Ban Phe

Ban Phe (บ้านเพ) is on the gulf coastline of Eastern Thailand in Rayong Province. Ban Phe was previously mainly known as a stop-over for the Ko Samet National Park “Khao Laem Ya-Mu Ko Samet" as well as a seafood processing town, mainly for fish sauces. Today tourism is steady growing and Ban Phe gets a major source of income from tourism.

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

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.

Get in

By bus

There are direct 1st class air-con buses between Ekamai (Eastern) Bus Terminal in Bangkok and Ban Phe, departing hourly.

By car

Turn right off Hwy 3, Sukhumvit Rd, at km231 and keep going for 5 km or turn right at km238 and keep going for 3 km.

Airport Public Transportation Service, Bangkok Airport Limousines , or public transport will drive you to the pier in 2.5 or fewer hours.

Get around

Ban Phe is a small town and not 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 Ko Samet from Ban Phe port you can take a speed boat for around 2,000 baht or take the ferry for 50 baht which departs 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.

See

• Hat Maerampung Beach (5km W of Ban Phe). 
• Kao Yai Da (25km). Ziplines and rainforest tours. 
• Khao Chamao-Khao Wong National Park (70km). Tropical forest. 
• 🌍 Khao Laem Ya - Mu Ko Samet National Park (อุทยานแห่งชาติเขาแหลมหญ้า-หมู่เกาะเสม็ด). The park totals an area of 81,875 rai including land, sea, and islands. Its major attractions include Mae Ramphueng Beach, Khao Laem Ya, and Samet Archipelago.  
• 🌍 Rayong Aquarium (สถานแสดงพันธ์สัตว์น้ำระยอง) (3km W of Ban Phe). In the Eastern Marine Fisheries Research and Development Centre (ศูนย์วิจัยและพัฒนาประมงไทยฝั่งตะวันออก), it houses various kinds of fish and sea plants. The centre conducts research on marine biology. (updated Mar 2015)
• Suan Son beach (1km E of Ban Phe). 
• Suphattra Land (30 km). Agrotourism. 

Do

While the beaches in the immediate area of Ban Phe are not very nice due to the pier, go a few kilometres 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 luxury 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.

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 these tchotchkes are 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.

Learn

• TEFL International. 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. 

Eat

• Christies Bar and Restaurant (City centre opposite the piers). A quality venue, great bar, staff, food (Western and Thai) and music. Also has 4 air-con rooms, satellite TV in the rooms, helpful staff. Room rates approximately 500 baht per night. 
• Tawan Inn Restaurant and Bar. 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. Also 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. Free Wi-Fi in both building and garden. 400-2,000 baht. 
• 🌍 Super Aroi Som Tam (Papaya salad) (from Ban Phe on the road to Hat mai Ramphueng). 06.30-17.30. traditional Isaan Papaya salad 35 baht. (updated Feb 2017)

Drink

Sleep

• Ban Phe Apartments. Offers different sized apartments for short- and long-term visitors (families are welcome). 1,500-3,300 baht. 

Go next

Most visitors take the ferry to Ko Samet. You can also take the shared minibus to Ko Chang, which depart regularly to the Laem Ngop piers, where you can get onto the car ferries to the island. Private minibuses will carry passengers the entire way to their resort on Ko Chang, not just the ferry, and include ferry tickets with their rates.

Routes through Ban Phe

Bangkok ← Rayong ←

W  E

→ Chanthaburi → Trat