🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
From Bangkok to Chanthaburi town is roughly a 3–4 hour drive, and Chanthaburi to Rayong is very close — about 1 hour 40 minutes town to town. But the heart of this trip is not taking the main highway. Instead you follow the Chaloem Burapha Chonlathit road, a coastal route that runs for over a hundred kilometers linking Chanthaburi and Rayong, passing Nern Nang Phaya, Kung Krabaen Bay and Pak Nam Prasae, with sea views alternating with mangrove forest the whole way. Roll the windows down and cruise all day.
This trip suits anyone with a car, because the highlights — Nern Nang Phaya, Thung Prong Thong and Kung Krabaen Bay — have no public transport going right to them. If you don't drive, you can hire a car with a driver by the day, but you'll be less flexible and the budget goes up. We've arranged it so you sleep in Chanthaburi the first night to catch the old town in the morning, then drift down the coast into Rayong for the second night by the beach.
The route to know before you set off
The prettiest stretch is the Chaloem Burapha Chonlathit road, hugging the coast from Na Yai Am district in Chanthaburi into Klaeng district in Rayong. If you let GPS take a shortcut, it may push you onto the big Sukhumvit highway and you'll miss the sea views entirely. We suggest setting your first destination as the ‘Nern Nang Phaya viewpoint', then setting the next leg to Thung Prong Thong, so you cover the whole coastal road.
Chanthaburi old town — Chanthaboon riverside, the cathedral, local eats
Line up day one with the gem market
If you want to see the gem market really buzzing, schedule day one to fall on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday, because on weekdays it's quiet. The riverside community and the cathedral are open every day, so any day works for those.
Nern Nang Phaya → Kung Krabaen Bay → Thung Prong Thong → into Rayong
Sun and tides
Nern Nang Phaya looks good both late morning and in the evening, but clear late-morning skies make photos easier. Thung Prong Thong is most comfortable to walk in the morning or late afternoon — avoid midday when the wooden boardwalk is hot and the sun is harsh. This plan puts Nern Nang Phaya in the late morning and Thung Prong Thong in the afternoon, so the light is good at both.
Mae Ramphueng Beach at dawn → Ban Phe market → souvenirs → home
If you have more than 3 days
This plan sticks to the mainland. With 4 days, add a boat crossing to Koh Samet from Ban Phe pier, sleep a night by the beach, swim in clear water, then loop back for souvenirs on the way home. Or add Phlio Waterfall on the Chanthaburi side on day one if you want a waterfall too.
Rough budget per person (3 days, 2 nights)
- 2 nights' lodging — 1 night in Chanthaburi + 1 night at Mae Ramphueng Beach, from about 1,200–2,500 THB per person sharing a double room, depending on the level of accommodation
- Fuel + tolls — Bangkok–Chanthaburi–Rayong–back is about 1,500–2,200 THB per car, split among everyone
- 6–7 meals — about 1,000–1,800 THB per person, with seafood as the main meals and smaller market meals coming cheaper
- Entry fees — Nern Nang Phaya, Kung Krabaen Bay and Thung Prong Thong are free, and the cathedral is free too, so there's almost nothing to pay for entry
- Mid-range total is roughly 2,500–4,000 THB per person (the more people, 2–4, the cheaper the split)
Book the activities in your Chanthaburi trip ahead
Booking online ahead on Klook or GetYourGuide is usually cheaper than the gate and skips the queue. Pick only the experiences you actually want — prices and availability are shown live on each site.
Tweak the plan to your style
Only 2 days, 1 night
Trim the Chanthaburi old town short. Day one: Nern Nang Phaya–Kung Krabaen Bay–Thung Prong Thong, sleep at Mae Ramphueng Beach. Day two: Ban Phe, souvenirs, then home.
Nature lover
Add more time at Kung Krabaen Bay and Thung Prong Thong, throw in Phlio Waterfall on the Chanthaburi side, and cut the gem market and cafés short. Focus on mangroves and sea.
Seafood chaser
Hit the seafood restaurants at Laem Sing, Pak Nam Prasae, Ban Phe and Mae Ramphueng. Make every main meal seafood, with the viewpoints as bonuses along the way.
Can you do it without your own car?
You can, but you'll miss the best part — the coastal road. Take a van or bus from Bangkok to Chanthaburi and get off in town, explore the old town and gem market (both within walking distance), then catch a Chanthaburi–Rayong bus into Rayong town and take a songthaew or rent a motorbike out to Ban Phe and Mae Ramphueng Beach. Nern Nang Phaya, Kung Krabaen Bay and Thung Prong Thong are off the bus routes, so you'd need to charter a ride. Without a car, this trip suits people who care more about the old town and the food than the coastal sea views.
The best time to go
The best season for an easy coastal drive with clear skies is November to February — cool weather and pretty photos along the coast. April to June is fruit season in both Chanthaburi and Rayong, with durian, mangosteen and rambutan filling the orchards, so pick this window if you love fruit. The rainy season, May to October, brings frequent rain and a slippery coastal road, so drive with care.
Want a Chanthaburi-only plan without crossing provinces? See our full Chanthaburi travel guide.
See the Chanthaburi guide →