How far is Ranong from Bangkok, and how long does it take?

Ranong is about 568 to 580 km from Bangkok by road. Driving yourself takes around 7 to 8 hours not counting rest stops. The bus from Mo Chit 2 takes about 9 to 10 hours, mostly overnight. Flying from Don Mueang is the fastest at about 1 hour 20 minutes.

How far is Ranong Airport from town, and how do you get in?

Ranong Airport, code UNN, is about 22 km from town, roughly a 25 to 30 minute drive in. You can get into town by airport taxi or van for around 200 to 300 THB per vehicle, pick up a rental at the airport counter, or use the pickup service that many accommodations provide.

Do you need to rent a vehicle to visit Ranong?

It is recommended. Ranong has no comprehensive public transport and no Grab car, and sights like the waterfalls, the grass mountain, and the river mouth are scattered far apart. A motorbike runs around 250 to 300 THB per day, or a car around 900 to 1,300 THB per day. Book ahead in high season, since vehicles are limited.

Where do you catch the boat to Koh Phayam, and how much is it?

Boats leave from Pak Nam Ranong pier, about 10 km from town. Speedboats take around 35 to 45 minutes and cost about 350 THB per person each way, with main departures around 07:30, 11:30, 13:30 and 15:00. The ferry is cheaper at around 200 THB but takes about 2 hours and often stops running during the monsoon, so check the schedule and the weather before you go.

How do you get around on Koh Phayam?

Koh Phayam has no roads for cars, so motorbikes are the main way around. You can rent a motorbike on the island for about 250 to 350 THB per day, or use a motorbike taxi to get from the pier to your accommodation. There are few ATMs on the island, so bring enough cash.

Getting Around Ranong 2026 — Airport, Bus, Rental & Island Ferries

🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026

First, it helps to picture the shape of Ranong. The province is long and narrow, running parallel to the Myanmar border with the Kraburi River in between. The town itself is small and compact, but the real highlights are spread out around the edges along Phetkasem Road, which runs the length of the province from north to south. Because of this, your vehicle and in-province travel times matter more than a lot of people expect.

How far is Ranong from Bangkok

Ranong sits roughly 568–580 km from Bangkok by road. It is the first province on the Andaman side you hit when driving south. The key thing to know is that no train runs to Ranong — the nearest station is Chumphon, and from there it is about another two hours over the hills to the Andaman side. That leaves three main options: flying, the bus, or driving yourself.

Flying — the fastest option. The flight from Don Mueang to Ranong Airport takes about 1 hour 20 minutes; door to door, including the ride into town, it is around half a day.
Bus / minivan — from Mo Chit 2, it takes about 9–10 hours, mostly overnight services that arrive in the morning.
Driving yourself — head down Phetkasem through Chumphon and turn into Ranong, around 7–8 hours not counting rest stops.
Tacking it onto a route — many people pair Ranong with Chumphon, Phang Nga, or Surat Thani, since it sits right on the southern route and you can drive on in one trip.

Flying into Ranong Airport (UNN)

Ranong Airport (code UNN) is a small airport in Mueang district, about 22 km from town, roughly a 25–30 minute drive in. Right now the main direct flights come from Don Mueang, served by Nok Air and AirAsia — just a few flights a day between them, nowhere near as frequent as Phuket or Krabi. Check the schedule and book ahead, especially in high season.

Don Mueang–Ranong — about 1 hour 20 minutes on Nok Air or AirAsia, a few flights a day. Fares start around ฿900–2,500 each way depending on the season and how far ahead you book.
From the airport into town — there are airport taxi/van services into town for around ฿200–300 per vehicle each way, or a shared per-person rate.
Picking up a rental at the airport — there are rental counters at the airport, so you can book ahead and drive off straight away. This is the most convenient option if you plan to tour the province.
Hotel pickup — many resorts and guesthouses offer airport pickup; just arrange it when you book.

Few flights — leave a buffer

The Don Mueang–Ranong route has only a handful of flights, and some days the schedule shifts with the season. If your trip hinges on a tight return flight, leave extra time and have a backup, because if you miss the last flight of the day the next one might not be until the following morning. Leave enough of a gap for any connecting flight in Bangkok too.

Taking the bus into Ranong town

If you are not in a hurry and want to save money, the bus is what a lot of people use. The origin is Mo Chit 2 bus terminal (Chatuchak) and the destination is the Ranong Bus Terminal in town, a ride of about 9–10 hours. Most are overnight services that leave in the evening and arrive in Ranong in the morning, so you wake up ready to explore. Both Transport Co. (BKS 999) and several private operators run this route.

Premium coach (Class 1A / VIP) — wide seats that recline, around ฿650–950 each way depending on class and operator.
Minivan / minibus — some operators run this route, slightly faster but with tighter seats; best if you do not have much luggage.
Book online ahead — you can book through ticketing sites like busonlineticket or at the bus terminal counter. Seats fill fast over long weekends.
Onward from Ranong terminal — the station is in town, so you can grab a motorbike taxi, a songthaew, or have your hotel pick you up. Distances within town are short.

Driving means watching the mountain crossing

If you drive yourself, the stretch to focus on is the mountain road over the hills between Chumphon and Ranong — winding, climbing and dropping in sections, often rainy and slippery. Drive it in daylight if you can, and budget extra time here. The Phetkasem stretch before you reach the hills is an easy, normal drive.

Renting a vehicle in Ranong — almost a must

This is the thing that trips a lot of people up. Ranong has no comprehensive public transport, no Grab car, and the sights — Ngao Waterfall, the grass mountain, Ranong Canyon, the river mouth — are scattered in different directions along Phetkasem Road. Without your own wheels, getting around is awkward and you lose a lot of time waiting. Having your own vehicle is close to essential for any trip outside the town.

Motorbike rental — around ฿250–300 per day, the most nimble option for one or two people. Watch out for rain and the mountain roads, and always wear a helmet.
Car rental — around ฿900–1,300 per day, great if there are several of you, you are traveling with older folks, or you are coming in the rainy season. Available both at the airport and in town.
Car with driver / private day charter — if you would rather not drive, there are full-day charter services. Pricier, but comfortable and you do not have to find your own way.
Motorbike taxi / songthaew — available in town but not plentiful, fine for short hops around the town center or a run to the bus terminal only.

Book ahead when it is busy

There are fewer rental vehicles in Ranong than in the big tourist towns, and in high season from December to February or over long weekends they sell out fast. If you are coming then, book ahead — especially if you want to pick up a vehicle at the airport right after you land, so you are not left scrambling on the spot.

Ferry piers — Koh Phayam and Koh Chang

The thing most people come to Ranong for is Koh Phayam — a quiet island with white sand and clear water that some call the Maldives of Thailand. Koh Chang Ranong (a different island from Koh Chang in Trat) is a smaller, rawer, even quieter island, ideal if you genuinely want to escape the bustle. Both are reached by boat from the Ranong mainland. The thing to understand is that there is more than one pier, and the boats come in both fast and budget versions.

Koh Phayam pier (Municipal Pier, Pak Nam Ranong) — the main pier for boats to Koh Phayam and Koh Chang, about 10 km from town and roughly 35 minutes from the airport, with daily parking available.
Speedboat to Koh Phayam — about 35–45 minutes, fare around ฿350 per person each way. Main departures roughly 07:30, 11:30, 13:30 and 15:00 (check the latest times before you go).
Ferry / passenger boat — cheaper at around ฿200 each way, but it takes about 2 hours and often stops running during the monsoon, leaving only the speedboats.
Koh Chang Ranong — boats run from the mainland too, but there are fewer of them and they are less frequent than to Koh Phayam, so check the schedule with your island accommodation ahead of time.

Boats run by season — always check first

Boats to the islands depend heavily on the season and the swell. During the monsoon, roughly May to October, many of the larger ferry operators stop running, leaving only speedboats, and even those run day by day depending on the waves. If your main goal is the islands, do not come in the rainy season, and check the timing of the last boat of the day in advance — missing it and being stuck on the mainland is no fun.

Getting around on Koh Phayam

Once you reach Koh Phayam you step into a different world. The island has no roads for cars; motorbikes are the main way to get around. The roads on the island are narrow concrete tracks winding along the beaches and through the plantations, so getting around here is completely different from the mainland.

Renting a motorbike on the island — around ฿250–350 per day, the main way to move between Ao Yai beach, Ao Khao Kwai, and the various spots.
Motorbike taxis on the island — there are riders who ferry you from the pier to your accommodation, charged by distance, handy if you would rather not drive.
Walking / cycling — if you stay right on the beach you want to explore, you can walk or cycle along the sand, but crossing to a different bay is too far to walk.
Bring cash — there are few ATMs on the island and many places take cash only, so withdraw enough on the mainland before you go.

Rough travel times around the province

To make planning your days easier, here are rough driving times from Ranong town to the main spots. Use them as a loose guide — the real times depend on road conditions and rain.

Town → Ranong Airport — about 22 km, roughly 25–30 minutes.
Town → Pak Nam pier (for the islands) — about 10 km, roughly 15–20 minutes.
Town → Raksawarin Hot Springs — within the town area, roughly 5–10 minutes.
Town → Ngao Waterfall / grass mountain — about 13–20 km, roughly 20–30 minutes, heading south on Phetkasem.
Town → Ranong Canyon — about 12 km, roughly 20 minutes.

How to plan the travel for the whole trip

To show how the legs actually connect, here are two sample timelines. Pick the one that matches whether you come by plane or by bus, so the car and ferry connections run smoothly.

Arriving by plane, Day 1