Railay, Krabi

Railay is a peninsula on the Andaman coast, cut off from the mainland by limestone cliffs, so there is no road in and you arrive by longtail boat. Boats leave from Ao Nang beach and from near Krabi Town. It is car-free and scenic, and popular with climbers.

Quiet, barefoot and beachy. Reggae and beach bars light up after sunset, with fire shows and a relaxed backpacker crowd. There is no red-light scene, and the evening ends early. It is a place for a sunset beer, not for a punting night.

No. Railay lists no red-light hub, gogo bars, beer bars, massage shops or clubs. The listings are 12 bars and 1 attraction. If you want bar-girl venues, Ao Nang's beer bars are the nearest, and Phuket's Bangla Road is much bigger.

Mostly bars. Of 13 places, 12 are bars and 1 is an attraction. The bars include Avatar Bristobar, Bamboo Bar, Freedom Bar, Joy Beach Bar and Tew Lay Bar, and there are Railay East bars as well. It is a small, simple list.

Railay is quieter, car-free and reached only by boat, with 13 listings against Ao Nang's 43. Ao Nang has more bars, massage shops and markets, plus a road network. Stay in Railay for scenery and silence, and in Ao Nang for a night out.

Stay in Railay if you want the cliffs and quiet, and be ready to carry your bag from the boat. A sunset beer at a beach bar is the typical start. Check the guest policy of any resort, as the options are limited.

By longtail boat from Ao Nang beach or near Krabi Town. Boats wait until they fill, and services stop in the evening and in rough weather, so check the last boat time. On the peninsula you walk, since there are no cars.

The last boat and the tide. If you go over from Ao Nang for the evening, confirm the return boat before you sit down for a drink. Paths between the beaches are dark at night, so carry a torch, and swim only when conditions are safe.