The coast in the south of Thailand is a tropical paradise, many call it heaven on earth. Towering limestone cliffs shelter incredible beaches, the most beautiful is Railay.
Isolated from the mainland, the peninsula of Railay is surrounded by the Andaman Sea, lush jungle, and twisted rock. It contains enough activities for the most adventurous while allowing those who just want to chill out in paradise the opportunity to do just that. Accessible only by boat due to the high limestone cliffs cutting off mainland access. These cliffs attract rock climbers from all over the world, but the area is also popular due to its beautiful beaches and quiet relaxing atmosphere.
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There are two Railay beaches, Railay East and Railay West. The eastern beach is mangroves, or at least what is left of them, there is budget accommodation and a fantastic relaxed atmosphere however the beach is not suitable for swimming. Railay West is a beautiful sandy beach with large limestone outcrops at either end, its a great place to just sit and watch a stunning tropical sunset. There are two other beaches on the peninsula Ton Sai and Phra Nang and both are also highly rated.
On this small peninsula you’ll find gorgeous white sand beaches, soaring limestone cliffs, viewpoints, caves and a lagoon hidden inside the cliffs, shaped and fed by the changing tides. Adding to the hidden paradise feel is the fact that there are no roads to Railay, the peninsula is inaccessible from the mainland due to the limestone cliffs and thick jungle valleys, maybe this also leads to so many people staying much longer than they originally planned. Railay doesn’t see a lot of travelers only staying for a day or two, its attraction is magnetic.
Unfortunately Railay is becoming more developed and prices are increasing, during the high season accommodation prices are significantly more expensive. It would be worth getting here before the commercialization goes over the top. Stay in a cheap bungalow and let the Thai’s know we value relaxed paradises more than 5 star resorts and the jet ski mafia. Some would say it has already happened, there are resorts but not to the extent of Phuket or Samui. There is a balance and unfortunately it almost always tips in the favor the money. On the upside a few resorts mean the beaches and surrounds are kept cleaner.
