🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
If it's your first time planning a Rayong trip, the good news is everything clusters fairly close together. Koh Samet and Khao Laem Ya are around the Ban Phe area, while the Klaeng district side has Tung Prong Thong, HTMS Prasae, the Sunthorn Phu Monument and Laem Mae Phim Beach. In town you've got Yomjinda Road and the aquarium. A two-day trip covers nearly all of it.
Islands & beaches
The sea is the heart of Rayong. The busiest spots are still Koh Samet and the mainland beaches like Mae Ramphueng and Laem Mae Phim. You can swim at all of them, and most have beachfront seafood restaurants where you can settle in for a while.
Koh Samet
The white-sand, clear-water island that's the first name people associate with Rayong. Boats from Ban Phe pier take about 30–40 minutes. Sai Kaeo Beach is the liveliest, while Ao Prao and Ao Thian are quieter. Almost the whole island sits inside Khao Laem Ya–Mu Ko Samet National Park, so there's a separate park entry fee.
Mae Ramphueng Beach
A long sandy mainland beach near Ban Phe that you can just drive straight to — no boat needed. Good for lazing by the water, with several sea-view cafes. It gets crowded on long weekends.
Laem Mae Phim Beach
A roughly 4-kilometre sweep of sand on the Klaeng side, dotted with pine trees. It feels more local than the Ban Phe side, with swimmable water and seafood restaurants right on the beach.
About the Koh Samet entry fee
Almost the entire island is inside a national park, so you pay a park entry fee when you arrive. Thais pay much less than foreigners — bring your ID card, and carry cash, because some points don't take cards.
Want more out of Rayong? Book tours & activities
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.
Nature & mangroves
If you've had enough of the beach and want a change of scene, Rayong also has hilltop sea viewpoints and mangrove forests to wander. Both of these are more comfortable in the early morning or late afternoon than under the harsh midday sun.
Khao Laem Ya National Park
The mainland portion of Khao Laem Ya–Mu Ko Samet National Park, near Ban Phe. There are short trails that come out by the sea and a wooden walkway running along the cliff face, with good bay views. Open roughly 6:00am–5:00pm; park entry fee applies.
Tung Prong Thong
A community mangrove forest at Pak Nam Prasae in Klaeng district. A long wooden boardwalk runs through the mangrove and prong trees; in the morning the sunlight turns the leaves a golden yellow. It's an easy, photogenic stroll with plenty of birdlife. Free entry.
Old town & history
Rayong's cultural side is on Yomjinda Road in town and around the cluster of memorials near Pak Nam Prasae. It's easy walking — a good fit for a day when you don't want to be out in the sun the whole time.
- Yomjinda Road — Rayong's first old-town street, lined with century-old timber houses, coffee shops and local snacks. Late afternoon is the nicest time for an easy walk.
- HTMS Prasae — a decommissioned warship set up as a memorial at Pak Nam Prasae. You can walk up onto the deck. Free entry, open roughly 8:00am–6:00pm daily.
- Sunthorn Phu Monument — in Klaeng district, where the poet Sunthorn Phu once visited and wrote his Nirat Mueang Klaeng. There are statues of characters from Phra Aphai Mani, including the sea ogress and the mermaid.
- Rayong Aquarium — a marine aquarium in town, good for taking kids. Entry is 30 THB for adults, 10 THB for children. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
Plan a route that doesn't double back
Rayong stretches along the coastline. The Ban Phe–Koh Samet–Khao Laem Ya area is one cluster, while Tung Prong Thong–HTMS Prasae–Laem Mae Phim sit on the Klaeng side, further east. Splitting them across two days makes for easier driving than trying to cram everything into one.
Want a place to stay near the beach as a base for exploring? Check out the options we've picked.
See the Top 10 Rayong Hotels →