Railay is a seaside resort in Thailand, located in Krabi province.
Railay was my second destination in Thailand after Bangkok (read my post on Bangkok).
Get to Railay is fairly simple, but a little 'tiring: p
From Bangkok we flew to Krabi (less than 50 Euros per person, 1 hour flight) and a shuttle bus them that with just a few Euros, in half an hour or so, has brought us dall'ereoporto the resort of Ao Nang.
Ao Nang we got off the coach park near the pier and we immediately made the ticket for the ferry to Railay.
So far so simple you say, just after the ticket they give it up in a kind of restaurant where we waited well one hour to be able to embark in the boat (cheap taxi but it is little more than a raft: p).
I kept the restaurant to get worried because I did not understand where we embarked. I did not see any pier ... and it was necessary to get on the boat to walk on the beach and get in the water almost up to his waist ... all very nice since already it was pouring and we had to bring in a suitcase shoulder of about 20kg each (next year I buy me a travel backpack and good night!).
So, down in a hurry to take off shoes and socks and to take suitcase and beam hand and embark ...
But there's more, because of course the arrival was on the beach, or better, in the water!
So we land hard, with the suitcase that at times falls to me in the water with all the clothes and find ourselves in the middle of a beach without any shelter, on the sand and in the rain.
And now the fun part: this is Railay West, while we are staying in Railay East ... and down muddy roads crossing with the luggage :-)
So we get that we are all filthy and tired ... maybe you could better organize the trip, arrive directly on the right side, but I'm around the lonely planet, my guidelines ... we say that a little 'pity of information .
Anyway, here we are at our hotel, the Anyavee Railay Resort (180 euro for 5 nights, a bit 'expensive compared to the average of the trip but the choice of a more spartan resort in the jungle I was rejected :-)) .
Among other things, on the east side of Railay (cheaper than west) you can not swim because there is not a real beach, the beautiful beaches are to the west and south, reached by a short walk.
The karst landscapes Railay are the best in the area and Phra Nang Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches of Thailand ... weather permitting: p
A Railay you can perform various activities, from kayaking to rock climbing, but we opted just to relax by the sea and excursions.
Our first trip we made to the Phi Phi Islands (package that included snorkeling and visiting other islands) to see the famous Maya Bay, which is the beach made famous by the film The Beach with Leonardo Di Caprio.
But what the tour operators do not tell you, it is that Maya Bay is the most popular destination in all of Thailand, and that pretty much any time of the day is full of tourists and boats ... so goodbye magical atmosphere!
I knew it, but the alternative was to take a private boat to go there early in the morning and since it already with gita economy cost more than 40 Euros per person ... so crowded better than nothing: p
So ultimately it was not worth very much worth it, considering that the weather was not the best (yes, I also knew that in August it rains in Thailand, especially in that area), but it was a bit 'like going to Rome and not see the Colosseum ... when you come to Italy the first thing they ask is: "you saw the Di Caprio beach?" :-)
Another small note: in the film the mountains completely close the bay, forming a perfect lagoon, while in reality there is an opening ... so double scam and disappointment (and I knew this already): the dream beach of the film The beach does not exist: \
A Railay I also discovered the presence of a group of really nice monkeys.
If I had known to be able to see so many monkeys also Railay freedom, I think I would have skipped the trip to Lopburi :)
Having read guide on the presence of a lagoon and a vantage point, I decided to take a couple of hours of a non-rainy afternoon to visit both attractions.
But the guide was written "challenging hike" not "climbing with rope" :-)
It was terrible!
Until viewpoint ok, tiring but doable.
The lagoon on the other hand, was a heroic.
In the first place I was not dressed appropriately, in the sense that I was dressed, while all the others were in costume ... was to get dirty in the mud to the core.
Then it had rained the day before and was still all a slippery mush ... In short, I reluctantly had to give up (a little 'fear, a bit' not to want me to soil) just 10 meters from the goal ... and for one like me who never leaves things half was a blow: /
According to Thailand, I could make me miss an elephant ride?
Of course not, so on, another round organized to do the elephant trekking: a ferry and a minvan and in just over an hour are riding a majestic elephant (cost: approximately 20 Euros each).
The tour was not nothing to it, it is certainly not the northern Thai jungle, but pick up on those big beasts is still a great emotion and I think it's worth it ... but watch where you drive!
Coming back from that tour and being the last day on Railay, I am made to take by remorse at not having seen one of the most photographed beaches of Thailand, as well as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world (according to rankings on the internet): Poda Island ... or Koh Poda for friends.
As usual: no sun, no beautiful colors!
The tour included a total of 7 islands and the view of the plankton, but unfortunately it was not the right season we lost the splendor of lights that produce these little creatures in the sea at other times of the year.
Among the views islands in this mini tour there was a very special chicken named island, because of its shape.
Well, this was the last stop, the trip to Railay is over and the next day it's off to Koh Phangan!
What about Railay?
A really nice place, wonderful sea and postcard landscapes.
The only sore point is that it is a place very suitable for snorkeling, barring some point reached by the various boat trips.
For me, the ideal is: a beach with fine white sand, clear blue sea and a seabed scream accessible with a few fin strokes ... and I've seen such a thing only in the Maldives (read my post on the Maldives) ... pity only that the costs of the two trips are not even remotely comparable: p
Railay is still more expensive than many other places in Thailand, probably because of its unique location.
Go out of season has been good for the fact that I have not found too many people and I paid a little 'less, but also bad because the rain and clouds have often ruined my photographs: p
Below the video playlist that I shot in Railay:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEr1UxMWSts&list=PLCBrso9WwkFYfXwe6zuYEEqQVY8hskVzW
I conclude with the photos link made to the surface.