Koh Phayam is a small island located off the west coast of Thailand. It is part of the Ranong Province and is situated near the border of Myanmar. Koh Phayam is known for its beautiful beaches, lush tropical forests, and laid-back atmosphere, making it a popular destination for travellers seeking a relaxed and authentic island experience. The island is relatively undeveloped and has limited infrastructure, which adds to its charm and peacefulness. There are several bungalows, guesthouses, and small resorts on the island, as well as restaurants, bars, and shops, but overall, Koh Phayam remains a quiet and secluded destination, especially compared to the more popular islands like Phuket and Koh Phi Phi.
We spent 5 days on this relaxing and idyllic island and spent $170 USD ($34 USD/day) in that time. Here’s how we did it!
GETTING TO KOH PHAYAM
Koh Phayam takes a bit of time to get to if you’re coming from the southern islands like we were. The only boat to Koh Phayam runs from a city on mainland Thailand called Ranong, and the last boat from Ranong to Koh Phayam runs at 2 pm every day, so if you will arrive after that you will need to spend a night in Ranong before leaving for Koh Phayam the next day.
We were coming from Krabi in southern Thailand, and we were able to take a local bus which cost around $10-15 USD/person.
RANONG ACCOMMODATION
A great place to stay for your transit night in Ranong is Kiwi Orchid & PL Guesthouse. This hostel is located within a 1-minute walk from where the bus drops you off and is run by a woman affectionately known as Mama Kiwi.
RANONG TO KOH PHAYAM
Mama Kiwi helped us book our slow boat ticket to Koh Phayam, which cost 300 THB ($8.50 USD) per person, which includes transportation to and from the hostel to the ferry port. The slow boat takes around 2 hours. We didn’t expect the name “slow boat” to be so literal – when we went over, it was so slow that there wasn’t a breeze. Koh Phayam is only located about 9 miles off the coast of Ranong, and a good swimmer could probably beat the slow boat to the coast. The slow boat also gets loaded up with various packages for people on the island which can take a while to get on the boat and delay departure.
However, you can opt to take the speedboat for 600 THB ($17 USD), which only takes 45 minutes.
KOH PHAYAM ACCOMMODATION
For our stay in Koh Phayam, we booked a private room at Phayam Hostel, which was very close to where the slow boat dropped us off. There was a bit of a mix-up and the girl who was in our room hadn’t checked out on time and was nowhere to be found. The owner offered us 2 beds in the dorms, and let us stay for free until he could get us a private room. We dropped off our bags at the dorm and went out to explore!
GETTING AROUND ON THE ISLAND
Koh Phayam is a fairly small island and most places were within a 1-2 hour walk from the pier/our hostel so we opted not to rent a scooter and just walk instead.
Scooter rentals on the island will not set you back much, around 150-300 TBH ($4.36-8.72 USD) a day. We enjoyed walking, but the roads aren’t very pedestrian friendly, and it can be scary to walk in the dark with no sidewalks, so if you’re not on such a strict budget, this might be something you spend on.
ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION
Since we went the no-scooter route, after a long beach day we didn’t always feel like walking. There are a ton of locals on scooters and occasionally sidecars. We decided to try hitchhiking, and we had a lot of luck!
We enjoyed walking/hitchhiking on the island and if you’re trying to stretch your budget as far as you can it’s a good way to save money. The locals are so friendly and helpful that we were able to hitchhike multiple times.
BUDGET-FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES ON KOH PHAYAM
HIN TALU BEACH
Hin Talu Beach is one of the most popular beaches on Koh Phayam. The beach is known for its clear turquoise waters and white sandy beach, making it an ideal destination for swimming and sunbathing. There were tons of trees that provided shade and a nice spot to hang our hammock! From the ferry port, it was about a 1.5 mile/30-minute walk, or less than a 10-minute drive. We went to this beach twice, at different tide levels, and enjoyed an amazing swim.
You can set up your towels under the shady trees, read your book, or enjoy a drink at Gypsy bar, right on the beach.
AOW YAI BEACH
The most famous beach on Koh Phayam is called Aow Yai Beach, also known as Long Beach. We went at sunset and enjoyed watching the sun go down over the white sandy beaches.
One of the most interesting things at Aow Yai was the intricate sand patterns on the beach. These are made by sand bubbler crabs. They get their name from their habit of creating bubbly sand balls as they feed on organic matter in the sand. These tiny crustaceans use their claws to scoop up sand and filter out bits of algae and other organic matter, which they then eat. As they move along the sand, they create tiny balls of sand that they discard in small piles, leaving a distinctive trail behind them.
After enjoying the beautiful sunset, we realized we had made a grave mistake – it was now pitch black and we had a 1.5 hour walk home in the dark. Whoops! That’s one thing to keep in mind if you decide to save a few dollars by not renting a scooter, the island is DARK at night, and the scooters on the road move fast.
KWANG PEEB BEACH
Kwang Peeb Beach is on the northwestern tip of the island. Kwang Peeb was by far our favorite beach on the island. The water was absolutely perfect, the beach was big and the scenery was just unbelievable! There were plenty of trees to hang hammocks in and relax.
We tried to do a snorkel, but visibility was pretty bad on the day we were there so we didn’t see too much. Nonetheless, we enjoyed our day soaking up the sun, splashing around in the ocean, and relaxing in our hammock. We happened to run into some friends that we had met in Ranong and decided to rendezvous later that night for drinks & a night out.
On the way home from the beach we happened upon a bar/store that had PUPPIES! They were the tiniest little things we ever did see and we had a blast playing with the puppies.
AO KHAO KWAI BEACH & HIPPY BAR
Located on the secluded Ao Khao Kwai Beach, the Hippy Bar exudes a relaxed and bohemian vibe. The bar is shaped like a shipwreck, and visitors are greeted with colorful decorations, hammocks, and comfortable seating areas where they can sit back, relax and take in the stunning ocean views.
The Hippy Bar is not only a great place to relax during the day, but apparently also a hub for the island’s music scene. Local and international musicians play a variety of genres, including reggae, rock, and folk music. The bar’s atmosphere is perfect for music lovers who want to listen to live music while enjoying a cold drink and the sound of the waves.
RELAXING MASSAGES
On our second day in Koh Phayam, we stumbled across a random massage parlor on the side of the road called Namtan Thai Massage, and it ended up being by far the best massage either of us has ever had! The masseuses were so firm, yet it wasn’t painful at all.
If you’re in Koh Phayam, you should definitely check it out. The Thai massage was 300 THB ($8.50 USD) for 60 minutes, and 450 THB ($13) for 90 minutes.
YUMMY EATS
The best way to save money on food in Thailand is to eat locally. There are plenty of delicious and cheap options all over the island. You will be spoiled for choice!
If you’re craving something a bit more western, La Baguette is a bakery run by a Frenchman who makes amazing baguette sandwiches and fresh bread. Highly recommend trying one of his sandwiches if you’re on the island!
NIGHTLIFE
We had seen posters all over the island for a big techno rave at MUSIKA, so we were curious to see what that party would be all about.
We met up with our friends, Noah & Natalie, at a bar right near the pier called Hells Bells Bar. The drinks were good & very cheap, and they had sports playing on the TV. We only lasted 1 drink because there was a creepy old man that kept staring at/trying to talk to us. We decided to hit up The Rendezvous Sports Bar for another drink before heading to MUSIKA.
The Rendezvous was awesome, with 3 big TVs broadcasting different games, and a big selection of drinks and food. It’s owned by an American man and his Thai girlfriend, and the entire staff was lovely.
After our drink at the Rendezvous, we started our walk up the hill to MUSIKA. It’s only about a 15 minute walk, but 3 scooters happened to drive by as we were starting our walk and told us to hop on as they’d give us a ride. Like I said – no need to rent a scooter in Koh Phayam, free rides are plentiful.
MUSIKA was a great techno/trance dance party, with tons of people, good music, and a light show amongst the trees. It goes all night, so if you’re looking for a party this is the place to be!
Koh Phayam is a hidden gem, far away from the throngs of tourists in the Southern Islands, and we thoroughly enjoyed exploring this little island with great beaches, friendly people, and delicious food, all on a budget!