Ranong Canyon

Ranong Canyon is a flooded former tin mine about 15 minutes from central Ranong town, in Hat Som Paen subdistrict. Decades of mining left a deep pit that filled with spring water and rain once operations stopped, turning into the emerald-green pool known locally as the Emerald Pond. Entry is free, with the site generally accessible from around 05:00 to 18:00.

The colour is the draw: mineral-rich water sits against layered, rust-toned rock walls left exposed by the excavation. Carp introduced after mining ended now gather near the banks, and feeding them is the main activity for most visitors — bring bread or feed pellets if you want to try it. There’s no formal swimming infrastructure here, no marked lanes, no lifeguard, and no posted depth chart. People do wade and swim in the shallower edges, but this is a repurposed industrial pit, not a managed swimming venue, so treat unfamiliar sections of the water with the same caution you’d use at any quarry pond.

Watch out: the appeal of a former mine is exactly its risk — irregular underwater terrain and no depth markings. Stay near the edges you can see clearly and skip it after heavy rain, when runoff clouds the water further.

Light changes the mood through the day. Morning brings clearer, calmer water and fewer visitors; by afternoon the colour shifts toward blue-green as the sun moves overhead. The site sees local day-trippers and families more than international tour groups, so it stays low-key even on weekends.

Insider Tip: Pair the canyon with Wat Hat Som Paen in the same subdistrict — it’s a short drive and rounds out a half-day loop without doubling back toward Ranong town.

Access is by motorbike or car along Ranong’s main roads; there’s no public transport directly to the site, so factor in your own wheels or a hired driver from town.