Railay Beach vs Ao Nang: Which One Is Better for You?

For anyone who’s visiting Krabi in Southern Thailand, the same question always arises: Where should I base myself, Railay Beach vs Ao Nang? I had the same question and while both areas of Krabi are good options to stay, there are some differences to consider, such as: location & accessibility, activities, beaches, accommodation and dining. We will discuss pros & cons for both, so you can make an informed decision and ultimately decide which one is better for you.

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Location & Accessibility: Railay Beach vs Ao Nang

Once you arrive at Krabi, and especially if you’re landing at Krabi Airport, you’d have to get a transfer to both Railay Beach and Ao Nang because they’re not close to the city centre of Krabi Town nor are they near the airport. Let’s see how you can reach both and how accessible each one is.

Railay Beach

Okay, so here’s the trick with Railay Beach. While it’s such a paradise on Earth, it is also because it is not easily accessible at all. It’s also not a nightmare to get there, but here’s how.

Basically, in order to reach Railay Beach, you have to take a Grab (Southeast Asian Uber) or book a private transfer from Krabi Airport to Ao Nang.

Once you get to Ao Nang, you need to head to its pier and take a long-tail boat to Railay Beach. This is the only way to reach Railay Beach from Krabi (or Ao Nang for that matter). The boats go every 15 min and the whole journey takes 20 min one way.

💡Please bear in mind that the last long-tail boat leaves at 6 pm, so if you’re arriving to Krabi later than that, you would need to book a stay in Ao Nang!

📖 Check my How to Get to Railay Beach from Ao Nang by Long-Tail Boat blog post for more detailed guide.

Ao Nang

Ao Nang is about 45 min drive from Krabi Airport (depending on the traffic) and contrary to Railay Beach, it is very accessible to get there. Not only because of its location, but also because it is the most popular and touristy area in Krabi, so there are always taxis that are heading that way.

Just take a Grab or book a private transfer from Krabi Airport to your hotel in Ao Nang.

Winner

Because of its better location and accessibility, Ao Nang is the winner here. If the location is what matters most to you, then there’s no thinking twice here.

📖 Going to Krabi? Read my The Perfect 4 Days Krabi Itinerary blog post.

📖 Check my 43 Unique Things to do in Thailand for Any Kind of Traveller blog post.

Activities and Attractions: Railay Beach vs Ao Nang

Let’s see what are some of the top things to do in both Railay Beach and Ao Nang.

Railay Beach

Railay Beach is divided into 3 parts: the west part that is surrounded by limestone cliffs, the east part is popular for rock climbing and the third part is Phra Nang Cave Beach where you’ll also find a famous Princess Cave full of phallic-shaped offerings.

So some of the best things to do in Railay Beach are exploring and enjoying its beaches, snorkelling, rock climbing and exploring caves and beautiful nature surrounding it. You can also do island hopping with a long-tail boat, but this cannot be booked through reputable platforms because all these organised day tours go from Ao Nang. Obviously, if you don’t mind booking some activity on the spot and prefer being alone, then this definitely wouldn’t be a problem for you.

Ao Nang

Ao Nang is the heartbeat of Krabi. There you’d be able to enjoy beach bars, explore night market and go on many organised guided tours.

✅ CHECK GUIDED TOURS FROM AO NANG

The main con of Ao Nang is that its beach is not beautiful at all nor does it have any shade, which makes it not enjoyable at all.

Winner

Because you can do island hopping from both locations, my vote goes to Railay Beach because there are many other day activities you can do there besides island hopping. Ao Nang gets lively in the evening, but during the day you really need to head out somewhere else (islands, elephant sanctuaries, temples, Railay Beach).

📖 Planning your trip to Thailand? Then check my Thailand 2-Week Itinerary: A Perfect Guide for Your First Time in Thailand blog post.

Beaches and Scenery: Railay Beach vs Ao Nang

I think we touch-based on this already, but let’s explain in more detail.

Railay Beach

Undoubtedly, Railay Beach is the most beautiful beach you’d find in Krabi. Period.

The water is incredibly clear and turquoise blue with gorgeous white soft sand. There’s a lot of natural shade too which is amazing. Just bring a beach towel and leave it wherever you like.

Beside beaches, Railay Beach doesn’t lack other beautiful scenery: limestone cliffs, caves and mangrove forests.

Ao Nang

Ao Nang is more developed in infrastructure and therefore it lost the untouched natural beauty that Railay Beach has. It is still surrounded by gorgeous limestone cliffs and there’s a lot of greenery everywhere you look. Some resorts even have a natural habitat for endemic species as dusky leaf monkeys.

However, the Ao Nang Beach as already mentioned was a big disappointment to me. The water is not clear nor turquoise and there’s absolutely no shade at all. I’m a person who would always choose beach over pool, but after 20-ish minutes at Ao Nang, I went back to my hotel because it was not enjoyable at all to me. Sunsets at the beach are pretty amazing though.

Winner

Needless to say, the obvious winner here is Railay Beach. It’s truly a must-visit in Krabi even if you’re not staying there!

Accommodations Options: Railay Beach vs Ao Nang

Let’s see now which one actually has better accommodations options.

Railay Beach

You can find different kinds of accommodations in Railay Beach: from budget bungalows to luxury resorts. However, the number of resorts is lower than in Ao Nang and so if you have a particular accommodation on your mind, you need to book it in advance, especially in peak season.

All resorts in Railay Beach offer serenity and peace in the evenings because only locals and hotel-guests are there. Which can be limiting in dining options because you’re stuck at Railay Beach.

🫶 My recommendation for Railay Beach is Railay Bay Resort & Spa.

Ao Nang

Similarly to Railay Beach, you can find different kinds of accommodation in Ao Nang too, both budget and luxury. However, there are many more options in Ao Nang. Also, some of the best resorts are there.

🫶 My personal recommendation is Pakasai Resort, a gorgeous eco-resort with endemic dusky leaf monkeys that climb the trees freely.

Winner

Because of more options in Ao Nang and for more affordable prices, my vote goes to Ao Nang.

📖 Interested in staying at an eco-resort? Check my 10 Best Eco-Friendly Resorts in Krabi for a Sustainable Stay You’ll Love blog post.

Dining and Nightlife: Railay Beach vs Ao Nang

And lastly, let’s see how Railay Beach and Ao Nang compare in terms of dining and nightlife.

Railay Beach

As mentioned in the chapter above, Railay Beach really comes to quiet post 6 pm when the last long-tail boats leave.

Most restaurants and bars are a part of resorts, which most likely means you won’t leave its premises, but would rather enjoy the sunset at the beach bar or restaurant and enjoy a peaceful evening.

Ao Nang

Contrary to Railay Beach, Ao Nang is bustling with night markets, restaurants and bars. While Ao Nang (and Krabi in general) is generally not a party place like Phuket (which was the main reason why I choose to visit Krabi instead of Phuket), you can still enjoy the nightlife in whatever way you want.

Winner

Because there are more diverse options in Ao Nang for dining and nightlife, my vote goes to it.

Final Conclusion: Railay Beach vs Ao Nang

So, what is better for you then: Railay Beach vs Ao Nang?

Based on my rankings, Ao Nang won with 3/5 because of its location & accessibility, accommodation options and more diverse dining & nightlife options.

Railay Beach surely has better beaches and scenery and there are more interesting things to do there in general.

So, if you’re coming to Krabi to enjoy its beaches, do some fun nature activities, do island hopping and you actually like more peaceful environments, then Railay Beach is surely a better choice for you.

If location & accessibility is something that matters a lot to you and you’ve come to Krabi to do all the things above, but prefer being in a more lively location, then Ao Nang is better for you.

So, tell me, what is your final choice then?

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