Koh Phayam , kangaroo shaped small island, 35 Km from Ranong , opposite Burmese St. Matthew's Island is the main tourist spot in Thailand Ranong province . Koh Phayam is only 10 km long and 5 km wide with population around 500 people. Ko Phayam is still surrounded by natural environment. Small roads without cars – just motorcycles and bicycle for cruising around. Electricity is delivered by solar energy as well as private generators. It takes two hours from Ranong to Koh Phayam by boat and 45 minutes by speed boat. Boat service twice per day all the year. Price: 200 Baht per person. Speedboat service run in high season only 5-8 times per day , 350 Baht per person.
Only some accommodations open all the year, most low key bungalows closed, as well as restaurants and shops . There are many beaches around this island , most accommodation are in Aow Yai ( Long ) beach and Aow Khao Kwai or Buffalo Bay beach. Ao Yai is the largest bay 3 km long on the west-coast .
Music parties in high season and not expensive accommodation (from 300 Baht per night) attract young crowds. Buffalo Bay is a quieter beach, especially south east part of the bay. More upscale and better quality resorts dedicated to families with kids, groups and middle age pairs. The main village at the pier offers several restaurants, food stalls, shops selling food and supplies, as well as diving company offices and a motorbike rental shops. Tourists also can hire a motorbike at shops along the road to the resorts with price for daily rental from 150 to 300 Baht. Forested hills of Ko Phayam are a habitat of monkeys, wild animals and a variety of birds like Hornbill and Sea Eagle. At the south end of Buffalo Bay is a small sea gypsy settlement.
