Hatyay Hot Spring

Ban Hat Yai Hot Spring sits inside Lam Nam Kraburi National Park, in Ranong’s La-un district — not Hat Yai, the city of nearly 400,000 people 700km south in Songkhla province. The shared name is a coincidence between two unrelated places; this one is a small riverside village 38km from Ranong town, reached by a park protection unit (KB.1) rather than a city bus route.

Three mineral pools bubble up here at 39-50°C, cooler than the near-boiling sources found elsewhere in Thailand’s hot-spring-dense Ranong province. There’s no built soaking tub at the springs themselves — most visitors scoop water in a bowl or ladle and pour it over their hands, feet, or shoulders rather than sitting in. The park has built a bridge, a walking path, shaded pavilions, and restrooms around the site, so the setting is developed even if the bathing method stays basic. A cooler stream runs close by for anyone who wants a contrast dip.

Families picnic here more than tourists pass through — it’s a quieter, more local spot than Raksawarin Hot Springs in Ranong town, which has proper concrete soaking pools and sees far more foot traffic. The forest setting and the sound of the nearby stream give it a slower, less commercial feel.

The park charges 100 THB for foreign adults and 20 THB for Thai adults to enter (children under 14 and seniors over 60 go free), plus a separate bathing fee — 50 THB for a private room, or 20 THB for the shared pool area. It’s open daily from 08:30 to 16:00. Bring your own scoop or small bucket if you want to bathe properly, along with a towel and a change of clothes; flip-flops help on the wet walkways.

Insider Tip: Locals bring their own ladle or bowl for scooping water — there’s nothing to borrow on site, so pack one if you want the full experience rather than a quick foot-dip.

Watch out: At the hottest end of the 39-50°C range the water will sting on contact — pour gradually over your feet first rather than dunking straight in.