Where to stay in Railay Beach - Railay West, Railay East or on the hill?
Our guide, from our stay in January 2025
Where to stay in Railay Beach: the differences between Railay West, Railay East, the hotels on the hill and Tonsai, the hotel we stayed at and what to check before you book.
Read the full guideChoosing where to stay in Railay Beach works a little differently from other places in Thailand. Railay is a peninsula you reach by boat, and once you are there you get around mostly on foot, along paths that link the beaches, hotels and restaurants. The main areas are fairly close to one another, but not every hotel is equally easy to reach. After staying in Railay in January 2025, we found that the important question is not only which beach the hotel is on, but also how you get to it and what you get for the price.
Where to stay in Railay - in short
| Area | Best for | The advantage | What to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Railay West | Anyone who wants to sleep right by the swimming beach | Direct access to the beach and the sunset | Whether the high price for the location is worth it to you |
| Railay East | Anyone looking for a more affordable hotel | Close to the restaurants and walking paths | The beach itself is not suitable for swimming |
| Hotels on the hill | Anyone who prefers a view, quiet and a proper hotel experience | Views of the sea and the cliffs, a real holiday feel | The climb up to the hotel and the shuttle service |
| Tonsai Beach | Rock climbers and anyone after a simple atmosphere | Nature and a less commercial feel | Access to central Railay and the state of the path |
Do you really have to stay on the west beach? Our story
Before our trip to Railay we read in many guides that the most recommended area to stay in is Railay West. The reason was clear: it is the main beach, where you can swim, sit facing the sea and enjoy the sunset.
On the other side, Railay East, the hotels are more affordable, but the beach itself is not suitable for swimming.
When we checked prices for our dates, in the height of the tourist season, the luxury hotels on the west beach looked too expensive for our budget.
We were torn between two options: booking a simpler hotel in a central location, or choosing a more indulgent hotel a little further from the beach.
In the end we chose Railay Phutawan Resort, a hotel on the hill.
We were not entirely sure about the location. We even wondered whether it might be the same hotel we had stayed at on an earlier visit to Railay, a few years before.
One of the things that is hard to judge when you book a hotel from afar is what the route to it really looks like. On the map everything looks close, but you cannot always tell whether there are steps, slopes or paths on the way that make the walk less comfortable.
When we arrived in Railay, we found that our worry had been overblown.
Railay is small, and getting between the main areas was fairly easy and straightforward. The walking paths wound between shops, restaurants, bars and greenery, so the walk itself was part of the experience.
True, there was a climb up to our hotel, and that is definitely something to take into account. But we never felt that we had to sleep on the west beach to enjoy Railay.
We left with a different conclusion from the one we arrived with: it is not always worth paying more just to sleep right on the beach. Sometimes a hotel a little further inland gives you a better stay for your budget.
The areas to stay in Railay
Railay West - sleeping on the swimming beach
Railay West is Railay's main beach and the area where many travellers look for a hotel.
The beach is surrounded by tall limestone cliffs, with pale sand and an open view of the sea. This is where you come to swim, sunbathe, sit on the sand and watch the sunset.
Some of the most sought-after hotels in Railay are along this beach.
The main advantage of staying here is convenience. You can step out of the hotel and be on the beach almost straight away, without planning a walk or a move between areas.
It particularly suits anyone who plans to spend a large part of the day in the sea, pop back to the room during the day and head out to the beach again.
The downside is the price. At some hotels you pay a lot for the location, especially in the tourist season.
We certainly understand the appeal of staying right on the swimming beach, but after our visit we would not choose an expensive hotel just because it is on Railay West.
Railay East - mangroves, piers and more affordable prices
Railay East is the eastern side of the peninsula.
The scenery here is very beautiful too, but it is different from the west beach. Instead of a strip of sand suitable for swimming, there are mangroves, boats, piers and limestone cliffs all around.
At low tide shallow, muddy stretches are exposed, so this is not a beach for ordinary swimming.
But when it comes to accommodation, the area has clear advantages.
Railay East has hotels, restaurants, pubs and walking paths that connect to the rest of the peninsula. You can head out of the hotel, wander between the places and walk to the west beach when you want to swim.
Hotels in this area can offer more affordable prices than the ones right on the west beach.
So we would not rule out a hotel in Railay East just because you cannot swim at the beach in front of it.
What we would check is where the hotel sits within the area, and the route from it to the beaches and to the places where you plan to spend your time.
Hotels on the hill - views and quiet, but check the climb
This is the area where we chose to stay.
Hotels higher up the hill can offer impressive views of the sea and the limestone cliffs, along with a quieter atmosphere and a holiday experience that also centres on the hotel itself.
At Railay Phutawan Resort we especially enjoyed the pool and the view, and that was one of the reasons we were happy with our choice.
But alongside the advantages there is one point that is important to check: the way up to the hotel.
A hotel that looks close on the map is not necessarily at a level that is easy to walk to. A climb that seems reasonable on the first day can be less pleasant when you come back tired from the beach or from an evening out.
So before booking a hotel on the hill, we would check what the climb looks like and whether there is a shuttle service that can make getting there easier.
For us this is not a reason to rule out hotels like these, but an important detail in the decision.
Phra Nang Beach - the beach we loved
One of the beaches we visited in January 2025 was Phra Nang Beach. We walked there along a path that runs beside the cliffs, from the southern end of Railay East.
We loved the atmosphere of the natural cove, with its huge rocks, shady corners and beautiful water. At the entrance to the beach is the Princess Cave, which has local and religious significance.
Tonsai Beach - a simple atmosphere, climbers and harder access
General information - we did not stay in Tonsai.
Tonsai Beach is north of Railay and is known mainly among rock climbers and travellers who prefer a simple, less commercial atmosphere.
The area suits anyone looking for nature, rock climbing and a different feel from Railay's central hotels.
Access, however, is less straightforward.
You can reach Tonsai along a walking path or by boat, depending on conditions. Do not assume you can walk along the shore at any hour, because the tides affect the route.
So we would recommend checking in advance how you get to the hotel and how you get back from it to central Railay.
How long does it take to walk between the areas?
| Route | Approx. walking time | What the path is like |
|---|---|---|
| Railay West to central Railay East | 5-10 minutes | Fairly easy paths between hotels and shops |
| Railay East to Phra Nang | 5-10 minutes | A well-kept path along the cliffs |
| Railay West to Phra Nang | About 10-15 minutes | Through the central area and the southern beach path |
| Central Railay West to the Tonsai area | About 15-25 minutes | A rocky crossing or a path over the hill, depending on the tide |
| A hotel high up in Railay East to the west beach | About 10-20 minutes, sometimes more | Depends on the climb and where your room is |
The times are for walking at a normal pace in good conditions, without stops. At high tide, in the rain or with suitcases, some of the routes take more time and effort.
The hotel we stayed at: Railay Phutawan Resort
In January 2025 we stayed at Railay Phutawan Resort, a hotel on the hill that we would happily go back to.
We especially loved the pool with its view of the sea and the limestone cliffs, the varied breakfast and the service. The hotel restaurant, up on the hill and looking out over the view, was also one of the highlights of the stay for us.
The main drawback is the climb up to the hotel, which is worth taking into account before you book.
More hotels by area
Hotels that appear on our map - we did not stay at them.
Railay West
- Sand Sea Resort
- Railay Village Resort
- Railay Bay Resort & Spa
Railay East
- Bhu Nga Thani Resort
- Railay Princess Resort & Spa
- Avatar Railay
- Sunrise Tropical Resort
- Diamond Cave Resort
Tonsai Beach
- Tinidee Hideaway Tonsai Beach Krabi
- Tonsai Bay Resort
Phra Nang Beach
- Rayavadee
Stay in Railay or come on a day trip?
You can reach Railay by longtail boat from Ao Nang, spend a few hours on the beaches and go back the same day.
That option suits anyone who wants to see Railay without changing hotels.
But after our visits to the area, we prefer staying overnight in Railay.
During the day, day-trippers also come to the peninsula.
In the evening, after some of the visitors have left, the atmosphere changes.
You can go out to a restaurant, sit in a pub, wander between the stalls and walk back to your hotel, with no need to arrange a boat back to Ao Nang.
Staying in Railay has an advantage in the morning too. You can head to the beach fairly early, before some of the visitors from outside arrive.
If you come to Railay for just a few hours, you have to decide how to split your time between the beaches and the walking. When you stay there, you can enjoy the area at a more relaxed pace.
So if your budget and time allow, we recommend staying the night in Railay rather than settling for a day trip.
How many nights, and when to go to Railay?
We recommend giving Railay at least two nights, and even more if you want to combine beaches, rest and trips in the area.
As for the weather, November to April is generally considered the more comfortable season in the Krabi area. From May to October the chance of rain and rough seas is higher.
In our experience, the weather has a big effect on what Railay feels like. On cloudy or rainy days we felt the place lost a large part of its magic, so we would check the forecast even when visiting in the more comfortable season.
FAQ about where to stay in Railay
Can you swim at Railay East beach?
It is not a beach for ordinary swimming. There are mangroves, piers and muddy stretches that are exposed at low tide. For swimming, it is better to go to Railay West.
Do you need to stay on Railay West to enjoy the beach?
No. You can stay in Railay East or at a hotel a little further inland and walk to the west beach. That is the choice we made, and we did not regret it.
Is it worth booking a hotel on the hill?
That depends on the view, the hotel's facilities and how easy it is to get there. We really enjoyed our stay at Railay Phutawan Resort, but it is important to check the climb up to the hotel and the shuttle service in advance.
Is Tonsai Beach a good fit if you want to spend time in central Railay?
Tonsai suits people looking for a simple atmosphere and rock climbing better. Access to central Railay is less convenient, so check how you will get there and back before you book. We did not stay in this area.
How many nights should you stay in Railay?
We recommend at least two nights. That way you can enjoy both the beaches and the atmosphere in the evening and the morning, without feeling that the whole visit is squeezed into a few hours.
Our bottom line
We arrived in Railay worried that the hotel we had chosen was too far from the beaches, and found that getting around between the main areas was much easier than we had imagined.
If on Koh Phi Phi we learned that it is not always worth moving away from the centre for a beautiful hotel, in Railay we learned that sometimes a hotel a little further inland is actually the better choice.
Before booking a hotel in Railay we would check three things: what the hotel offers, what the route to it looks like and whether the location suits the way we want to spend our time.
We would not choose a hotel based only on photos, its star rating or the distance shown on the map.