Andaman coast · Where to stay

Where to stay in Ranong

A rainy, characterful border town with natural hot springs — and, a boat ride away, Koh Phayam, one of Thailand's most laid-back islands.

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A town to pass through, an island to stay on

Be honest about what you have come for. Ranong town has real character — a border-trade port facing Myanmar, hot springs steaming on its eastern edge, good coffee and no tourist gloss — but for most travellers it is a staging post. The destination is Koh Phayam, a couple of hours offshore, where sandy lanes link long beaches and nobody is in a hurry.

Steam rising from the natural hot springs in Ranong

The practical pattern is simple: a night in town if your bus or flight lands late, near the pier if your boat leaves early, and then as many nights as you can spare in a bungalow on Phayam. Spa-minded travellers can happily reverse the emphasis and build a stay around the springs instead.

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At a glance

Where to Stay in Ranong

  • Koh Phayam is the real draw — a car-light island of beach bungalows
  • Town hotels cluster near the hot springs on the eastern edge
  • Pier-side stays suit early boats to the islands
  • Ranong is Thailand's wettest province — pack for rain outside high season
Good to know

Good to know

  • Take an evening soak at the Raksawarin public spring park — it is cheap, local and open late.
  • Book Koh Phayam bungalows ahead for December to March; the island is small and the good ones fill first.
  • Bring enough cash to the island — ATMs on Phayam are few and sometimes empty.
  • Note that Ranong sits on the Andaman side: its seasons are the reverse of the Gulf coast, with rain from May to October.

Ranong town: springs and piers

The most pleasant place to sleep in town is out by Raksawarin hot springs, where a handful of hotels and guesthouses lean into the spa mood — mineral pools, massage, and the public spring park across the road where locals soak their feet in the evening. It is a genuinely restorative overnight after a long journey.

If you are catching an early boat, stay instead near the piers on the Andaman side of town, where simple guesthouses and hotels put you minutes from the morning departures. The town centre between the two has cheap hotels, a lively market and some of the best Burmese-influenced food in Thailand.

The public hot springs park in Ranong town

Koh Phayam: bungalows on the sand

Phayam is why most people come through Ranong at all. There are no cars to speak of — concrete lanes carry motorbikes and bicycles between two long beaches, Ao Yai for sunsets and surf-tinged waves, Ao Khao Kwai for calmer water and hornbills in the trees. Accommodation means beach bungalows and small resorts, from bamboo-basic to quietly comfortable.

Power can be limited outside the resorts, plenty of places close in the May-to-October rains, and the best bungalows go early in high season — book ahead for December to March. That slight rough edge is precisely what has kept the island so likeable.

Longtail boats on the sand on Koh Phayam
Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions

How do I get to Koh Phayam from Ranong?

Boats leave from the piers a few kilometres from the town centre. Speedboats take around 45 minutes and slow boats about two hours, with the most departures in the morning — hence the pier-side hotels for early starts.

Is it worth staying in Ranong town itself?

For a night, yes — the hot springs are a lovely way to end a travel day, and the food and border-town atmosphere are genuinely interesting. As a beach base it cannot compete with Koh Phayam.

When is the best time to visit Ranong and Koh Phayam?

Roughly November to April, the Andaman dry season. Ranong is Thailand's rainiest province, and from May to October many island bungalows close and boat crossings can get rough.

Are there cars on Koh Phayam?

Essentially no — the island runs on motorbikes and bicycles along narrow concrete lanes. Bungalows arrange motorbike taxis from the pier, and renting a bike makes exploring the beaches easy.

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Ranong