East Railay Viewpoint & Princess Lagoon Hike, Railay Beach

A hiking guide to the famous East Railay Viewpoint & Hidden Lagoon (Princess Lagoon) in Railay Beach, Krabi, Thailand.

Visiting Railay Beach and looking for an epic viewpoint hike? What about a hidden lagoon at the base of the limestone cliffs, in the middle of the jungle?

If this sounds like your kind of adventure, then I’ve found the perfect locations. The Railay Viewpoint hike is a short but steep hike involving some muddy jungle scrambling to an awesome viewpoint of East Railay Beach.

You could do what I did and continue on the same track to the Princess Lagoon (Sa Phra Nang), Railay’s hidden lagoon, a great place for swimming in the jungle! I must warn you though the walk down is steep and does require a medium level of fitness.

In this guide, I’ll break down everything you need to know about this awesome hike in Railay while offering some insights into what you might expect based on my experience on the trail.

About the East Railay Viewpoint & Princess Lagoon Hike

Railay is a fairly small peninsula, but packs in a ton of adventure opportunities. As far as Railay's viewpoints go, the Railay East Viewpoint is one of the best!

However, be prepared for a steep climb involving thick ropes and a bit of rock climbing and scrambling to get there (especially steep on the way down to Princess Lagoon).

It's only about 200 m from the trailhead to the viewpoint, roughly 90 m of near-vertical scrambling to the crossroad and another 110 m of flat walking, or about 1 km return if you carry on to the lagoon. That first section really is close to vertical.

However, you don't need any special equipment like ropes to do this hike. Although I walked in flip-flops, I'd recommend you wear running or hiking shoes.

How to Get to the Railay Viewpoint Trailhead

First things first, you have to get to Railay. There are no roads leading to the peninsula, so you must take a boat. I've written a guide on how to get to Railay, which covers all the best & cheapest options from Ao Nang Beach, Krabi Town, and beyond.

To make it easier you might book accommodation and leave from one of Railays Beach hotels or resorts.

Once you arrive at Railay, you'll find the trailhead for both the Railay East Viewpoint & the Princess Lagoon roughly halfway along the walking track from Railay East Beach to Phra Nang Beach.

As you walk towards Phra Nang (one of the most beautiful beaches in Thailand), keep an eye on the left side, where you'll spot the steep, orange trail leading up the slope, this is the trailhead.

Pinned Google Maps location: Railay Viewpoint Trailhead

What to Expect on the Railay Beach Viewpoint Hike

• Hike Distance: 1 km (0.62 mi) return trip (including Railay Lagoon)
• Hike Duration: 1-2 hours
• Elevation: roughly 100 m to the viewpoint, plus the descent and re-climb to the lagoon
• Difficulty: Moderate (steep rock scrambling)

As I'd assume most travelers would, I stumbled upon this trail while walking from Railay East Beach to Phra Nang Beach. I noticed that there was a sign (pictured below) with a map and hike details beside the trail.

The steep trail leading up the orange, muddy slopes also caught my attention. So, looking for an adventure, we began climbing up the hill, with a bunch of monkeys looking on.

Below I'll break down each section to help you prepare.

Advice: Do not feed the monkeys. You don't want to be attacked on this steep trail.

Climb Up the Wall to The Crossroad - 90 Meters

The first section is just 90 meters, but it is pretty much vertical, climbing quickly to around 60 meters above sea level. The good thing about this is that the steepest bit is right at the start, which tends to quickly deter anybody not prepared.

However, in true Thai backpacker fashion, most of the people I saw on the trail were walking barefoot in bikinis and board shorts.

The track has really good limestone holds all the way up, so the scramble is pretty easy in terms of technicality. Rock climbers won't struggle but if you've never done any climbing you might.

There's also a thick rope marking the only way up, making the climb to the viewpoint easier. However, I'd say that if it was raining it'd be quite a slippery challenge.

After 90 meters, you'll arrive at the top, where you'll see a sign indicating the Railay East Viewpoint at 110 meters to the left, or the Hidden Lagoon at 155 meters to the right. Worth knowing that the sign is now so covered in stickers it's hard to read, and the 155 m it quotes is the direct line down rather than the route you'll actually scramble, which works out closer to 250 m.

Short Walk to the Railay East Viewpoint - 110 Meters

Once you're at the top, you can relax as the climbing is finished.

The last bit is just a short 110-meter stroll to the viewpoint through dense jungle. Just follow the obvious track and ignore the turn-offs.

The View from Railay East Viewpoint

Arriving at the viewpoint, you'll notice a small roped-off clearing overlooking Railay East Beach. Here, you can see the floating dock and rows of longtail boats.

The elevated position also means you can see over the palm-lined isthmus to the white sands of West Railay Beach. The viewpoint offers an expansive, panoramic view of the Railay Peninsula all the way to Tonsai Beach.

We stayed here for 10 minutes or so, snapping some photos before the gathering high season crowds encouraged us to continue to the lagoon.

East Railay Viewpoint to the Princess Lagoon

Instead of turning back on the same trail, you can continue down to the right of the viewpoint for a quick loop back to the crossroad. Once you arrive, continue straight, following the sign to the lagoon.

The section leading to the Railay Lagoon is the steepest and most challenging scramble and is separated into two walls. The first leads down to a small flat area beside a huge tree. Then, immediately to the left, the steepest part begins.

Advice: A white dress should not be worn on this hike. It will not be white at the end.

This section is quite fun and even has a bit where you need to squeeze through a small opening hole to descend.

Once you're at the jungle floor, you can dive straight into the lagoon!

Tip: The hike to Princess Lagoon is not recommended for children!

Swimming at Railay Beach Lagoon

Whether you call it the Railay Lagoon, the Princess Lagoon, or Sa Phra Nang– it really is a tropical jungle oasis. You'll also see it called the Hidden Lagoon, the Emerald Lagoon and the Blue Lagoon, and Google Maps lists it under a different one of those depending on the day. On a good day the water is a deep emerald ringed by jungle-covered limestone. After rain, or on a low tide, it can be muddy brown instead, so don't build the whole day around the photo.

When we visited in the late afternoon, we had magical rays of light shining through the tops of the canopy. One thing I'd get right before you commit to the descent: this lagoon is fed by the sea and the level tracks the tide. At high water it's chest-deep and swimmable, and at low water it can be shin-deep or close to empty. One visitor logged it at knee height at 11:30 and shoulder height by 2pm on the same day. Check a Krabi tide chart the night before and aim to be down there within a couple of hours of high tide. There are no cliff jumps here either way.

Along the sides of the lagoon there are many caves, take care when walking along the rocks because they are really sharp.

We spent about 45 minutes here cooling off in the refreshing waters before climbing back up the slope.

Return to Railay Bay - 235 Meters

Don't worry, once you've made it to the lagoon, the most difficult climb is over. The climb back up is much easier than on the way down.

And, the final descent back to the start is also much easier than the descent to the lagoon.

Things to Know Before You Hike

I hope this guide to hiking to Railay East Viewpoint and the amazing Princess Lagoon in Railay has been a useful adventure preparation tool!

Before you shoot off, here are some quick pointers you might want to know (especially those who skim-read this blog)!

• Did I mention this was steep? - prepare mentally as coming down is much harder than going up on steep slopes like this!
• Wear enclosed footwear - yeah I know, you're in Thailand. If you struggle with heights or climbing steep faces, I recommend leaving the flip-flops behind.
• Don't go up after rain - the board at the trailhead says it plainly: muddy and slippery when wet, not recommended after rain. The clay turns greasy and the ropes get slick. That same board asks people to stick to 8am until 4:30pm and not to climb in the dark, which is sensible given you're coming down the steep bit either way.
• Take your time - there's no rush, but plenty of opportunity to slip. Remember though, there's only one way up and down. So, be considerate to others by letting them pass if you notice that they are faster than you.
• Visit the lagoon - the main attraction here is the Railay East Viewpoint. However, since the Princess Lagoon is on the same trail, I highly recommend taking the detour. It's one of the best things to do in the Railay area and one of my favorite highlights when visiting Railay.
• Check the ropes yourself - the fixed ropes are the only handline on the steep sections and recent visitors have reported them frayed or broken in places. Nobody maintains them to a standard. Test one before you weight it, and turn around if you don't like what you find.

Railay East Beach, the Tide, and Getting Your Timing Right

Railay East is not a swimming beach and it surprises people who booked a room here expecting one. The shoreline is mangrove and mudflat, and at low tide it's mostly exposed mud with the longtails sitting on the bottom. It's the working side of the peninsula: the budget guesthouses, the climbing shops, the bars, the walking street across to Railay West, and the pier for the Ao Nam Mao shuttle. Swim at Railay West or Phra Nang instead, and use East for the trailhead, the boats and the cheap beds.

If you're coming in from the mainland rather than from Ao Nang, the Ao Nam Mao shuttle lands you right at the East Railay pier. It runs every 30 minutes from 8:00 to 18:00, back from Railay every 30 minutes from 8:30 to 18:30, takes 10 to 15 minutes, and costs 150 baht one way or 250 baht return. It's cash only and it runs year round, including through the wet season when the Ao Nang longtails can get cancelled.

On timing, there are two things pulling in opposite directions and no guide seems to say so. The crowds argue for going up before 8am, when you'll have the viewpoint to yourself. The lagoon argues for going at high tide, which might be the middle of the afternoon. If the lagoon is the reason you're doing this hike, pick your morning by the tide chart rather than the clock and accept you'll share the viewpoint. If the viewpoint is the point, go at first light and treat the lagoon as a bonus.

The season is straightforward: November through April is the dry window with firm clay, dry rope and calm crossings. August and September are the wettest months and the worst time to be on this trail. In the wet season, go in the morning before the afternoon downpours arrive.

One last thing, because the names cause real confusion. The Emerald Pool and Blue Pool that appear in every Krabi tour brochure are a completely different attraction: a freshwater spring-fed pool inland at Khao Phra Bang Khram, about an hour and a half from Ao Nang by road, with an entry fee of around 400 baht and no swimming allowed at the Blue Pool. This lagoon is tidal seawater, free, on the Railay peninsula, and only reachable by rope. If you want the inland one, that's a separate day trip.

FAQ Hiking to East Railay Viewpoint & Princess Lagoon

Another epic viewpoint in Railay:

The Railay Bat Cave (Phra Nang)

More Krabi Travel Guides & Adventure Inspiration

And, that's a wrap for this Railay East Viewpoint hiking guide, good luck!

If you're still planning your adventures in Krabi and the Railay Peninsula make sure to check out some of my other guides below for more inspiration!

• Things to do in Krabi - My ultimate guide to must-see spots & hidden gems
• How to Get to Krabi from Phuket - best transport routes & options
• Things to do in Railay - my ultimate guide to Thai backpacker mecca
• 10 Best Krabi Island Tours - discover the best of Thailand's south
• Best Beaches in Krabi - find the top 15 beaches you need to visit on your trip.