A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Longsheng vs. Railay Beach for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Longsheng or Railay Beach?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Longsheng and Railay Beach. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Longsheng or Railay Beach?

Longsheng

A county of the city, Guilin, Longsheng is a hub of several ethnic cultures that thrive on farming and tourism. It is located about 50 or so miles north of the Guilin city center. The region is perhaps most known for the Dragon's Backbone Rice Terraces located in Heping Township. These, along with many other natural features like hot springs, waterfalls, and meadows are a few of the main attractions that draw visitors to Longsheng.

Railay Beach

If you're looking to scale great heights and add more achievements to your list during your vacation, consider a trip to the peninsula of Rai Leh, or more commonly Railay Bay or Railay Beach, in the Krabi region of Thailand. This swimming and rock climbing hotspot is known for its towering limestone peaks and gorgeous surrounding scenery.

For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in China, The Best Adventure Tours to China, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Longsheng and Railay Beach, we can see that Railay Beach is more expensive. And not only is Longsheng much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Longsheng would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Longsheng and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Railay Beach would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Railay Beach than you might in Longsheng.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Longsheng Expensive? and Is Railay Beach Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Longsheng or Railay Beach?

Longsheng has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Railay Beach experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Longsheng or Railay Beach in the Summer?

Both Railay Beach and Longsheng during the summer are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Railay Beach year-round.

In July, Longsheng is generally around the same temperature as Railay Beach. Daily temperatures in Longsheng average around 30°C (86°F), and Railay Beach fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

Railay Beach gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Longsheng. Longsheng usually gets less rain in July than Railay Beach. Longsheng gets 206 mm (8.1 in) of rain, while Railay Beach receives 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain this time of the year. August to October is the rainy season in Railay Beach.

Should I visit Longsheng or Railay Beach in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Longsheng and Railay Beach. Railay Beach attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Longsheng is cooler than Railay Beach in the autumn. The daily temperature in Longsheng averages around 23°C (73°F) in October, and Railay Beach fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

Railay Beach receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Longsheng usually receives less rain than Railay Beach. Longsheng gets 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Railay Beach receives 304 mm (12 in) of rain each month for the autumn. December to March in Railay Beach is the dry season. Also, August to October is the rainy season in Railay Beach.

Should I visit Longsheng or Railay Beach in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Longsheng as well as Railay Beach. The warm climate attracts visitors to Railay Beach throughout the year.

In the winter, Longsheng is much colder than Railay Beach. Typically, the winter temperatures in Longsheng in January average around 10°C (49°F), and Railay Beach averages at about 28°C (82°F).

Longsheng usually gets more rain in January than Railay Beach. Longsheng gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Railay Beach receives 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, December to March in Railay Beach is the dry season.

Should I visit Longsheng or Railay Beach in the Spring?

Both Railay Beach and Longsheng are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Railay Beach because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In April, Longsheng is generally cooler than Railay Beach. Daily temperatures in Longsheng average around 20°C (68°F), and Railay Beach fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Railay Beach. It's quite rainy in Longsheng. In April, Longsheng usually receives more rain than Railay Beach. Longsheng gets 263 mm (10.3 in) of rain, while Railay Beach receives 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Railay Beach and Longsheng