Vincent Vanderveken.com
  • Home
  • About
  • Philippines
    • All Balot Bohol Boracay Cebu city El Nido Malapascua Manila Palawan Panglao Port Barton San Fernando
      El Nido

      El Nido and the Bacuit Bay

      March 26, 2009

      Port Barton

      Port Barton and the Pagdanan Bay

      November 8, 2008

      Palawan

      Coco Loco island and resort

      October 9, 2008

      Malapascua

      Malapascua island

      July 11, 2008

      San Fernando

      San Fernando Crucifixions 2008

      May 31, 2008

      Panglao

      Panglao

      December 23, 2007

      Bohol

      Bohol

      November 25, 2007

      Cebu city

      Cebu City

      November 19, 2007

      Boracay

      Boracay island

      November 8, 2007

      Manila

      Arriving in Manila

      November 1, 2007

      Balot

      Eating Balot

      October 28, 2007

      Philippines

      Philippines travel itinerary

      October 28, 2007

      Balot

      Eating Balot

      October 28, 2007

      Bohol

      Bohol

      November 25, 2007

      Boracay

      Boracay island

      November 8, 2007

      Cebu city

      Cebu City

      November 19, 2007

      El Nido

      El Nido and the Bacuit Bay

      March 26, 2009

      Malapascua

      Malapascua island

      July 11, 2008

      Manila

      Arriving in Manila

      November 1, 2007

      Palawan

      El Nido and the Bacuit Bay

      March 26, 2009

      Palawan

      Coco Loco island and resort

      October 9, 2008

      Panglao

      Panglao

      December 23, 2007

      Port Barton

      Port Barton and the Pagdanan Bay

      November 8, 2008

      San Fernando

      San Fernando Crucifixions 2008

      May 31, 2008

  • Thailand
    • All Ao Nang Ko Phi Phi Ko Samet Koh Chang Koh Lanta Koh Lipe Koh Maak Koh Ngai Koh Phangan
      Ko Samet

      Revisiting Koh Samed: The easy island destination from…

      August 27, 2020

      Koh Kood

      Koh Kood: The ultimate island getaway

      June 9, 2020

      Koh Maak

      Koh Maak

      April 22, 2020

      Koh Phangan

      Exploring beaches on the Northern coast of Koh…

      April 5, 2020

      Koh Lipe

      Koh Lipe

      March 31, 2020

      Koh Ngai

      Beating the crowds in Koh Ngai

      March 27, 2020

      Koh Lanta

      Two days stop on Koh Lanta

      March 23, 2020

      Ao Nang

      Railay

      March 22, 2020

      Koh Chang

      Koh Chang on the eastern Gulf coast of…

      March 12, 2020

      Ko Samet

      Week-end in Ko Samet

      May 16, 2010

      Ko Phi Phi

      Koh Phi Phi Islands

      February 17, 2010

      Ao Nang

      Railay

      March 22, 2020

      Ko Phi Phi

      Koh Phi Phi Islands

      February 17, 2010

      Ko Samet

      Revisiting Koh Samed: The easy island destination from…

      August 27, 2020

      Ko Samet

      Week-end in Ko Samet

      May 16, 2010

      Koh Chang

      Koh Chang on the eastern Gulf coast of…

      March 12, 2020

      Koh Lanta

      Two days stop on Koh Lanta

      March 23, 2020

      Koh Lipe

      Koh Lipe

      March 31, 2020

      Koh Maak

      Koh Maak

      April 22, 2020

      Koh Ngai

      Beating the crowds in Koh Ngai

      March 27, 2020

      Koh Phangan

      Exploring beaches on the Northern coast of Koh…

      April 5, 2020

  • Vietnam
    • All Cua Dai beach Halong Bay Hanoi Ho Chi Minh City Hoi An
      Hanoi

      Hanging around Hanoi

      November 8, 2010

      Cua Dai beach

      Cua Dai beach

      August 29, 2010

      Hoi An

      The ancient town of Hoi An

      August 21, 2010

      Ho Chi Minh City

      Long week-end in Saigon

      June 7, 2010

      Halong Bay

      Day trip to Halong Bay

      May 24, 2010

      Cua Dai beach

      Cua Dai beach

      August 29, 2010

      Halong Bay

      Day trip to Halong Bay

      May 24, 2010

      Hanoi

      Hanging around Hanoi

      November 8, 2010

      Ho Chi Minh City

      Long week-end in Saigon

      June 7, 2010

      Hoi An

      The ancient town of Hoi An

      August 21, 2010

  • India
    • All Delhi Goa Varanasi
      Goa

      Palolem and the beaches of South Goa

      January 16, 2010

      Varanasi

      Varanasi

      December 8, 2009

      Delhi

      Old Delhi

      November 30, 2009

      Delhi

      Old Delhi

      November 30, 2009

      Goa

      Palolem and the beaches of South Goa

      January 16, 2010

      Varanasi

      Varanasi

      December 8, 2009

  • Indonesia
    • All Gili Islands
      Gili Islands

      Gili Islands

      March 17, 2020

      Gili Islands

      Gili Islands

      March 17, 2020

  • Cambodia
    • All Angkor Wat
      Angkor Wat

      Angkor Wat

      March 13, 2020

      Angkor Wat

      Angkor Wat

      March 13, 2020

  • hong kong
    • hong kong

      Cheung Chau Island

      January 20, 2009

      hong kong

      Arriving in Hong Kong

      April 30, 2008

  • Canary Islands
    • All Fuerteventura Lanzarote Tenerife
      Canary Islands

      Tenerife

      March 9, 2020

      Canary Islands

      Lanzarote

      March 8, 2020

      Canary Islands

      Fuerteventura

      March 8, 2020

      Fuerteventura

      Fuerteventura

      March 8, 2020

      Lanzarote

      Lanzarote

      March 8, 2020

      Tenerife

      Tenerife

      March 9, 2020

  • Home
  • About
  • Philippines
    • All Balot Bohol Boracay Cebu city El Nido Malapascua Manila Palawan Panglao Port Barton San Fernando
      El Nido

      El Nido and the Bacuit Bay

      March 26, 2009

      Port Barton

      Port Barton and the Pagdanan Bay

      November 8, 2008

      Palawan

      Coco Loco island and resort

      October 9, 2008

      Malapascua

      Malapascua island

      July 11, 2008

      San Fernando

      San Fernando Crucifixions 2008

      May 31, 2008

      Panglao

      Panglao

      December 23, 2007

      Bohol

      Bohol

      November 25, 2007

      Cebu city

      Cebu City

      November 19, 2007

      Boracay

      Boracay island

      November 8, 2007

      Manila

      Arriving in Manila

      November 1, 2007

      Balot

      Eating Balot

      October 28, 2007

      Philippines

      Philippines travel itinerary

      October 28, 2007

      Balot

      Eating Balot

      October 28, 2007

      Bohol

      Bohol

      November 25, 2007

      Boracay

      Boracay island

      November 8, 2007

      Cebu city

      Cebu City

      November 19, 2007

      El Nido

      El Nido and the Bacuit Bay

      March 26, 2009

      Malapascua

      Malapascua island

      July 11, 2008

      Manila

      Arriving in Manila

      November 1, 2007

      Palawan

      El Nido and the Bacuit Bay

      March 26, 2009

      Palawan

      Coco Loco island and resort

      October 9, 2008

      Panglao

      Panglao

      December 23, 2007

      Port Barton

      Port Barton and the Pagdanan Bay

      November 8, 2008

      San Fernando

      San Fernando Crucifixions 2008

      May 31, 2008

  • Thailand
    • All Ao Nang Ko Phi Phi Ko Samet Koh Chang Koh Lanta Koh Lipe Koh Maak Koh Ngai Koh Phangan
      Ko Samet

      Revisiting Koh Samed: The easy island destination from…

      August 27, 2020

      Koh Kood

      Koh Kood: The ultimate island getaway

      June 9, 2020

      Koh Maak

      Koh Maak

      April 22, 2020

      Koh Phangan

      Exploring beaches on the Northern coast of Koh…

      April 5, 2020

      Koh Lipe

      Koh Lipe

      March 31, 2020

      Koh Ngai

      Beating the crowds in Koh Ngai

      March 27, 2020

      Koh Lanta

      Two days stop on Koh Lanta

      March 23, 2020

      Ao Nang

      Railay

      March 22, 2020

      Koh Chang

      Koh Chang on the eastern Gulf coast of…

      March 12, 2020

      Ko Samet

      Week-end in Ko Samet

      May 16, 2010

      Ko Phi Phi

      Koh Phi Phi Islands

      February 17, 2010

      Ao Nang

      Railay

      March 22, 2020

      Ko Phi Phi

      Koh Phi Phi Islands

      February 17, 2010

      Ko Samet

      Revisiting Koh Samed: The easy island destination from…

      August 27, 2020

      Ko Samet

      Week-end in Ko Samet

      May 16, 2010

      Koh Chang

      Koh Chang on the eastern Gulf coast of…

      March 12, 2020

      Koh Lanta

      Two days stop on Koh Lanta

      March 23, 2020

      Koh Lipe

      Koh Lipe

      March 31, 2020

      Koh Maak

      Koh Maak

      April 22, 2020

      Koh Ngai

      Beating the crowds in Koh Ngai

      March 27, 2020

      Koh Phangan

      Exploring beaches on the Northern coast of Koh…

      April 5, 2020

  • Vietnam
    • All Cua Dai beach Halong Bay Hanoi Ho Chi Minh City Hoi An
      Hanoi

      Hanging around Hanoi

      November 8, 2010

      Cua Dai beach

      Cua Dai beach

      August 29, 2010

      Hoi An

      The ancient town of Hoi An

      August 21, 2010

      Ho Chi Minh City

      Long week-end in Saigon

      June 7, 2010

      Halong Bay

      Day trip to Halong Bay

      May 24, 2010

      Cua Dai beach

      Cua Dai beach

      August 29, 2010

      Halong Bay

      Day trip to Halong Bay

      May 24, 2010

      Hanoi

      Hanging around Hanoi

      November 8, 2010

      Ho Chi Minh City

      Long week-end in Saigon

      June 7, 2010

      Hoi An

      The ancient town of Hoi An

      August 21, 2010

  • India
    • All Delhi Goa Varanasi
      Goa

      Palolem and the beaches of South Goa

      January 16, 2010

      Varanasi

      Varanasi

      December 8, 2009

      Delhi

      Old Delhi

      November 30, 2009

      Delhi

      Old Delhi

      November 30, 2009

      Goa

      Palolem and the beaches of South Goa

      January 16, 2010

      Varanasi

      Varanasi

      December 8, 2009

  • Indonesia
    • All Gili Islands
      Gili Islands

      Gili Islands

      March 17, 2020

      Gili Islands

      Gili Islands

      March 17, 2020

  • Cambodia
    • All Angkor Wat
      Angkor Wat

      Angkor Wat

      March 13, 2020

      Angkor Wat

      Angkor Wat

      March 13, 2020

  • hong kong
    • hong kong

      Cheung Chau Island

      January 20, 2009

      hong kong

      Arriving in Hong Kong

      April 30, 2008

  • Canary Islands
    • All Fuerteventura Lanzarote Tenerife
      Canary Islands

      Tenerife

      March 9, 2020

      Canary Islands

      Lanzarote

      March 8, 2020

      Canary Islands

      Fuerteventura

      March 8, 2020

      Fuerteventura

      Fuerteventura

      March 8, 2020

      Lanzarote

      Lanzarote

      March 8, 2020

      Tenerife

      Tenerife

      March 9, 2020

Vincent Vanderveken.com

Take some time to see the world a bit before you leave it

Ao Nang

Railay

by Vincent March 22, 2020
by Vincent March 22, 2020 0 comment

the Railay Peninsula with its towering limestone cliffs surrounded by lush tropical jungle and postcard-worthy stretches of white, sandy beaches is one of Thailand’s most beautiful spots.

Arrivng by taxi boat to Railey west

Although no longer an insider tip among a few hippy backpackers two decades ago and an exponential increase in the number of Chinese tourists in the last few years, the entire scenery is so stunning that it is hard not to recommend at least a stopover, on anyone’s trip to the South of Thailand.

Lading in Railey West

In order to experience Railay at it’s best and without the hordes of tourists, I highly recommend basing yourself here at least for a day or two instead of Ao Nang since 90% of the people who come to visit, do so on day trips from neighboring Krabi or Phuket island.

Band playing in chill bars along Railey's walking street

The experience is so different between 5PM to around 10AM that In a way it feels like two completely different places. Everything suddenly becomes so peaceful and the whole place adopts a chilled hippy vibes, Reggae beats drifts out of laid-back bars and the unmistakable smells of marijuana, openly advertised in many of the places fills the air.


Things to do in Railay: Hiking your way up to the Railay East Viewpoint

Hiking up to the Railey viewpoint

Getting to the view point requires a 30 minutes moderately easy although sweaty hike up the mountain

Reaching the Railay viewpoint

Viewpoint offers an impressing view of the Railay peninsula all the way to Tonsai bay

Hiking back down from Railey viewpoint

The slippery hike back down

Railay West

The picture perfect beach with long golden stretch of beach engulfed by towering limestone cliffs on either side. This beach in most cases will be your landing point if you are arriving by long tail boat.

Taxi boats on Railey West

Long tail boats usually drop off day trippers right on Railay West at it’s center so it’s not the best area for swimming

Railay west in low season

The Eastern part of Railay West is probably your best bet for sunbathing or swimming on this beach

Thai pineapple fried rice on the beach

Eating at a beachfront restaurant some Thai pineapple fried rice and enjoying the view

Railey West beach in low season

Railay West beach in October in low season, less sunshine but cheaper prices a lot less people!

Tonsai Bay

Panorama of Tonsai beach

Lesser known than its neighboring Railey West beach and hidden being a cliff, Tonsai Beach also benefits from spectacular limestone cliffs and a beach but with only a small fraction of the tourists. Great place to escape especially in high season when the rest of the Peninsula gets overcrowded.

Majestic Limestone cliff of the Tonsai bay

Laid-back vibe of Tosai bay at low tide with it’s imposing limestone cliffs surrounded by lush jungle

Boat taxis await in Tonsai bay

Long tail boats sit idle, awaiting for customers to neighboring beaches

Tonsai Bay seen from viewpoint

Tonsai bay seen from it’s viewpoint at high tide on the western end is also very popular with rock climbers

Near empty Tonsai bay beachfront

Closer look at the Tonsai beachfront

Above the cliff leading to Tonsai Bay

At high tide, you can hike to Tonsai bay by following the path that goes above the small cliff from Railay West

Pathway at low tide around to Railay West

At low tide, all you need to do is wade your way around the base of the rock

Phra Nang Beach

The most stunning beach of the Railay peninsula hands-down, currently listed at #15 of the 25 best beaches of Asia according to TripAdvisor. Perfect mix of Beautiful soft sand, calm clear water, rugged limestone karts and tropical wildlife in the form of various types of monkeys roaming around or living in the trees just beyond the beach. Best enjoyed in the morning before the day tour crowds arrive at 10am and sunset when they all have left.

Phra Nang Beach at Sunset

Sunset along Phra Nang Beach

Phra Nang Beachfront

Phra Nang Beachfront after the departure of day-trippers

Monkeys on Phra Nang Beach

Many types of monkeys live on and around the the beach

Sunset on Phra Nang Beach

Last day trip boats along Phra Nang Beach

Phra Nang Princess Cave

Fertility shrine in small cave at the end of Phra Nang beach

Where to Stay in Railay

Railay Phutawan Resort

Panorama of pool in Railay Phutawan Resort

Perfect hideaway in the jungle away from the crowds, The views from the infinity pool and bar surrounded by the cliffs are simply beautiful. Great place to cool off and sit back cocktail in hand after a long day exploring the area.

Arriving at Phutawan Resort

Arriving at the resort after a 10-15 minutes walk from Railay West, expect to see lots of monkey on the road up or down

Pool at Railay Phutawan Resort

The view from the pool looking onto the sea and rock climbers going up the cliffs is pretty amazing

R&R in Railey

My lovely little Superior Bungalow wrapped by Lush tropical gardens

Inside my Superior Cottage at Railay Phutawan Resort

Well kept bedroom found inside inside the cottage

Pool and bar at   Railay Phutawan Resort

View of the Railay Phutawan Resort grounds

Surroundings of  Railay Phutawan Resort

Surroundings of the Railay Phutawan Resort

Ao Nangbeaches of thailandKrabiPhra Nang BeachRailay Phutawan ResortRailay ViewpointSoutheast AsiaThailandTonsai Bay
0 comment
0
FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Vincent

previous post
Gili Islands
next post
Two days stop on Koh Lanta

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Search this website

About Me

About Me

Vincent Vanderveken

Make sure to take some time to see the world a bit before you leave it

Recent Posts

  • Revisiting Koh Samed: The easy island destination from Bangkok

    August 27, 2020
  • Koh Kood: The ultimate island getaway

    June 9, 2020
  • Koh Maak

    April 22, 2020
  • Exploring beaches on the Northern coast of Koh Phangan

    April 5, 2020
  • Koh Lipe

    March 31, 2020
  • Beating the crowds in Koh Ngai

    March 27, 2020

Categories

  • Cambodia (1)
    • Angkor Wat (1)
  • Canary Islands (3)
    • Fuerteventura (1)
    • Lanzarote (1)
    • Tenerife (1)
  • Europe (3)
    • France (1)
      • Marseille (1)
    • Spain (2)
      • Madrid (1)
      • Sitges (1)
  • hong kong (2)
  • India (3)
    • Delhi (1)
    • Goa (1)
    • Varanasi (1)
  • Indonesia (1)
    • Gili Islands (1)
  • Koh Kood (1)
  • luggage (1)
  • Philippines (12)
    • Balot (1)
    • Bohol (1)
    • Boracay (1)
    • Cebu city (1)
    • El Nido (1)
    • Malapascua (1)
    • Manila (1)
    • Palawan (2)
    • Panglao (1)
    • Port Barton (1)
    • San Fernando (1)
  • Thailand (11)
    • Ao Nang (1)
    • Ko Phi Phi (1)
    • Ko Samet (2)
    • Koh Chang (1)
    • Koh Lanta (1)
    • Koh Lipe (1)
    • Koh Maak (1)
    • Koh Ngai (1)
    • Koh Phangan (1)
  • Uncategorized (2)
  • Vietnam (5)
    • Cua Dai beach (1)
    • Halong Bay (1)
    • Hanoi (1)
    • Ho Chi Minh City (1)
    • Hoi An (1)

Blogroll

  • Travelfish.org
  • My Luxury Resorts Guide of Phuket
  • Carmen Jaci
  • Nomadic Matt's Travel Blog
  • Nathalie Vanderveken
  • Travelblog.org
  • My Artsy stuff
  • nomad4ever
  • Jon is Travelling
  • Tezza's Beaches and Islands Blog
  • Goats on the Road
  • The Lost Passport
  • BrusselsPictures.com
  • Essaim Abeilles noires consultation

Archives

Instagram

No any image found. Please check it again or try with another instagram account.
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Flickr
  • Youtube
  • Reddit
  • 500px

©2007-2020 - All Right Reserved. Designed and Developed by Vincent Vanderveken


Back To Top