Longtail boat ferry to Railay Beach East.

Longtail boat ferry to Railay Beach East.
Simple and Classic.

Longtail boat ferry to Railay East

Longtail transfer bus pick up.

All five of us were staying at the SeaBass hotel in Krabi town which is just out side the center and 150 meters back from the Krabi River. We booked the longtail transfer from Krabi to Railay Beach with Krabi Tourist services and were picked up by a minivan at reception.

Picturesque Krabi River

We drove down to the old pier and jumped out and boarded the large Longtail from a clean concrete line of steps. This is handy as the longtails on some islands are a pig to get into if there are no steps.

Getting on to the Longtail ferry boat

Leaving Krabi Pier

The Longtail boat driver rotated the propeller to face almost forward so we could reverse out. This isn't a very gainly move but the drive knew his work and we pulled away from the peer and were off out into the middle of the river heading for the estuary. 

Krabi is an old trading post on an old trading route that used to bring spices from the east coast of Thailand to the traders in the Indian Ocean. The old pier isn't much to look at but the deep water allowed the bigger ships in, even in low season, when the winds and seas are strong and high respectively.

12 meter mangroves of the Krabi River

The Krabi River winds it self down to the sea through an extensive and thick mangrove forest, a great place for bird watchers and nature lovers.

First glimpses of PhraNang mountains and cliffs

Still to this day, the southern side of the river is dominated by mangrove forests and this made for a magical ride out towards the sea. Only after 1-2 km you could start to see the myriad of limestone cliffs of PhrangNa.

As we turned out of the estuary, Railey beach could be seen as a thin slice of bright golden sand. As we headed towards #Railey the cliffs became taller and more impressive. Even though it was the dry season, some early rains had turned the mountainside a bright strong green, beautiful.

Views of Phranang from the Longtail Boat

Arriving at Railay West

Arriving at Railay East

We arrived at the main Railay East pier which was a very long floating pier. It was easy to get out of the longtail and walk straight onto the beach and then into the village. We hung out at Railay West for a bit but it was quite noisy there from all the boats coming in from Ao Nang. In the afternoon we went to Phranang beach (the place all the pictures are taken from) which was stunning and later in the day I climbed up to the Railay view point which was absolutely stunning.

Arriving at Railay East

PhraNang Cave Beach

Phranang Beach

Railay Viewpoint

Railay View Point

Sticker system

See below the sticker you get when you give your ticket to the bus man at the hotel. When you arrive at the pier, the sticker easily locates you so that the right Longtail to pick you up.

 Further pictures.

Railay Links and activities

Tour of Krabi by Speedboat
Seven Things To Do on a Seven Day Trip to Krabi
Krabi river tours
Railay Beach Sea Kayaking

Koh Phi Phi Transport after the nightlife

Q. Planning to stay in the north of Koh Phi Phi at Laem Tong Beach but need to party all night at the center of the island where all the bars are located near the main pier. Do long tail boats go all night long? 

A. Availability will be better in high season Nov-March but normally the answer is yes. Sounds like an excellent plan? The Holiday Inn has a fine reputation and so does the party scene in the main village.

Slinky Nightlife Party scene on Koh Phi Phi

Koh Phi Phi Longtail at night

 Longtailboat trips to Laem Tong beach at night.

To get from Loh Dalum beach to Leam Tong beach after dark is not set in stone as the longtail drivers will charge depending on the time of day. There is a day time price (pretty fixed), upto midnight (varies a little) and then a negotiated price after that. Longtails Boats usually take up to 6 peopole for night taxis.

If you are on Loh Dalum beach, the place where all the late night bars dancing on the beach are (Slinkies, Woodies etc), this is the place to get a longtail. This is the shortest way to Laem Tong but about 40% less distance.   IF the tide is out or there are no longtails, you will need to walk 10 minutes over the to the main pier and get a boat from there. This route will take you round Long Beach, Past Phi Phi Island Village at Loh Bagao beach and then on to Laem Tong.

The short way takes about 18 minutes direct from the Loh Dalum beach to Laem Tong Beach, the longer way, including the walk to the pier (Koh Phi Phi Pier ) will take 40-50 minutes.

Longtail boat route map from Koh Phi Phi Nightlife to Laem Tong

Koh Phi Phi Longtail near the main pier

Koh Phi Phi Speedboats at night

Speedboats dont tend to go at night and even when they do they go pretty slow.

Longtail Boat driver near the pier

Walking to Laem Tong Beach from the main village.

If you decide you want to walk to Laem Tong it is about an hour and half, but not for the faint hearted as the trail start point keeps on getting overgrown, especially in low season. From Slinkies bar you look out to sea and then head right (east) along the shoreline and other small resorts. The beach curves round to the north and you follow the beach trail till you come to a sign for Loh Bagao, Phi Phi Island village up a simple mud track. The up and over the ridge is about 18 minutes till you reach civilization again. I wouldn't suggest this without a day time recce and a torch. From here you go over to the bridge on the creak and then you are only 2km from Laem Tong Beach and the Holiday Inn.

Map of walk from Nightlife beach to Laem Tong on Koh Phi Phi

Laem Tong Beach

Koh Phi Phi Laem Tong Beach early morning

Other links: 

Phi Phi Island Transportation

Longtail boats around Phi Phi

Speedboats For Hire

Airport Transfer from Phuket Phi Phi

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