T.I.C.D.: Mu Ko Ranong & Mu Ko Kam
The relaxing islands of Ranong province, condensed.
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T.I.C.D. ticker: So far, we’ve covered 1,064 islands and 326 notable coastal areas in 59 sections of the Thai Island & Coastal Directory.
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Entering Ranong province…
Ranong spans the upper half of the Northern Andaman coastal zone and has 87 islands in total, though keep in mind that some isles which come into view when cruising off Ranong’s shores belong to Myanmar. This section digs into the province’s two main island chains, with a handful of others set closer to the mainland and in the estuaries covered in the next section on the Ranong coast.
Mu Ko Ranong
The 29 islands of this loosely defined archipelago mix rural fishing and farming settlements with mellow beaches and jungle-cloaked hills and mountains. Travelers seeking a nature-oriented experience with enough peace and quiet to relax down to the bone should absolutely look into Mu Ko Ranong.
Ko Phayam and Ko Chang — often called ‘Ko Chang Noi’ by travelers, although not by locals, to distinguish it from Ko Chang in the Eastern Gulf — are the only islands in Mu Ko Ranong frequented by foreign travelers. Both are popular with backpackers, particularly those of a middle age who seek serenity but also opportunities to connect with others while unwinding at some truly welcoming beach bars.
I adore both Ko Phayam and Ko Chang, but they are not the same. Phayam is the more popular of the two, with a few upscale resorts mixed into the small bungalow joints and cafes that contribute to a hippie-ish vibe. It is on Chang, though, where that vibe drops to another level. It is one of the most laid-back islands in Thailand, a rustic paradise where many visitors unplug from technology and strum guitars, work on art projects or simply lose themselves in the nature.