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When you think about Thailand, you probably see white sand beaches, a clear blue sea, and swaying palm trees in front of you. Yes, you can find that in Thailand but unfortunately, a lot of islands have already been the victim of overtourism, and there is little left authentic to explore. Enter, Koh Phayam, one of the best-kept secrets of Thailand! In this guide, I will tell you how to get from Ranong on the Thai mainland to Koh Phayam.
Monkey Beach, Koh Phayam, Thailand
Koh Phayam is a small, relatively untouched island located off the coast of Ranong province in Thailand. It is known for its pristine beaches, crystal-clear waters, and laid-back atmosphere, making it the perfect destination for conscious travelers seeking an authentic experience in Thailand.
Unlike other popular tourist destinations in Thailand such as Phuket and Koh Samui, Koh Phayam remains relatively free from mass tourism, which means visitors can enjoy the island’s natural beauty without the crowds. The island has a small population of around 500 residents, most of whom are fishermen or farmers. There’s also a small Moken community on Koh Phayam (sea gypsies).
The lack of large resorts and hotels on Koh Phayam has helped to preserve its natural beauty and maintain the island’s authenticity. There are a few small bungalow-style accommodations and guesthouses on the island, but these are limited in number and often fully booked during peak season.
At Koh Phayam, you can enjoy a range of activities such as kayaking, hiking, and cycling. The island also has several small restaurants and cafes that serve delicious local cuisine, including fresh vegan Thai dishes and a variety of Burmese food!
→ PRO TIP: Traveling soon? check out my ultimate packing list for Thailand!
Hornbill @ Koh Phayam
Koh Phayam is located in the Andaman Sea, off the west coast of Thailand. It is part of the Ranong Province and is situated near the border with Myanmar. The island is roughly 10 kilometers long and 5 kilometers wide, with a population of around 500 people.
It is a popular destination for backpackers and eco-tourists seeking a more authentic and less commercialized experience in Thailand. The island is accessible by boat from the mainland port city of Ranong.
Pier with temple @ Koh Phayam
I’ll first go briefly into how to get from Bangkok to Ranong, and secondly into how to get from Ranong to Koh Phayam!
There are several ways to get from Bangkok to Ranong City. Here are some of the most common options:
Coming from Surat Thani (and Koh Phangan and Koh Samui), the best way to travel to Ranong is by train+minivan while there are direct busses to Ranong from Krabi and Ao Nang. If you want to travel to Ranong from Khao Sok National Park, you will need to switch buses in Takua Pa.
Once you arrive in Ranong, you will have two options: the speed boat or the local ferry. As the travel time from most places in Thailand to Ranong can take long it is possible that you will need to stay overnight in Ranong and catch a speed boat or ferry the next day.
I will share some accommodation tips further down this post!
Here are the websites I personally use whenever I travel to Thailand:
Booking.com: For the best guesthouses, homestays, or small hotels
Hostelworld: To find the best hostels located in the cities
Homestay: For a unique immersive homestay experience in the big cities or the countryside
12GO and Bookaway: The best transport websites for long-distance buses and train travel in Thailand
Thai Railway: To check timetables and connections for trains
Grab: The Uber of Southeast Asia is a convenient and cheap ride-hailing app
Skyscanner: For affordable flights to Bangkok or Phuket
Viator and Get Your Guide: book all kinds of activities from a vegan cooking class in Bangkok to a half-day meditation retreat at a waterfall temple with a monk.
Thailand is very easy to enter because you can stay in the country for up to 45 days with a tourist visa on arrival. If you want to spend more time in Thailand, check out the official Thai e-Visa website.
If you’re looking for travel insurance, the one with the best benefits online is without a doubt Heymondo! It’s very easy to ask for a quote on the website and if you book with this link you’ll get 5% off!
Get access to mobile data straight away when entering the country with a Thai E-sim or an Asialink E-sim when traveling through multiple countries. If you are already in Thailand, the best local prepaid sim card is AIS.
Ao Khao Kwai, Koh Phayam, Thailand.
As said before, there are two ways to get from Ranong to Koh Phayam. You can opt to take a speedboat which is more expensive or take the local ferry. The local piers from which the ferry and speedboats depart are a few kilometers out of the center of Ranong and about 8 kilometers from the Ranong bus station.
The best way to get to the piers is by Tuk-Tuk. It’s also possible to get there by songthaew but leave early if you want to catch the ferry. A songthaew doesn’t have a fixed schedule and it can take some time before it drops you off at the pier.
Taking the ferry from Ranong to Koh Phayam is the most authentic and cheapest way to travel from Ranong to Koh Phayam. The ferry leaves daily at 10 A.M. from Tai Kak Pier and it takes two hours to reach Koh Phayam.
It’s an enjoyable experience and it’s quite a sight to see dozens of trucks arrive with food and supplies that need to be transported to the island daily to meet the locals’ and travelers’ needs.
There are two types of seating on the boat, a few soft seats and wooden benches. It pays off to get on the boat first to obtain one of the soft seats. Your but will thank you!
Tickets can be booked at Tai Kak Pier, at your accommodation, or via 12GoAsia.
There are several speedboats leaving Ranong daily for Koh Phayam. They are a much faster transport option but are also more expensive. While ferry tickets to Koh Phayam only cost 200 baht per person, you will pay around 350 baht per person for the speed boat.
Speedboats operate this route every day between 8.30 A.M. and 4.30 P.M. For tickets and departure times check out 12GoAsia. Speedboats leave from Ranong Pier instead of Tai Kak Pier.
Koh Phayam, Thailand
Once you arrive in at Koh Phayam Pier, the best way to get to your accommodation is by taking a Tuk-tuk. A lot depends though on where you stay and what your arrival time is. If you stay at one of the hostels near the pier, you can just walk to your accommodation but if you want to get to Buffalo Bay or Long Beach, you will need a Tuk-tuk.
Upon our arrival at the pier in Koh Phayam, my boyfriend and I decided to walk to our accommodation in Buffalo Bay. While we love walking and hiking, the 2.5-kilometer walk to our accommodation was exhausting in the scorching heat even to the point that I started to feel sick.
Wear a hat, sunscreen and take enough water if you want to walk to your accommodation carrying your backpack.
Alternatively, if you travel light you can opt to rent a motorbike by the pier for 250 baht per day.
Beach restaurant and accommodation at Long Beach
In the next section, I’ll give a few tips on where to stay in Ranong and also at Koh Phayam.
Ranong doesn’t have many accommodation options like other cities in Thailand. Although it might seem a good idea to sleep overnight at the bus station, don’t expect much of the accommodation options over there.
For a cheap dig at the bus station, you can stay at the Kiwi Orchard & PL Guesthouse. The Lukjapong Hotel next door is better quality but expect to pay around 700 baht per room.
Staying in the center of Ranong is more fun and you will find more accommodation options there and restaurants. My favorite accommodation in the center is The Casper. The price/quality and location of this place are unbeatable.
Where you should stay in Koh Phayam highly depends on your own wishes. Koh Phayam is a quiet island in general but I found that Buffalo Bay was more serene than Long Beach.
Buffalo Bay is in my opinion also more convenient to stay because it is located in the center of the island and you can easily do day hikes to every corner of the island from there.
Here are my favorite accommodation options:
Getting to Koh Phayam from Ranong is pretty straightforward by taking the ferry or one of the speedboats from Tai Kak or Ranong Pier.
Let me know in the comments below if you have any questions or drop me a message through my content page.
ENJOY!
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Hi! I am Annelies and this is Travelers & Dreamers, a blog about conscious travel which means traveling in a more mindful way, with a positive impact on the world and yourself!
On this website, I cover different topics like slow travel, plant-based food guides, responsible travel, sustainable packing, eco-travel, and more!
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