Itinerary Ideas: Chumphon and Ranong

No matter how often you visit Thailand, there is always somewhere new to discover. In this latest edition of our Itinerary Ideas series, we take a look at two lesser-known destinations in Southern Thailand: Chumphon and Ranong.

Although these two provinces are adjacent to each other, Chumphon is on the Gulf Coast and Ranong is on the Andaman Coast. This itinerary gives you a chance to visit quiet islands and beaches on the different coasts and also explore interesting towns that don’t see many overseas tourists.

For this itinerary, we would recommend spending at least five days in each province. For a two-week holiday, our suggestion is to allocate a few extra days to Ranong and relax on the island of Ko Phayam. For a 2-week itinerary we suggest something like this:

• 5/6 days Chumphon
• 8 days Ranong (including at least 3 days on Ko Phayam)

Chumphon

Chumphon is known as the gateway to southern Thailand. It’s from here where boats depart to Ko Tao and onwards to Ko Pha Ngan and Ko Samui. While plenty of tourists do transit in Chumphon, not many stick around to explore the area, opting instead to get on the first available boat to Ko Tao. That is reason enough for discerning travellers to linger in Chumphon and discover the understated charm of this province.

Chumphon Town is often dismissed in travel guides as simply being a transit town. That is indeed what most travellers use it for, but the town is actually a good base to explore this quiet corner of Thailand. Frequent and cheap songthaews (shared taxis) run to the mainland beaches. The average journey time to Thung Wua Laen Beach in one direction or Sairee Beach in the other is 30 minutes. Alternatively, you can opt to stay at either beach. Accommodation options are more limited compared to the tourist-orientated islands of Ko Samui, Ko Pha Ngan and Ko Tao. However, this lack of development is part of the appeal of Chumphon where you will find quiet beaches and more of a local feel than you will on the popular islands in the Gulf of Thailand.

Chumphon is an excellent location for adventurous travellers with a diverse range of things to see and do. One of the highlights is the Mu Ko Chumphon National Park. Encompassing dozens of islands, you will find picturesque beaches and some wonderful snorkelling and diving locations at Ko Ngam Noi, Ko Nga Yai, and Ko Talu. Contact Siam Catamaran Company or Chumphon Cabana Resort and Diving Centre to arrange trips.

7 of the best things to see and do in Chumphon

Ranong

As is the case with Chumphon province, Ranong is often overlooked by travellers in their haste to reach better-known destinations on the Andaman Coast like Phuket and Krabi. That has left Ranong to remain relatively unknown to overseas tourists. Those who do visit Ranong will find a charming provincial capital, delightful islands and a mix of cultures.

Ranong Town

For such a small town, Ranong has an eclectic food scene with Burmese, Chinese, Malay and Thai influences. Visit the day market for a selection of cheap and tasty local treats. For something more upmarket try southern Thai favourites like moo hong or shrimp with sator beans at the Farmhouse Restaurant.

Pay a visit to the Rattanarangsan Palace at any time of the day or wait until early evening and watch the sun setting behind the town and over the Andaman Sea.

No visit to Ranong is complete without a visit to the hot springs. If you’re staying in town, the easiest to reach are the Raksawarin Hot Springs.

Ranong islands

For a beach break, make the boat journey from Ranong Town to the laidback island of Ko Phayam. This quiet island is as chilled as they come and ideal for forgetting about the stresses of daily life. Much of the accommodation in Ko Phayam is relatively basic, albeit comfortable and budget-friendly. For something more luxurious take a look at The Blue Sky Resort (they also have accommodation in Ranong Town).

Even quieter still, nearby Ko Chang (not to be confused with the bigger island of the same name in Trat province) is another location to get away from it all.

Wherever you choose to stay, take a day trip out to Laemsom National Park. With its secluded bays and uninhabited islands, this is an excellent location for snorkelling. Day trips to Laemsom can be arranged with tour operators in Ranong Town and Ko Phayam.

8 of the best things to see and do in Ranong

Good to know

Although Chumphon and Ranong are neighbouring provinces, the weather impacts their respective coastlines differently. For this joint itinerary, the best chance of prolonged sunny weather across both provinces is from February to April. Although November to January is usually good for Ko Phayam and Ranong, this period can see more unsettled weather on the Chumphon coastline.

If you want to visit some of the more remote attractions in Chumphon and Ranong, it does help if you have your own transport. It’s possible to hire a car, but we don’t advise hiring a motorbike in Thailand unless you are an experienced rider and properly insured.

Travel

Flights from Bangkok Don Mueang to Chumphon with low-cost carrier Nok Air take around one hour. Alternatively, you can travel by train from Bangkok with a journey time of approximately eight hours. Chumphon train station is conveniently located in the centre of town near the night market.

Regular buses connect Chumphon with Ranong with a journey time of 2.5 hours.

If you’d prefer to start your itinerary in Ranong, the flight time from Bangkok Don Mueang to Ranong is around 75 minutes. Unlike Chumphon, there are no train services to Ranong.

During the November-April high season, there is a frequent boat service between Ranong Town and Ko Phayam. Boat services to Ko Chang are less frequent but can be booked from the pier in Ranong Town or on Ko Phayam.

Itinerary Ideas
This article is part of our Itinerary Ideas series. These particular itineraries are for anybody, but may appeal more to repeat visitors to Thailand looking to explore different destinations on their next trip or anyone seeking meaningful travel experiences. If you’re a first-time visitor to Thailand or looking for more ideas of where to go and what to do, check out these articles too:
2-week Thailand itinerary
3-week Thailand itinerary
4-week Thailand itinerary

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