Ko Phayam

Ko Phayam lies about thirty kilometres off Ranong near the Myanmar maritime border, and it has developed on its own terms: there are no cars, and the island's transport is motorbikes on a network of narrow concrete paths, with motorbike taxis meeting the boats. The economy is cashew nuts and rubber alongside a modest tourism sector, and cashew is genuinely central - the plantations cover much of the interior and the nuts are the island's export. The island is part of the Mu Ko Phayam national park, set up in 2003 with the islets and reefs around it. Two long beaches, Ao Yai on the west and Ao Khao Kwai on the north-west, hold most of the accommodation, which runs from very simple bungalows to a few mid-range places. Electricity reached the island properly only in the 2010s and some places still run generators. The monsoon here is severe - Ranong is the wettest province in Thailand - and from May to October boats reduce, seas are rough and much of the island closes.

What's there

• The motorbike paths - narrow concrete lanes instead of roads, no cars.
• The cashew plantations - the island's main crop, across the interior.
• Ao Yai and Ao Khao Kwai - the two long beaches with the accommodation.
• The Myanmar border - the maritime frontier just offshore.

When to go

November to April. From May to October the seas are rough, boats reduce and much closes - Ranong's monsoon is the heaviest in Thailand.

Before you go

No cars and no bank machine on the island - bring cash. Some accommodation runs on generators. Motorbike is the only real transport and accidents on the narrow paths happen. Extensive low-season closures.

Nearby

Ko Chang, Ranong's smaller island, is close; Ranong town and the Myanmar crossing are east.

Key facts