Before diving into this post, let me first say I understand how unqualified I am to claim a best destination in Thailand. Let’s be real, I was only in the country for a week. That being said, I needed a catchy title, and I was so obsessed with this destination that I may very well still claim it as the best destination in Thailand, in the future. Therefore…
the award for the best destination in Thailand goes to:
Railay Beach
I fell in love with this ‘island’ before even stepping foot on land. As we approached Railay via long tail boat, I began to feel enchanted by the massive limestone cliffs emerging from every direction. This is what I’d been waiting for.
*I am going to continue referring to Railay as an island even though technically it is a peninsula off of Krabi. The land mass is only reachable via boat, so it is somewhat of an island in that sense. It most certainly felt like an island, and it definitely looked like… okay you get the gist.
Getting There
With that being said, since it’s only reachable via long tail boat, you can expect to get wet upon arrival. Depending on your boat {some have ladders, others expect you to ‘jump in’ – cool bro} you will be in water at least up to your shins. Therefore, if you have luggage, keep this in mind. Sometimes the men operating the boats will carry it for you, but I don’t have personal experience with this.
You can read more about getting to Railay Beach from Ao Nang/Krabi here.
There are three beaches on Railay: Railay West, Railay East, and Phra Nang. The most popular is Railay West, however my favorite beach, by far, was Phra Nang.
Railay West
Railay West is the most popular of all three beaches. It’s {most likely} the beach you will arrive to when you make the journey via long tail boat. Railay West is a decent beach, with plenty of space to swim and lounge. Limestone cliffs create a stunning backdrop, making you feel like you are in a different world altogether. There are multiple seaside restaurants with spectacular views, and shade along the white sand to escape the sun if necessary.
Railay East
To be honest, Railay East isn’t really a beach at all {although it’s classified as one}. It’s more of a wooden boardwalk, which allows access to Princess Cave and Phra Nang. Regardless, it provides remarkable views. I felt like I was in the middle of Jurassic Park as I took each step along the wooden planks. Depending on the tide, your shoes might get a bit wet on this side of the island.
Phra Nang
The highlight for me in Railay was Phra Nang Beach. This beach {along with Railay West} get extremely crowded by mid-day, so I suggest visiting in the morning. When I first arrived at Phra Nang, my jaw dropped and remained open for a majority of the afternoon. Located in a cove, which eventually becomes a pristine beach with white sand and turquoise water, Phra Nang left me speechless. I couldn’t believe something like this existed on the planet, and that I had the pleasure of experiencing it for myself.
Penis Cave aka Princess Cave
Phra Nang Beach comes equipped with it’s very own penis cave. That’s right, you heard me correctly folks. Once again, I was speechless, but this time for a different reason altogether. According to The Culture Trip,
The spirit of Phranang, or the Princess Goddess, is believed to reside amongst the wooden penises on Thailand’s coastline. The princess was killed in a shipwreck near where the shrine sits today. Locals will come with offerings with the belief that such gifts will bring about a fertile womb and the possibility to successfully conceive. In addition to fertility, locals visit in hopes of having good karma and to ask for things like success. – The Culture Trip
So while it may all look like fun and games and penis selfies, make sure you’ve taken your birth control if you aren’t looking to conceive anytime soon. Just to be safe. On the other hand, it may be worth a visit for anyone ready to expand their family. Either way, it was a unique shrine to witness.
Diamond Cave aka Phra Nang Cave
On your way from Railay East to Phra Nang Beach, you’ll undoubtedly walk through Diamond Cave. I was thoroughly impressed with the stalactites and stalagmites hanging from the cave. Don’t quote me on this, but I believe you can venture further into the cave and pay ฿100, but personally I opted out. I was satisfied with what I saw just walking to the beach.
Rock Climbing and Kayaking
If beach bumming isn’t really your thing, don’t be discouraged. Railay provides some of the best rock climbing in the world, in the most unbelievable environment. I wasn’t too into the whole idea, but there were plenty of willing participants. It was entertaining to watch people climb and propel off of the larger-than-life limestone formations.
And of course, as with any good island, kayaking is available for anyone ready to explore their surroundings afloat. I usually avoid kayaking when I’m alone, for obvious reasons, but I was more tempted than ever in Railay when I saw groups going out on to the sea.
Where to Eat
I spent one full day on Railay, but didn’t indulge in the food culture too heavily. That being said, there are many, many options. I did sit down for some spring rolls at Mangrove, which was highly rated online. I wasn’t blown away, but it was only spring rolls so how picky can a girl really be? Another spot I anticipated was Local Thai, which people also raved about online. Both of these restaurants are known for being safe in terms of food poisoning – always a plus in SE Asia!
Overall, I was utterly impressed with Railay. It showcased the essence of the Thai islands, and transported me to a different world entirely. It was peaceful enough to enjoy a romantic holiday, but also provided enough bars and restaurants to keep it from becoming too boring. There was a good mix of relaxing and adventurous activities, which allowed for every style of traveler to feel welcome. For a full guide to island hopping in Thailand, read my blog post here.
Have you ever been to Railay? Where is your favorite location in Thialand?
