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All you need to know to visit Rayong
ระยอง
Eastern Thailand
209 km from Bangkok
Province of Rayong
Eastern Thailand
209 km from Bangkok
Province of Rayong
- Budget
- 2/5
- Recommended stay
- Up to 1 day
- Sightseeing
- 1/5
Travel guide to visit Rayong
Rayong is above all a point of passage to other destinations and the first of them is obviously Koh Samet island (departure of the boats from Ban Phe). Yet its ''old town'' and in particular its most famous street, as well as one of its temples, especially the Reclining Buddha temple, are worth devoting a short day to visit. Otherwise, the province on the land side, often shunned by international tourists in favor of Koh Samet, has some interesting places for those who will give it a chance and like to go out of the beaten tracks. Its coastline also offers some pleasant beaches which, apart from weekends, are far from overcrowded. The most famous is probably Mae Ramphung Beach, about 15 km away from the city but there are several others like Suan Son Beach, Laem Mae Phim Beach or the more confidential Ao Kai. Between temples unique in Thailand, the tradition of shadow theater, nature, national park, and mangroves, Rayong province, apart from Koh Samet, is certainly not a flagship destination in Thailand but is worth devoting a few days to discover it.For all the options for getting around Rayong, see our section on getting around in Rayong.
Accommodations in Rayong
In Rayong city, you will find accommodation a little bit everywhere around the city, some of them are in the Bus Terminal area. There are several hotels between Rajbamrung or Pojnakorn Road and Sukhumvit Road. If it is in Ban Phe you want to stay, where the boats leave to go to Koh Samet, there are a few accommodations and guesthouses across the street from the pontoons and in the small streets that go up. There are also a lot of, sometimes very luxurious, resorts along the province's coast. They are, from my point of view, a better option than sleeping in the city to explore the land and enjoy the beaches but you will have to find transportation to get around. The advantage of having a hotel in Rayong city is that you will have more local transport options, although, for a lot of the sightseeing, it will not be enough to reach them.Find accommodation in Rayong
My recommendations
People often ask me which accommodation I recommend in Thailand. Here are my recommendations in Rayong.
Practical information about Rayong
There is already a page dedicated to Koh Samet on the website so on this one, I will more focus on the rest of Rayong province. To discover it on the land side, I recommend that you choose a hotel near one of the beaches rather than a accommodation in Rayong city. Three days seem to be an ideal duration to take the time to discover the essentials but you will need to have a means of transport otherwise you will be very limited in your visits.Transport in Thailand
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How to go to Rayong ?
From Bangkok, you can only go to Rayong by bus or minivan. A bus leaves at least every hour from Mo Chit or Ekkamai terminals. There are also very regular minivans or short buses from the Chatuchak Minibus Station, just in front of the Mo Chit Bus Terminal. You can also find buses from Nakhon Ratchasima and other cities to Rayong (and Ban Phe) without going through Bangkok. There is no railway station in Rayong so it is impossible to come here directly by train. On the other hand, there is the U-Tapao Airport often called Pattaya Airport but which is only 30 kilometers from Rayong (the last 30 kilometers will have to be done by bus, van, or taxi). With the development of domestic air routes that land at this airport from Chiang Mai, or Udon Thani for instance, and some international flights, it can be very practicalHow to get around in Rayong ?
If visiting the city can be done quite easily by walking or by hiring a tuk-tuk, to visit the rest of Rayong province, it will be quite complicated if you do not have your own means of transport. Whether you rent a car (I recommend it more than renting a scooter as the statistics of accidents and deaths on the road in Thailand are quite high for 2 wheels vehicles and be aware that you need a motorcycle driving license and international driving license to drive legally a scooter regardless of its power in Thailand) or the services of a driver or a tour agency (often hotels can offer tours).
Festivals in Rayong ?
Here is a list of the main festivals held every year in Rayong. Their dates are published as soon as they are official on the Festivals in Thailand page.
Must-visits in
Yomjinda Road (Old town)
ยมจินดาถนนMy opinion : 3/5
The old town of Rayong is quite famous, especially Yomjinda Road which is the prettiest street in the area and probably the most interesting to visit. There are also a few nice and delicious little local cuisine restaurants.
Wat Pa Pradu (Reclining Buddha temple)
วัดป่าประดู่My opinion : 5/5
It is the most visited and respected temple in Rayong City. Its long reclining Buddha, unique in its position, is very famous and makes it a must-visit places in Rayong.
Rayong Botanical Garden
สวนพฤกษศาสตร์ระยองMy opinion : 4/5
Despite the name of botanical garden which might not interest so many people, it is a magnificent piece of nature, mainly composed of swamps, that can be explored by boat or mountain bikes. Very pleasant !
Prasae Estuary and Tung Prong Thong
ทุ่งโปรงทองMy opinion : 5/5
It is the most famous nature spot and the largest mangrove forest in Rayong province. Whether it is the area nicknamed golden meadow or the path of wooden footbridges through the shade of the mangroves, it is a superb place for a walk!
Koh Samet island
เกาะเสม็ดMy opinion : 4/5
Located in Rayong province, Koh Samet island is actually its main tourist attraction. As it is one of the closest maritime islands to Bangkok, it is also quite popular with Thais on weekends and public holidays. Its pretty beaches make it a pleasant island to stay even if it is not the most beautiful in Thailand.
Khao Laem Ya National Park
อุทยานแห่งชาติเขาแหลมหญ้า-หมู่เกาะเสม็ดMy opinion : 4/5
This is the Khao Laem Ya promontory part of the park I am speaking about here, with its pretty little stretch of coastline with a path of wooden walkways that runs along it and allows you to enjoy the shades of blue of the sea and shades of brown of the rocks. A pleasant walk by the sea!
Rayong Walking Street
ถนนคนเดินMy opinion : 5/5
This large weekly night market, which is held in the most historic and charming street in Rayong, allows you to discover the atmosphere of Thai night markets, to taste the local street food at the many stalls and to do some crafts and souvenirs shopping.Other places to see in Rayong
Wat Namtok Thammarot
This little-known forest temple located over sixty kilometers north of the city of Rayong is truly charming and unique, especially thanks to its pink ordination hall on stilts built on a pond.
Phra Chedi Klang Nam (Samut Chedi)
This chedi installed on the banks of the Rayong River has a particular history but a fairly classic architecture. You will probably enjoy strolling on the raised wooden walkways in the surrounding mangroves.
Weather & climate in
Rayong has a tropical savannah climate with a rainy season (less than 30 days) less marked than in most provinces of Thailand. Warm temperatures vary little during the year.The best time to come to Rayong is between November and March. Aside from maybe September, there is no time when it is really not advisable to come to Rayong.
How to ask the way in Thai to Rayong ?
I want to go to Rayong / Yak pai thi Rayong.Where is Rayong? / Rayong yu thi nai?
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