Thailand Guides - Rayong

Located approximately 220 kilometres from Bangkok, Rayong is another delightful resort on Thailand's eastern coast. The province is well known for its pristine beaches stretching along a 100-kilometer coastline.

Overview

Rayong is blessed with an abundance of seafood products such as shrimp paste, fish sauce, dried seafood, and tropical fruits of which rambutan, mangosteen and durian are the most famous. This coastal province has just started to gain wider popularity among visitors seeking a more serene seaside experience than nearby city-like beach resort of Pattaya.

Attractions

Wat Pa Pradu -- Constructed during the Ayutthaya period, the temple is located on Sukhumvit Road. The most attractive aspect is a large reclining statue of Buddha measured 11.95 long and 3.60 metres high. Unlike other reclining statues, the Buddha image lies on the left not the right.

Suphattraland -- Thirty kilometres from town is Suphattraland, an extensive orchard open to the public. It grows succulent mangosteen, durian and rambutan. Visitors can enjoy not only the pleasant surroundings but also taste for themselves freshly-picked fruits from the trees.

Khao Chamao - Khao Wong National Park -- The last piece of virgin forest in Rayong, the park is located in Klaeng District, 71 kilometres from the city. Khao Chamao - Khao Wong covers an area of 83.6 square meters and is home to tigers, wild elephants and bears. The park is famous for its lime-stone mountains, caves, high cliffs, verdant forests and waterfalls.

Koh Samed was named after the Samed Tree or the cajuput tree that grows everywhere on the island. The Samed Archipelago consists of Koh Samed, Koh Chan, Koh San Chalam, Koh Hin Khao, Koh Kang Kao, Koh Kudee, Koh Kruoy and Koh Plateen. An ecological tour can be made through three itineraries on Koh Samed, Koh Kudee and Lam Ya Mountain. There are direct routes to some beaches including Hat Sai Kaew and Ao Wong Duan, from which one can walk to other beaches through a relatively primitive inland road network. Most of the beaches are located on the northern and eastern sides of this T-shaped island whereas only a few, that is, Ao Prao, Ao Kham and Ao Kiu Na Nai lie on the west. It is more convenient to reach Ao Prao by a direct ferry from Ban Phea.