Penises at Phra Nang Beach

After finding the right directions, the path from Railay Beach to Phra Nang Beach was not difficult to find. The path led us first to Railay East (we came from Railay West), past mangroves and then past the high rock wall with stalactites hanging down. Along the way, we also found the entrance to the View Point. However, it looked like quite a climb, which we didn't want to attempt with flip flops. So, onward to the beach.

When we arrive there, it's already quite crowded. The noise level is correspondingly loud. Fortunately, there is still enough room to lay down, and a large part of the beach is shaded by the rocks, so the sun doesn't reach here yet. Another advantage. The water is also crystal clear here. In addition, you can swim to a small crevice from here, behind which there is a cave. Pretty cool! But not recommended without shoes. From our spot, we can also observe all the brave climbers scaling the rock walls. Rock climbing seems to be a popular sport here. But we'll just watch ;)

The actual 'attraction' is located at the very back in a small rock cave, the Phra Nang Cave. Here, there is a shrine with quite a number of penises of all sizes and colors. Don't worry, they are not real penises. They are all carved out of wood and are supposed to symbolize fertility. Ah, well. Different countries, different customs. Who knows, maybe it helps?

When the beach gets too crowded for us, we head back to Railay Beach. But it doesn't look much better there either. At one of the many food stalls, we get a delicious Pad Thai to take away and enjoy it on the beach. Shady spots are unfortunately scarce now, but we manage to find one. From our picnic spot, we continue to observe the hustle and bustle while enjoying our lunch. Unfortunately, we can't see much of the beach now, it's full of longtail boats. The area reserved for bathers is naturally overcrowded, and so it's time for us to return to Ao Nang. The way back is just as uncomplicated as the way there. Waving our tickets, we simply walk towards the longtail boats and are directly taken by an employee in a blue T-shirt.

Our conclusion about Railay Beach: a beautiful beach, but it's better to visit it early in the morning or later in the afternoon, as it gets completely crowded. As the beach is extensive, you will still find a spot, but if you're looking for peace and quiet, this is not the place for you. An alternative is probably Tonsai Beach. We didn't go there ourselves, but we passed by it on the longtail boat. While Railay Beach was quite crowded, there was hardly anything going on there. However, you won't find any restaurants there, there is nothing here except the beach. But what more do you need?