The Royal Cadet Academy's Monument
Location : Amphoe Kra Buri
which borders Ranong and Chumphon. This statue, situated 86 km from Muang district, is imprinted with the royal signature of King Rama V.
Wat Hat Som Paen
Location : Amphoe Muang
a home to a big herd of Pluang fish, sits close to Raksawarin Park. This temple also enshrines the effigy of Luang Phor Khlai,
a highly revered monk in the South. From Muang Ranong, take Highway 4005.
Hot Springs and Raksa Warin Arboretum
Location : Amphoe Muang
Located about 2 kilometers 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 'Raksa Warin', 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.
Location : Amphoe Muang
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 Poo 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
recognized 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.
Location : Amphoe Muang
Located about 15 kilometers from the town center, 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 center offers guided forest walks. Arrangements can be made by writing to the Chief of Ngao Mangrove Forest
Research Center, Mu 4, Ban Lang, Tambon Ngao, Amphoe Muang, Changwat Ranong 85000 at least three weeks in advance of a proposed visit to the center.
Phu Khao Ya
(Grass Hill) or Khao Hua Lan
(Bald Hill) or Khao Phi
(Ghost Hill)
Location : Amphoe Muang
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 4 (Ranong-Phang-nga) about twelve kilometers 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.
Location : Amphoe Muang
Located about nine kilometers from downtown Ranong along highway 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 Koh 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.
Location : Amphoe Muang
As an island in neighbouring Myanmar, Koh Song offers visitors a variety of local products, souvenirs such as wicker basketry and
laquerware, and gems. Longtailed 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 : (077) 821216. Jansom Travel also offers tours to Koh Song.
Location : Amphoe Muang
One and half hours by boat from the Ranong Pier, Koh 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
Koh Phayam and the nearby islands of Koh Hai Hin and Koh Chang often provide excellent game fishing, snorkeling and diving.
To get to Koh Phayam visitors can get taxi boats daily at 2 p.m. from Ranong Pier for 100 Baht per person.
Location : Amphoe Muang
With only 45 homes on the entire island, Koh Chang welcomes visitors with a quiet, unspoiled tropical island ambiance.
Visitors who wish to explore the island for more than a day are advised to contact the abbot at Wat Koh Chang. Like Koh
Phayam, boats can be chartered from the Ranong Pier.
Location : Amphoe Muang
a home to a big herd of Pluang fish, sits close to Raksawarin Park. This temple also enshrines the effigy of Luang Phor
Khlai, a highly revered monk in the South. From Muang Ranong, take Highway 4005.
Location : Amphoe Kra Buri
Located in Ban Thapli, Tambon Lamu at Km 545 on Highway 4, 66 kilometers northeast of the town center,
the Kra is the Malayan Peninsula's narrowest point, spanning a mere 44 kilometers 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 provides an excellent vantage point from which to see the Kra Buri River forming a natural boundary
between Thailand and Myanmar.
Location : Amphoe Kapur
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 kilometers, the park offers white sandy beaches, pine trees forests, a seascape of nearby islands and great bird watching.
The park office is on Highway 4 (Ranong-Phang-nga), 45 kilometers from the provincial capital, six kilometers from Kapur. Turn right
at kilometer 657 and continue for ten kilometers 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 kilometers 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-tailed boats to visit the boulder formations on Koh Khang Khao, a trip that takes about 40 minutes, or
20 minutes further to "Buffalo's Horn" Island, or Koh Aoa Khao Kwai, 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 Koh Kham 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: (02) 5797223, 5795734 or to the Chief of Laem Son National Park, Bang Ben Beach, Tambon Muang Kloung, Amphoe Kapur, Ranong 85120.
Location : Amphoe La-un
So named because of its resemblance to a traditional Thai food cover, Fa Chi Hill is located off of Highway 4 in Tambon Bang Kaew. 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 kilometer 580 onto the paved road that has the sign Khao Fa Chi
Communications Center posted on it, and continue for three kilometers. Two kilometers 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.
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