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   Ranong, province and
   city

Ranong? Where is Ranong?

In the south of Thailand, very close to the border of Myanmar you will find the province of Ranong. And in it: the city of Ranong. Ranong is believed to be the 'new' destination for tourist who like to travel in 'unspoiled' area. Eco-tourism is one of the province's main attention points. Ranong is worth a visit, even better: stay a longer period and discover it's jungle, beaches, mangrove forest, mountains and waterfalls.

Ranong province

The province of Ranong has many things to offer to the traveler who wants to stop his journey to the south (Phuket, Krabi) and look around.

The province of Ranong has a lot of islands along its coastline, many waterfalls and caves, nice cities and villages to visit, beautiful views, scenery's, beaches, National parks, nature and mangrove forest along the coast. And there are many natural hot springs, open to public and worth visiting.

Ranong city

The city of Ranong is becoming a new fashionable destination for the younger crowd and nature lovers. Ranong is one of the largest fishing ports in Thailand, a border town surrounded by mountains and thick forest.

Here Myanmar (former Burma) and Thailand fade into each other, the forest arrives just up to the sea and nature set up some very convincing exhibition.

You will not need to be there long to feel the difference from other Thai towns. They say that the city of Kandy in Sri Lanka is the only city in the world where there is a piece of tropical rain forest right within the city. Maybe we can say that Ranong is the only city in the world to have a piece of city in the tropical rain forest. If you walk 50 meters behind the bus station you find yourself right in the forest. If you turn right to the market or left and walk for a little but, you can start trekking. Next to trekking, you will find some interesting things to do in or around the city of Ranong.

Even if Ranong is right on the sea, there is not so much in the way of beaches. You can find a few beaches if you rent a motorbike and start exploring, but there is nothing as spectacular as in Chumphon or Krabi.

On the other hand the islands of Koh Chang and Koh Phayam are just an hour away by long tail boat and there you can have all the beaches you want.

Being Ranong surrounded by mountains and also being Ranong the most rainy place in Thailand (5,300 mm a year, more or less the same average as a car wash), you can expect (and find) many waterfalls. Some of the waterfalls are within a National Park, and to visit them you have to pay an entrance fee (200 Baht), but many other are accessible without fees and are great places for a picnic.

There are in Ranong some locally famous hot springs and some of the big hotels have indoor Spas.

The influence of Burma is very evident in the town, where you can see at least as many Burmese as there are Thai, the signs in front of the shops are in both languages. Most of the small restaurants feature Burmese karaoke machines showing videos of Burmese singers and movie stars, and groups of Burmese workers seat drinking beer and singing with a seemingly unlimited energy. In Ranong you get the impression that Burmese are the most tune deaf people in the world.

Until little time ago it was impossible to find in Ranong any kind of tourist service, a motorbike for rent or a reasonable place where to sleep. Now it's getting better, with a couple of guesthouses offering a pretty good service and a more tourist oriented attitude of the local authorities.

Ranong is definitely a place where to spend a few days if you are looking for something different from the normal overcrowded tourist destinations. The best season is from the end of October to the end of May, but you can go there at any time of the year if you can stand a big shower now and then.

Bring a rain coat with you even in the good season as the weather can change in a matter of minutes. The short stretch of sea between Ranong and Victoria Point in Burma is well sheltered by the many islands and very rarely gets too rough to cross. If you want to see the rain forest what better time then when it is raining?

Things to do near the city or Ranong

Within a 50 km radius around the town you will be able to find a number of interesting things to see.

Rafting

Wildwater- and bamboo rafting in Patho District is the pet project of the tourist authorities of Chumphon, and you will find tours to there from most of the guesthouses and tourist offices.

Other tours offered are to the caves and to the various beaches. Snorkeling tours are also offered almost everywhere.

Very popular is the trekking tour and snorkeling and fishing tours.

Islands

Koh Phayam
This island largely covered by cashew nut plantations can be reached by boat from the Ranong Landing. On the island, there is also a pearl farm and fishing villages.

Other offshore island where visitors can enjoy fishing and diving are Koh Sin Hai and Koh Chang. A boat can be hired from the Ranong Landing.

Hat Praphat is beach located 90 kilometer south of Ranong city. Visitors may take a boat from the park office to explore some offshore islands such as Koh Khangkhao, Koh Kam Tok and Koh Kam Yai.

Cities, villages

Koh Song or Victoria Point

A small town of Myanmar that is accessible by boat from the Ranong Landing at the mouth of the Kra Buri River. The boat trip takes only half an hour. Customs and Immigration formalities must be processed first.

Waterfalls, caves

Namtok Chum Saeng or Namtok Sai Rung
This waterfall is located in Ban Pak Chan, 80 kilometer north of Ranong city or 16 kilometer from Amphoe Kra Buri. It is accessible by Highway No. 4 and then turn left at km-sign 529-530 onto the road for another 3 kilometer. The waterfall looks most beautiful when a colorful rainbow sometimes appears on the spray of the waterfall on a sunny day.

Namtok Bokkrai This waterfall with many levels and pleasant surroundings is 2 kilometer from the Kra Buri Market and another 13 kilometer on an access road. Namtok Khao Phra Narai This is a lovely waterfall located about 3 kilometer from the Kapoe District Office.

Tham Phra Khayang
This beautiful cave adorned with plenty of stalactites and stalagmites is located at kilometer sign 564 on Highway No. 4, some 12 kilometer north of the town. An old legend links it to the establishment of Kra Buri town. It is said that Lek Lai, a special iron element believed to be elastic and flexible like wax, has been found in this cave.

Scenery's, views, beaches and National Parks

Kra Isthmus
The narrowest part of the Malay Peninsula is located approximately at km-sign 545 of Highway No. 4 in Amphoe Kra Buri. There is a viewpoint overlooking the scenic landscape around the Kra Buri River, which forms the border between Thailand and Myanmar.

Laem Son National Park
Travel 45 kilometer south of Ranong along Highway No. 4 and turn right at km-sign 657 for another 10 kilometer to the park office. The Laem Son National park covering an area of 315 square kilometers contains many beautiful attractions. A fee should be paid to enter the park.

Hat Laem Son and Hat Bang Ben are two extensive beaches lined with pine trees.

Hat Praphat is another beach in the park located 90 kilometers south of Ranong city. Visitors may take a boat from the park office to explore some offshore islands such as Koh Khangkhao, Koh Kam Tok and Koh Kam Yai.

Coral abounds in the area called Him Khan Na, 15 minutes by boat from the shore.

Ranong hot springs

The most popular attraction of Ranong is 2 kilometer east of town, situated among shady surroundings which has a maintained arboretum called the Raksawarin Park. The temperature of the springs is about 65 degrees Celsius. The hot springs are free for public and very popular amongst Thai people, who come here after working hours to sit, chat, eat a little bit, socialize.

In the mountains there are numerous hot springs too, with often a nice cool river alongside. The temperature of these springs vary from 'okay to sit in' - about 42 degrees Celsius - to extremely hot.

If you want to enjoy the hot spring in a luxury way, then you can go to one of the bigger hotels in Ranong, there you will find a hot pool and a regular swimming pool.