Rai Lei is amazing. There are 4 different beaches all within walking distance :: TonSai Beach, Railay West, Railey East, And Princess Cave Beach.
Rock Climbing is what makes Railay internationally reknown.
West Railay and Phra Nang Cave beaches are some of the best beaches in thaland.
Getting to Railay Beach
Railey is accessable by fantail boat ONLY! 1 hour from Krabi Town and 20 minutes from Ao Nang Village. RaiLeh. At Ao Nang jump in a wooden longtail boat, used for fishing or water taxiing farangs. A 25-minute ride sets you back a mere 100 baht each person. 200 baht each for the fantail boat taxi via Krabi town Chao Fa pier, which is a more practical option since you land within 100m of guesthouses and downtown Krabi.
East and West Railay beaches hug either side of a stubby peninsula pointing south from Thailand's west coast. The third southern end has the divine sands and vista of Phra Nang Cave Beach.
As with any other beachside resort, the difference between premium and budget accommodation along East and West Railay, especially the latter, is very wide. Shooting around the middle, you will spend 2800 baht a night for a standard double or a single bed. There's even a bar fridge. On the low end you can get a bamboo bungalow on the East Railey hillside for 500-1000 baht.
Down at Phra Nang Cave Beach is the world-renowned and exotic Rayavadee Resort for the wealthy, important or just plain extravagant. The standard villas are round with two storeys joined by a wide, curling staircase. All mod-cons, including cable TV, spa and, of course, air-conditioning, complement classy teak furnishings and art works. Off-season prices start from 17,000 baht and private villas can range as high as 70,000 per night at peak season.
This part of Krabi province is also a mecca for rock climbers and there are several well-established and equipped schools in and around the resorts. Many climbers stay at the less-developed Ton Sai beach, accessible by foot from West Railay at low tide.
The longtail boats are among the most charming fixtures of coastal Thailand. They float languidly when they're not chugging divers out to drops or taxiing people around. However they are a source of constant noise pollution during the day.
