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Rayong 3 Days, 2 Nights
Beaches, Koh Samet & Yom Chinda Old Town

Rayong is only about a 3-hour drive from Bangkok, but there's a lot more to do here than just splashing in the water. This 3-day, 2-night trip gives you clear water at Koh Samet, a long mainland beach at Mae Ramphueng, the Yom Chinda old town with its photogenic wooden-house cafes, and the Thung Prong Thong mangrove forest at Pak Nam Prasae — all at an unhurried pace, with an hour-by-hour timeline and the costs you'll actually run into right now.

🏝️ One night on Koh Samet🏚️ Yom Chinda old town🌿 Thung Prong Thong at Pak Nam Prasae
Rayong 3 Days, 2 Nights Beaches, Koh Samet & Yom Chinda Old Town

🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026

What makes Rayong fun is that you can do several very different things in one province. With 3 days and 2 nights, we'd split it into three parts: on day one, walk the Yom Chinda old town and stay overnight on the mainland by Mae Ramphueng Beach; on day two, take the ferry over to Koh Samet for one night and soak up the quieter evening and early-morning sea; then on day three, head back to the mainland to walk the Thung Prong Thong mangrove forest at Pak Nam Prasae, stop by Laem Mae Phim Beach, then finish with seafood and souvenir shopping.

Before you go: what to know

  • Ferries to Koh Samet leave from Sri Ban Phe Pier — the passenger ferry runs about ฿100–120 per person round trip, with departures throughout the day from morning to evening, and the crossing to Sai Kaew Beach takes around 30–40 min. Private speedboats are faster but cost a lot more.
  • Khao Laem Ya–Mu Ko Samet National Park entry fee — ฿40 for Thai adults and ฿20 for children (฿200 for foreigners), collected when you land on the island. Keep your ticket.
  • Parking at Ban Phe — private lots around the pier charge roughly ฿60–100 per night, and you can leave your car there while you're on the island.
  • Rough distances — Rayong town, Mae Ramphueng Beach, and Ban Phe are all close together, while Laem Mae Phim and Pak Nam Prasae are over in Klaeng district, about 40–50 km from the town center. Grouping those into the last day saves you from backtracking.
  • Best time for clear water — roughly November to May, with clear skies and calm seas. Come in May to July and you'll catch durian and Rayong fruit season.
  • Cash — on the island and at many small shops, cash is still the main way to pay, so bring small notes.
Day 1

Yom Chinda old town + a night by Mae Ramphueng Beach

11:00
Arrive in Rayong, walk the Yom Chinda old townYom Chinda Road is an old street in the heart of town that was once Rayong's main trading quarter. Today it's full of wooden-house cafes and old shophouses, and it's an easy, photogenic stroll.
12:00
Lunch + a wooden-house cafe on Yom ChindaThe standouts here are Old House At Yomjinda, a two-story retro-styled wooden cafe, and Laan Ek Coffeehouse, set in a building over 110 years old with an art gallery upstairs. Either is a comfortable spot to sip coffee and hide from the afternoon sun.
14:30
Keep wandering / stop at Conversation board-game cafe on Yom ChindaConversation is a cafe in the old town that combines board games and a small library, open roughly 10:00–17:00 (check the day before you go — it sometimes closes early in the week). Good for a long, relaxed break.
16:00
Check in by Mae Ramphueng BeachMae Ramphueng Beach is within Khao Laem Ya National Park — a long mainland beach with a beachfront road running for several kilometers, lined with places to stay and eat the whole way. Great for a cooling swim.
17:30
Evening stroll along Mae Ramphueng BeachThe beach is long and less crowded than the island, so it's an easy place to walk, catch the sea breeze, and watch the sky change color.
19:00
Seafood dinner by the beachThere are plenty of seafood spots along Mae Ramphueng Beach and over on the Ban Phe side, with fresh catch straight off the boats and prices that are easier on the wallet than on the island.

Day 1 tip

Many cafes around Yom Chinda are old wooden houses converted into shops, so the spaces are small and get busy on weekends. If you want good photo corners, go around midday to early afternoon when it's quieter, and check the opening days of the places you want to visit first — some small shops close early in the week.

Day 2

Cross to Koh Samet, a full day in the water, one night over

08:30
Drive to Sri Ban Phe Pier, park, buy ferry ticketsGet there before mid-morning to catch a ferry before the sun gets harsh. While you wait, grab coffee at one of the shops near the pier. Leave the car in a lot and carry your bags onto the boat.
09:30
Ferry over to Sai Kaew Beach, check inIf you can't check in yet, leave your bags at the resort first, then head straight out to the beach.
10:30
Swim at Sai Kaew BeachThis is the longest and liveliest beach on the island — fine sand, shallow water you can wade right into, and beach chairs you can rent to relax.
12:30
Seafood lunch by the beachPloy Talay is a well-known spot right on Sai Kaew Beach with fresh seafood. There's a fire show at night, but it's less crowded at lunchtime.
14:00
Rent a motorbike and tour the island's beachesThe next beaches over — Ao Phai and Ao Thian (Candlelight Beach) — are quieter and just as clear. A motorbike runs around ฿300–400 a day and is easy to ride since the island isn't big.
17:00
Head over to Ao Prao for the sunsetAo Prao is on the west side of the island and is the best sunset spot — a quiet beach with few people, perfect for nursing a drink while you wait for the evening light.
19:00
Dinner by the sea + evening walk on Sai Kaew BeachAfter dark, restaurants on Sai Kaew set tables right on the sand, some with fire shows, and the atmosphere hits a nice, lively note.

Tip on where to stay on the island

For quiet and privacy, choose the Ao Prao or Ao Nuan side, where there are only a few resorts. If you'd rather walk easily to restaurants and a lively beach, stay around Sai Kaew Beach. Room rates on the island rise and fall with the season, so book ahead for long weekends.

Day 3

Back to the mainland, Thung Prong Thong walk, Laem Mae Phim, souvenirs

07:00
Morning walk on the beach, clear water and few peopleEarly morning is when the beach is at its prettiest and quietest, with the sun not yet harsh — ideal for photos and one last swim before heading back.
08:30
Breakfast at the resort, pack upMost check-outs are before noon, so plan your return ferry with a little buffer.
10:00
Ferry back to Ban Phe Pier, pick up the carReturn ferries run all day. If you're a larger group or traveling with kids, picking a less crowded departure is more comfortable.
11:30
Drive to Pak Nam Prasae, walk Thung Prong ThongThung Prong Thong is over in Klaeng district, about an hour from Ban Phe. It has a wooden nature boardwalk through the mangrove forest, roughly 2.7 km long, with lush green prong trees filling the wetland — a pretty, shaded photo spot.
13:00
Seafood lunch at Pak Nam PrasaeThe Pak Nam Prasae community is an old fishing village with riverside seafood restaurants and fresh ingredients. The HTMS Prasae warship is also nearby to visit.
14:30
Stop at Laem Mae Phim BeachLaem Mae Phim is about 48 km from Rayong town — a long, quiet beach with fewer people than the main ones, good for a final beach walk and sea breeze before heading home.
16:00
Souvenir stop before heading backRayong's standout souvenirs are dried seafood, dried squid, shrimp paste, fish sauce, and fried durian, found at Ban Phe market and souvenir shops along the main road. In fruit season there's fresh durian and mangosteen to choose from too.
🎟️

Book the activities in your Rayong 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.

🎟️ Top tours in RayongHighlights, guided Klook 🎟️ Rayong attractions & ticketsSkip-the-line entry tickets Klook 🚐 Day trips from RayongOut and back in a day Klook 🌎 Rayong activities (GetYourGuide)Global tour marketplace GetYourGuide
🎟️ See all Rayong tours & activities (Klook)

Rough budget (per person)

These figures assume two people sharing accommodation and fuel, as a rough frame. Actual prices depend on the season and the level of accommodation you choose.

  • Round-trip ferry to Koh Samet ฿100–120
  • National park entry (Thai) ฿40
  • Parking, 1 night ฿60–100 (split between you)
  • Accommodation, 2 nights around ฿1,000–3,000 per person (1 night by Mae Ramphueng Beach + 1 night on Koh Samet)
  • Food and cafes, 6–7 meals around ฿900–1,500
  • Rough total starting around ฿2,500–5,000 per person, not counting fuel and souvenirs

Can you do it without a car?

Yes, but you'll need to plan the in-province transport. There are vans and buses from Bangkok (Ekkamai) that run straight to Ban Phe Pier in about 3–3.5 hours, and from there you can cross to the island right away. Without a car, though, the Yom Chinda old town and Thung Prong Thong — which are in opposite directions — are harder to reach, and you may need to hire a car or rent a motorbike in town. If you're mainly here for the sea and the island, you can have a great trip without a car, but if you want to cover the old town and the mangrove forest too, having your own car is much more convenient.

The real things to know

During high season and long weekends, the ferries and Sai Kaew Beach get very crowded. To avoid the crush, go on a weekday or take an early-morning ferry, and book your stay ahead. In the rainy season the sea can turn murky with stronger waves; you can still walk Thung Prong Thong, but the wooden boardwalk may be slippery. Always check the weather forecast before you set out.

Want places to stay on Koh Samet and the Rayong mainland with real reviews?

See recommended Rayong hotels →

FAQ

What can you do with 3 days and 2 nights in Rayong?

Split it into three parts: the Yom Chinda old town with its wooden-house cafes plus Mae Ramphueng Beach on day one; a ferry over for one night on Koh Samet on day two; then on day three head back to the mainland to walk the Thung Prong Thong mangrove forest at Pak Nam Prasae, stop at Laem Mae Phim, and pick up souvenirs before heading home.

What's worth seeing on Yom Chinda Road in Rayong's old town?

It's an old street in the heart of town that used to be the main trading quarter, and now it has wooden-house cafes and old shophouses to wander and photograph. Standouts include Old House At Yomjinda, a two-story retro wooden house; Laan Ek Coffeehouse, in a building over 110 years old; and Conversation, a board-game cafe and library. Check the shops' opening days first, as some small ones close early in the week.

Where is Thung Prong Thong, and how long is the walk?

It's at Pak Nam Prasae in Klaeng district, about an hour from Ban Phe. It's a mangrove forest with a wooden nature boardwalk roughly 2.7 km long, with lush green prong trees filling the wetland — an enjoyable walk and photo spot. It's mostly open from midday to evening.

How much are the entry and ferry fees to Koh Samet?

The passenger ferry from Sri Ban Phe Pier is about ฿100–120 per person round trip. The Khao Laem Ya–Mu Ko Samet National Park entry fee is ฿40 for Thai adults, ฿20 for children, and ฿200 for foreigners, collected when you land on the island. Keep your ticket.

When is the best time for a 3-day, 2-night Rayong trip?

Roughly November to May, with clear skies, calm seas, and clear water. Come in May to July and you'll catch durian and Rayong fruit season. You can still go in the rainy season, but the sea may be murky with stronger waves, so check the forecast before you travel.

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