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Guide to Koh Phayam
ABOUT KOH PHAYAM
The Island of Koh Phayam is one of the lesser-known treasures reminiscent of Thailand of the 80’s, filled with nature, and white sandy beaches unlike no other. It is located in Southern Thailand and is part of the Andaman Sea. It has no roads built for normal vehicles and isn’t polluted, yet has a rich selection of accommodations, restaurants & bars. While several small beaches exist, the two main ones are called Ao Yai Beach, and Buffalo Bay (Ao Kao Kwai).
Surfing wise, Ao Yai Beach the ideal choice for surfing as Buffalo Bay’s waves are too low and the waters too shallow, but it’s another beautiful side of the island worth exploring. Koh Phayam is situated 30km from Ranong, and access to it is made available via ferries from the Ranong Pier.
Koh Phayam is a little piece of island, dwarfing in size compared to famous islands in Thailand, measuring approximately 10km length and 5km in width, yet its popularity continues to rise due to its authenticity and sheer beauty.
Koh Phayam Transporation
When it comes to transporation options when discussing Koh Phayam, the homebase will always be the Ranong Pier which will take you to Koh Phayam via Ferry or Speed Boat. To reach Ranong, there are two primary options. The first being via Bus, and the second via flight.
Two bus arrival options are available for those coming from Bangkok, as well as options from traveles arrinvg from Chumpon and Surat Thani.
As it currently stands, there are three reputable flight options that offer flights to Ranong. These companies also offers additional destinations such as Chmporn & Surat Thani in case of a lack of availability.
For such cases a directy transport via taxi can range from 2000 to 4000 THB. Two bus arrival options are available for those coming from Bangkok, as well as options from traveles arrinvg from Chumpon and Surat Thani
Ways to get to Koh Phayam By Bus
- New Mit Tour Company near Khao Saan Road in Bangkok.
- From the Southern bus station (Sai Tai Mai), buy a ticket to Ranong. The buses leave at 09:00, 20:00 and 21:00. Estimated time to get to Ranong, 9 hours. VIP - Costs approximately 850 baht
- From Surat Thani to Ranong A minibus leaves every hour from 06:00 to 17:00 and takes about 3 hours. Costs approximately 200 baht
Ways to get to Koh Phayam by Flight
- NokAir – From Don Muang Airport Bangkok to Ranong (Direct)
- Thaiairways – From Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok to Surat Thani
- Airasia – From Don Muang Airport, Bangkok to Ranong (Direct)
Ranong Pier, Getting to Koh Phayam From Ranong
Congratulations on your arrival to Ranong! you’re now one step away from reaching Koh Phayam and enjoying Thailand in its most authentic state of peaceful relaxation. There are two available ways of transportation to reach Koh Phayam from Ranong, both of which involve traveling the sea, from the main public Koh Phayam Pier or the privately held Tai Kak Pier.
To get to the pier, you have the option of taking a motorcycle taxi (around 70 baht), or a songthaew which is like a short minibus which drops you off about five minutes from the pier (around 20 baht).
Speed Boat vs Slow Boat
As the name would suggest, speed boats reach Koh Phayam in a faster manner (around 40 minutes), and cost 300-350 baht. The slow boat on the other hand takes around 2 hours to reach Koh Phayam and costs about 200 baht. If you have patience and want to enjoy the scenery of the surrounding Islands and the local fisherman, then the slow boat can be quite enjoyable. If you just prefer to reach your destination as quickly as possible, then the speed boat is your safest bet.
Speed Boat to Koh Phayam
Speed Boat ScheduleDuration: 40 minutes
Return: From Koh Phayam Pier, available from 7:30 in the morning, until 16:30 in the afternoon (every half hour also)
Raining Season:
From Ranong Pier at 9:00, 10:30, 11:30, 12:00, 13:30, 14:30, 15:00, 16:30
From Koh Phayam Pier at 8:30, 9:00, 9:30, 10:00,11:30, 12:00, 12:30, 14:30, 16:30
Cost: Approximately 350 baht
Destination: Main Village Pier, Eastern Koh Phayam
Slow Boat to Koh Phayam
Slow Boat ScheduleDuration: 2 hours
Option 1: Main Koh Phayam Pier Ferry Leaves Ranong at 14:00 and reaches koh Phayam by 16:00
Return: Leaves Koh Phayam at 8:30, reaches ranong at 10:30
Option 2: Tai Kak Privately Held Pier & Ferry exits Ranong at 10:00, reaches Koh Phayam by 12:00
Return: Leaves Koh Phayam at 15:00, arrives at Ranong in 17:00
Cost: Approximately 200 baht
Destination: Main Village Pier, Eastern Koh Phayam