Rai Leh
Discover Rai Leh
Rai Leh (อ่าวไร่เล), also commonly known as Railay or Rai Re, is a tourist area on the Andaman Coast of Thailand, in Krabi Province. Rai Leh is primarily known as a rock climbing hot spot, attracting climbers from all over the world to its superb towering limestone. As Rai Leh is on the tip of a peninsula surrounded by ocean and blocked by Khao Nang Mountain, access is only by boat. Longtails depart from Ao Nang (10 min, 100 baht/person, minimum 8 people), Ao Nammao (15 min), and Krabi Town (30 min) on demand, making those places the gateways to Rai Leh. It's also possible to reach Rai Leh via regular ferries that run between Ko Lanta, Ko Phi Phi, and Phuket Town (from Rassada Pier) These are more frequent in the Nov-May dry season: times available from local travel agents, or check online ferry schedules
What to Experience in Rai Leh
Famous Beaches
Taste of Rai Leh...
Rai Leh has a variety of restaurants to choose from, although none are remarkable (for Thailand at least) in character or quality. In general however, the food is what you would expect for southern Thailand, tasty and inexpensive. Rai Leh West has four restaurants: one for each of the three hotels on the beach. All offer breakfast, lunch, and dinner along the beach with a lovely view of the surroundings. Rai Leh East has more restaurants and the variety is much greater, though none offer the scenery of the west beach (restaurants near Diamond Cave may be an exception where they offer an impressive view of the bay from their position higher up the hill). Ton Sai is where the action is for nightlife. Several bars front the beach, some, such as Sunset Bar and Viking, with house bands. Chill-Out Bar, roughly centre of the beach, has a show stage and big dance floor area surrounded by platforms. Late-night longtails back to Rai Leh or Ao Nang are available, but it's easier to just stay in Ton Sai. Partying often runs until dawn. Most bars have slack lines for drunken tightrope-walking. Rai Leh East offers more in the way of energetic bars with dance music. Rai Leh primarily caters to two groups: honeymooners/families and rock climbing backpackers. Fortunately, there is accommodation to suit both ranging from bamboo bungalows to concrete three story hotels.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsAs Rai Leh is on the tip of a peninsula surrounded by ocean and blocked by Khao Nang Mountain, access is only by boat. Longtails depart from Ao Nang (10 min, 100 baht/person, minimum 8 people), Ao Nammao (15 min), and Krabi Town (30 min) on demand, making those places the gateways to Rai Leh. It's also possible to reach Rai Leh via regular ferries that run between Ko Lanta, Ko Phi Phi, and Phuket Town (from Rassada Pier) These are more frequent in the Nov-May dry season: times available from local travel agents, or check online ferry schedules The Krabi Province, Phuket, Ko Lanta and Ko Phi Phi articles have information on reaching Rai Leh gateways from throughout Thailand. From Bangkok there are flights to Krabi and Phuket, direct bus services, and trains to Surat Thani with onward connections by bus. If departing from Ao Nang, be aware that you're expected to walk out several metres into the surf before getting on a boat (depending on the tide)....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
It's a 5-10 minute walk between any of the landmarks, except for Ton Sai, which is a longer hike through the jungle. The village itself is a pedestrian's dream, as there are no cars, and the bumpy paths make even bicycles impractical. Rai Leh is perhaps the best winter sport rock climbing area in the world, with over seven hundred bolted routes up limestone faces with breathtaking views over the ocean. If you are an avid rock climber, chances are you already know about this place and the spectacular cliffs are the reason you are here. Climbing is graded on the French scale, most is steep and challenging with only limited possibilities for beginners. Due to the corrosive nature of the seaside location, the steel bolts may be of questionable integrity, bolt failure is not uncommon here, and threads (rope tied through holes in the rock) may be of questionable integrity as well.
Where to Stay
Rai Leh primarily caters to two groups: honeymooners/families and rock climbing backpackers. Fortunately, there is accommodation to suit both ranging from bamboo bungalows to concrete three story hotels. Prices typically double during high season (November-April inclusive) Most Rai Leh budget accommodation is found on the east side of Rai Leh. For the best variety of budget accommodation (wooden bungalows) try neighbouring Ton Sai Beach, a ten min walk or one min longtail ride, where rooms can be had for a few hundred baht/night. Getting a tattoo is a popular thing to do on any vacation, but beware of the tattoo scam here. Getting a tattoo in Rai Leh is strongly discouraged. You will be severely overcharged for a tattoo using questionably sterile equipment by a questionably skilled artist. First, in order to impress you, they will show photographs that they found online which they claim is their own work.
Money & Budget
Rai Leh has many small general convenience stores with various essentials at reasonable prices, considering shipment costs to what is essentially an island. Though most shoppers (souvenir or otherwise) will be better satisfied in nearby Ao Nang, clothing, souvenirs, beachwear and such are all also available in various small shops in Rai Leh East and Rai Leh West. There are no real grocery vendors, so meals are limited to the restaurants, though some small snack items are available in the convenience stores. Rai Leh has a variety of restaurants to choose from, although none are remarkable (for Thailand at least) in character or quality. In general however, the food is what you would expect for southern Thailand, tasty and inexpensive.
Safety Information
Safety Overview
Getting a tattoo is a popular thing to do on any vacation, but beware of the tattoo scam here. Getting a tattoo in Rai Leh is strongly discouraged. You will be severely overcharged for a tattoo using questionably sterile equipment by a questionably skilled artist. First, in order to impress you, they will show photographs that they found online which they claim is their own work. Unless the artist is in the photograph with the recipient, it is not their own work. Once you have described what you want to the artist, they will refuse to give you any kind of estimate, and insist that they must first draw the design on you with a pen before giving you a cost but tell you that drawing is free. While they are drawing, they will delay you as much as possible in order to get you drunk.
Glimpses of Rai Leh
One boat away from Krabi Beach
brown wooden boat on body of water near mountain during daytime
Thailand
an aerial view of a beach and cliffs
white and blue boat on sea near brown rock formation during daytime
"The goal is not to sail the boat, but rather to help the boat sail herself".
Landscape photo of Railay Beach, Thailand with Longboats in the foreground
Railay Beach, Krabi, Thailand
Closeup of a longboat on Railay Beach, Krabi, Thailand
A thai wooden boat on the sea, in front of montains.
One boat away from Krabi Beach
brown wooden boat on body of water near mountain during daytime
Thailand