| For an overview of Railay's beaches, please see my | | | | If the above trek has whetted your appetite, maybe |
| other article on this site | | | | you’d like to check out the Princess Lagoon too. |
| Climbing | | | | On the right hand side of the path from Phra Nang to |
| Railay is arguably the best bolted winter rock climbing | | | | East Railay is a huge karst. Like the Thaiwand Wall, |
| area in the world, with over seven hundred bolted | | | | this one is also hollow. Not hollow from side to side, |
| routes up limestone faces with breathtaking views | | | | like the Thaiwand wall, but from a large hole in the |
| over the ocean. There are only a few routes suitable | | | | top down, inside, to a sea-level lagoon. Using fixed |
| for beginners, which get very crowded during the | | | | ropes you scramble up its slippery and muddy side |
| high season, so beginners are advised to take their | | | | and then, after following the right-hand of two trails, |
| introductory course on Koh Phi Phi, which has a | | | | down into its middle, you come to a hidden glen |
| greater number of easy routes. | | | | where not a sound disturbs a silence so deep you |
| Kayaking | | | | can hear a leaf fall. Descend further and you |
| The kayaking around the peninsula at Railay affords a | | | | eventually reach the eerie lagoon. One of |
| less strenuous way than climbing to get up close to | | | | Thailand’s most special places, the lagoon is |
| the sensational scenery. Several of the limestone | | | | breathtakingly beautiful, particularly when lit from |
| islets off Phra Nang beach have sea caves eroded | | | | below by turquoise light streaming in from an |
| into their bases, including a few large enough to | | | | underwater window to the karst’s exterior. Try |
| beach a kayak in. Paddling into caves and through | | | | not to step in, though, as the bottomless muck has |
| subterranean passages is particularly interesting, but | | | | quite an appetite for trekkers' footwear: you really |
| watch out for low, jagged ceilings. For those with | | | | don’t want to have to climb back up barefoot. |
| more ambition, a short open-water crossing (about | | | | The last ten metres down to the lagoon require |
| one hour of steady, heavy paddling) leads to the | | | | ropes when muddy and are quite dangerous even |
| island of Koh Poda, which has beautiful and relatively | | | | when dry. On the way out, trek back up to the point |
| isolated beaches, plus some decent snorkeling. A | | | | where the trails divided earlier and you took the |
| bottle of water, a hat and plenty of sun protection | | | | right-hand trail. Take the other trail and after five |
| are essential! | | | | minutes you will emerge at the “Low |
| Trekking | | | | Viewpoint”, which isn’t so low and affords |
| Superlatives fail when attempting to describe Railay, | | | | lovely views over the East beach. |
| when seen from above. A fact that most visitors | | | | It is possible to climb right to the topmost point of |
| never become aware of is that you don’t need | | | | the hollow karst, called the “High Viewpoint”, |
| to be a rock climber to get fairly high above the | | | | but you need a guide and a rope. This is technically a |
| beaches, the only gear you need is a stout pair of | | | | rock climb as it requires a rope to ensure safety, but |
| sandals. | | | | it is too easy a route to really qualify as rock climbing. |
| The easiest trek is to go to Phra Nang beach, then | | | | This route is so easy it is virtually a staircase made |
| walk all the way to its northern end. The enormous | | | | of stone, and can be ascended by anyone fit enough |
| rock pillar in front of you and separating you from | | | | to make it up the muddy scramble necessary to get |
| West Railay beach is called the Thaiwand Wall, and is | | | | to its base. From the top of this route you walk |
| hollow. You can trek right through it to the West | | | | across dagger rock to the topmost point on the |
| Railay side. All you have to do is follow the other | | | | karst where, underneath you, is spread out the |
| people who will be going the same way and you will | | | | entire Railay peninsula, in a majestic panorama of |
| eventually, after climbing fixed ladders and holding on | | | | peaks, palms and beaches. This is one of the best |
| to fixed ropes, emerge in a cave high above West | | | | and most easily accessible views of Railay. Almost |
| Railay Beach. You may recognise the view, as it | | | | anyone can get to see it but few ever do, as the |
| appears in thousands of posters all over Thailand | | | | local guides don’t like the muddy scramble to its |
| promoting Krabi province. Just don’t forget to | | | | base so don’t encourage clients to ascend it. |
| take two torches with you, as the hollow insides of | | | | Island-Hopping and Snorkelling |
| the Thaiwand Wall are completely pitch black. Those | | | | Railay is a good place from which to take an |
| terrified of bats should stay away. After retreating | | | | island-hopping and snorkeling trip to the lovely and |
| back to Phra Nang beach the way you came, you will | | | | strangely-shaped nearby islands. Deep-pocketed |
| want to jump straight in the water to wash off all | | | | Rayavadee guests can charter the resort’s |
| the mud with which you will by this stage be | | | | Chinese junk. Koh Tup vies in beauty with Koh Poda - |
| covered. From the beach, up to the cave and then | | | | don’t forget your sun-block. |
| back down again takes less than an hour. | | | | |
