The province of Rayong is known for its fine beaches, tasty food and delectable durians.  About 220 kilometers from Bangkok on Highway No. 3 or 179 kilometers from Bangkok on Highway No. 36 with its short-cut, Royong offers some interesting sight-seeing and pleasure.

How to get there

    Both air and non air-conditioned buses leave from the Eastern Bus Terminal (Ekamai).  the trip takes 3 hours approximately.

    Non air-conditioned buses leave every 30 minutes, starting from 7.00-18.00 hrs. Tel. 3912504

    Air-conditioned buses leave every 40 minutes, starting from 05.00-2200 hrs. Tel. 3914990

ATTRACTION

    The King Taksin Shrine   -   located at Wat Lum Mahachai Chumphon  commemorates the occasion when he was rallying Thai fighters to liberate the country from Burmese occupation.  It is highly revered by the people, particularly those of Chinese ancestry, and draws large worshipping crowds during the Chinese New Year celebrations.

    Wat Pa Pradu   is located in town on Sukhumvit Road.  The main chapel houses a large reclining Buddha, measuring 11.95  meters long and 3.60 meters high.  The image reclines on its left instead of the traditional right.

    Rayong City Pillar   -   highly  respected by town people, is located at the Lak Muang Road.  Originally the shrine housing the pillar was made of wood but subsequently reconstructed in brick and mortar.

    Phra Buddha Angkhiort  -   the principal Buddha image of Rayong, is enshrined in a Thai-style pavilion at Suan Si Muang located behind the city hall.

    Phra Chedi Klang Nam    -    about 4 kilometers south of town center along Taksin Maharat Road is a pagoda erected on an islet of the Rayong River.  It is not known who constructed the pagoda, although it has been there for countless years.  the pagoda itself is about 10 meters tall.  An annual festival to celebrate the Phra chedi Klang Nam is held in November, with boat races and other folk plays and performances.

    Hat Laem Charoen & Hat Sang Chan   are two beaches connected as a long line beach and is located 5 kms. away from town to the south.  Several seafood restaurants can be found along Hat Laem Charoen and there are bungalows scattered on Hat Sang Chan.    

    Ko Saket Petch   -  a small off-shore island can be reached by embarking on a boat at Hat Sai Thong.  the trip takes about fifteen minutes.  The water around the island is clear and allow a fascination view of the underwater coral formations.

    Hat Phayun and Hat Phala  -   are located in Amphoe Ban Chang  33 and 36 kms. respectively from Rayong town.  Both beaches are connected, peaceful and suitable for swimming.  The choice of accommodation  offered ranges from luxury hotels to economy bungalow complexes.

    Sopha Bothanical Gardens  -   possess one of the most numerous varieties of trees and plants in Thailand.  Located 200 metres from km. 238 of Sukhumvit Road at the entrance to Ban Phe, not far from the pier to Samet Island.  In the Gardens, one sees also a Thai Sala and a group of three classical Thai  houses, each of which is more than a hundred years old.  The houses are completely furnished and utensils traditionally used by the Thai people.  there are also a number of antique objects and other  objects d'art on display in the houses.  For more detail, please contact Tel. 2241373, 2241388.

    Sunthon Phu memorial Park   -   The village of Ban Khram, which is located on the coast road between Ban Phe and Klaeng, is the birthplace of Sunthon Phu (1786-1855) of the early 19th century.  Thailand's greatest poet.  There is a beautifully kept memorial park at the place where his house was sited.  A statue of him in a seated position is placed on a small hill overlooking an ornamental pond.  Characters from his most famous work, can be seen below him.  His beloved hero Phra Aphaimani is playing a flute at the foot of the hill, a beautiful mermaid rests on a rock in the pond, and a giant ogress is rising out of the water.

    ฺBan Phe  -   22 kilometers from town, is a busy fishing port and the centre of local marine produce.  travel along the Sukhumvit Highway, take a right turn at km. 231 and proceed on for about five kilometers.  It is a stopping off points for tourists en route to the island of Ko samet.  Shops in the main street stock a wide variety of local products such as fish sauce, cuttle-fish, dried shrimp and shrimp paste.

    Khao Laem Ya-Mu Ko Samet National Park -   situated at Tambon Phe, Amphoe Muang Rayong, the park covers a wide stretch of area including shore, sea, and islands with places of interest like Hat Mae Ramphung, Khao Laem Ya and Ko Samet.  The Forestry Department has proclaimed it as a national park sine Oct. 1, 1981

    Khao Laem Ya -   a small shore hill located a bit beyond Ban Kon Ao along the beach-hugging out into the sea.  The park's office is located on long beach at the foot of the hill.

    Ko Samet  -  on which Sunthorn Phu, Thailand's greatest poet based his most famous work, the story of Phra Aphaimani, located 30 minutes or 6.5 kilometers off the coast or Ban Phe.

    Samet Island offers beautiful beaches with charming white sand and strange0shaped rocks, suitable for relaxation.  The climate is always  pleasantly cool with abundant rains in August and windy monsoons in May.  Accommodations at Ban Phe and on the Samet Island are available.

How to Get to Ban Phe and Ko Samet

    For tourists who travel by public transport, should take Bangkok-Ban Phe Bus directly.  Air-conditioned coach leaving Bangkok from the Eastern Bus Terminal, Sukhumvit Rd. every hour starting from 7.00 hr. onwards until 20.30 hrs.   One way fare is B 90.  There are also non air-conditioned buses leaving from the same station every hour form 06.00 hr.  until 17.00 hrs.  Bus fare is B 50.  The trip takes about 3 hrs.  For more details, please contact Tel. 3912504

    From Ban Phe, boats leave regularly for Ko Samet from 6.00-17.00 hrs. and more frequently on Saturday and Sunday.  A chartered boat costs 800-3,00 baht per day depending on the size of the boat.

     Suan Son pine Park  -    five kilometers from Ban Phe on the beach road, is a popular picnic place, with shady areas, white clean sand and number of sea-food cateries.  Reasonable accommodation is also available.  Reservation can be made in Bangkok by calling 3988770 (N.S. Land), 4650054 (Jirawan Resort), 4240668 (Marina Hut), 2463196 (Ko Kaeo Bungalow)

    Suan Wang Kaeo   -   a garden on Sukhumvit Road with a 5-km.  right turn at kilometer 248 or some  11 kilometers from Suan Son Pine Park along the beach hugging road.  Suan Wang Kaeo is remarkable for its scenic natural beauty, beaches and bays, hills, and beautifully decorated garden.  It is open daily between 8.00 a.m.- 6.00 p.m.  Admission is 10 baht each. Accommodations are also available at the garden, call 2594150-1 for detailed information.

    Laem Mae Phim   -   with entries at km. 259, 263 and 268, is suitable for swimming as waves are not too strong and the sea is clean and clear.  Accommodation may  be booked by calling 4373648  (Sin Siam Resort), 2341314 (Thap Samet Village), 3144382 (Phat Lodge), 2781859 (Phimnipha Villa) 3902146 (Ban Sai Kaeo).  To the north of the cape is a small off-shore isle, Ko Khi Pla (เกาะขี้ปลา)  which for some unexplained reasons, can be reached someday by walking as the tide goes down to the extent that a "road" appears.

    Wat Saranat Thammaram   -   Located at the entrance to Amphoe Klaeng at km. 265 on Sukhumvit Highway and built in 1944, has as its principal image a replica of the highly venerated Phra Buddha Chinarat of Phitsanulok.  At the four corners of the temple are also replicas of four major Buddhist monuments, namely, Phra pathom Chedi, Phra That Phanom, Buddha, Gaya and Phar That Chaiya.

    Khao Chamao-Khao Wong National Park   -    about 17 kilometers off the main highway at km. 274, abounds with various types of trees and plants, as well as those species highly valued as decorative plants.  Namtok Khao Cha-Mao has 8 levels and is not too difficult to reach the top.  Bungalows are provided by National Park.

    About 77 kilometers from town and another 12 kilometers from a left turn a km. 286 Sukhumvit Highway is Tham Khao Wong (Cave).  Accessibility during rainy season is rather difficult along the laterite road.  there are about 80 big and small connecting chambers, all of which are richly and beautifully decorated with natural stalactites and stalagmites.

    Ko Man  or Man Island Group consists of three islands namely Ko Man Nai, Ko Man Klang and Ko Man Nok, located 5 kms. from Laem Mae Phim.  It takes about 30 minutes by boat.  The islands are good for coral reefs.  Ko Man Nai is going to be developed into Sea Turtle Preservation Sanctuary and can be visited during the day.  Accommodation are available at Ko Man Klang and Ko Man Nok.  Contact in advance at Raya Island Resort (So Man Klang) Tel. 3166717 and Ko Nok Resort (Ko Man Nok) Tel. 2550836-7

EVENT

    Rayong Fruit Fair  -  This fair is held during May of June at Amphoe Muang and Amphoe Klaeng.  Rayong is Famous for its lush fruits orchards, producing some of the country's best pomelo, jackfruit, rambutan, and durian.  All will be on sale at this fair, as well as the shrimp paste and fish sauce for which the province is noted and a wide variety of local handicrafts.