Viewpoints and hikes · Railay peninsula, above the path to Phra Nang Beach
Railay viewpoint and lagoon
A rope-and-mud scramble up the cliff between Railay East and Phra Nang, to a viewpoint and, down the far side, the Sa Phra Nang lagoon.
Access
A real hike
Time to allow
A short but hard scramble, there and back
Best time
On a dry day, in daylight, in proper shoes
Why go
For a view of Railay from above without climbing gear, and for the lagoon on the far side of the cliff, whose water rises and falls with the tide.
What you will find
This is not a walking path. The first section is steep, with ropes caked in mud; above it the trail splits, one way to the viewpoint, the other down to the lagoon.
The descent to the lagoon is the hard part: an almost vertical wall with a few ropes of uncertain condition, and a squeeze through a gap in the rocks. How much water you find at the bottom depends on the tide: at low tide there is little or none, and what is left is brown and muddy.
Getting there
Railay is reached by boat only. The trail starts on the walkway from Railay East towards Phra Nang Beach, on the left: a wall of red mud with ropes hanging down it. A small "No base jumping" sign marks the spot, and it is easy to walk past.
Before you go
Not for young children, not for you if you are unsure of your footing, and not after rain, in the wet season or after dark. Flip-flops will not do: wear shoes that grip, and keep your hands free.
If the climb to the viewpoint is enough, stop there: the descent to the lagoon is steeper and the ropes less reliable. Falls have happened here: in March 2018 a visitor injured on the cliff above the lagoon needed a rescue by more than twenty climbers and a doctor, and it took hours.
Our sources mention no fee for the trail.
Common questions
How hard is the Railay viewpoint trail?
Harder than it looks from the walkway. It is a scramble on mud with ropes, and the descent to the lagoon is close to vertical. The viewpoint alone is the easier half.
Is there water in the Railay lagoon?
It depends on the tide. At low tide there is little or no water, and it is brown and muddy.
Can children do the Railay viewpoint?
Not young children. The ropes, the mud and the drop to the lagoon make it unsuitable for them, and for anyone unsure on steep ground.