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Getting from Krabi to Railay Beach in Thailand is easy once you know which pier to use — and that’s where most of the confusion comes from.
Railay Beach has no road access, so the best route depends on whether you’re coming from Krabi Airport, Krabi Town, Ao Nam Mao, or Ao Nang, and whether you want to arrive at Railay East or West.
We traveled from Krabi Town to Railay East by longtail boat during high season, and later took the longtail between Railay and Ao Nang as a day trip.
In this guide, we’ll combine what we learned from both trips with the latest boat routes, prices, and schedules to help you choose the easiest option.
Krabi to Railay Beach: Quick Answer
| Starting point | Route Options | Arrival | Travel time | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ao Nang | Shared longtail boat | Railay West | 10–15 min | 100 THB/person |
| Krabi Airport | taxi / van to Ao Nam Mao + scheduled speed boat for the most predictable trip | Railay East | 30–40 min road + 10–15 min boat | Van from 160 THB/person or taxi from 550 THB/car + 150 THB/person boat |
| Krabi Airport – longtail option | taxi /van to Chao Fah + shared longtail for a longer traditional boat ride | Railay East | ~25 min road + ~45 min boat | Shared van from 200 THB/person + around 150 THB/person boat |
| Krabi Town | Direct longtail from Chao Fah | Railay East | ~45 min | Around 150 THB/person |
| Ao Nam Mao | Scheduled speedboat, shared longtail or private longtail | Railay East | Speedboat 10–15 min; shared longtail 15–20 min | Speedboat 150 THB one way; shared longtail ~100–150 THB/person; private longtail for 4 people 1,000 THB/boat |
Prices and boat information checked in August 2026.
How to Get from Krabi to Railay Beach
From Ao Nang to Railay Beach
From Ao Nang, you’ll need to take a shared longtail boat to Railay West, with the crossing taking around 10–15 minutes. We used this connection ourselves for a day trip between Railay and Ao Nang, and found the whole process straightforward.
Tickets are sold at the Ao Nang Pier (Google Maps location) and cost 100 THB per person one way or 200 THB return (return trip valid only until 6pm). You don’t need to book in advance.
The regular service runs roughly 8 AM–6 PM, but there is no fixed timetable. Boats leave once they’re full, which usually doesn’t take long during high season.
After around 6 PM, you can still reach Railay, but you’ll normally need to pay for the whole longtail boat, which is around 600 THB.
Boats arrive directly on Railay West Beach, so there is no pier. You’ll step into shallow water when getting on and off, which is worth knowing if you’re traveling with a suitcase or anything you don’t want to get wet.
If you’re visiting Railay for the day, our Phra Nang Beach guide covers one of the main places we’d recommend visiting once you arrive.
From Krabi Airport to Railay Beach
From Krabi Airport, you have two practical routes to Railay East: travel to Ao Nam Mao Pier or head to Chao Fah Pier in Krabi Town.
Ao Nam Mao is farther from the airport, with the road transfer taking around 30–40 minutes, but the boat journey from there is much shorter. The price for a shared van is from 160 THB, while a private taxi costs from 550 THB per car.
You can continue by scheduled speed boat, shared longtail, or private longtail. We’d choose the scheduled Railay Eco Tour speed boat for the most predictable journey — it leaves every 30 minutes from 8 AM to 6 PM, takes around 10–15 minutes, and costs 150 THB one way or 250 THB return per person.
If you want a traditional longtail ride, you can either take one from Ao Nam Mao or travel to Chao Fah Pier, which is only around 20–25 minutes from the airport. The Chao Fah longtail takes roughly 45 minutes to Railay East, compared with around 15–20 minutes from Ao Nam Mao, so it gives you a much longer ride. Shared longtails from both piers normally leave once enough passengers have gathered rather than following a fixed timetable.
For the quickest and most predictable journey, we’d choose Ao Nam Mao + scheduled speed boat. If the longtail experience itself is part of the appeal, Chao Fah is also a perfectly reasonable option, especially since the pier is closer to the airport.
If you’re arriving with luggage, kids, or simply want the road transfer sorted before you land, 12Go is useful for comparing airport-to-Railay options. Just check where the transfer drops you and whether the boat leg is included before booking.
👉 Compare Krabi Airport to Railay transfers on 12Go →
From Krabi Town to Railay Beach
From Krabi Town, we’d first try to take the direct longtail boat from Chao Fah Pier to Railay East. It costs around 150 THB per person and takes roughly 45 minutes, making it much cheaper and simpler than traveling to another pier first.
There is no fixed timetable. Boats leave once enough passengers have gathered, usually around eight people. We took this route ourselves during high season while staying close to Chao Fah Pier and didn’t have to wait long for the boat to fill. We traveled with our luggage and arrived directly at the floating pier on Railay East.
If you prefer a fixed departure time, you can instead travel to Ao Nam Mao Pier and continue with the scheduled speed boat to Railay East. This costs more and adds another transfer, so we’d mainly consider it if knowing your departure time matters.
Other boat options are available from Ao Nam Mao, which we compare below.
From Ao Nam Mao to Railay Beach
If you’re already near Ao Nam Mao, you have three boat options to Railay East: the scheduled speed boat, a shared public longtail, or a private longtail.
The scheduled speed boat is the most predictable option. Railay Eco Tour runs it every 30 minutes from 8 AM to 6 PM, with the crossing taking around 10–15 minutes.
Tickets cost 150 THB per person one way or 250 THB return and can be bought at the pier. We’d arrive around 15 minutes before departure.
For a more traditional option, shared longtail boats also operate from Ao Nam Mao. They cost around 100–150 THB per person and take roughly 15–20 minutes, but there’s no fixed timetable — the boat leaves once around 8–10 passengers have gathered. During high season, the wait is typically much shorter.
The shared options are much cheaper, so we wouldn’t pay for a private boat unless you’re traveling as a small group, want the boat to yourself, or need more control over your departure time. Private longtails for up to four passengers currently start from around 1,000 THB per boat on 12Go.
👉 Check a private Ao Nam Mao to Railay longtail on 12Go →
All three options arrive at Railay East, where you get off at the floating pier.
For such a short trip, we’d choose the scheduled speed boat for the fixed departure times, while the shared longtail makes more sense if you want the more local experience and don’t mind waiting for the boat to fill.
Getting to Railay After 6 PM
Getting to Railay is a bit more complicated after 6 PM, as most regular shared services stop around this time.
From Ao Nang, you may still be able to charter a private longtail to Railay West for around 600 THB per boat. However, we wouldn’t rely on finding one on arrival, as availability isn’t guaranteed.
From Ao Nam Mao, you can book a private longtail in advance on 12Go. The option we found was around 1,251 THB per boat for up to four passengers, with the same price whether one or four people travel. Prices and availability vary by departure time and date.
If you already know you’ll arrive after the regular services finish, this is one of the few cases where we’d actually book the boat ahead rather than relying on finding one after arrival.
👉 Check a private Ao Nam Mao to Railay longtail on 12Go →
Before booking everything separately, we’d also check whether your Railay hotel can arrange the complete transfer, especially if you’re arriving late.
Getting to Railay in the Rainy Season
You can still get to Railay during the rainy season, but boat services can be less predictable.
If the weather doesn’t look good, we’d choose Ao Nam Mao. The scheduled speed boat runs every 30 minutes from 8 AM to 6 PM throughout the year, and this route is generally more reliable than relying on a shared longtail to fill.
Shared longtails still operate, but during quieter months you may have to wait longer for enough passengers. If the sea gets rough, services can also be delayed or cancelled.
Even the scheduled speed boat can stop during severe weather, so we wouldn’t plan a very tight connection on a stormy day.
The main thing to watch isn’t rain itself, but strong wind and rough seas. If the weather looks bad, keep your plans flexible and check the current boat conditions before heading to the pier.
In low season, shared longtails can take longer to fill, so the wait can sometimes stretch to 30–60 minutes.
Getting to Railay With Luggage or a Stroller
If you’re traveling with large luggage or a stroller, we’d choose a route that arrives at Railay East rather than Railay West.
Boats from Ao Nam Mao and Chao Fah arrive at the floating pier on Railay East, which makes getting on and off much easier with bags. We traveled from Chao Fah with backpacks ourselves and had no problems with the arrival.
That said, longtail boats are still less convenient with large suitcases. Space is more limited, and you’ll usually need to lift your bags in and out of the boat.
If you’re coming from the airport with a stroller, or several large bags, we’d choose Ao Nam Mao + the scheduled speed boat instead. The scheduled speed boat is also easier with bigger bags, and the operator currently allows one large suitcase per passenger without an extra luggage fee.
The Ao Nang longtail is the least convenient option with bulky luggage because it arrives directly on Railay West Beach. There’s no pier, so you step into shallow water and then carry everything across the sand.
A backpack or smaller suitcase is definitely easier for Railay, but larger luggage is still manageable if you choose the right route.
If you’re planning to explore beyond the beaches, our East Railay Viewpoint and Princess Lagoon guide covers the steep trail, difficulty, and what to expect before attempting it.
These Are the Hotels in Railay We’d Choose
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Rayavadee – Our top pick iconic luxury resort surrounded by limestone cliffs and tropical gardens, with direct beach access and one of Thailand’s most unique dining settings inside a seaside cave.
👉 See prices & availability →
⭐️⭐️ Railay Phutawan Resort – Mid-range hillside stay with panoramic views, a beautiful infinity pool, and a peaceful location within walking distance of both beaches.
👉 See prices & availability →
⭐️ Rapala Rock Wood – Affordable jungle bungalows with hammocks, sea views, and a quiet, authentic vibe away from the crowds.
👉 See prices & availability →
Not sure which part of Krabi to stay in? Our honest guide to where to stay in Krabi covers the main areas and hand-picked hotels we’d actually book again.
FAQ
Yes. From Krabi Bus Terminal, you’ll first need to travel to either Chao Fah Pier in Krabi Town or Ao Nam Mao Pier, then continue by boat to Railay. Which one makes more sense depends on the transfer available when you arrive.
No. There is no entrance fee to visit Railay Beach. You only need to pay for your transport there.
Yes, there are also boat connections to Railay from destinations such as Phuket and Koh Lanta, although routes and frequencies can change with the season. If Railay is part of a longer Thailand island-hopping trip, you don’t necessarily need to return to Krabi first.
Children under 12 currently pay half price on the Railay Eco Tour shuttle, while children under 3 travel free.
Final Thoughts
Getting to Railay is quite simple once you know which pier makes the most sense for where you’re starting. Plan the route before you arrive, keep some flexibility around weather and late arrivals, and the journey itself should be straightforward.
If Railay is only one part of your trip, our guide to the best things to do in Krabi covers the other places and experiences we’d consider adding to your itinerary.