Railay

At the tip of the Krabi peninsula are some of Thailand's most famous natural features: the soaring limestone karsts of Railay, anchored in the ocean. The beaches are sugar-white and the forested interior is traversed by foot traffic, not cars.

No traffic jams, no transport hassles. Visitors come and go by long-tail boat. Come to lounge, swim, dive or rock-climb. Beginners can learn basic skills, and some stay so long they get good enough to climb rope-free on a pinnacle then fall harmlessly into the cobalt sea.