Phon Rang Hot Spring

Phon Rang Hot Spring is a set of thermal mineral pools inside Ngao Waterfall National Park, in Ban Phon Rang, Bang Rin subdistrict, Ranong — about 5 km from town. Thirteen underground spring sources feed the site at 35–40°C; the water is clear and largely odourless, without the sulfur smell many hot springs have. Entry is 100 THB for foreigners, 20 THB for Thai adults, children free, daily 06:00–18:00.

Two main stone-lined pools split the temperature range — a warmer pool close to the source and a cooler one downstream — connected by wooden walkways through the forest. Below the pools, mineral water mixes into a shallow stream where you can dip your feet and let small fish nibble at them, a free version of the fish-spa treatment sold elsewhere. It’s a modest, low-infrastructure site: no resort styling, no spa menu, just stone basins and forest.

Locals treat a soak here as a folk remedy for aches and joint stiffness — there’s no clinical evidence behind that, and it’s worth being honest about it, but a 35–40°C mineral soak after a day of travel doesn’t need medical backing to be worthwhile. Families gather in the main pools on weekend mornings; the site gets genuinely quiet on weekday mornings before day-trippers arrive from town.

The park it sits in takes its name from Namtok Ngao, a larger multi-tiered waterfall elsewhere in the same protected area — worth combining into one trip if you’re renting a car for the day, since both fall under the same Ngao Waterfall National Park boundary and entry system. Ranong itself is one of Thailand’s wettest provinces, so the surrounding rainforest stays lush and the springs run reliably even outside the main tourist months; this isn’t a seasonal attraction the way some waterfalls are.

Insider Tip: Go before 8 AM on a weekday — the pools empty out fast once tour groups from Ranong start arriving mid-morning.

Watch out: The stone edges around the pools get slippery when wet — wear grippy sandals rather than flip-flops with a smooth sole, and mind your footing getting in and out.

Because it’s inside a national park, expect basic facilities only — simple changing rooms and no food stalls, so bring water and snacks if you’re staying a while. A private vehicle makes the short hop from Ranong town far easier than relying on local transport.