The Rai Lei (Railay) area has three bigger beaches and one smaller beach to choose from. East Rai Lei (above) is where all the boats come in from Krabi. It has the cheapest accommodations, but the beach there isn’t really swimmable since it’s a bit rocky and doesn’t get a nice current that cleans it out, so the water can be fairly murky.

West Rai Lei (above) has a very nice beach, so is fairly resorty, especially on the northern end. It also seems to be the place to bring the family. This beach was fairly busy, but, then again, we were there at the peak season, so that is to be expected. We would often go to this beach to spend the day because the water was cleaner, it had a nice sandy bottom, the beach was more wide open, the sand was soft and white, and there was always lots to do there (Frisbee, volleyball, take a boat to other islands.

Prah Nang beach (above with Morgs and Nate) is on the northern-most tip of the piece of land jutting out into the tropical blue waters, creating these lovely beaches. This beach is pretty much just a day use beach since the only accommodation on this beach is a super ritzy place that costs upward of $500 or more a night. This beach is cool because it has one of the huge pillars of stalactite- dripping rock that this area is famous for just 50 yards off the coast. At the eastern end of the beach is also the famous Prah Nang cave. One day, I went on an adventure and swam from Rai Lei West, around the point to Prah Nang Beach. It was a long swim, and on the way I circled the aforementioned pillar of rock to see some cool caves and fish with my goggles. When I got to the beach I was pretty bushed and happy to see that 3 of the longtail boats sidled up to the shore were actually kitchens and offered delicious eats for the cheapest I’d seen. I quick ordered a plate o’ chicken phad Thai, a banana, and an orange Fanta all for the price of about $1.50. After the swim, I had never tasted food so scrumptious. I checked out Prah Nang Cave and also a troop of the local Macuaques that come down from the forest every evening and beg for food from the kitchens. I walked back to West Prah Nang to meet up with E, just as some rain clouds were closing in. As we started our brief hike up over the ridge back to our beach, Tonsai, (see below), we were caught in a small monsoon and hunkered down in the forest till the most severe time had passed. As we reached our beach, we couldn’t resist the urge to go swimming in the rain. It was a really neat effect because the top 2-3 inches of water was cooler, while the water below that was its usual warm 78 degrees or so. It was fun.

Tonsai Beach (above) is the stretch that we decided to call home for our time in Rai Lei. Immediately upon arriving you feel the place is relaxed and laid back. I guess you could call Tonsai more of a hippy beach, with lots of Bob Marley posters and reggae playing from most of the bars. Tonsai beach is also a rock climbing mecca and it didn’t disappoint- there were climbers there from around the world, esp at that time of year. Everyone is fit and healthy, and that always makes people in better spirits and also ready to party at the end of the day. You can’t tell by this picture, but in the forest there in front of the boats are 5-6 different bungalow resorts. Even with it being the peak season, Erin, Morgan, Nate and I were able to score some bungalows without reservations. They were basic, with cold showers, but at a price of about $20 a night during peak season, we jumped at the chance to stay there. Click on the picture to check out the three climbers on the rock wall. Tonsai! Tonasi!