How to Get to Railay Beach: Boats, Fares & Last Ferry

Featured image: Caitriana Nicholson from 北京 ~ Beijing, 中国 ~ China, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Quick answer: the fastest way to Railay

Cliffs and sea cut Railay off from the mainland, so no car, bus or taxi reaches it. Fastest is a longtail boat from Ao Nang beach. Boats cross in about 10–15 minutes and leave once they fill, reportedly with 8–10 passengers. Fares are typically ฿100–150 one way or ฿200 return. Confirm the price at the ticket counter before you board.

How to get to Railay: which route fits you

Fares below are reported ranges, not fixed tariffs. Piers, operators, agent mark-ups and evening surcharges all change what you pay. Pick Ao Nang for the shortest crossing. Pick Krabi Town or Ao Nammao if you are already there or watching your budget.

From Ao Nang beach (most common)

Ticket offices stand at either end of Ao Nang beach. Buy a ticket there and wait on the sand. Crossing takes about 10–15 minutes. Reported fares run ฿100–150 one way and ฿200 return. One source reports ฿150 one way after 6:30 pm. Pier hours are reported as 8:00–18:00. Boats leave when full, so a quiet hour can mean a wait. This route lands at Railay West. You wade in at about knee height because there is no pier. Pay in cash and confirm the fare first.

From Krabi Town (Klong Jilad Pier)

Klong Jilad Pier is Krabi's main pier. From the town center it is reported at under ten minutes to reach. The boat takes about 25–30 minutes to Railay East. Reported fares run ฿200–250. Songthaews to the pier reportedly come about every 20 minutes. Finding one with room for luggage can be hard. Travel agents along the riverside in Krabi Town arrange hotel pickup plus the boat. That is the most convenient option and costs more, reportedly ฿250 one way. From Railay East, the walk across to Railay West takes about 2–3 minutes.

From Ao Nammao Pier

Ao Nammao is the cheaper alternative. Reported costs are ฿60 for a songthaew to the pier and ฿80 for the boat. That totals ฿140 before any mark-up. Boats from here reportedly land at Railay East. Check that boats are running that day and ask the return time before you pay. The last boat back to Ao Nammao is reported at 5 pm.

From Krabi Airport, Phuket and Bangkok

From the airport, Ao Nang is about 20 minutes by car, then you take the boat. Our guide to the airport leg to Ao Nang covers taxis and songthaews. For terminal basics, see these airport arrival details. Flight information is also listed by Airports of Thailand. From Phuket, Ao Nang is about 3 hours away by road. The Phuket transfer options compare buses and minivans. From Bangkok, an overnight bus reportedly leaves around 5–6 pm and arrives around 8–9 am, about 15 hours in all. Read the Bangkok leg for flights and buses. For the wider picture, see broader routes into Krabi. Verify all journey times before you book.

Private boat vs shared longtail

A private boat is reported at ฿900–1,200. Shared boats from Krabi Town cost ฿200–250 per person. At those fares, a private boat breaks even at roughly four to six people. Groups save money and leave when they choose. Late arrivals and travelers with heavy bags also benefit. Solo travelers and couples should stay with the shared boat.

Return trip and last-boat planning

The last boat from Railay East to Klong Jilad and Ao Nammao is reported at about 5 pm. Sources also give an Ao Nang pier closing time of 18:00 and a higher fare after 6:30 pm. Because these figures conflict, treat 5 pm as the safe limit. Ask at the ticket counter for the current cutoff.

• Do not leave the return to the last minute. A missed boat can mean paying for a Railay bed.
• Do not count on card payment. Fares are reported as cash only, so verify this.
• Do not count on a cash machine. One source reports no ATMs on Railay, so verify this and bring enough baht.
• Do not pack a rolling suitcase. Soft sand and a wet landing punish wheels.

Wet landing, luggage and what to bring

Boats pull up onto the sand rather than to a dock. Expect wet feet and wet knees. Wheelchairs and heavy suitcases are a poor fit for this landing. Pack light and keep valuables above waist height.

• A backpack or soft bag instead of a rolling suitcase
• A dry bag or waterproof pouch for phone, camera and laptop
• Sandals you can wade in
• Enough cash for the return fare, food and snacks

Day trip or overnight? East vs West

Stay overnight for sunset and no time pressure. Railay West is reported as the better side for watching the sun go down. Choose a day trip if your Krabi schedule is tight, and plan around the 5 pm last boat. The landing side matters for hotels. Ao Nang boats land at Railay West. Krabi Town and Ao Nammao boats reportedly land at Railay East. The two sides are 2–3 minutes apart on foot, so heavy bags favor a hotel near your landing. November–April is the drier season. May–October is the reported monsoon period, when boats can be disrupted. Check current conditions with local operators before you go.