RANONG
Location : Southern, Thailand
Area : 3,298.045 sq. km
Population : 179,850
Distance from Bangkok : 568 Kilometers
Transportation
Car
Ranong can be reached from Bangkok by taking Highway No. 4 via Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan and Chumphon, a total distance of 568 kilometres.
Bus
Both air-conditioned and non air-conditioned buses depart from Bangkok's Southern Bus Terminal to Surat Thani everyday for the approximately 8-hour trip. For a current schedule and further information, please call the Southern Bus Terminal at tel: 0 2435 1199, 0 2435 1200 or the Ranong Bus Station at tel: 0 7781 1548 or visit.
www.transport.co.th.
Air
There is no flight to Ranong at this time.
About Ranong
Next to Chumphon, but located on the opposite side of Thailand’s southern peninsula and bordering first Myanmar and then the Andaman Sea, is Ranong. The province is distinguished largely by its natural attributes-hot spring spas, dense tropical greenery, picturesque waterfalls and coastal waters dotted with islands. All of this makes for an intriguing area to explore, somewhere off the beaten track and quieter than other holiday destinations.
Ranong also has the unique bonus of allowing a day excursion into Myanmar. A short boat ride across the Chan river estuary brings you to Kawthoung, which in the days of British Burma was known as Victoria Point. It’s truly a memorable excursion that adds a different dimension to a journey south.
Place attraction
Amphoe Kapoe
Laem Son National Park
Declared a national park in 1983, Laem Son is a coastal park that extends out to include a number of islands. Covering an area of 315 square kilometres, the park offers white sandy beaches, pine trees forests, a seascape of nearby islands and great bird watching. The park office is on Highway No. 4 (Ranong-Phang-nga), 45 kilometres from the provincial capital, six kilometres from Kapoe. Turn right at kilometre 657 and continue for ten kilometres until reaching the office on Bang Ben Beach.
Amphoe Mueang
Hat Chan Damri
Located about nine kilometres from downtown Ranong along Highway No. 4004 (Ranong-Pak Nam), this small beach and pier, and a nearby hillside viewpoint offer good vantage points from which to witness seafaring life along the mouth of Ranong's principal river. From here visitors can see across to Victoria Point of Ko Song in Myanmar of further out to the many other islands, big and small, which dot the Andaman Sea. The hilltop viewpoint is a particularly good location for watching Ranong's sunsets. The Jansom Thara Resort, situated above the beach, offers boat trips to some of the islands.
Hot Springs and Raksawarin Arboretum
Located about 2 kilometres east of the provincial office, the hot springs have been a popular tourist spot ever since King Rama V visited Ranong in 1890, and named the road to the hot springs 'Chon Ra-u', meaning 'hot water'. There are three natural spring pools. The temperature of the water in the pools remains constant at about 65 C. The water is both potable and suitable for bathing. Doctors routinely prescribe bathing in the pools for both medical treatments and as a relaxing way to ease stress and tension. Surrounding the hot springs is a deep shaded forest called 'Raksawarin', where resting pavilions and wash rooms have been provided for the visitor's comfort. Nearby Wat Tapo Tharam also provides bathing rooms for visitors who want to enjoy the healthy mineral water from the thermal springs.
Ko Phayam
Two hours by boat from the Ranong Pier, Ko Phayam is famous for both its long fine white sandy beaches and for the cashew nuts which are grown on the island. To get to Ko Phayam visitors can charter boats from Ranong Pier for about 1,000 baht per trip. Visitors can also charter speedboats from Ko Phayam Resort. Prices range from 2,000 to 4,000 baht, depending on the size of the boat.
Phu Khao Ya (Grass Hill)
Known to local residents by a variety of names and endearingly referred to as Thailand's version of a Swiss pasture, this hill, located in Tambon Ngao on Highway No. 4 (Ranong-Phang-nga) about twelve kilometres from downtown Ranong, is something of an anomaly as it is completely treeless, being covered instead by a thick blanket of grass. Numerous walking trails and good vantage points offering unbroken views of the countryside make this hill the most popular in Ranong.
Victoria Point of Ko Song
As an island in neighbouring Myanmar, Ko Song offers visitors a variety of local products, souvenirs such as wicker basketry and lacquerware, and gems. Long-tail boats can be hired in Pak Nam Ranong or on the Ranong Pier. The boat ride to Victoria Point takes about 15 minutes each way and costs between 200 and 300 baht. Before embarking on this excursion, visitors must obtain a boarding card issued by the Ranong Immigration Office in Pak Nam Ranong.
Map Of Ranong Thailand
