Railay Thailand Backpacking Climbing Mecca

Railay Thailand

During our stay in Railay (in Krabi province of southern Thailand), we spent the first 3 nights at Railay Phutawan Resort. This resort is located on the East coast of Railay.

Where we stayed:

Accommodation #1: Railay Phutawan Resort
To make reservations: visit http://www.railayphutawanresort.com or call +66 075819479

Accommodation #2: Garden View Resort
To make reservations: call +66 085885143

Some people prefer the West coast because when the tide goes out during the late morning and afternoon hours, the East beach becomes somewhat unsightly with mud and some trash. However, we found that this was not a problem as it is very accessible to walk to the beaches on the West side. Railay Phutawan Resort is surrounding by breathtakingly beautiful rock cliffs and many of the rooms are tucked away amidst jungle scenery. We stayed in a standard double room that cost 1125 Baht ($36 USD) per night during peak season (half price in low season!). We were surprised that the wood paneling on the floor had gaps that allowed us to see through to the ground, and the top of the bathroom was separated from the open air by a screen. Despite the bug net surrounding the bed, we were still woke up most mornings with mosquito bites on our legs. The resort offered a delicious free breakfast in its dining room each morning. The shower did not have hot water, but most times of the year that's perfectly okay. Phutawan is also located RIGHT next to one of the best bars (Ya Ya Bar) and hang out spots in all of Railay, so it was a treat to be so near that. Despite the bugs and the cold showers, we enjoyed our stay here because it felt very exotic to be living in such a uniquely jungle-like environment. The staff was awesome.

Get to Railey via Krabi. Buses Trains and Planes. Airport Taxi Krabi to Railay

Our last night in Railay, we moved to the Garden View Resort, also located on the East side. Though it required a bit of a climb to get there, the Resort had a beautiful view of the ocean from high up. We were greeted with bottles of water and complimentary tea, coffee, and cookies. The room was beautifully furnished and cost us 1250 Baht ($40 USD) per night. Rooms here were better insulated from the outdoors, allowing us to avoid bugs. This resort also provided a complimentary breakfast complete with eggs made to order. The staff was extremely helpful, directing us to the best modes of transportation to get to Phuket on our last day as well as hand delivering me a message from my family who had been trying to contact me during my stay. Overall, we wish we had spent more time at the Garden View Resort.

Activities in Railay, Thailand

Railay was a good change of pace from our previous two days in Ko Phi Phi. It attracts a more family-oriented crowd as well as single people looking to have a more relaxing, good time amongst the beauty of
Thailand. The rock climbing community flocks here because it's one of the best places to rock climb in the world. Again, the West side of the island is more known for its beaches. One of the beaches on that side is a private beach owned by a five star resort, and it's by far one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, a few feet from beautiful cliffs bursting out of the clear water. Even if you are not a guest there, this beach is a favorite for soaking up the sun and grabbing lunch from the longtail boats that pull to shore selling food during the daytime. We rented a kayak for a couple hours one afternoon, which cost us 200 Baht. In these boats you can float around the various rock formations and explore the islands. We often had our lunch at the Walking Street, an open air laneway with restaurants that you can eat at while getting a front row beach view. Each night we had our choice of restaurants on the East or West side averaging about 200 Baht per person.

After spending several days on the island, we took a long tail boat to Ao Nang for 250 Baht per person. Although Railay is part of the mainland, it is blocked by mountains that do not allow cars to pass through. Therefore, the only way to get to in and out is by boat. In Ao Nang, we rented a motor scooter for 200 Baht for the whole day. With a map in hand (free), we explored inland for several hours, navigating the petrol station with non-English speaking locals. During our drive, we stumbled across an elephant trekking company, who allow you to take 3 hour elephant trekking tours for 900 Baht. Instead of taking the tour, we paid the owner 100 Baht to take pictures with his elephants, and we went home just as happy. Railay also offers beautiful hikes through the jungle or up to the viewpoint to give a full view of the island. These hikes are breathtaking, but take somewhat more than a beginner's skill level in climbing as the paths can be steep.

Although Railay is not as well known for its nightlife, there are two main bars, The Last Bar and Ya Ya Bar that host parties and events almost every night. We sat out on a deck over the water watching several main twirling fire lit batons. Though it doesn't define the town, Railay still has a very healthy nightlife.