Koh Phayam Island

Unseen Thailand - Koh Phayam Island


This week we visit one of Thailand's lesser known of and visited Andaman Sea Islands, Koh Phayam.

Imagine staying on an Island with no cars, no ATM's, limited electricity and roads that are only traveled by bicycle/motorcycle and on foot! Welcome to the ultimate in Paradise - Koh Phayam Island, located just off the coast of Ranong, in south western Thailand, easily accessible by regular boat to the islands pier, Koh Phayam awaits to offer you, pure beauty and relaxation!

Welcome to Paradise 'Koh Phayam - Thailand

Unlike its more well known Andaman Sea counterparts Phuket and Phi-Phi Island, Koh Phayam has managed to escape from being over developed for mass-tourism, and has remained unspoilt, keeping its charm and traditions. The locals who live on this wonderful island, still make a living as those before them have done in the past,  from fishing the coastal waters, tapping rubber from the abundance of trees and growing cashew nuts all to sell, and now they have the added incentive of cultivating for the tourist, by offering tourism related tours and services, whilst retaining the islands natural environment and eco system.

Traditional local fishing boats

Koh Phayam Island is a small island, 10 kilometers long , 5 kilometers and home to a population of around 500 people. Since the arrival of tourism to the island, several resorts and bungalow properties have appeared along its has fantastic sandy beaches and coastline and Koh Phayam has managed to retain its beautiful appearance and relaxing tranquility, without being spoiled by large developments, which keeps the traditional Thai beach experience truly alive!

The main beach areas are Aow Yai and Aow Khao Kwai bays, with beautiful curving sandy beaches, they are ideal for sunbathing, swimming, and snorkeling, as well as a good snooze in a hammock!
Koh Phayam island is a real beach lovers paradise, with clear clean waters , the under water coral, just waiting to be explored. Scuba diving is a very popular activity here too.

Most choices of accommodation are located near these beaches and at Buffalo Bay, home to the family orientated Buffalo Bay Vacation club, with wonderful bungalows, located in a lush beach garden setting. The deluxe bungalows featured in this photo also offer a beach-front location, overlooking Buffalo Bay.The beaches and waters around here make Koh Phayam ideal for a family holiday .The hotel offers a kids club with plenty of activities to keep them amused whilst the adults get some much need relaxation therapy!

Deluxe Beach-front bungalows at Buffalo Bay Vacation Club

A stay on Koh Phayam island can be as active or as relaxing as you wish for it to be. Apart from the obvious attractions of the beach and the sea, the islands inland is worth exploring on foot through the mangrove forests, home to a variety of nature and wildlife, treks through the forests and jungles can be arranged locally, birdwatching and kayaking are also popular activities here too.

Nearby, there are plenty of other places of interest to visit including nearby Chang Island, with more wonderful beaches and home to a local small horn-bill population. Further out into the Andaman sea are many small islands with beautiful beaches that you can hire long-tailed boats to and spend the days soaking up the sun, or enjoy the waters around them.

A trip to the fishing port town of Ranong on the mainland is definitely worth considering as the surrounding countryside is home to some fantastic scenery, more mangrove forests, ornate temples and volcanic hot springs, known for medicinal purposes, the waters retain a constant heat of around 65 degrees celsius!
Porn Rung Hot Spring in the Ngao National Park and the hot springs at the Raksawarin public park, are both very popular with locals and visitors alike. This area also has an abundance of waterfalls to trek to and swim in and  The Agro-Tourism garden is worth a visit, where you will see a variety of flora and fauna including wild orchids which are cultivated here.

Try one of Ranong's Volcanic Hot Springs!

For a spot of intrigue and shopping, trips to Son Island and Victoria point, parts of nearby Myanmar can also be arranged, where you can enjoy shopping for cheap souvenirs, have lunch, visit another country and return with your duty free items, all in a day. A visa may need to be obtained, before making this trip to Myanmar, so please check before traveling.

Then there's the history and nostalgia dating back to World War Two, the Japanese who used this area as a base and facilitate the transfer of war materials and suppliers into Myanmar, left behind some reminders of those dark times. A wreck of a warship, an underground tunnel and railway line near to Khao Fa Chi are all that remain of their military base.

Next time you consider Thailand as your holiday destination, make a point of including Koh Phayam in your itinerary, come for a couple of nights, weeks or even months if you have the time! and enjoy relaxing on one of arguably the most beautiful and tranquil islands in the Andaman Sea, Koh Phayam!

For more information about Koh Phayam visit www.kohphayam.org and contact Xplore-Asia Thailand, to arrange your dream getaway in paradise! ThailandXploreAsia