🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
Rayong is under three hours' drive from Bangkok, but it packs a lot of different photo backdrops into a small area: bright green mangrove forest, an old warship by the sea, and white-sand island beaches. We built this plan specifically for people who care about photos, hitting each spot when the light works for it instead of showing up at random and ending up shooting into the sun.
The 3-day route at a glance
- Day 1 — Pak Nam Prasae: Golden Mangrove Field + HTMS Prasae warship memorial + Prasaesin Bridge (midday–evening scenes)
- Day 2 — Koh Samet: boat from Ban Phe, then Sai Kaew Beach, the mermaid statue, and Ao Phrao at sunset
- Day 3 — Around town: Mae Ramphueng Beach, a seaside café, then head home
Day 1
Pak Nam Prasae — Golden Mangrove Field, the warship, Prasaesin Bridge
10:30
Leave Rayong town for Pak Nam Prasae, Klaeng districtIt's about an hour's drive, or roughly 3.5 hours if you're coming straight from Bangkok, so we start the first day a little late on purpose.
11:30
Walk the Golden Mangrove Field boardwalkThe wooden walkway runs about 2.7 km through the mangroves. It's free and open 6:00 AM–6:00 PM. The Prong leaves catch the sun and turn golden best from around 11:00 AM–3:00 PM, right when you arrive.
13:00
Lunch in the Pak Nam Prasae communityThere are seafood places and riverside community spots around here. After eating, stroll the old waterfront cultural street for some everyday-life shots.
15:00
HTMS Prasae warship memorialA decommissioned warship set up as a seaside memorial. Entry is free, open roughly 7:00 AM–6:30 PM. You can walk onto the ship and shoot the bow, the deck, and the hull's frame against the sky for a really cinematic feel. Some of the Golden Mangrove boardwalk routes end near here too.
17:00
Prasaesin Bridge for the evening lightThe bridge crosses the Prasae River, with the community on one side and open sea on the other. It's a good spot to catch the golden hour before heading back to your room.
Day 1 tip
The Golden Mangrove Field only really glows when there's sun. On an overcast day the leaves read as deep green rather than gold, so check the forecast before you head out, and wear shoes that are comfortable for a long walk on the boardwalk.
Day 2
Koh Samet — Sai Kaew Beach, the mermaid, Ao Phrao
09:00
Head to Ban Phe pier and catch the boat to Koh SametA regular ferry runs about 100 THB round trip, while a speedboat is around 250–300 THB per trip. The crossing takes no more than 40 minutes, and you can leave your car on the Ban Phe side.
10:00
Enter the national park, then head straight to Sai Kaew BeachPark entry is 40 THB for Thais and 200 THB for foreigners, half price for kids. Sai Kaew Beach has fine white sand running about 800 meters and is the main beach that's easiest to shoot.
10:30
Shoot the mermaid statue at the end of Sai Kaew BeachThe beach's signature landmark, the statue faces out to sea. In the late morning the sun isn't too harsh yet, so you get the blue sea behind it and fewer people than in the afternoon.
12:30
Lunch by the beach, then a swim breakThere are plenty of restaurants to choose from along Sai Kaew Beach. The midday sun is strong, so it's better to take a break than to be out shooting.
16:30
Move over to Ao Phrao on the west side for sunsetAo Phrao is quieter and more private, with rocks to shoot around, and it's known as the best sunset spot on the island. Get there about half an hour before the golden hour so you can time it well.
Koh Samet tip
If you want an empty beach with few people in the frame, shoot in the late morning before 11. Or, if you stay one night on the island, you get both the Ao Phrao sunset and a quiet beach in the early morning.
Day 3
Around town — Mae Ramphueng Beach, a seaside café
08:00
Morning walk and shoot at Mae Ramphueng BeachA long, continuous beach right in Rayong town. The morning sky is still soft and there are few people, so it's easy to shoot minimal sea-and-sand frames.
10:00
Sit at a seaside café around Mae Ramphueng or Ban PheThis area has several sea-view cafés. Grab a coffee-cup-against-the-sea shot to close out the trip before heading back.
12:00
Pick up souvenirs at Ban Phe, then head homeBan Phe market has dried seafood and souvenirs to choose from before you start the drive back to Bangkok.
🎟️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.
🎟️ See all Rayong tours & activities (Klook) What to pack as a photographer
- Power bank — shooting all day drains your battery fast, especially on the island where charging spots are hard to find
- Lens cloth — sea spray and mangrove humidity smudge the lens easily
- Solid-color outfits — they stand out against the green of the mangroves and the blue of the sea better than busy patterns
- Sunscreen and a hat — there's no shade at all on the sea or on the boardwalk through the field
