Railay Beach: Thailand's Most Dramatic Coastline

Railay Peninsula, accessible only by longtail boat from Krabi town (15 minutes, ฿100–150) or Ao Nang (10 minutes, ฿100), is separated from the mainland by impassable karst cliffs. That isolation is its greatest asset — no roads, no cars, just limestone pillars rising 300 metres from the sea, white sand beaches, and one of the world's most celebrated rock climbing destinations. Railay has four beaches: Railay West, with the best swimming and sunset views; Railay East, a mangrove-backed tidal beach used mostly as a boat landing; Phra Nang Cave Beach, one of Thailand's most photogenic strips of sand (and home to a fertility shrine inside a sea cave); and Tonsai Beach, reached via a jungle path and popular with climbers for its overhanging walls. The climbing here is world-class — over 200 bolted routes on limestone walls ranging from beginner to expert, with half-day courses available from several guiding companies for ฿1,500–2,000. The viewpoint trail up to the "Diamond Cave" provides panoramic views across the peninsula, and sea kayaking around the karst formations is available for rent at around ฿150–200 per hour. Accommodation ranges from budget bungalows on Tonsai to the luxurious Rayavadee resort on Phra Nang.