Ko Phayam
Laid Back Andaman Island Near The Myanmar Border, Within Laem Son National Park · Ko Phayam, Ranong
Ko Phayam is a small, hilly island in the Andaman Sea off Ranong, close to the Myanmar border, within the Laem Son National Park area, and it is one of the most relaxed islands in Thailand. There are no cars: a network of narrow concrete paths links the pier village on the east coast with the beaches on the west, and people get around by scooter, motorbike taxi, bicycle or on foot. The two main beaches are Ao Yai, or Long Beach, a wide sweep of pale sand several kilometres long that catches small surf in the wet season, and Ao Khao Kwai, Buffalo Bay, a quieter curve with rocky points and fine sunsets. Inland, cashew plantations and rubber cover the hills, and hornbills fly over the forest. Stays are mostly wooden and concrete bungalows among the trees, run by families and long-staying foreigners, and electricity and internet have improved but are still basic in places. Boats take about 45 minutes to 2 hours from Ranong, and in the wet season many places close. Bring cash.
Ko Phayam Pier, Ko Phayam, Ko Phayam, Ranong, 85000, Thailand
NO OPENING TIME HERE WAS CHECKED. The typical pattern: the island itself is always open, with no gate or fixed hours; boats from Ranong run from about morning to mid-afternoon, with several departures a day in the dry season and fewer in the wet season, and the last boat back to the mainland usually leaves in the afternoon; shops and restaurants in the pier village open from morning to evening, and many bungalows and restaurants close entirely from roughly May to October. The traps that ruin a trip are missing the last afternoon boat from Ranong, arriving without enough cash, coming in the wet season to find your chosen area closed, and planning a Kawthaung visa run that is not open. Confirm current times before relying on them.