Ao Nang & Railay

Also referred to in Thai as Ao Phra Nang, this bay is fringed by palms, limestone mountains and cliffs.The main beach is also called Ao Nang beach, which is has a wide range of accommodation including resorts, bungalows and guesthouses. Further to the south around the headland are a few smaller beaches including Railay (Railay West) and Nam Mao (Railay East). These are not accessible by road, so visitors must take a longtail boat from Ao Nang.

Ao Nang:

The area behind Ao Nang beach is quite developed. Most travel services can be found here, and there is a good variety of restaurants featuring both local and international cuisine. The nicest part of the beach is probably towards the southern end, after the road turns inland. Due to it's location, range of services and accommodation, Ao Nang serves as an ideal place to both stay and explore surrounding islands and beaches.

Railay:

Just to the south of Ao Nang is Laem Tham Phra Nang, a headland with caves and beaches often referred to as Railay (or Rai Leh), which is the name of its main beach. The west side of the headland has a beautiful curved beach backed by limestone cliffs. The cliffs feature stalactites that drip into the sea. The east side of the headland, Nam Mao beach, is mostly mangroves.

Nopparat Thara beach:

To the west of Ao Nang is Nopparat Thara beach. The area has developed to catch the overspill from Ao Nang, and there is a lot of reasonably priced accommodation. The 3 km long beach is popular with local picknickers, and there are also plenty of casual seafood restaurants located at its western end. The beach itself is wide but a little muddy and not great for swimming.