How do you get to Railay Beach?

There are no roads to Railay. Limestone cliffs surround the peninsula on all sides, so the only access is by longtail boat.

From Ao Nang (the standard route)

The pier is at the eastern end of Ao Nang beach. Walk to the far right side of the beach as you face the sea and you'll see the longtail queue. Boats depart whenever they fill up, usually six to eight passengers. The fare is 100 THB per person each way. Journey time is 10–15 minutes depending on sea conditions.

In high season (December to February), there's rarely more than a 10-minute wait. In the shoulder months, you might wait 20–30 minutes or pay a small premium to fill the empty seats and leave sooner.

From Krabi Town

Longtails also go from Krabi Town pier to Railay East. The fare is around 150 THB per person and the journey is closer to 45 minutes. This route makes sense if you're arriving directly from a Koh Lanta ferry in Krabi Town and don't want to backtrack to Ao Nang. Otherwise, the Ao Nang route is shorter and cheaper.

Last boat back

Longtails stop running at dark, roughly 6:30–7pm depending on the time of year. If you're on a day trip, keep track of the time. Missing the last boat means negotiating a private charter, which will cost significantly more than the 100 THB fare.

Private charters

If you're in a group and want to leave at an exact time (or travel after dark if you're staying on Railay), you can hire a longtail privately. Prices vary and are negotiable, but expect to pay 600–1,000 THB for the whole boat.

For everything else about Railay, see the Railay Beach guide.