Ao Nang. Quieter, with Pai Plong reached by a 10 to 15 minute trail. |
Beach and island guides
Railay West Beach
Railay West Beach: longtail boats from Ao Nang at 100 THB a trip, low-tide walks to Tonsai, sunset bars and the best swimming on the Railay peninsula.
Phra Nang Cave Beach
Phra Nang Beach on Railay: a 450 m strip of white sand reached by longtail from Ao Nang or a 10-minute walk from Railay East, with a cave and a shrine.
Tonsai Beach
Tonsai Beach, Railay: the first longtail stop from Ao Nang, one-way tickets only, 150 m Tonsai Tower for climbers, and a low-tide walk to Railay West.
Ao Nam Mao
Ao Nam Mao: the pier 10 km east of Ao Nang with shuttle boats to Railay East in 10 to 15 minutes, secure parking, seafood and the Shell Cemetery.
Krabi 4 Islands Tour from Ao Nang
Krabi 4 Islands tour from Ao Nang: stops in order, published prices of about 500 to 1,800 THB, the park fee paid in cash, the Tup sandbar and tide tips.
Railay West: the classic beach
Wikivoyage describes Railay West as a fine beach of white sand and shallow water, where most longtails from Ao Nang arrive, with the north end great for swimming. Wikipedia calls it the primary destination for beach-goers on Railay, flanked by high limestone cliffs on either side.
It is also where the mid-range to high-end resorts are, and GetYourGuide's Railay page points to it for sunset. The trade-off is boat traffic: because most longtails land here, the water near the landing is not the place to swim. Walk to the north end.
- Best for: swimming, sunsets, resort stays.
- Watch out for: boats arriving from Ao Nang, especially near the landing.
Phra Nang: scenery and the cave
Phra Nang is the beach people photograph: a fine white sand beach on the southern tip with limestone karst rising straight out of the water. Phra Nang Cave and its shrine are next to it, and Wikivoyage says the cave can be seen in about fifteen minutes.
It is also a stop on most 4 Islands boat trips, which means it gets busy mid-day. Tripadvisor's listing describes a secluded cove for swimming and notes that swimming is possible at low tide, so check the tide before you plan a swim. A Trip.com guest at Sand Sea Resort reports about a ten-minute walk from Railay West to the beach.
- Best for: scenery, the cave, a slow half day.
- Watch out for: midday boat-tour crowds, and tide for swimming.
Railay East: eat here, do not swim here
Railay East is the mangrove side of the peninsula, where longtails to and from Krabi Town land. Wikivoyage says plainly that it is not good for swimming or sunbathing. What it does have, per both Wikivoyage and Wikipedia, is the commercial boardwalk with restaurants and bars, a Muay Thai school and budget to mid-range accommodation.
Use it as a base if you are on a budget and plan to walk to Railay West and Phra Nang for the beach.
- Best for: restaurants and bars, cheaper rooms, boats from Krabi Town.
- Watch out for: mangroves and mud, not a swimming beach.
Ton Sai: for climbers and backpackers
Wikivoyage calls Ton Sai the cove around the corner from Railay West where rock climbers and backpackers hang out in cheap accommodation. It is the place to stay if you are here for the routes: Wikivoyage counts over seven hundred bolted routes on Railay's limestone faces.
If you are not a climber, Ton Sai is still a cheap place to sleep, and Railay West is just around the corner for a swim.
- Best for: climbers, low budgets.
- Watch out for: fewer resort-style comforts than Railay West.
Ao Nang and its neighbouring beaches
Wikivoyage lists three walkable beaches from Ao Nang: Ao Nang Beach (the main one), Nopparat Thara (quieter) and Pai Plong (the most scenic, reached by a 10 to 15 minute trail). Ao Nang Beach is where the longtails to Railay leave, from the east end.
Ao Nang is a town, not a hideaway. What you get here is choice: many restaurants, a Landmark night market, a Wednesday evening market from 16:00 to 20:00 on Wikivoyage's information, and tour operators on every corner. For most travellers it is the better base and Railay the better day out. See Railay or Ao Nang.
- Best for: a base with restaurants, markets and tour piers.
- Watch out for: it is a developed resort town, not a secluded beach.
Beaches you reach by boat
The classic 4 Islands trip stops at Phra Nang Cave Beach, the Tup and Mor sandbar, Chicken Island and Koh Poda, according to the GetYourGuide listings. GetYourGuide notes that the sandbar linking Tup and Mor can be walked at low tide. The Hong Islands trip visits Hong Lagoon and a 360 degree viewpoint. These are day stops, with no realistic overnight option, and the crowd depends on the time your boat arrives.
Our ranked shortlist, with prices and review counts read on 20 September 2026, is in Best Krabi island tours.
Which beach for which traveller
| If you want | Choose | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The best swim | Railay West, north end | Fine sand, shallow water and Wikivoyage's pick for swimming |
| The best photo | Phra Nang | Karst rising from the sand, plus the cave |
| Cheap rooms and food | Railay East or Ton Sai | Budget to mid-range rooms, boardwalk restaurants, cheap climber lodging |
| Sunset | Railay West | GetYourGuide's Railay page points to it for sunset |
| Restaurants, markets, tours | Ao Nang Beach | Town base with the tour piers |
| Quiet away from the boats | Pai Plong or Nopparat Thara | Quieter beaches walkable from Ao Nang |
Check the tide before you plan
Tide affects swimming at Phra Nang (per Tripadvisor's listing) and the Tup and Mor sandbar on island tours (per GetYourGuide). Look up the tide for your day and plan the beach part of your trip around it.
Beach-hopping boat trips
See all tours
Top pickFrom US$37Krabi: Premium 4-Island Day Trip by Longtail Boat with Lunch
- Chicken Island snorkelling, the Tup sandbar and lunch on Koh Poda
- Ends at Phra Nang Cave Beach; shared or private, with hotel transfer
Best for: First-timers who want the classic Krabi day out
See prices & availability
Best valueFrom US$22Krabi: 4 Islands Day Trip by Longtail Boat or Speedboat
- Phra Nang Cave Beach, the Tup and Mor sandbar, Chicken Island and Koh Poda
- Thai mini buffet lunch on the beach; longtail or speedboat option
Best for: Budget travellers who still want the full 4 Islands route
See prices & availability
Hong IslandsFrom US$35Krabi: Hong Islands Day Trip by Speedboat with Lunch
- Hong Lagoon, a 360 degree viewpoint and the sandbars at Pakbia
- Lunch and refreshments on the main beach; Railay guests board at Railay East
Best for: Anyone who wants quieter, more scenic islands than the 4 Islands
See prices & availabilityLast verified: 30 September 2026
Sources
Frequently asked questions
The north end of Railay West. Wikivoyage says the north end of the beach is great for swimming, while Railay East, the mangrove side, is not good for swimming or sunbathing.
Where to stay near each beachYes for the scenery. A Trip.com guest reports about a ten-minute walk from Railay West. Tripadvisor's listing says swimming is possible at low tide, so check the tide.
Read the Railay travel guideTon Sai, according to Wikivoyage: the cove around the corner from Railay West where climbers and backpackers stay in cheap accommodation.
Where to stay for climbingIt is a different kind of place. Ao Nang beach is the town's main beach, good as a base, while Railay's beaches sit under limestone cliffs and are only reached by boat. Pai Plong and Nopparat Thara are quieter Ao Nang options.
Railay or Ao Nang, side by sideSources: Wikivoyage (Railay, Ao Nang), Wikipedia (Railay Beach), and the Trip.com and GetYourGuide pages read on 20 September 2026. Fares and prices change, so check them before you travel.