Posted by: Sahil
With limestone cliffs rising out of the ocean and beautiful picturesque white sand beaches, surrounded by jungle and mountains, Railay is as stunning as it is surreal and is an often overlooked gem.
For most travellers, Railay is either a small part of their guided tour or a nice single day break from Ao Nang. Yet there is so much more to this idyllic corner of Thailand that deserves more time to be fully appreciated. Railay is meant to be savoured and enjoyed, not rushed.
Down to Earth
Unlike its nearby neighbour Ao Nang, Railay hasn’t been as commercialized. This is in sheer part due to its small size and location. There are no big western food chains nor a 7-11. All of the shops and restaurants are in part local owned and this gives Railay a sense of tropical remoteness.
There are no cars and very few bikes, it is far quieter and less hectic than the mainland. This in itself should attract the weary traveller as it’s the perfect spot to relax and enjoy being away from the hustle and bustle of Ao Nang and Krabi town.
However, the sense of tropical remoteness does come at tropical remoteness prices. The restaurants and shops are more expensive than on the mainland. The reason being that everything has to be brought across on the Long tail boats and this adds extra cost.
Despite this, Railay is only a 15 minute boat ride from Ao Nang so one can easily stock up on supplies.
My parents were avid backpackers back in the 90s and 2000s and I grew up on stories from my them about the tropical isolation and simplistic beauty of this part of the world. While not completely the same, coming to Railay gave me an insight into this era of Thailand that my parents experienced.
I found a tropical remoteness with such beauty, invoking feelings of peace and serenity, something that is hard to find in our fast paced world.
A Relaxing Day
Railay is a place to relax. Go to Phra Nang beach and explore the caves on its eastern edge. Savour the sun and go for a swim in a sea which is warm enough to invoke a feeling of being in a giant open air bath. Find some shade under the protruding limestone cliffs and watch the rock climbers make their way up their runs.
Head over to walking street on Railay’s west side for some food. There is a wide selection of places to try, offering Thai, western and Indian food. A walk to West beach will give you the opportunity to witness a sunset that will live long in the memory.
Watching the sun set over the Andaman Sea and witnessing the shades of red that are cast over the surfaces of the limestone cliffs that surround the beach is a sight to behold.
I spent many a lazy day following this formula, just be aware of the troublesome monkeys that prowl some of Railay’s small lanes. They like plastic bags which they believe to be full of food. They aren’t dangerous just cheeky and seem to take pleasure in parting visitors from their takeaway food. They got me a few times and I still haven’t forgiven them.
The Climbing
Railay is world famous for its rock climbing for which there are numerous different places to test one’s climbing abilities. Phra Nang and east side have climbs for both experienced climbers and beginners alike. The more adventurous should head to Tonsai for multi pitches and more technical climbs.
I had never rock climbed before I arrived In Railay and had an intense fear of heights. At the insistence of my experienced rock climbing girlfriend and a friend from New Zealand, I agreed to do it.
It was terrifying at first and it quickly became one of the best experiences of my entire trip. I’m now hooked on it and cannot wait for the next climbing challenge.
During my time in Railay, I got to know many of the instructors for Tex Rock climbing shop and I cannot recommend them enough. They speak very good English and are incredibly friendly as most Thai’s are. They are brilliant guides and will give you plenty of advice.
There are many climbing shops scattered across Railay who offer half-day and full day tours as well as multiple day courses for those wanting to increase their rock climbing skills and learn the intricacies.
It is an unforgettable experience that I would highly recommend.
