By Kylian Dev
Where is Koh Phayam?
Far up the Andaman coast, closer to Myanmar than to Phuket.
Its closest neighbour is Koh Chang in Ranong province, a smaller island just across the water. Do not mix it up with the other Koh Chang, in Trat, on the Gulf side; for that one, read our Bangkok to Koh Chang guide.
How do you get to Koh Phayam?
Through Ranong, whichever way you arrive.
Ranong is the gateway; the boat leaves from the port area of Ranong town, so you first have to reach the town. It sits on the main road down the peninsula from Chumphon towards Phuket, a natural stop if you are already heading south (our Bangkok to Phuket guide covers the long-distance options).
The nearest airport is the small one at Ranong. Phuket airport offers more flights, and you then continue north by road (our Phuket airport guide covers the transfers).
Who Koh Phayam is not for
An honest list, before you commit a boat ride.
- Nightlife and beach clubs: there are almost none
- Five-star hotels and spa resorts: there are none
- Anyone who needs a fixed timetable: boats and weather set the pace
What is the atmosphere like?
Unhurried, a little bohemian, deliberately undeveloped.
Koh Phayam has no resort strip and no party street. Days are made of a beach, a hammock, a motorbike ride along the narrow roads and a sunset. Cashew trees give the island its cottage industry, and you will see the nuts sold and roasted in the villages.
Beaches and what to do
Long sand, easy sunsets and a lot of doing nothing.
Ao Yai
BeachThe main beach: long, open, with most of the bungalows, restaurants and bars behind it
Ao Khao Kwai (Buffalo Bay)
BeachA smaller, quieter bay where the pace drops again
The interior
RideCashew orchards, rubber trees and village tracks, best done by motorbike or bicycle
Koh Phayam is not a diving or snorkelling hub. If reef is your priority, the Trang islands are better set up for it; see Koh Kradan and Koh Ngai.
When is the best time to go?
Dry season for the beach, monsoon for the empty island.
In the dry season, from November to April, the sea is calm, the boats run regularly and most bungalows are open. From May to October the south-west monsoon brings rough seas and irregular boats, and many bungalows close.
The Andaman side follows the south-west monsoon, so the rainy months are the wrong ones for a beach trip. Our rainy season guide explains what to expect, and the when to go page helps you compare regions.
Where to sleep on Koh Phayam
Bungalows, mostly, and very little else.
Most places are simple beach bungalows, wooden huts with a fan and a terrace a few steps from the sand. Some are larger, with air-conditioning, a garden and sometimes a sea view, and a few smaller, more designed places suit couples while staying low-rise.
There is no big resort on Phayam, so choose the beach first and the bungalow second. Ao Yai has the most choice, the quieter bays have fewer places, and it pays to book ahead in the high season. Bring cash, as cash machines are scarce.
Koh Phayam or the other Andaman islands?
Four small islands, four different holidays.
| Island | Where | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Koh Phayam | Ranong, far north | Slow bungalow life, empty beaches |
| Koh Yao Yai | Phang Nga Bay | Countryside, viewpoints, easy from Phuket |
| Koh Kradan | Trang | White sand and snorkelling |
| Koh Ngai | Krabi (via Trang) | Comfortable resorts, calm water |
Phayam is the most remote of the four. Closer to Phuket, see Koh Yao Yai. Further south, Koh Kradan and Koh Ngai belong to the Trang islands. To link them into one trip, use our island hopping guide.