Rayong Activities
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Usually the beaches and islands around Rayong are more than enough to keep kids entertained. Popular destinations like Koh Samet often have lots of other children for your kids to play with and most of the water sports you’d expect to find at the beach. If the sea starts to get boring, simply rent a car and head inland to one of the lush national parks. Here, kids can check out waterfalls and tramp around the jungle. There are also some decent parks in and around Rayong.
Beaches The beaches around Rayong are the main attraction. They come in all sizes, offering a great way to immerse yourself in Thai culture while enjoying the sand and sea. The nearest beach to Rayong is Laem Charoen, combining good swimming with decent sand. Mae Rumpheung is a beautiful little bay with excellent swimming, beach trails and easy access to the charming fishing village of Ban Kon Ao. There’s always something to eat and observe on Rayong’s beaches, and many of them have bungalows as well.
Rayong Aquarium This humble aquarium in Ban Phe offers an excellent look at the native coastal environment around Rayong. One highlight is a massive tank with a glass tunnel running under it. Inside, a mangrove forest has been planted allowing visitors to see the incredible diversity of life that exists within its underwater root system. Outdoor tanks house rare sea turtles, starfish, tropical fish and coral reef creatures, while a fossil museum displays rare and extinct stuffed sea animals. Phone: +66 3865 3741.
Wat Ban Don Shadow Play Museum One of the more interesting traditional Thai arts is the Nang Yai shadow play. The town of Ban Don has an excellent museum dedicated to this ancient craft, featuring more than 100 hand-fashioned characters dating back 200 years. Each character is carved from a large piece of leather and then painted. Backed by soft light, the figures are moved behind a screen to tell a story. Both kids and adults should enjoy this unique form of storytelling. To watch a Nang Yai performance, simply make a reservation three days in advance. Phone: +66 9831 6053.
Waterfalls A special day excursion from Rayong can be found in the Khao Chamao-Khao Wong National Park. The highlights of this jungle park are the waterfalls. Short walks along clear trails take visitors to designated sites such as Khao Chamao Waterfall. All eight levels of this large waterfall can all be accessed by trail. The main attraction here is the Wang Mutcha pond on the second level that is teeming with native carp. Several other waterfalls in the park, along with some 20 caves, are open to visitors. Visiting the park is a great way to see another side of Rayong’s natural beauty. Phone: +66 3889 4378.
The culture of Rayong is subdued and takes a bit of exploration to fully appreciate. There aren’t any high profile museums or art galleries here, but visitors will find an impressive array of Thai memorials, Buddhist temples and local markets. The dominant social scene revolves around the fishing industry, and a visit to one of the old fishing villages like Ao Kai is well worth the effort.
Ao Kai-Laem Tan Just beyond Laem Mae Phim is this small fishing village that has maintained its traditional trade of pickling jellyfish. The ambiance is wonderfully tranquil, and a handful of seafood restaurants provide what may well be the best meal you’ll have in Rayong. Boats depart from Ao Kai for Koh Man Klang island so you can make a great day outing combining the two.
Ban Kon Ao Commonly referred to as the Fisherman’s Village, this charming seaside hamlet is just 22kms (14 miles) from Rayong and provides one of the best chances to witness traditional fishing life along the Gulf of Thailand. Visitors can watch as the fishermen catch and prepare their seafood before they enjoy it at one of the small restaurants in town. A nice Buddhist temple is perched atop a hill overlooking the sea for some spiritual ambiance, while Mae Rumpheung beach lies just at the end of the village.
King Taksin Shrine The man who put Rayong on the map was the legendary king of Ayutthaya, King Taksin. To commemorate his deeds for the Thai people, Rayong erected a shrine in front of Wat Lum Mahachai Chumpon temple. Inside is a statue of the king, and outside a huge tree where he is believed to have tied his elephant centuries ago. The shrine is highly revered by the local people, and is often the centre of activity during festivals.
Statue of Sunthorn Phu One of the greatest Thai poets in history, Sunthorn Phu lived around Rayong during the Ratanakosin era 200 years ago. His most famous piece of writing, the Phra Aphai Mani, is regarded as one of Thailand’s best works of literature. To honor the man, a statue of him and some of the characters from his stories were built in a tidy memorial ground where his father once had a house.
Wat Pa Pradu
Rayong’s oldest Buddhist temple is this beauty dating back to the Ayutthaya era. Inside the main building is a huge reclining Buddha nearly 12 metres long. What makes this reclining Buddha unusual is that it is lying on its left side. In addition to the temple grounds, visitors can explore the adjacent market that is a hub of daily life. The timeworn houses and colourful stalls of the market invoke a tangible sense of the past. It is this working relationship with the temple that earned it the nickname, Wat Lum Market.
Rayong’s oldest Buddhist temple is this beauty dating back to the Ayutthaya era. Inside the main building is a huge reclining Buddha nearly 12 metres long. What makes this reclining Buddha unusual is that it is lying on its left side. In addition to the temple grounds, visitors can explore the adjacent market that is a hub of daily life. The timeworn houses and colourful stalls of the market invoke a tangible sense of the past. It is this working relationship with the temple that earned it the nickname, Wat Lum Market.
Wat Saranat Thammaram This impressive Buddhist temple at the market in the town of Klaeng contains one of the most stunning Ubosots in the region. Inside is a lovely Buddha image replicated from the famous Phra Phutta Chinnarat temple upcountry. Four major pagodas surround the Ubosot building, each of which represents famous Buddhist monuments from each of Thailand’s four main regions.
The dining scene in Rayong revolves entirely around the incredibly fresh seafood caught every day in the Gulf of Thailand. People drive for miles to enjoy a meal at one of the town’s many famous seafood restaurants, where the prices are unbelievably low and the selection of dishes wonderfully varied. The most popular places to eat are located at Laem Charoen beach, just five kilometres (three miles) south of downtown Rayong. Other excellent beachside dining spots include Saeng Chan, Mae Rumpheung and Laem Mae Phim beaches.
If you get tired of fresh tasty seafood, Rayong offers a smattering of Chinese, Thai and innocuous Western-style restaurants. The options are very limited in Rayong if you don’t like Asian cuisine so be prepared to eat plenty of rice, noodles and curries. For the best selection, check out the string of noodle shops and stir-fry joints along Taksin Maharat road. The fresh daily markets in and around Rayong such as the one near Thetsabanteung cinema are also great places to find cheap and delicious food. Market food is more snack-based, with desserts and fried treats widely sold.
Besides seafood, Rayong is also nationally renowned for its tropical fruit. Depending on the season, visitors can sample some of Thailand’s most exotic and tantalising produce. May and June are particularly popular months, as the infamous durian, royal mangosteen and funky rambutan all come into season. Durian is a real delicacy, and deserves to be tried at least once. Its smell can resemble old socks, repulsing many but intoxicating quite a few. Mangosteen is the official fruit of the Queen of Thailand and has a velvety texture, while rambutans are also tasty. Many of the orchards around Rayong are happy to receive visitors.
While Rayong is hardly a shopping paradise, there are a few local items that make nice souvenirs. One of the more unique products created in Rayong is crystal. Used for both practical and ornamental purposes, the quality of Rayong’s crystal is comparable to that crafted in other parts of the world. The Lotus Crystal Plant is the town’s most famous company, and its factory is open to viewing by the public.
Products made from reed, known locally as kok weed, are another interesting item easily found around Rayong. The villages of Klaeng and Kram are both home to a thriving cottage industry based around this traditional art. The locals at these villages fashion the reeds into handbags, hats, mats and other functional items. Reed crafts can be purchased directly in the villages where they’re made, but can also be readily found in the markets and sundry shops of Rayong and other coastal towns.
Preserved seafood such as dried prawns, dried squid, shrimp paste and fish sauce are local specialties. Although it may be difficult to import these food items back home, they can be enjoyed while you’re in Thailand. Ban Phe and the daily markets of Rayong are the best places to pick up edible items.Rayong is one of the lesser-travelled regions of Thailand when it comes to outdoor recreation. With more than 100kms (62 miles) of coastline, beach and water activities are found everywhere you turn. Head offshore and some of the small islands offer excellent scuba diving and snorkelling, while land-based fun centres around hiking in the national parks and riding horses. Golfers will be happy to learn that Rayong has some of the best courses in the region.
Golf Rayong is one of Thailand’s most popular golfing destinations. The courses are lush and scenic, and open all year round. Their proximity to Rayong allows visitors to easily combine a day on the links with other activities. The more popular courses include Eastern Star Gold Course, Rayong Green Valley and Great Lake Country Club. Greens fees are shockingly cheap and most courses are open to the public. There are also a handful of driving ranges in Rayong if you just want to work on your swing.
Horseback Riding Riding a horse is a fun way to see the countryside around Rayong. There are a couple of places to choose from if you want to get out for an afternoon with the horses. The Orchard Park Riding Club is seven kilometres (four miles) from Rayong, while Slo Bunny Horse Riding Centre is a bit farther away at Mae Rumpheung beach.
Public Parks
There are several nice parks around Rayong. Many of them incorporate the beach and usually serve as relaxing picnic spots for local Thais. Suan Son is near Ban Phe, and is famous for its shady pine groves along the sand. The park’s beach is great for swimming, and simple restaurants and lodging provide the infrastructure for a prolonged visit. Si Mueang Park is Rayong’s main city greenspace, located right in the heart of town behind city hall. With its iconic Buddhist shrine in the centre, this park is a favourite among the locals when they want to take a stroll or relax in the shade.
Scuba Diving and Snorkelling The dozen or so tiny islands off the coast of Rayong provide convenient, decent sites for underwater exploration. Many of these islets are either uninhabited or very sparsely inhabited, creating a wonderfully undisturbed marine environment. One of the most popular dive spots is Koh Kudi. This little speck of rock in the Kao Laem Ya National Marine Park has some surprisingly good scenery. Suitable for both beginners and experienced divers, Koh Kudi offers rich coral gardens and exotic marinelife. The solid rock seabed slopes gradually reach a depth of 20 metres so you can dive as shallow as you like. There are plenty of dive shops in Rayong, Ban Phe and Koh Samet that can arrange your trip.
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Klang
first: the hotel is a safe and secure area,but there is little public transport,shops and entertainement.Except there is a hotel van . They can bring you everywhere you want to go ,ofcourse for not t...
first: the hotel is a safe and secure area,but there is little public transport,shops and entertainement.Except there is a hotel van . They can bring you everywhere you want to go ,ofcourse for not t...
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