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| Home » Thailand » Travel Guide »
Krabi » Rai Leh |
| DESTINATION THAILAND |
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RAI LEH
GUIDE |
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 ATRACTIONS IN
KRABI |
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| HIGHLIGHTS IN
KRABI |
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| QUICK GUIDANCE |
| The breathtaking landscapes, beautiful coastlines, cultural delights and historical significance, make Thailand an enjoyable stop in Asia travel map. To help you plan a trip in Rai Leh - Thailand, we provide the useful guide of hotel options, package tours, transport, attractions, shopping and entertainment. You just click the sections below for helpful information. |
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RAI LEH
OVERVIEW |
| Rai Led Beach is one of the most stunning locations in southern Thailand. Formed by a deer's neck of sand that connects the mainland to a spectacular cluster of limestone outcrops, it's a place of breathtaking beauty despite the rapid development that's taken place. This is a popular spot for rock-climbers, sun hedonists and water babies. The area has something for everyone from kids to grandmas: take your pick from diving and snorkeling to climbing and beach volleyball. In the evening, regular parties keep the barflies entertained, while others can relax in one of a reasonable selection of restaurants. There even an increasingly popular full moon party here, though not as huge as the huge event on Haad Rin, Ko Pha Ngan.
Krabi is the leaping off point for the Rai Leh beaches. You can reach the eastern beach by longtail direct from Krabi, or, you can take a songtheaw from Krabi to Ao Nang from where you can catch a longtail for the short twenty minute longtail trip to the western beach.
East Rai Leh Bay is home to much of the budget accommodation and is where the boats from Krabi arrive. The beach here is mangroves, or what's left of them, and is not suitable for swimming, but is lined with restaurants and receptions for guesthouses which are up the rise behind the beach. Despite the lack of a real beach, the atmosphere on this side of the island is unlike anything else in Thailand -- a bit like a Louisiana bayou suddenly showed up and planted itself on the Andaman Coast.
Phra Nang Bay is the most beautiful beach in the area and has been taken over by a luxury resort. The hotel originally blocked off public access to the beach, but actions by local activists lobbied for an access trail which the hotel grudgingly opened, perhaps after the activists unearthed details of some dodgy land deals. Politics aside, the beach is lovely, and although it gets crowded in season, it's still well worth the walk.
West Rai Led Bay is the most popular beach in the area, lined with mid-range resorts, a couple of restaurants and around 74 million longtails, whose mostly un-muffled engines destroy what should be a serene paradise. They tend to begin arriving by 08:00 and continue non-stop till dusk. If there was ever a bit of transport in Thailand that required a little more regulation this would be it, as the boats often arrive with only 2-3 people on board. A boat every half hour would greatly help to reduce the racket and increase yields for boatmen, but unfortunately no action appears to be in earshot, so if you want to stay on this beach, grin and bear it. The swimming here is good but a little shallow.
Tonsai Bay is at once off-the-beaten track and a popular destination for the right crowd. It's really one of the most unusual beach destinations available in the area. For one thing, it's attractive mostly for the world-class climbing opportunities, and the water is an after thought. For another, it still take a bit of effort to make your way here, and once you're here it takes an effort to get off. The crowd here is young, but unlike Ko Phi Phi with it's beach of the same name, the vibe here is mellow, introspective, and slow-paced. But there's more to it than that. Let's put it this way, two popular bars here are called Chill Out and Stoners. The beach is not as nice as West Rai Leh, but is still very pleasant. There tend to be more parties on this beach than on Rai Leh west.
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RAI LEH TRAVEL TIPS |
*Climate
Due to the influence of the tropical monsoon, there are only two seasons in Krabi; the hot season from January to April and the rainy season from May to December. Temperatures range between 17oC and 37oC.
Nearby Attractions
Rai Leh is considered to be all of the peninsula, which has four primary areas including Phra Nang which is a fine white sand beach, on the southern tip of the peninsula, Rai Leh East which is the mangrove side of the peninsula, used by long-tails to/from Krabi , Rai Leh West which is a fine beach of white sand and shallow water, where most long-tails arrive from Ao Nang , Ton Sai which is a cove around the corner from Rai Ley West where rockclimbers and backpackers hang out in cheap accommodation and practice climbing
This is around a 5-10 minute walk between any of these landmarks. The village itself is a pedestrian's dream, as there are no cars, and the uneven bumpy walkways make even bicycles impractical
*Climbing Activites
Rai Leh is perhaps the best winter sport rock climbing area in the world, with over a thousand bolted routes up limestone faces with breathtaking views over the ocean. If you are an avid rock climber, chances are you already know about this place and the spectacular cliffs are the reason you are here.
Climbing is graded on the French scale, most is steep and challenging with only limited possibilities for beginners. Due to the corrosive nature of the seaside location, the steel bolts may be of questionable integrity, bolt failure is not uncommon here, and threads (rope tied through holes in the rock) may be of questionable integrity as well. Overall the rock quality is superb; however, like everywhere else, you will find the occasional loose section including the famed Rai Leh stalactites.
Required climbing gear: Rai Leh and around is all sport climbing. Beyond a 60 metre (200 foot) rope, sixteen quickdraws, your harness, shoes and a lot of chalk, you won't need much else. Anything you forget or don't have can be rented at the climbing shops.
*Kayaking Activities
The kayaking around the peninsula at Rai Leh affords a great alternative to climbing and a stunning view of the area. Several of the limestone islets off Phra Nang beach have sea caves eroded into their bases, including a few large enough to offer opportunities to beach the kayaks and explore. Paddling into caves and through subterranean passages is particularly interesting, but watch out for low, jagged ceilings. For those with more ambition, a short open-water crossing (about one hour of steady, heavy paddling) leads to the private island of Ko Poda which has beautiful and relatively isolated beaches.
Several bungalow resorts on the Rai Leh West side of the peninsula have sea kayaks available for rental for around 600 baht/half-day, 1000 baht/full-day (including life-vests). The kayaks are simple two-seat plastic models, but perform fine on the millpond-smooth water of the bay. A half-day is probably plenty long enough to explore the immediate environs of Rai Leh. A bottle of water, a hat and plenty of sun protection are essential!
*Trekking Activities
Rai Leh itself does not offer many trekking opportunities, as the peninsula is so tiny. The one interesting and undeveloped area is the jungle atop the limestone towers that make up the club-shaped southern end of the peninsula. Along the paved path that runs from Rai Leh East to Phra Nang beach, a so-called "trail" leads up a slippery, rocky embankment to the jungle-covered plateau. A narrow, indistinct trail circles the top of the southern tower, with a left turn offering access to the highest point (accessible via a sheer face and thus navigable only with climbing gear) as well as a fantastic lookout point over the peninsula. A right turn on the path leads downward into a hidden glen, which provides access to the secret lagoon called Sa Phra Nang or Holy Princess Pool. The route from this glen to the lagoon leads down a steep, rocky ravine, and the path is covered with slippery red clay, making it quite treacherous even for the experienced. The technique is not so much climbing as scrambling, and the knotted nylon ropes are often more dangerous than they are helpful. The lagoon itself is breathtakingly beautiful, but try not to step in, as the soft bottomless muck has quite a penchant for trekkers' footwear.
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GETTING IN - OUT
RAI LEH |
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Rai Leh is a peninsula surrounded by ocean and mountains, final access can only be by boat. Long-tails depart from Ao Nang (10 minutes) and Krabi (30 minutes) on demand, making those towns the gateways to Rai Leh. It's also possible to access Rai Leh via regular ferries that run between Ko Lanta, Ko Phi Phi, and Phuket (more frequent in the November-May dry season - times available from local travel agents, or check online ferry schedules).
The Krabi, Phuket, Ko Lanta and Ko Phi Phi articles have information on reaching the gateways to Rai Leh from throughout Thailand. From Bangkok there are flights to Krabi and Phuket, direct bus services, and trains to Surat Thani with onward connections by bus.
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GETTING AROUND
RAI LEH |
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RAI LEH FOODS |
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Rai Leh has a variety of restaurants to choose from, although none are remarkable (for Thailand at least) in character or quality. In general however, the food is what you would expect for southern Thailand - tasty and inexpensive.
Rai Leh West has four restaurants: one for each of the three hotels on the beach, and a smaller restaurant near CoCo's bar. All offer breakfast, lunch, and dinner along the beach with a lovely view of the surroundings.
Rai Leh East has more restaurants and the variety is much greater, though none offer the scenery of the west beach (restaurants near Diamond Cave may be an exception where they offer an impressive view of the bay from their position higher up the hill).
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ENTERTAINMENT |
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| Northern Thailand |
| Chiang Mai - Chaing Dao - Mae Ai , Chiang Rai - Chiang Khong - Chaing Saen , Lampang, Lamphun , Mae Hong Son - Pai ,
Nan ,
Phayao, Phetchabun, Phitsanulok , Phrae , Sukhothai - Sisatchanalai, Tak - Maesot, Buriram , Mukdahan, Nakhon Phanom,
Nakhon Ratchasima,
Nong Khai , Surin, Ubon Ratchathani , Udon Thani , Yasothon |
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| Central Thailand |
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Ayutthaya, Bangkok, Kanchanaburi - Sai Yok , Lop Buri, Nakhon Phathom, Nonthaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan - Hua Hin,
Phetchaburi - Chaam ,
Ratchaburi, Chanthaburi , Chon Buri - Pattaya, Rayong - Ko Samet, Trat - Koh Chang , Lop Buri |
| Southern Thailand |
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Chumphon, Krabi - Ao Nang - Ko Phi Phi - Rai Leh , Nakhon Si Thammarat, Narathiwat,Pattani,
Phang Nga - Ao Phang Nga - Khao Lak, Phatthalung, Phu ket - Karon Beach -Patong Beach , Ranong, Satun - Tarutao,
Songkhla,
Surat Thani - Ko Pha Ngan - Ko Samui , Trang, Yala |
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