Ranong is a town located in the Province of Ranong in southern Thailand, the town has a population of over 16,000 people. Ranong is surrounded by dense forests and lush agricultural lands that cover much of the province with numerous big and small islands off its coastline. What are the things to do in Ranong Thailand?
In Ranong, you can relax on the amazing beaches in the area such as Ao Yai Beach. You can visit Rattanarangsan Palace which was built for the fifth King of Thailand. There are also several hot springs in the area. And you can enjoy eating the local Thai food at one of the many restaurants around the city.
In this post, we will go through things to do in Ranong Thailand. Let’s get started!
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The Best Time To Visit Ranong
Ranong has an average temperature of between 29°C to 33°C all year round. The coolest months are between June to August. The rainy season lasts for around eight months of the year.
The best time to visit Ranong is from December to February as is the best time to visit as the weather is cooler and the town is busier.
Things To Do In Ranong Thailand
Ranong is a town located in the province of Ranong in southern Thailand. It is surrounded by lush forests, beaches, and islands. There are fun things to do in Ranong that will keep you busy for a few days.
Here is our list of things to do in Ranong Thailand.
Explore Ngao National Park
Ngao National Park is about 13 km south of Ranong town. At the park, you have the chance to see a fantastic and spectacular waterfall that plunges 300 meters down a hillside rockface.
It is visible from the road but is even better from inside the park, whether at the park or closer up at the base of the falls. And is about a 500-meter walk to see Ngao Waterfall.
Enjoy Rakswarin Hot Springs
The Rakswarin hot springs are well maintained and clean especially considering that these are public facilities and they are free. The hot springs themselves consist of various pools where you can enter the pools, where you can sit, or lie in the water. The temperatures of pools vary with the hottest being 40°C.
There is also a fenced-off area that has an entrance fee of 40 baht. The fee allows you to use the changing rooms, lockers, and other facilities available.
The free section doesn’t have to change rooms and the public toilet is about 100 meters away.
Visit Porn Rang Hot Springs
Porn Rang hot springs are fairly close to Ngao National Park. The hot springs are naturally heated water baths. And you can go for a swim in the river to cool down between soaks.
The springs are surrounded by wonderful scenery. All the facilities are well maintained. You will need to bring a towel as there is none to rent. There are male and female changing rooms plus showers close to the hot pools.
There is an entrance fee of 100 baht for foreigners and 20 baht for Thais. With the entry fee, you are also able to visit the Ngao waterfall for free.
Explore Koh Phayam
Koh Phayam is a small island in the Andaman Sea. It is roughly about 35 km from Ranong. Like most islands in Thailand, it has a laid-back vibe to it.
Koh Phayam has awesome beaches and bars making it a great place to relax and get away and just spend some time on the quiet beaches around the island.
Visit Ao Yai Beach
This beach is a very long sandy beach, roughly about 3 km long. It has white sand and clear blue water and is surrounded by a green lush forest that gives you that real tropical feeling.
The beach vibe is relaxed plus it is also a good spot for surfing. And there are wonderful sunsets to enjoy and nice bars along the beach.
Explore Ngao Mangrove Forest Research Centre
The Ngao Mangrove Forest is a World Biological Sanctuary Zone by UNESCO. This is home to many species of marine life and they protect their offspring until they are strong enough to face the open sea.
There are guided forest walk tours provided by the center. These tours can be completed in around 30 minutes and there are a few great viewpoints to enjoy.
While walking you will also encounter monkeys. And do be careful around monkeys they will steal your bag, phone, wallet, or whatever while the park officials ‘shoo’ the monkeys away.
Visit Rattanarangsan Palace
Rattanarangsan Palace was built for the fifth King of Thailand, Rama V. The original throne hall was dismantled and replaced by the city hall, and then the new provincial hall was built in 2002.
Today, it is the site of the town hall and also operates as a small museum about the history of Ranong and is open to the public from Wednesday to Sunday.
The museum features reconstructions of bedrooms and recreational areas, the main hall, and information boards. There is an entrance fee of 100 baht for foreigners and 20 baht for Thais.
Visit Punyaban Waterfall
Punyaban waterfall is easy to reach from Ranong. The waterfall itself is about 10 to 15 meters high. With water is crystal clear, and you can see the bottom. Great place to jump into the fresh cool water if only to escape the heat.
No hiking is required to admire the falls which sit next to the road. You can enjoy walks in nature and relax on the rocks. If you want to hike the nature trail, you have to pay 100 baht for foreigners and 20 baht for Thais.
USEFUL TRAVEL RESOURCES
Book Accommodation
Booking.com has a large range of properties from hotels, hostels, guesthouses, and resorts where you will find the best deals. Airbnb and Hostelworld also have a good range of places to stay at good prices.
Booking Flight
Skyscanner is a flight search comparison website that searches millions of flights all at once. Ultimately it is the best flight comparison website online at the moment.
Booking Transportation & Things To Do
Rome2rio and 12Go are useful to plan how to get anywhere by searching train, bus, car, and ferry routes. Especially useful in countries like Vietnam or Thailand. While Klook is great for exploring things to do in each place.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is cheap and more than likely you will never need to use it but you will have peace of mind if something does happen, you are covered in case of an emergency. World Nomads have great customer service and competitive prices.
Check out our resource page for the best companies to use when you travel.
Wrapping Up
Finally, when you are in Ranong you can relax on the amazing beaches in the area such as Ao Yai Beach. Also, you can visit Rattanarangsan Palace which was built for the fifth King of Thailand. There are also several hot springs in the area. And you can enjoy eating the local Thai food at one of the many restaurants around the city.
And that’s it for now! I’d love to know if this guide on things to do in Ranong Thailand has helped you. Let me know if you have any questions and let me know if there is more to add.