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:: Amphoe Kapoe
 Laem
Son National Park
Declared a national park in 1983, Laem Son is a coastal
park that extends out to include a number of islands. Covering an
area of 315 square kilometres, the park offers white sandy beaches,
pine trees forests, a seascape of nearby islands and great bird
watching. The park office is on Highway No. 4 (Ranong-Phang-nga),
45 kilometres from the provincial capital, six kilometres from Kapoe.
Turn right at kilometre 657 and continue for ten kilometres until
reaching the office on Bang Ben Beach.
It's easy to see why Bang Ben Beach was chosen to be the location
of the Park's headquarter. A coastal breeze and shady pine trees
help to keep temperatures pleasant nearly all year round. The long
white sandy beach looks out onto a multitude of islands scattered
offshore, making every position on the beach a wonderful view. Just
four kilometres from Bang Ben is Laem Son Beach where visitors can
camp and enjoy bird watching. A number of the islands in the park
are worth visiting. From Bang Ben Beach, local fishermen will take
visitors out in their long-tail boats to visit the boulder formations
on Ko Khang Khao, a trip that takes about 40 minutes, or 20 minutes
further to "Buffalo's Horn" Island, or Ko Ao Khao Khwai,
aptly named for its shape. (Park's rangers are also stationed here
to assist visitors.) From Bang Ben Beach, arrangements can also
be made to destinations further afield such as the fabulous beaches
on Ko Kam Yai. Travel to this island takes about 1 hour and a half.
Accommodation and restaurants are available in Laem Son National
Park. Further information can be obtained from either National Parks
Division, Forestry Department in Bangkok, tel . 0 2579 7223, 0 2579
5734 or to the Chief of Laem Son National Park, Bang Ben Beach,
Tambon Muang Klang, Amphoe Kapoe, Ranong 85120.
:: Amphoe Kra Buri
 Kho
Khot Kra or Kra Isthmus
Located in Ban Thap Li, Tambon Lamu at Km. 545 on Highway
No. 4, 66 kilometres northeast of the town centre, the Kra Isthmus
is the Malayan Peninsulas narrowest point, spanning a mere 44 kilometres
from the Gulf of Thailand on the east coast to the Andaman Sea on
the west coast. There is a large cement map to help orient visitors.
The Kra Isthmus provides an excellent vantage point from which to
see the Kra Buri River forming a natural boundary between Thailand
and Myanmar.
:: Amphoe La-un
 Khao
Fa Chi So
Named because of its resemblance to a traditional Thai food
cover, Fa Chi hill is located off of Highway No. 4 in Tambon Bang
Kaeo. The hill provides an excellent vantage from which to see two
rivers, the Kra Buri and the La-un, converge. The many river islands
formed where these two rivers meet makes the scenery fascinating
to behold. Sunsets are often breathtaking. To reach Fa Chi hill,
turn left at Km. 580 onto the paved road, and continue for three
kilometres. Two kilometres further, near the bridge which crosses
the La-un River, history buffs will find the remains of a Japanese
military based complete with a warship wrecks, underground tunnels
and the remains of a railway line. Japanese soldiers used this area
as a port of sending support to Burma during the Second World War.
:: Amphoe Muang
 Hat
Chan Damri
Located about nine kilometres from downtown Ranong along
Highway No. 4004 (Ranong-Pak Nam), this small beach and pier, and
a nearby hillside viewpoint offer good vantage points from which
to witness seafaring life along the mouth of Ranong's principal
river. From here visitors can see across to Victoria Point of Ko
Song in Myanmar of further out to the many other islands, big and
small, which dot the Andaman Sea. The hilltop viewpoint is a particularly
good location for watching Ranong's sunsets. The Jansom Thara Resort,
situated above the beach, offers boat trips to some of the islands.
Hot Springs and Raksawarin Arboretum
Located about 2 kilometres east of the provincial office,
the hot springs have been a popular tourist spot ever since King
Rama V visited Ranong in 1890, and named the road to the hot springs
'Chon Ra-u', meaning 'hot water'. There are three natural spring
pools. The temperature of the water in the pools remains constant
at about 65 ?C. The water is both potable and suitable for bathing.
Doctors routinely prescribe bathing in the pools for both medical
treatments and as a relaxing way to ease stress and tension. Surrounding
the hot springs is a deep shaded forest called 'Raksawarin', where
resting pavilions and wash rooms have been provided for the visitor's
comfort. Nearby Wat Tapo Tharam also provides bathing rooms for
visitors who want to enjoy the healthy mineral water from the thermal
springs.
Ko Chang
With an area of 18 square kilometres and 80 homes on the
entire island, Ko Chang welcomes visitors with a quiet, unspoiled
tropical island ambience. Like Ko Phayam, boats can be chartered
from the Ranong Pier. The island can be reached within 1 hour by
long-tail boat. There are four beaches on the west of the island.
Private bungalows are available.
Ko Phayam
Two hours by boat from the Ranong Pier, Ko Phayam is famous
for both its long fine white sandy beaches and for the cashew nuts
which are grown on the island. A number of sea gypsies, or Chao
Le, live on the island as well. The waters between Ko Phayam and
the nearby islands of Ko Hai Hin and Ko Chang often provide excellent
game fishing. To get to Ko Phayam visitors can charter boats from
Ranong Pier for about 1,000 baht per trip. Visitors can also charter
speedboats from Ko Phayam Resort. Prices range from 2,000 to 4,000
baht, depending on the size of the boat. Reservations can be made
by calling 0 7781 2297, 0 1323 0436.
Namtok Ngao
Located in Tambon Ngao in the vicinity of Khlong Phrao National
Park, the steep Ngao Waterfall can be seen from a great distance
away because of its commanding height. The area is home to a unique
species of crab. Known to locals for years as Pu Chao Fa. This fresh
water crab has just been recently classified by the scientific community
and added to the world's list of shellfish. These crabs, easily
recognised by their white bodies and dark purple mouths, live in
crevices or under dry leaves along the banks of the small creeks
which run from the waterfall. Interestingly, the biologist who first
classified this species, Professor Phaiboon Naiyanet from Chulalongkorn
university, named the crab Phricotelphusa Sirindhorn in reverence
to Her Royal Highness, Princess Sirindhorn.
Ngao Mangrove Forest Research Centre
Located about 15 kilometres from the town centre, the Ngao
Mangrove Forest has been declared a World Biological Sanctuary Zone
by UNESCO owing to the essential role this mangrove plays in maintaining
the region's ecological integrity. Many species of marine life come
to the mangrove to mate, incubate their eggs and care for their
young until the offspring are strong enough to face the perils of
the open sea. The centre offers guided forest walks. Arrangements
can be made by writing to the Chief of Ngao Mangrove Forest Research
Centre, Mu 4, Ban Lang, Tambon Ngao, Amphoe Mueang, Ranong 85000
at least three weeks in advance of a proposed visit to the centre.
 Phu
Khao Ya (Grass Hill)
Known to local residents by a variety of names and endearingly
referred to as Thailand's version of a Swiss pasture, this hill,
located in Tambon Ngao on Highway No. 4 (Ranong-Phang-nga) about
twelve kilometres from downtown Ranong, is something of an anomaly
as it is completely treeless, being covered instead by a thick blanket
of grass. Numerous walking trails and good vantage points offering
unbroken views of the countryside make this hill the most popular
in Ranong.
Victoria Point of Ko Song
As an island in neighbouring Myanmar, Ko Song offers visitors
a variety of local products, souvenirs such as wicker basketry and
lacquerware, and gems. Long-tail boats can be hired in Pak Nam Ranong
or on the Ranong Pier. The boat ride to Victoria Point takes about
15 minutes each way and costs between 200 and 300 baht. Before embarking
on this excursion, visitors must obtain a boarding card issued by
the Ranong Immigration Office in Pak Nam Ranong, tel : 0 7782 1216.
Jansom Travel also offers tours to Ko Song.
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