Ranong

Ranong is the northernmost town on Thailand's Andaman coast, facing Myanmar across a river estuary, and most visitors know it only as the place where the boats leave for Koh Phayam. It deserves a night for its hot springs, its local coffee and its quiet, but plan around the weather: only one TMD station in Thailand records more rain than Ranong's, and from May to October the rain is relentless.

This guide covers what the town offers, why the rainy season matters more here than almost anywhere else, the boats and the islands offshore, including the small Koh Chang that is regularly confused with the big Koh Chang near Cambodia, and how to get to Ranong. Koh Phayam itself has its own page, our Koh Phayam guide.

The Raksawarin hot springs and the other springs

Ranong's best-known sight is its natural hot water. According to TAT, the springs closest to town are in Raksawarin Park, about 2 km from Ranong town: three natural springs, with water from about 40 °C up to 65 °C, in a park that has been remodeled in recent years, with small boutique hotels nearby. The hottest water is far too hot to touch, so use the bathing areas built for the purpose and test the temperature with a hand first.

We could not confirm opening hours or whether there is an entry fee from an official source, so check locally. It is a public park rather than a spa, so keep to the bathing areas and dress modestly.

TAT also names the quieter Pornrang (Phon Rang) hot springs, inside Ngao Waterfall National Park, with a river beside them. The Department of National Parks (DNP) is upgrading the Phon Rang spring for accessible eco-tourism, and in October 2026 it gave Ngao Waterfall National Park, Mu Ko Ranong National Park and the Bo Nam Ron Hat Yai hot spring in Lam Nam Kra Buri National Park its GREEN Health Attraction standard for the year.

The town, the coffee and the grass hill

Ranong is a small provincial capital and a border town, with markets and local restaurants. It is not a resort, and nobody comes here for nightlife; a night in town is about the hot springs, an unhurried meal and an early boat.

The province grows coffee. Ranong is one of Thailand's 11 registered coffee geographical indications, and like Chumphon it is Robusta country, unlike the Arabica of the northern hills. Our guide to Thai coffee and tea explains the regions and how to order. Ranong is also known for fruit: the Nai Wong durian and mangosteen are registered local products, and our Thai fruit guide explains the seasons.

In the town's district, Phu Khao Ya, the "grass hill", is a local beauty spot. TAT listed a Khao Ya Fest there on 2–3 May 2026; no date for 2027 had been published when we checked.

Why the rain matters: May to October in Ranong

Ranong is often called the rainiest place in Thailand. The Thai Meteorological Department's 1991–2020 averages show that it is not quite: its station records 4,183.1 mm a year, second only to the TMD station on the Trat coast (4,926.5 mm). But that is still about two and a half times Bangkok's 1,702 mm, and almost all of it falls between May and October.

This is the southwest monsoon at full strength. August averages 26 rainy days, and each month from June to September brings more than 600 mm. In practice that means fewer boats and more cancellations on the way to the islands.

December to March is the time to come, with February the driest month (19.8 mm). Our guide to the rainy season in Thailand explains how the monsoon works across the country and what still works in the wet months.

The boats to Koh Phayam

The boats to Koh Phayam leave from the pier outside Ranong town. Speedboats take about 40 minutes and slow boats about two hours, and in the high season there are several departures a day. Fares printed online are often old, so check the current price and the last boat at the pier. In the low season there are fewer boats, and they do not sail when the sea is rough.

Part of the coral and seagrass off Koh Phayam is legally protected: since September 2020, damaging it, anchoring on it, feeding or catching marine life can bring up to a year in prison and a fine of up to 100,000 baht under the marine and coastal resources law. Our Koh Phayam guide has the beaches, the bungalows and the island practicalities, and our overview of the Andaman islands shows how Phayam fits with the rest of the coast.

The other Koh Chang: Koh Chang in Ranong

Thailand has two islands called Koh Chang ("elephant island"), and they are at opposite ends of the country. The big, well-known Koh Chang in Trat, near the Cambodian border, is Thailand's third-largest island, with resort beaches, waterfalls and a car ferry. The small Koh Chang off Ranong, sometimes called Koh Chang Noi, is a quiet island near Koh Phayam.

Check twice before you book: a hotel or ferry search for "Koh Chang" will usually show the Trat island first, and that one is at the other end of the country. According to our Koh Phayam guide, some Ranong speedboats can stop at Koh Chang Noi, depending on the tide, and a chartered longtail links the two islands.

We could not confirm from an official source whether Koh Chang in Ranong lies inside a national park, which pier its boats use or how its boat season runs, so we do not print a park fee or timetable for it. Ask the bungalow you book how to get there and what the boats are doing in the month you travel.

Laem Son National Park, Surin and Koh Phra Thong

The coast south of Ranong is protected as Laem Son National Park, which covers mainland beaches and islands such as Ko Kam Tok, Ko Khang Khao and Ko Yipun. The park announced its full reopening for the season on Sunday 18 October 2026; its visitor center can be reached on 077-861431. Laem Son and Mu Ko Ranong National Park are both Category 2 parks, at 200 baht for a foreign adult and 100 baht for a child.

Further south, the Surin Islands are reached from Khura Buri in Phang Nga province and are open only from 15 October to 15 May; our guide to the Surin Islands covers the trip. Near Khura Buri, too, is the wetland island of Koh Phra Thong, a Ramsar wetland with grassland, mangroves and nesting habitat for sea turtles; our page on Koh Phra Thong explains what is known about visiting.

Kawthaung and the Myanmar border

Across the estuary lies Kawthaung, the southernmost town of Myanmar. Ranong used to be a common place for visa runs by boat, but that has changed: Myanmar offers no visa on arrival, and the UK Foreign Office advises against all but essential travel to the part of Tanintharyi Region that includes Kawthaung. Our page on the Thailand–Myanmar border explains the current situation at each crossing, and our guide to border runs from Thailand covers the options that still work.

Getting to Ranong by air and by road

By air. Ranong Airport (UNN) has flights from Bangkok's Don Mueang with Thai AirAsia, about 11 a week in a July 2026 snapshot, taking about 1 hour 20 minutes. Check that your ticket says Don Mueang; our guide to domestic flights in Thailand explains the airlines and baggage rules.

By bus. Ranong has no railway station. Buses and minivans run to Bangkok and to southern towns such as Phuket, Khao Lak and Chumphon. We could not confirm current timetables with the Transport Company, so check times and operators before you travel; our guide to bus travel in Thailand describes the bus classes and how to book.

By car. Ranong is the northern start of the Andaman coast road. For a full route south through Khao Lak, Phang Nga and Krabi, drivinginthailand.com describes the drive in detail. On the Gulf side, our guide to Surat Thani covers the gateway to Samui and Phangan, Ranong's counterpart on the other coast.

Frequently asked questions

Is Ranong the rainiest place in Thailand?

Almost. TMD's 1991–2020 averages give Ranong 4,183.1 mm a year, the second-highest of its stations after the station on the Trat coast (4,926.5 mm). Ranong's wettest month is August, with 771.5 mm, and its driest is February, with 19.8 mm.

How hot are the Raksawarin hot springs?

TAT describes three natural springs in Raksawarin Park with water from about 40 °C up to 65 °C. The hottest water can scald, so bathe only in the areas built for it, keep sessions short and drink water. Check opening hours locally.

Is Koh Chang in Ranong the same as Koh Chang in Trat?

No. They are two different islands at opposite ends of Thailand. The large Koh Chang is in Trat province near Cambodia; the small Koh Chang off Ranong, sometimes called Koh Chang Noi, is near Koh Phayam on the Andaman coast. Check the province before you book.

When is the best time to visit Ranong?

December to March, when rainfall is lowest (February averages 19.8 mm) and the boats to Koh Phayam run most often. From May to October Ranong gets between about 420 mm and 770 mm of rain a month, and boats are fewer.

Sources

• Thai Meteorological Department – Climate normals 1991–2020 (Ranong and Trat stations) (checked November 2026)
• Tourism Authority of Thailand – Health and wellness local wisdom (Ranong hot springs, 2019) (checked November 2026)
• Department of National Parks – GREEN Health Attraction awards for Ranong parks (October 2026, Thai) (checked November 2026)
• Department of National Parks – Phon Rang mineral spring upgrade (June 2026, Thai) (checked November 2026)
• UK Foreign Office – Myanmar travel advice (checked October 2026)
• Thai PBS – Department of Intellectual Property on Thailand's coffee GIs (January 2026) (checked October 2026)