Railay West Beach

Railay West is the beach on the west side of the Railay peninsula and the one to pick for a swim. It's a curve of white sand between two walls of limestone, with shallow, calm water in the dry season. The peninsula has three other beaches, East Railay, Phra Nang and Tonsai, and this is the one with the classic view.

There's no road in. Longtails from Ao Nang beach land here for ฿100 each way and leave once about eight passengers have gathered, which can mean a wait at quiet hours. The ferries to Phi Phi and Phuket also leave from this beach.

Go early. On the first boat or two you get a wide, quiet beach with pockets of shade under the cliffs. By late morning the longtails and the crowds arrive, and the engine noise is real. Climbers work the cliffs at either end, which is worth watching even if you're not one. Cafes and restaurants sit back from the sand and charge more than Ao Nang, and kayaks and paddleboards rent by the hour.

Bring water shoes, because there are sharp rocks near the waterline at the ends, and carry cash, since card machines don't always work. The tide goes out a long way, so don't set up too close to the water. December to March are the driest months on this coast.