The relay apparatus includes a wireless communication unit configured to carry out wireless communication with the base station, and capable of direct wireless communications respectively with other relay apparatuses belonging to the wireless LAN, without going through the base station, and a path search unit configured to compare the throughput of a wireless communication path for carrying out data transfer to a destination apparatus without going through the base station, with the throughput of a wireless communication path for carrying out data transfer to a destination apparatus going through the base station; and select the path having higher throughput.