Emerald Lagoon Railay hike — Attraction in Krabi Province

Best Spot Ever: Emerald Lagoon in Railey, Krabi!

I can confidently say that Emerald Lagoon is the best spot I’ve visited in Thailand! This breathtaking destination is a free activity in Railey—just a small 200 Baht for a round trip on a long-tail boat to get to Railey, making it the most affordable adventure you can have!

If you’re up for some excitement, the hike to the lagoon takes about 30 to 45 minutes from they start of the climb adding to 15min walk from where when you arrive to cross the island to the bottom of the climb ! The spot is definitely a challenge with some steep climbs. I recommend wearing clothes you don’t mind getting dirty, as you’ll likely encounter some red clay along the way. Comfortable shoes are a must; I did the hike barefoot, and the grip was surprisingly good, but leave the flip-flops at home!

The climb through the jungle and the cliffs is absolutely stunning, with gorgeous jungle views around every corner. Once you reach the end of the climb, you’ll be rewarded with a mesmerizing lagoon that’s perfect for a refreshing swim. The water is about 1.5 meters deep in the middle, making it ideal for cooling off the hard work done on the climb!🧗

For the thrill-seekers, there’s a cliff jump you won’t want to miss! To get there, you’ll need to cross the lagoon and navigate to a cave directly in front of you. There’s a final rope climb to reach a platform at the entrance of a cave where you can jump from !

The sides of the lagoon are dotted with fascinating caves to explore, adding to the adventure.

Overall, Emerald Lagoon is a must-visit for anyone in Railey. Whether you’re an adventure junkie or just looking to relax in nature, this place has it all! Don’t miss out on...

Steep scramble up the mountain before it levels out. Not too technically difficult but fairly decent level of fitness needed. At this point, turn left at the top for a short walk to the lookout point. This is a must. You can then return and follow the path over the top and down to the Lagoon. There are basically three tiers to get down, and ropes are installed to help do this. The rocks are jagged and fairly easy to navigate. You definitely need to be fit and fairly athletic. Wouldn’t recommend it for young children. For all their talking about the height, there really isn’t anything to be worried about. You are always in trees and so no steep drops. You may wish not to go all the way down to the lagoon, but as it is tiered, you can make that decision on the way.

Remember, the only way out is the way you came, so keep that in mind, but you can turn around at any point.

The lagoon itself is tidal. Definitely better to go when the tide is in as then you can bathe in it, otherwise it’s a mud bath. Don’t expect crystal blue waters!

Disclaimer: I went when it had not been raining. I imagine wet conditions would make it a lot more difficult due to the mud (it would get...

For those nervous to climb

This is an adventurous and rewarding climb / hike. I would advise to look at the photos and videos in these reviews before attempting. Everyone can do it but some climbing and or good fitness is advised. The key thing is confidence!

If you opt only to visit the view point then the first steep incline is the hardest. Once you’re up and around the corner (where you can’t see from the bottom) you are about a third of the way through what I would describe as the “Rocky section”.

Once you reach the two signposts you can head left down the slippy walk to the viewpoint. But don’t worry, at worst you’ll only get muddy.

For those who want to visit the lagoon, this is tougher but very worthwhile. After the signposts, turn right and you’ll start your descent down through the tall trees section. If the first rope descent is too much for you, then don’t go any further as the down-climb to the lagoon has vertical rope descents that are more challenging.

My recommendation would be to push yourself to complete the viewpoint route and assess your ability from there.

It’s great fun and will make for a...