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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 MUEANG
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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