20 places to discover
Ao Kwai, also known as Ao Khao Kwai or Buffalo Bay, is a long sandy beach on the northwest coast of Ko Phayam in Mueang Ranong District, Ranong Province. It is the largest and most well-known bay on the island, noted for its wide stretch of white sand, clear water, casuarina trees and tranquil atmosphere. The beach is a central visitor area of Ko Phayam with resorts and dining along the shore.
Ao Yai Beach is the longest beach on Ko Phayam Island in Mueang Ranong District, Ranong Province, Thailand. Located on the island's western coast facing the Andaman Sea, it stretches for approximately 3 kilometers with wide white sand and clear water. Known for its tranquil atmosphere, sunset views and laid-back beachfront resorts, it is the main visitor area on the largely car-free island, popular for swimming, walking and relaxing.
Hat Bang Ben is a long sandy beach located within Laem Son National Park in Muang Kluang Subdistrict, Kapoe District, Ranong Province, southern Thailand. It serves as the site of the national park headquarters and is known for its wide shoreline, casuarina pine fringe, and views of islands in the Andaman Sea. The beach is valued for its quiet, natural and undeveloped coastal environment within a protected marine national park.
Khao Fa Chi Viewpoint is a hilltop viewpoint in Bang Phra Subdistrict, La-un District, Ranong Province, southern Thailand, overlooking the Kra Buri River and the Myanmar border. Situated at about 259 meters elevation, it is known for panoramic sunrise views, sea of mist in cool season, and remnants of a World War II Japanese military camp. The site features a viewing platform, historic tunnels and is a popular stop on the Ranong–Chumphon route.
Khao Phra Narai Waterfall is a forest waterfall located in Kapoe District, Ranong Province in southern Thailand. Situated in a forested hilly area characteristic of the Kapoe landscape, it is known as a natural attraction within the district's network of streams and woodland. The waterfall offers a quiet natural setting surrounded by tropical vegetation and is visited for sightseeing and nature appreciation rather than developed tourism infrastructure.
Ko Chang is a small, largely uninhabited island in the Andaman Sea off the coast of Mueang Ranong District, Ranong Province, southern Thailand. Part of Mu Ko Ranong National Park, it lies north of Ko Phayam and is known for its forested interior, quiet sandy beaches, clear waters and coral reefs. The island has no permanent villages or resorts, offering a natural, undeveloped environment visited on day trips by boat for swimming, snorkeling and nature observation.
Ko Kam is a small uninhabited coastal island in the Andaman Sea off Kamphuan Subdistrict, Suk Samran District, Ranong Province. Part of the Mu Ko Kam archipelago within Laem Son National Park, it is known for its white sandy beaches, clear turquoise water and fringing coral reef. The island is undeveloped and visited on day trips by boat for swimming, snorkeling and sightseeing in a quiet natural setting.
Ko Phayam is a small island in the Andaman Sea off the coast of Ranong Province in southern Thailand, within Mueang Ranong District. Known for its relaxed atmosphere, long sandy beaches, cashew nut plantations and absence of cars, it offers a quiet alternative to more developed islands. Accessible only by boat from Ranong, it is noted for beaches such as Ao Yai and Ao Khao Kwai (Buffalo Bay) and for cycling, beach stays and nature.
Ko Phayam Pier is the main arrival and departure pier for Ko Phayam Island in Mueang Ranong District, Ranong Province. Located on the eastern shore of the island facing the Ranong mainland, it serves ferries and speedboats from Ranong Pier. The wooden pier is the island's transport gateway and a central hub for visitors, connecting beaches, resorts and villages on this car-free island in the Andaman Sea.
Kra Buri River is a major estuarine river forming the natural border between Ranong Province in Thailand and Tanintharyi Region in Myanmar. Flowing south through Kra Buri District to the Andaman Sea, it is known for its wide tidal estuary, extensive mangrove forests and protected areas within Lam Nam Kra Buri National Park. The river is notable for scenic boat trips, birdwatching and views of the forested border landscape.
The Kra Isthmus is the narrowest part of the Malay Peninsula in southern Thailand, located in Kra Buri District, Ranong Province. Stretching between the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, it is only about 44 kilometers wide at its narrowest point. Notable for its geographic significance, low hills and river plains, it has long been considered for a canal project and offers scenic rural landscapes near the Myanmar border.
Laem Son National Park is a coastal national park spanning Ranong and Phang Nga provinces in southern Thailand, with its main headquarters and visitor area in Kapoe District, Ranong. Established in 1983, it protects about 315 square kilometres of Andaman coastline, mangrove forests, beaches and offshore islands. Notable for its 60-kilometre undeveloped coastline, including Hat Bang Ben and Laem Son Beach, the park is valued for beach scenery, island boat trips, birdwatching and camping.
Lam Nam Kra Buri National Park is a protected estuarine and mangrove national park along the Kra Buri River on the border of Ranong and Chumphon provinces in southern Thailand. Established in 1999, it covers about 585 square kilometers of river estuary, mangrove forests, tidal mudflats and forested hills. It is notable for its extensive mangrove ecosystem, diverse birdlife, scenic river views and islands at the river mouth where the Kra Buri River meets the Andaman Sea.
Namtok Ngao National Park is a protected forest park spanning Ranong and Chumphon provinces in southern Thailand, with its headquarters in Mueang Ranong District. Established in 1999 and covering about 668 square kilometres, it protects evergreen rainforest, mountain ranges and watershed areas. The park is notable for Ngao Waterfall visible from the highway, Punyaban and Khlong Phrao waterfalls, the Khao Nom Sao viewpoint and rich biodiversity including diverse birds and mammals.
Ngao Waterfall is a forested waterfall located inside Namtok Ngao National Park in Tambon Ngao, Mueang Ranong District, Ranong Province, southern Thailand. Situated about 13 kilometers south of Ranong town off Phetkasem Road, it is the park's namesake attraction. The waterfall cascades over multiple tiers through evergreen rainforest and flows year-round, with strongest flow in the rainy season. It is notable for its accessible nature trails, natural pools, and protected watershed forest.
Phu Khao Ya, also known as Ranong Grass Mountain or Khao Hua Lan, is a group of treeless grass-covered hills in Tambon Hatsai Khao, Mueang Ranong District, Ranong Province. The hills are notable for their seasonal color change, lush green in the rainy season and golden-brown in the dry season, and for panoramic views over Ranong town and surrounding countryside.
Punyaban Waterfall is a small forested waterfall located in Hat Som Paen Subdistrict, Mueang Ranong District, near Ranong town in Ranong Province, southern Thailand. Set within a lush tropical forest close to the city, it features multiple small cascades and shallow pools. The waterfall is known as an easily accessible local nature attraction, popular for short visits, photography and relaxation, especially during the rainy season when water flow is strongest.
Raksawarin Hot Springs is a natural thermal spring complex in Raksa Warin Public Park in Khao Niwet, Mueang Ranong, Ranong town. It features three main mineral hot pools with source temperatures around 65°C, cooled for foot-soaking and bathing. First noted during King Rama V's visit in 1890, it is Ranong's most famous hot spring and a central wellness attraction for visitors.
Ranong Canyon is a flooded former tin-mining quarry in Hat Som Paen, Mueang Ranong District, Ranong Province, southern Thailand, about 10 kilometers from Ranong town. The site features an emerald-green reservoir surrounded by steep rocky cliffs and forested hills. Created after mining ceased, the pit filled with rainwater, forming a scenic lake. It is notable for its dramatic quarry landscape, tranquil atmosphere, and popularity as a photography and sightseeing stop.
Rattana Rangsan Palace is a reconstructed royal residence on Rattanarangsan Hill in Khao Niwet, Mueang Ranong, Ranong Province, Thailand. The original teak palace was built in 1890 for King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) during his visits to Ranong. After the original burned down, a faithful replica was built and opened as a museum. Set in landscaped gardens with city views, it displays royal memorabilia and exhibits on Ranong history and architecture.