Location: Ranong
Top Things to do in Ranong
What to do and see in Ranong, Thailand: The Best Places and Tips
Ranong (Thai: ระนอง (Pronunciation)) is a town (thesaban mueang) in southern Thailand, former capital of the Ranong Province and the Mueang Ranong district. The town covers completely the area of the tambon Khao Niwet (เขานิเวศน์). As of 2005 it had a population of 16,163. Ranong lies 586 km south-south-west of Bangkok by road.
Restaurants in Ranong
1. Rakswarin Hot Springs
Overall Ratings
4 based on 202 reviews
Reviewed By Gerard M - Phang Nga, Thailand
There are many Hot Springs in Thailand, but this one is near the road. Very easybto find and enjoy. It can be crowded on weekend/sunny holidays, but also very quiet. Liked the stay here.
2. The Smiling Seahorse
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 97 reviews
The Smiling Seahorse offers dive cruises to the best dive spots of the Andaman Sea in both Thailand and Myanmar. We offer: - a relaxed atmosphere - a confortable vessel - small groups - nitrox and padi courses - yummy food
Reviewed By ajh148 - san francisco
Words can't describe what an incredible experience my husband and I had with The Smiling Seahorse. We did the Mergui Archipelago for six days and couldn't have been happier. I'll start with the most important part: the diving. I am by no means an expert...MoreWow! what a review :) Thanks a lot for the kind words! We strive to have all details right and it is so nice to see appreciation of our work :) we hope to see you back in Ranong very soon!
3. Porn Rang Hot Springs
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 39 reviews
Reviewed By peerapatp - Bangkok, Thailand
This is located a bit further out of town. So it's not as famous and Rakswarin. It's quite popular among locals and Thais especially large family with children since it has many hot spring pools (built by the local administration, which get the hot Springs from underground) that they can play with. Also it has large waterway (canal?) & which feed to large pool that the children (and adults) can swim & play. You will need to pay entrance fee to enter this place though.
4. Punyaban Waterfall
Overall Ratings
4 based on 55 reviews
Reviewed By Shane B
We lived in Ranong for June-September and loved coming here. The falls are directly on the highway and provide an easy scooter access. 100baht gets you in for the day. I loved coming each time to see the variation of water falling. Local food shops are there if you need a drink or thai meal.
5. AIDC - Andaman International Dive Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 39 reviews
Diving Liveaboard on MV Miss Moon in the Andaman Sea. Trips from 4 to 14 days in Thailand and to Myanmar and Andaman Island.
Reviewed By Pawel S - Chicago, Illinois
The diving trip to the Andaman Island was amazing. The food and atmosphere was excellent and the boat (Miss Moon) it's very comfortable and safe.Thank you also to all the crew for everything what they did for us!!! We are recommended to everyone. See you next year at Birma trip!!!
6. Ngao Mangrove Forest Research Centre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 21 reviews
Reviewed By BiffaChristchurch - Christchurch
After Reading the previous review we decided to visit this amazing centre.
Don't rely on google maps as we couldn't find it the first time.
The access road runs along side the 'bald hill' attraction - on the right leaving Ranong southbound. A u turn is needed.
To walk around the reserve takes about 1 hr along the raised walkways which are highlighted with information as you stroll along the amazing collection of mango trees.
We were able to take a boat ride from the small pier which was an amazing experience - showed us the extent of this huge reserve. A boat costs THB 2000 regardless of the amount of people.
This attraction is free as is the car parking.
Staff at the centre were informative and requested you signed their book after your visit.
We had a wonderful half day here albeit we were the only visitors but definitely worth visiting.
Tip - take your sun lotion if you decide to take the boat trip as no cover.
7. Namtok Ngao
Overall Ratings
4 based on 16 reviews
Reviewed By GaryWhite2013 - Bangkok, Thailand
13 kilometres south of Ranong town on Highway 4 (Phetkasem Road). Heading south from Ranong, turn left off the highway and proceed around another two kilometres to the park headquarters. It costs THB 100 to enter the park (for non-Thais) and 40 for Thais (the government engages in the despicab;e practice of double pricing that is prevalent throughout Thailand).
A fantastic, spectacular waterfall that plunges 300 metres down a hillside rockface. It is visible from the road, but is even better from inside the park, whether at park HQ or closer up at the base of the falls. From the parking at HQ you can either walk right, and go first to a viewpoint (up a *very* steep hill, albeit fairly short) and then on along a narrow dirt track to the falls, or you can go left along a more established path to the falls first and then back along the track via the viewpoint. The latter is best as you then come *downhill* from the viewpoint.
We were there in the wet season so the falls were roaring, but I believe they run all year round.
There are also some hot Springs within the National Park, but at a separate entrance - see separate review for Bo Nam Pon Pon Rung. The park fee covers both.
8. 1-Self Yoga
Overall Ratings
5 based on 6 reviews
Reviewed By tjombe - The Hague, The Netherlands
i visited koh payam for the second time this year,partly to take more yogalessons with charmaine.she is a very good teacher who takes her time explaining everything,her lessons are 2,5 hours and contain,breathing excercise,asana s and relaxation/meditation.the lessons take place in open air by the seaside.
i can highly recomend her yoga ,for beginners aswell for advanced yogi s!
charmaine,thanx and i hope i can go again
9. Rattanarangsan Palace
Overall Ratings
4 based on 7 reviews
Reviewed By SirRacket - Canberra
Unfortunately every time I visit this replica palace it is closed. It looks fairly authentic from the outside and I understand that it had furniture and furnishings to reflect the bygone era. Foreigners are charged 100 baht, locals 20. The Gardens are free. It is opposite Sunny Side Up cafe (excellent bread) and near Peony Guest House
10. A-One Diving
Overall Ratings
4 based on 17 reviews
A-One Diving has been operating from Ranong since 1999. A new branch opened in December 2001 on Koh Payam, a beautiful island set 2hrs. by boat from the main land. The settings are great, our multilingual team experienced and highly motivated, the Andaman Sea as prolific as promised : you won't forget your trip with us.
Reviewed By Torben K
I took of fore a 7 days trip in January 2017. I booked trough the agent "dive the Wold" everything was smooth and ok. But at their homepage they promised 4 divers pr. guide.
That was not what happened, we were 6 in each group. That is not ok.
The lokal crew was fantastic and very helpful. They helped before and after the dives an were very professionel. The food were very good thaifood.
Some of The cabins are very small, and the mattresses very very hard. But that is how it is on a budget boat. I slept most nights on the sondeck.
Then we started to dive. I had asked fore Nitrox. It is promised at One-dive homepage.
The first tank had 23% oxygen !!!.I had expected 30 - 32 % which is a normal blend. I tried to talk to the crew about nitrox, but it was clear, that they know absolutely nothing about it. They just filled som oxygen into a dive tank and simply filled op with air. When I saw that, I canceled all nitrox. The other divers did the same.
We were 12 divers divided into two groups. One group, where I dived, was very experienced, we had 200 to more than 2000 dives. Everybody had their own computer. The Thai dive guide spoke were little English, so he often did not understand the briefing, made by the other, American, guide. The result was, that we often did an other dive, than the dive we were prepared fore in the short briefing!!!!
Anyway, we mostly managed by our self, while the thai guide was concentrating on his camera. We had some very good dives, because we were all experienced divers, but I dont think it is good habit from a dive guide.
In the other group they were 6 beginners, Open Water certified, they had from 15 to 50 dives. These 6 divers shared one computer !!!! ( is this a Padi dive center? Padi strongly recommend that each diver use his Owen computer ) the guide had a computer himself. In the group one diver used her air very fast, 25 to 35 minutes. Then the guide left the group and vent up to the boat with her.
The inexperienced group then were left alone rest of the dive. It happened trough the hole week 4 dives a day!!!
They didnt even have a ballon to send up, when finishing the dive. They got one the 3. day when they asked for it. And they borrowed a computer from one of the experienced divers. The group dived every day to more than 18 meter, at one time two of them were at 35 meter. They told me. And the guid had left the group.This was without computer, so they didnt know their remaining bottom time!!!
I am a Padi divemaster myself, and I have trough the years been on a lot of diving boats in Asia, Africa and Europe, as a guest.
I have never seen such a indifference as on this boat. It could cost a live one day I am afraid.
I can not recommend this divecenter. Stay away.
Regards
Torben
Denmark
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