Ranong - Koh Phayam

Koh Phayam is the (relatively) undiscovered pearl of the Andaman Sea with long white sandy beaches, clear blue sea, coral reefs, it's the perfect place to really get away from it all. But based on my personal experience, it is not a place to go during the rainy season

Koh Phayam is only 10 km long and 5 km wide with population around 500 people. Small roads without cars – just motorcycles and bicycle for cruising around. It takes two hours from Ranong to Koh Phayam by boat and 45 minutes by speed boat.

The island‘s two main bays are Aow Yai and Aow Khao Kwai (pictured). If you get bored of the beach life then there's always the inland experience with several good mini hikes into the hills, forests and jungle.

Koh Phayam is 35 km from Ranong city and close to Burmese St. Matthew's Island. Boat service to/from the Ranong Pier is one time per day in low season (May – October) and twice a day in high season (November – April). Speedboat service runs only in high season.

Buffalo Bay is the quieter beach, especially south east part of the bay. More upscale and better quality resorts dedicated to families with kids, groups and middle age pairs. So quiet in fact that I got bored during my stay there and cut my stay on the island short. That gave me time to revisit not only Ranong's hot springs, but also the Ranong Canyon - which turned out to be a small lake. But as they say, it is the journey and not the destination that matters.