From Wikitravel

Ko Phayam is an island in the Ranong province of Thailand.

[edit] Understand

Koh Phayam is the 2nd largest island of Andaman sea in Ranong province, after Koh Chang. About 4 kms from Koh Chang. Koh Payam has no wide road suitable for a car and motorbikes are the means of transport. Tourists hire a motor bike at the pier and ride along the road to the resorts. There two majors beaches/bays e.g. Ao Yai and Ao Kao Kwai (Buffalo Bay). For those who want to get away for it all, Ko Phayam is reminiscent of what somewhere like Ko Samui was like 30 years ago, before the airport and hotel developments. Ao Yai is the largest bay on the west-coast with a 2 miles of length and 300m of width, with grey sand beach.

Koh Phayam is widely thought to be one of the most beautiful of Thailand's islands but until recently has been somewhat undiscovered.

[edit] Get in

Located in the Andaman Sea. It is just over 30km from Ranong, about 2 hours from the mainland "Phayam Pier" by slow boat, speed boat 30-40 minutes. The slow boat leaves at 9am and 2pm from the mainland and the same on the return journey. Speed boats depart at different and more frequent schedules (not in low season).

Service from Bangkok to Ranong Airport and back three times a week via Happy Air www.happyair.co.th

Mar 2012: 150bht slow boat 350bht speed boat

Dec 2011:

From Ranong to Payam island: 9:30 (slow boat) 10:00 (speed boat) 14:00 (slow boat) 14:30 (speed boat) From Payam island to Ranong Slow boat: 8:30, 14:00 Fast boat: 9:00, 10:00, 13,30

[edit] Get around

No cars on this island only motorbikes and scooters and they can be rented at Phayam Cottage Internet shop near the main arrival ferry pier along with many other places. The price is roughly 150-200 bht per day unless heavily booked. Gasoline costs 40-50B per litre. If you rent a motorbike don't drive it on the beach, there is rumors that you can get fined 5000 baht because of fine-print on the rental agreement.

Motorbike taxi drivers will be waiting for you as you step off the pier and can be found around the island, differentiated by their blue or red vests. Maps of the island near the pier are colour coded, showing you what the fixed price is to get to certain areas. 70B from the pier to Aow Yai. Ask your guesthouse to call you a taxi bike if you are at the quieter ends of the island. The wait for a taxi to pass by can be longer than you wish.

[edit][add listing] See

There are many beautiful beaches and some of them long like Ao Yai the largest and the ferry pier area is vibrant with restaurants, a few internet and other shops and areas to pull up an island chair or hammock and enjoy a cold drink or two

[edit][add listing] Do

In the north-west is the Kao Kwai Bay in a more quiet beach. Sea water is a bit clearer and less polluted. The beach has a more intimate feel unlike the larger beaches which have more people and more activity. Relatively however, the island is a tranquil place for you to explore. Follow yoga or batik courses at PP.land Beach Resort or visit the art shop at Heaven Beach Resort & Art.

[edit][add listing] Buy

Locally grown cashew nuts available

[edit][add listing] Eat

The most beautiful place to eat from the main ferry Pier is Blue Sky. Many good local seafood restaurants with fresh catch and several western food restaurants run by a few of the island's local foreigners.

The entire island offers many cheap vegetarian/vegan food options.

• Paceluce (Snack bar italiano), Aw Kao Kway nord (next to Chom Jam resort), ☎ 0860294106. close at 17.00. Little Italian restaurant, family management, pasta, salads, bruschette, sandwich, real coffee, shakes and crepes, all made with fresh ingredients.  edit

[edit][add listing] Drink

Many bars and restaurants on the island with quite a few german speaking guests from Germany and Austria and now Scandinavians are starting to discover Koh Phayam.

Island official drink is Thai Rum SangSom and fresh Koh Phayam Coconut water. Some places refill water bottles (roughly 5 BHT / litre), always a smart thing to do instead of buying new plastic bottles.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

Bungalows for rent can be found along the major beaches.

• PP.Land Beach Beach Resort [[1]] is a small eco-resort runned by Paul from Belgium and Pearl (Thai). All bungalows are built to western standard in an old cashewnut garden, next to a 300 m private beach. There is free wifi and a swimming pool and they organise boat tours exclusively for their customers. The restaurant is open all day and on the rooftop terrace they got a pool table.
• Heaven Beach Resort & Art [[2]] is a small luxury resort located on the beautiful Aow Kai Kwai beach. 50 sqm bungalows with hot/cold open air shower, spacious porch and a very cosy restaurant on the beach. From the same owners as PP.Land Beach Resort, so customers of Heaven Beach are allowed to use all the facilities from PP.Land.
• Payam Cottage Resort[[3]] is one of the recommended resorts of Kao Kwai Bay.
• Coconut Beach Resort (Coconut Bungalows), 14 Moo 1 Aow Yai, Koh Phayam, 85000 Ranong, Thailand (Down Aow Yai Beach, past South Star Bar, before Aow Yai Bungalows. Around 500m down from the taxi stop.), ☎ 0066-89-9208145, [4]. checkin: All day; checkout: 12:00pm. While the bungalows are well fitted if a little rustic and the food at the bar is fantastic, the real reason to come here is the warm welcome and service you will receive from the family of young people that run the resort. A beautiful location directly on the beach. No better place for your money. 300-1000B. (N09º 43.320,O098º 23.648) edit
• Contact Bungalows. Has unsecure bungalows for 200 baht (double bed, mosquito net, sit down toilet, shower) and 300 baht. Near a rocky beach. Serves food (60+ Baht) 200-300.  edit

[edit] Get out

Happy Air www.happyair.co.th flies to Bangkok from Ranong Airport (20 minutes drive from Ranong)

Boats go from Koh Phayam to Koh Chang on some weekdays at 4:00. Boats do not go on Sat/Sun. Buses from Ranong bus station to Chumphon, Khao Lak and Phuket, seven times a day. (Phuket Town 6 hours, 240 BHT)

This article is an outline and needs more content. It has a template, but there is not enough information present. Please plunge forward and help it grow!