Rayong Botanical Garden

Rayong Botanical Garden protects roughly 3,800 rai of wetland and melaleuca (paperbark) forest in Klaeng district — a conservation and research reserve rather than a manicured flowerbed garden. Entry is free, daily from 08:30 to 16:30, but most visitors come specifically to paddle through the flooded forest, not to walk between plant labels.

Kayaks rent for around 100 THB an hour, with an eight-person flat-bottom boat running roughly 600 THB an hour and stand-up paddleboards also available on-site. Routes cut through stands of melaleuca trees locals call the “thousand-year melaleuca forest” — a nickname for how old the stands feel rather than a literal age claim — past floating lotus fields and mats of water hyacinth. The Rak Samet Bridge boardwalk gives you the same flooded-forest views on foot, without renting anything, if paddling isn’t your thing or the queue for kayaks is long.

Insider Tip: Book a kayak first thing on a weekend morning — rentals run out by midday once the crowds arrive, and weekday visits get you the flooded forest almost to yourself.

The garden’s research side shows in what’s actually planted here: sections dedicated to native Eastern Thai flora and medicinal species sit alongside the wetland itself, aimed as much at conservation and education as at visitors. Morning light on the water is the best time for photos, before the afternoon heat sets in and the paddling queues build. Bird activity picks up early too, if that’s part of the appeal for you.

Watch out: The garden itself is free, but the paddling — the actual reason most people make the trip — costs extra and is cash-only on-site, with no online booking. Go early on weekends if you want to be sure of a kayak.

Bring water shoes for the paddling deck and insect repellent for the wetland edges — this is a working wetland, not a paved park. It’s inland from both Hat Mae Ramphueng and Laem Mae Phim, making it a workable half-day break from beach time on Rayong’s eastern coast. The Mae Phim Beach guide covers the rest of the area.