From Wikitravel

Ban Phe is on the Gulf coastline of Eastern Thailand in Rayong Province. Ban Phe was previously mainly known as a stop-over for the Koh Samet National park “Khao Laem Ya - Mu Ko Samet" as well as a seafood processing town, mainly for fish sauces. Today the tourism is steady growing and Ban Phe starts to get a main source of income from tourism.

Ban Phe is situated about 25 km from Rayong, between Sattahip and Chanthaburi. For maps and basic information about the town Ban Phe [1].

[edit] Understand

Ban Phe exists as a port for ferries to Ko Samet and for limited fishing. Ferries between Ban Phe and Ko Samet usually take 20-45 minutes, depending on the speed of the boat and which beach/pier they use.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By bus

There are direct 1st class air-con buses between Ekamai (Eastern) Bus Terminal in Bangkok and Ban Phe, departing hourly. For timetable and further infomation refer to ban phe information guide on [2].

[edit] By car

Turn right off Sukhumvit Road at kilometre 231 and keep going for 5 kilometres or turn right at kilometre 238 and keep going for 3 kilometres.

Airport Public Transportation Service, Bangkok Airport Limousines [3] or public transport will drive you to the pier within 2.5 hours or less.

[edit] Get around

Ban Phe is a small town and not too difficult to traverse. The entire town is about 4 km making it easy to get around on foot. There are also plenty of motorcycle taxis.

To get to Koh Samet from Ban Phe port you can take a speed boat for around 2000 THB or take the ferry for 50 THB which depart approximately every hour depending on how close to capacity each ferry is. A number of tour companies operate from the port, they are mostly fair and reliable.

[edit][add listing] See

Suan Son beach: 1 Km outside of Ban Phe (direction east), Hat Maerampung beach: 5 Km outside of Ban Phe (direction west), Rayong Aquarium: 3 Km outside of Ban Phe (direction west), Cable rides and rainforest tour: Canopy adventures in the rainforest of Kao Yai Da (25 Km), Agrotourism: Suphattra Land (30 Km), Tropical forest: Khao Chamao-Khao Wong National Park (70 Km),

Want to see other things then ask the staff at tarvel agencies, Christies or Tawan-Inn for their ideas they will help you. Motorcycles can be rented everywhere arond the corners.

[edit][add listing] Do

[edit] Beach

While the beaches in the immediate area of Ban Phe are not very nice due to the pier, go a few km in either direction and the beaches are quite nice and practically devoid of western tourists.

Heading east out of town 2 km leads you to Suan Son National Pine Forest. The road runs right along the beach and the farther away from town you get the nicer the water is. Once you get 3 km from town the beaches are almost as nice as those on Samet. With only one short incursion inland, the road basically runs along the sea all the way to Lam Mei Pim, 24 km away. There are several five-star resorts and condos along this stretch of beach

Heading west will eventually lead you to the beach Hat Maerampung. The road is not direct, but if you make the trip you will find 7 km of very nice beach with a number of restaurants, resorts and cheap hotels.

[edit][add listing] Buy

In the fish market, many shops offer local seafood products such as fish sauce, sun-dried cuttlefish, dried shrimp, etc. Just half a mile from the fish market are the local tourist trinket markets - key chains made from seashells and grotesque blowfish lamps. Most of this tchotchke is meant for the local Thai tourists who stream down from Bangkok on weekends. But if you are a serious seashell collector you can find some bargains tucked away at the stalls in the back.

[edit] Study

TEFL International [4], offers TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) courses on a monthly basis. Tours of the school are given during regular business hours, and drop-ins are welcome to stop by and audit a class for free.

[edit][add listing] Eat

The actual "great food" restaurants are listed on the online platform www.ban-phe.com

Christies Bar is a quality venue, great bar, staff, food (western and thai) and music.

Tawan-Inn Has a chef with 10 years experience in Europe, who prepares both Thai and Western food of high quality. Dining outside in the garden is possible.

[edit][add listing] Drink

A few great bars are located in the centre of Ban Phe Christies or Tawan-Inn are well known and frequently visited. Tawan-Inn has a nice garden and offers BBQ during dry seasons.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

• Christies Guesthouse has 4 Aircon rooms, Satellite TV in the rooms, Aircon, city center location opposite the piers, helpful staff, room rates approx 500 baht per night.

• Tawan-Inn [5] has 8 rooms, all with marble bathrooms. Fan and air-conditioned rooms available. Two rooms are single rooms with big balcony. The 2 suites are spacious. Prices between 400 and 2000 Baht per night. Free Wifi in both building and garden.

• Ban Phe apartments [6] offers different sized apartments for short and long term visitors (families are welcome). Prices between 1500 and 3300 Baht per night.

[edit] Get out

to Ko Chang: shared minibuses depart regularly to the Laem Ngop piers, where you can get onto the car ferries to the island. Private minibuses [7] will carry passenger the entire way to their resort on Koh Chang, not just the ferry, and include ferry tickets with their rates.

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