Railay Beach Thailand Two Day Itinerary

The Most Epic Beach Trip in Thailand

Are you looking for a Thailand beach trip with epic views, beautiful beaches, a sense of adventure, and a touch of luxury? Well, this beach trip has it all. And it’s actually one of the easiest adventures in Thailand to do. I’ve stayed on some of Thailand‘s best beaches, and for me, this is the most epic. In this video, I’ll show you why this part of Thailand is a must visit for adventure seekers and beach lovers, give you a two-day itinerary that you can just copy, as well as show you how to take your trip up a notch by staying in one of Thailand‘s best beach hotels.

So, where am I and what makes this beach strip different from any other in Thailand? Toward the southern Thai coastline is a peninsula famous for its jaw-dropping beaches and dramatic limestone mountains. There are no roads here. The only way in is by boat, gliding past cliffs and jungle that cut this place off from the outside world. That means no giant ferries and no tour buses, just small docks to allow colorful longtail boats to land.

This means that unlike some of the beach towns on islands like Phuket and Samui, it has still managed to maintain its natural charm despite being a popular spot for visitors. This is an adventure lover’s paradise with cliffs to climb, caves to explore, and hidden islands to kayak to. The landscape is part jungle, part beach. So, don’t be surprised if you spot monkeys swinging through trees, tropical birds overhead, or giant lizards swimming through the mangroves. But that’s not to say you’re completely isolated.

This is still a popular beach to explore and has excellent options for dining and grabbing a drink as you watch the sunset. This is Railay Beach located in Krabi and it’s one of the most epic and iconic places to explore in the country. So, how can you explore it yourself? Let’s take a look in this 2-day itinerary for those staying on the beach. And if you want to learn more, you can download the map of the area to find all the best bars, restaurants, and beaches in Krabi.

But first of all though, you got to get there. And what most people don’t realize, this is actually one of the most fun parts of the experience of visit Railay Beach. Because Railay is closed off to the world by mountains, this means the boat ride there passes by some epic scenery. So, you need to make sure that you have your camera ready. On previous trips, I’ve caught a longtail boat from Ao Nang Beach where I was staying.

And the ride takes around 20 minutes and costs 100 Thai Baht per person. If you’re staying on Railay though, it’s likely the hotel will have a regularly scheduled speedboat from another location where the staff will help you board your luggage on the boat, making sure you don’t lose all your luggage in the Andaman Sea. We left from the other side of Railay, giving us a completely different view of the tower and cliffs and mangro forests that surround the beach.

Railay Beach and Walking Street

So, the first place you’re going to get dropped off is Railay Beach itself. Now, personally, I think this is one of the most beautiful beaches in the whole of Thailand. And why do I say that? Well, because it’s got iconic limestone cliffs either end of the beach, which just kind of punctuate it and make it even more beautiful. So, it’s not just a beach, it’s kind of like great mountain views as well.

In the distance, you can see the four islands, and it’s just one of the best places in the whole country to sit and watch the colorful longtail boats come in. But what most people don’t realize is there’s actually way more Railay Beach than just the main beach. There are two more beaches in the Railay Peninsula to explore. To get to the other beaches, you have to walk through Railay Walking Street, which is just one long street winding through the mountains. And it’s a good place to grab a beer, grab a coffee, and just kind of chill out for a minute.

It’s got a lot of no frills Thai restaurants. Nothing too fancy here. I’ll show you later in the video the best place in Railay to eat, but it’s a good place to unwind. And at the end of the walking street, you can decide to take a quick detour into one of the mountains. The caves at Railay Beach were carved out over millions of years as rainwater and waves slowly dissolved to soft limestone, creating dramatic tunnels and chambers, and there are a number of them to explore.

This one is known as Diamond Cave. And for a small fee, you can enter and walk along the wooden walkway to explore the cave. Just, you know, watch out for bats.

Phra Nang Beach and Princess Cave

Okay, now on to the next beach, which has by far the most beautiful waters in the area. And unfortunately, it’s one that almost everyone misses out on on their first visit to Railay. What makes it so special? Unlike the other two beaches at Railay, no boats are allowed to land here. That means there’s no engine noise, just the sound of the waves.

And because of this, the water stays crystal clear and is perfect for swimming. And that’s a good thing because this beach is famous for its emerald green coastline that shimmers in the sunlight. This is Phra Nang Beach. And because the boats don’t pull up here, it can mean that a lot of first-time visitors never make it over this far. Railay is admittedly a bit of a maze with lots of long winding paths where it’s not clear where you’re headed.

I know that I didn’t actually discover Phra Nang Beach until I had visited a few times, but now it’s probably my favorite beach. If you come at Phra Nang Beach, it’s something you absolutely got to check out right at the southern tip. Let’s go take a look. At the far end of the beach, you’ll stumble onto probably the quirkiest spot in Railay, Phra Nang Cave. cave, also known as Princess Cave. The cave is filled with wooden penis carvings of every size and color, all wrapped in bright cloths stacked around the shrine.

The story goes that a fisherman’s wife, sometimes called the princess, waited here for her husband, who was lost at sea. Over time, people began to believe her spirit watched over the area, especially protecting fishermen and travelers. For reasons I’ll admit that I don’t fully understand, locals and the few visitors bring these carved penis offerings to the cave spirit. Some come hoping for a good look or safe journeys, others for a little bit extra fertility. Whatever the reason though, it’s definitely a unique tradition.

Kayaking Around Koh Rang Nok

Further along Phra Nang Beach is its most dramatic landmark, Koh Rang Nok. And it’s one of the best kayaking and swimming spots in the peninsula. You can easily rent a kayak and making your way around Koh Rang Nok is the perfect challenge with some seriously epic views. There’s also a small hidden beach at the foot of the rock for you to swim to and explore.

Rayavadee Hotel in Railay Beach

But if you really want to experience Railay at its absolute best, you need to spend the night here because when the day trippers leave and the sun starts to set, the whole place transforms. So, where’s the best place to stay in the area? Well, you’re in luck. Railay is home to one of the most unique and unforgettable hotels in all of Thailand. Let me show you what makes it so special. Railay Beach, whilst beautiful, is not off the beaten path anymore.

And whilst it is nowhere near as overdeveloped as parts of Somoy or Phuket, plenty of construction has taken place here. That is apart from this area at the end of the beach that is still surrounded by pristine jungle. And this is where I’m spending the next two nights. As you walk along the jungle pathways, you can see dusky leaf monkeys swinging and playing in the trees and lizards swimming in the ponds with the calls of jungle birds and insects in a distance. There are no high-rise buildings here.

In fact, our room for the night is a beautifully designed two-story wooden house that feels more like a hidden treehouse than a hotel suite. Downstairs, there’s a cozy living room space with big windows that let in the jungle light and comfy sofas. Upstairs, the bedroom is wrapped in warm wood with a super comfy bed and a design that makes you feel like you’re in Jumanji. The bathroom is next level awesome with a huge soaking tub and there’s a small garden area perfect for drinking a coffee and listening to the sounds of the jungle. This is Rayavadee and it’s one of the best hotels in the whole of Thailand known for its beautiful surroundings and top quality service.

As soon as we arrived, we were greeted by staff who helped us carry our luggage from the boat and greeted us with cold towels and a welcome drink. The jungle here is a labyrinth and it’s easy to get lost, so you might need the staff to pick you up in a buggy and find your jungle bungalow. But by staying here, you get exclusive access to some of the best views in Railay. The hotel’s pool area is located at the far end of Railay, meaning you have picturesque views of the beach, boats, and mountains as you swim. The breakfast area has views overlooking Phra Nang Beach, which is perfect for watching the sunrise.

But Rayavadee is also home to one of the most unique and romantic restaurant settings in the world. It’s literally tucked into a limestone cave right on the edge of Phra Nang Beach. It’s called the Grotto Restaurant and it’s part of the Rayavadee Hotel. It’s definitely one of the coolest meals that I’ve ever had as you watch the sunset behind Kora Knock and listen to jazz bands as they play in the cave. During the high season, it’s only available to hotel guests in the evening, but it is open to outside guests during the low season and for lunch.

Is Rayavadee Worth the Price

So, I’ve just finished spending two nights here at Rayavadee. And I want to talk about now is is it really worth it to stay? This hotel comes with a heavy price tag of around 20 to 25,000 Thai Baht per night, which is at least $300. So, for some people it’s going to be a little bit out of their price range or people going to have to save in other places to splurge on this. And I think if you do that, I usually recommend people to save in some places on their trips, perhaps in the north of Thailand or in Bangkok cuz you’re going to be out the whole time and then splurge for one or two nights in like a unique location.

I think if you were to choose to do that here at Rayavadee, that’d be an excellent choice. And here’s why. So, Rayavadee isn’t just like a five-star hotel. The key thing about Rayavadee is it’s the perfect location. Yes, Rayavadeeity is a five-star hotel with five-star service and you know the people look after you and they have and they show you around and you get that real white lotus feel to you but personally I’ve never been someone that care too much about that.

What I care about is yes, a beautifully designed hotel, but mainly like the natural beauty and the views from the hotel. And the key thing here is you just step out of your hotel in Rayavadee and you’re in the middle of the jungle and you can hear like the bugs and the insects playing like the sounds of the jungle, birds hollering and then everywhere you walk there’s monkeys playing, you see monitor lizards and then on top of that like you walk a few minutes and you’re at Railay Beach and it’s one of the most beautiful beaches in the world and then you walk a few minutes in the other direction and you’re at Phra Nang Beach like an even more beautiful beach.

Railay Beach Nightlife and Beach Bars

But one of the big questions I have about staying on Railay Beach is what’s the nightlife like? I’ve stayed in a Nang before and I know it’s one of the best places or the best place to experience nightlife in Krabi. When I’ve previously stayed in Krabi, I’ve usually stayed in the Ao Nang area, which is most definitely the nightlife hub of Krabi with lots of bars and restaurants to explore. So, how does Railay compare? Well, what it lacks in size, it might make up for in quality.

Along the Railay beachfront are an array of bars that are perfect for watching the sunset beyond the mountains. Most boats leave to go back to Ao Nang around 6 pm in the evening, so there is a much more chilled out vibe for those who were staying. After the sunset, I headed back over to Railay Walking Street to see what was going on there. I was visiting during the low season at a time when tourist numbers were down, so the bars weren’t exactly packed, but with good times still being had. I imagine during the busy seasons, there might still be a bit more of a party atmosphere going on here, but in a much smaller setting than elsewhere.

Personally, I think I prefer the more chilled out beach bar vibe than the bright lights around. Anyway, I’m on Phra Nang Beach right now and we’re literally the only people on it. Railay Beach can be one of the busiest beaches in Thailand on its day. It’s definitely not off the beaten path. And you know, uh, once it once 8:00 a.m. hits, boats will start coming in. Especially by the time you hit midday, there’ll be quite a lot of people here.

But I’m just walking down this beautiful beach on Phra Nang Beach right now. And there’s literally literally no one on it. It was pretty nice.

Story 2 Railay East and Rock Climbing

On day two, I want to show you how to experience an even more adventurous site to Krabi and Railay, including the final epic beach on the peninsula, how to get the best views, and how to explore the stunning nearby islands. The final beach isn’t actually good to swim on, but what you come here for is the epic views of the mountains. This beach is lined with mangrove forests, which create a mysterious looking atmosphere, which is perfect for wildlife like mud crabs and macaques to live in. This area is called Railay East, and you can sit along the boardwalk and grab a drink to admire the views. But if you want a real adventure, you have to get up a little higher.

Railay East is an absolute dream for rock climbers. No matter whether you’re trying it for the first time or a season pro, even some of the lower altitude routes will give you epic views of the beaches below and mountains in the distance. Personally, I’m too much of a wimp to try this myself, but I recently helped one of my clients, Jeff, plan a jungle trekking trip to Khao Sok and end it in Krabi with rock climbing. And he told me it was an absolutely amazing experience. If you would like to work with me to plan your dream trip to Thailand, check out the page in the description box below.

Story 3 Four Islands Tour from Railay

But you might be wondering, what are those islands that you can see in the distance? Well, if you want to extend your adventure, they can be explored, too, by visiting the National Marine Park, and they are some of the most stunning in Thailand. Two of the most fascinating is Kai and Koh Tup. These islands are connected by a white sandbar, which appears at low tide, allowing you to walk from island to island without the need for a boat. But make sure to join a trip that will take you around the back of Koh Kai to find one of the most epic snorkeling spots in the area, which is home to an array of tropical fish.

Nearby is another one of Kraby’s most iconic landmarks. This is an epic mountain jutting out the ocean with a stunning tropical beach to explore. The sand here is powder white and the waters are completely turquoise. Covered with the iconic karst as your backdrop, this is the ultimate postcard image of Thailand and in fact, it’s one of my most used in my images and my thumbnails. The island is called Koh Poda and it’s part of the Four Islands tour that can be done from Krabi.

It’s unfairness a bit of a misnomer because Railay is included in the Four Islands, which we’ve already established isn’t actually an island. Most tours start and end in Railay, making it a convenient half-day trip for your epic Railay adventure.

Planning the Rest of Your Thailand Trip

But before you can plan a trip to Railay, you need to figure out how it fits into your overall trip. Where should you visit from? Should you visit the start or the end of your trip? And where the hell else should you actually visit in Thailand? Check out this video here to figure out the ultimate two-week trip to Thailand that you can just copy with a day-by-day breakdown for each part of your trip.

And don’t forget to download the Krabi map in the description box below.

DONE