Day 1/2, Friday/Saturday 20/21 March - Ranong
With two interesting tours completed during my stay in Thailand my attention turns to extending it by making a Visa Run. A Visa Run allows further time in Thailand visa free. There are several options, the cheapest and most popular one is at the Ranong/Kawthoung border with Myanmar. This is quite doable for those already in the South but it's a long way from Bangkok. Accordingly, I've decided to incorporate the 'run' into to a longer duration tour. This will add another region, the Southern to the Northeast and East that I've covered recently.
We plan to take the overnight bus to Ranong and make our way Sai Tai (Southern) Bus Terminal in Bangkok on for the 8pm VIP (24 seat Tour Bus). This service costs 666 baht per person and arrives at Ranong by 5am.
It's early but we eventually find a songthaew (local transport) to first drop off luggage off at Suta House before we head to the pier. Here I exit through immigration and take a boat for the short trip across the Kra Buri river estuary. Arriving at the opposite shore I don't even have to land. The agent collects the passports together with nice crisp dollar bills and head for Myanmar customs where you simply check in and out. How simple is that? Back at Thai customs it's just a matter of completing the arrivals card and get your passport stamped. By 11am the job is done, and I can relax for the remainder of the day introducing myself to the city of Ranong.
Suta House consists of a variety of bungalows and apartments with a restaurant serving dinner which proves quite reasonable.
Day 3, Sunday 22 March - Koh Phayam
Over a quite impressive breakfast we study the tour brochures and commit to head for the island of Koh Phayam, a second island during my current stay in Thailand. We head for Tai Kak pier for the Koh Phayam ferry which leaves at 2pm ferry to Koh Phayam arriving on the island before 4pm as the sea proves calm. The cost is 150 baht per person each way. It is most advisable to take some provisions with you as these are expensive on the island. From the pier we head across the island to Vijit Resort on the western side in Ao Kao Kwai Bay. This is the most secluded of the three main bays. However, Vijit proves not to be the most comfortable but the cost for the larger bungalow is just 500 baht.
Day 4, Monday 23 March - Koh Phayam
Considering our options, we vacant Viji Resort and move to Baan Suan cottage 2, at the northern end of Ao Kao Kwai Bay and book for two nights. The bungalows were reasonable at 400 baht, but the cement road is not complete. Motorbikes are the only practical transport, but access here is difficult during wet weather. We hire a motorbike for 250 baht/day from the owner of Baan Suan cottage 2.
Day 5, Tuesday 24 March - Koh Phayam
Today the feeling of being lost in time continues. Apart from an area around the ferry pier where the only shops are the rest of the island is accessed by a narrow concrete road unsuitable for four-wheeled vehicles. I note in passing that an important crop on the island is cashew nuts. Apparently, the shells are poisonous and when the fruits fall onto the concrete road from overhanging branches, it can make the road slippery especially when wet.
Day 6, Wednesday 25 March - Ranong
Today it is back to the ferry post for the 2pm crossing. While waiting for the ferry we take lunch in the village, but we must take shelter due to a storm brewing. It's unfortunate for local people who are engaged in festivities with a football tournament in progress. The storm passes and with just enough time to buy some cashew nuts we head back to Ranong where we again check in at Suta House.
Day 7, Thursday 26 March - Bangok via Cha-am
Today we need to head back to Bangkok and take a blue songthaew to the bus station (15 baht). The tour slow bus to Cha-am is under 250 baht but takes 7.5 hours. Here the tour effectively ends as we stay overnight in Cha-am before returning to Bangkok.
With two interesting tours completed during my stay in Thailand my attention turns to extending it by making a Visa Run. A Visa Run allows further time in Thailand visa free. There are several options, the cheapest and most popular one is at the Ranong/Kawthoung border with Myanmar. This is quite doable for those already in the South but it's a long way from Bangkok. Accordingly, I've decided to incorporate the 'run' into to a longer duration tour. This will add another region, the Southern to the Northeast and East that I've covered recently.
We plan to take the overnight bus to Ranong and make our way Sai Tai (Southern) Bus Terminal in Bangkok on for the 8pm VIP (24 seat Tour Bus). This service costs 666 baht per person and arrives at Ranong by 5am.
It's early but we eventually find a songthaew (local transport) to first drop off luggage off at Suta House before we head to the pier. Here I exit through immigration and take a boat for the short trip across the Kra Buri river estuary. Arriving at the opposite shore I don't even have to land. The agent collects the passports together with nice crisp dollar bills and head for Myanmar customs where you simply check in and out. How simple is that? Back at Thai customs it's just a matter of completing the arrivals card and get your passport stamped. By 11am the job is done, and I can relax for the remainder of the day introducing myself to the city of Ranong.
Suta House consists of a variety of bungalows and apartments with a restaurant serving dinner which proves quite reasonable.
Day 3, Sunday 22 March - Koh Phayam
Over a quite impressive breakfast we study the tour brochures and commit to head for the island of Koh Phayam, a second island during my current stay in Thailand. We head for Tai Kak pier for the Koh Phayam ferry which leaves at 2pm ferry to Koh Phayam arriving on the island before 4pm as the sea proves calm. The cost is 150 baht per person each way. It is most advisable to take some provisions with you as these are expensive on the island. From the pier we head across the island to Vijit Resort on the western side in Ao Kao Kwai Bay. This is the most secluded of the three main bays. However, Vijit proves not to be the most comfortable but the cost for the larger bungalow is just 500 baht.
Day 4, Monday 23 March - Koh Phayam
Considering our options, we vacant Viji Resort and move to Baan Suan cottage 2, at the northern end of Ao Kao Kwai Bay and book for two nights. The bungalows were reasonable at 400 baht, but the cement road is not complete. Motorbikes are the only practical transport, but access here is difficult during wet weather. We hire a motorbike for 250 baht/day from the owner of Baan Suan cottage 2.
Day 5, Tuesday 24 March - Koh Phayam
Today the feeling of being lost in time continues. Apart from an area around the ferry pier where the only shops are the rest of the island is accessed by a narrow concrete road unsuitable for four-wheeled vehicles. I note in passing that an important crop on the island is cashew nuts. Apparently, the shells are poisonous and when the fruits fall onto the concrete road from overhanging branches, it can make the road slippery especially when wet.
Day 6, Wednesday 25 March - Ranong
Today it is back to the ferry post for the 2pm crossing. While waiting for the ferry we take lunch in the village, but we must take shelter due to a storm brewing. It's unfortunate for local people who are engaged in festivities with a football tournament in progress. The storm passes and with just enough time to buy some cashew nuts we head back to Ranong where we again check in at Suta House.
Day 7, Thursday 26 March - Bangok via Cha-am
Today we need to head back to Bangkok and take a blue songthaew to the bus station (15 baht). The tour slow bus to Cha-am is under 250 baht but takes 7.5 hours. Here the tour effectively ends as we stay overnight in Cha-am before returning to Bangkok.
Trat Province
Seafood Market, Ranong Estuary
Mueang Ranong District
Ranong Estuary
Mueang Ranong District
Tai Kak Pier, Mueang Ranong District
Koh Phayam, Koh Phayam District
Bot Klang Thale, Koh Phayam,
Koh Phayam District
Ao Khao Kwai, Koh Phayam,
Koh Phayam District
Koh Phayam Village, Koh Phayam District
Koh Phayam Pier, Koh Phayam District