Lighthouses of Central Thailand

Most of Thailand faces south onto the Gulf of Thailand, an arm of the South China Sea. The country also includes much of the long and narrow Malay Peninsula, which faces both east on the Gulf of Thailand and west on the Andaman Sea, an arm of the Indian Ocean. This page includes lighthouses of the northern Gulf of Thailand coast; lighthouses of the Malay Peninsula are on the Southern Thailand page.

Thailand is unique among southeast Asian nations in having maintained its independence throughout the colonial period. As a result, the country's lighthouse history is also independent from all of the European traditions. Most of the country's historic lighthouses were built during or shortly after the reign of King Chulalongkorn (1868-1910), who was successful in modernizing the country while avoiding European penetration. More information on these lighthouses is needed.

A number of attractive new lighthouses have been built recently in tourist areas. As far as I know, these are faux lighthouses or unofficial lights.

Coastal lighthouses in Thailand are operated and maintained by the Hydrographic Department of the Royal Thai Navy; lighthouses in the Bangkok area are operated and maintained by the Port Authority of Thailand. In the Thai language, the word for a lighthouse is praphakhan (ประภาคาร), ko or koh is an island, hin is a rock or reef, and laem is a cape.

ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS World List of Lights. THN numbers, where available, are from the Thai Navy's light list. Admiralty numbers are from volume F of the Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals. U.S. NGA List numbers are from Publication 112.

General Sources
Lighthouses of Thailand
The Navy's interactive map links to photos and data for the major lighthouses. The text, unfortunately for most of us, is entirely in the Thai language.
Leuchttürme in Thailand
Photos taken in December 2007 by Andreas Koehler.

Laem Pu Choi
Laem Pu Chao Light, Sattahip, July 2002
photo copyright Jürgen Klinksiek; used by permission
Trat Province (Southeast Coast) Lighthouses
Ko Kut
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 139 m (456 ft); white flash every 10 s. 30 m (98 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower, painted white. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Ko Kut is a large, mountainous, sparsely populated island in the Gulf of Thailand about 50 km (30 mi) off the southeastern corner of the country. Located high on a forested ridge at the southern tip of the island. Site status unknown. Admiralty F3010; NGA 20552.
Khlong Yai (2)
2010(?). Active; focal plane 58 m (190 ft); two white flashes every 5 s. 32 m (105 ft) skeletal tower, painted white. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. NGA misspells the name "Khiong Yai." The original tower was similar but its focal plane was only 43 m (141 ft). Located on a hillside behind the waterfront of Khlong Yai, a port in the far southeast of Thailand. Site status unknown. Admiralty F3008; NGA 20556.
* Laem Nam
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 19 m (62 ft); two white flashes every 15 s. 15 m (49 ft) round concrete tower. No photo available; Google has a fuzzy satellite view that probably shows the lighthouse. The lighthouse marks the west side of the entrance to Ao Trat (Trat Bay). Located on the Laem Nam cape about 25 km (15 mi) south of Trat, in the southeastern corner of Thailand. Accessible by road. Site presumably open, tower closed. ARLHS THA-064; Admiralty F3004; NGA 20560.
Nam Chiao Range Front
Date unknown. Active; focal plane about 10 m (33 ft); light characteristic unknown. 10 m (33 ft) tapered round tower, painted white, mounted on a concrete pier. The tower also carries a diamond-shaped slated daymark, painted white. L. Singcum has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. This range guides vessels in an estuary east of Laem Ngob. Located about 300 m (0.2 mi) northeast of the front light. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed.
Nam Chiao Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane about 13 m (43 ft); light characteristic unknown. 13 m (43 ft) tapered round tower, painted white, mounted on a concrete pier. The tower also carries a diamond-shaped slated daymark, painted white. A photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located about 300 m (0.2 mi) northeast of the front light. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed.
* Laem Ngop (Laem Ngob) (3?)
2008 (station established 1911). Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); white light, 2 s on, 1 s off. 16 m (52 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white with two narrow red horizontal bands. Jay Vidheecharoen's photo is at right, another 2009 photo is available, and Google has a fuzzy satellite view of the location. The Navy has a photo of the earlier light; it's likely that the lower stage of that tower was the 1911 original. Lighthouse painted white. Located in a roundabout at the base of the pier in Laem Ngop. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS THA-065; Admiralty F3002; NGA 20568.
Laem Ngob Light
Laem Ngop Light, Laem Ngop, December 2009
Flickr Creative Commons photo by Jay Vidheecharoen
Hin Khi Chang (Ko Chang Channel)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 14 m (43 ft); three white flashes every 12 s. 14 m (43 ft) skeletal tower, painted white, mounted on a concrete pier. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located on a shoal in the middle of the Ko Chang Channel, between the large island of Ko Chang and the mainland. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty F3000; NGA 20572.
Ko Chang
2009(?). Active; focal plane 91 m (298 ft); white flash every 10 s. 17 m (56 ft) round concrete tower, painted white with one red horizontal band. No photo available; Google has a satellite view of some buildings near the listed location, but it does not reveal the tower. Ko Chang is a large island about 15 km (9 mi) southwest of Laem Ngop. Site status unknown. Admiralty F3001; NGA 20570.
Ko Chik Nok
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 18 m (59 ft); white flash every 3 s. 8 m (26 ft) white concrete tripod. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located at the northwestern tip of Ko Chik Nok, an island in the entrance to the Mae Nam Wen estuary, on the border between Trat and Chanthaburi Provinces. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty F2998; NGA 20576.

Chanthaburi Province Lighthouse
* Laem Sing
1906. Active; focal plane 87 m (285 ft); three white flashes every 15 s. Approx. 9 m (30 ft) square cast iron (?) skeletal tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. Another photo is available (about 3/4 the way down the page), and Google has a distant satellite view. Located atop a promontory on the west side of the Chanthaburi River entrance about 20 km (13 mi) south of Chanthaburi. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS THA-066; Admiralty F2996; NGA 20580.

Rayong Province Lighthouses
* Pak Nam Krasae ("Mae Nam Prasae")
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); white flash every 3 s. 16 m (52 ft) round white tower. The tower also carries a diamond-shaped white daymark. A photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. Both NGA and the Admiralty describe this light as a framework tower, and both list it as Mae Nam Prasae. Located at the entrance to the harbor of Pak Nam Prasae. Site status unknown. ARLHS THA-066; Admiralty F2992; NGA 20584.
Ko Man Nok
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 47 m (154 ft); white flash every 6 s. 22 m (72 ft) skeletal tower, painted white. No photo available, but Google has a very distant satellite view of the island. Located atop a small, privately owned resort island at the end of a long north-south shoal about 15 km (9 mi) south of Pak Nam Prasae. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty F2994; NGA 20592.
Ko Samet
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 78 m (256 ft); flash every 5 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 15 m (49 ft) skeletal tower, painted white. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Ko Samet is a popular resort island just off the coast about 30 km (20 mi) southeast of Rayong. Most the island is a national park. Located on heights near the northern end of the island. Site status unknown. Admiralty F2990; NGA 20596.
* Rayong (2)
2010(?) (station establishment date unknown). Active; focal plane 15 m (56 ft); three white flashes every 15 s. 16 m (52 ft) round white concrete tower with lantern and gallery. A photo is at right, and Google has a satellite view. The Navy has a photo of the original skeletal lighthouse. Located on the west side of the harbor entrance at Rayong, a provincial capital east of Sattahip. Site status unknown. ARLHS THA-067; Admiralty F2988; NGA 20600.
* Ban Chang (?)
Early 1900s? Inactive since about 1990. Approx. 20 m (66 ft) round white concrete tower with lantern and gallery. A photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. We need information on the history and status of this lighthouse. It appears to have been restored and incorporated into a larger structure. Located on Phla (Phala) Beach in Ban Chang halfway between Rayong and Sattahip. Site open, tower closed.
Rayong Light
Rayong Light, August 2011
photo copyright Rachun; permission requested

Chon Buri Province (Sattahip Area) Lighthouses
Hin Chula
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); white flash every 3 s. 10 m (33 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery, mounted on a square concrete base. Entire lighthouse is white. Suchart Chantrawong has a photo, and Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located on a rocky reef off the point of Laem Samaesan, a cape about 15 km (9 mi) southeast of Sattahip, marking a narrow channel between the cape and neighboring islands. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty F2976; NGA 20608.
Ko Chuang
1898. Active; focal plane 142 m (466 ft); two white flashes every 20 s; also a continuous red light, shown over a nearby shoal. 15 m (49 ft) round stucco-clad brick tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. Google has a good satellite view. Located on an island about 25 km (15 mi) south of Sattahip. ARLHS THA-018; Admiralty F2982; NGA 20612.
Ko Mu Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); two white flashes every 5 s. 7 m (23 ft) square cylindrical white concrete tower. A photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of a breakwater extending southeast from Ko Mu, an island in the entrance to Sattahip harbor. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty F2975.4; NGA 20620.
Sattahip Range Front
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 21 m (69 ft); quick-flashing yellow light. 17 m (56 ft) square skeletal tower, painted white; the tower carries a daymark painted red with a white vertical stripe. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located at the south end of the naval pier at Sattahip. Site and tower closed (military base). Admiralty F2975; NGA 20628.
Sattahip Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 29 m (95 ft); yellow light, 2 s on, 2 s off. 26 m (85 ft) square skeletal tower, painted white; the tower carries a daymark painted red with a white vertical stripe. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located at the south end of the naval pier at Sattahip. Site and tower closed (military base). Admiralty F2975.1; NGA 20632.
Laem Pu Chau (Chumphon Khet Udomsak)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 168 m (551 ft); three white flashes every 15 s. 15 m (49 ft) triangular steel pylon with a lantern attached to one side. Jürgen Klinksiek's photo appears at the top of this page, a very distant view from the sea is available, and Google has a fuzzy satellite view. Located on a promontory at Sattahip, the site of Thailand's main naval base. Site status uncertain; the light is on the naval base, but Klinksiek was able to enter by taxi. ARLHS THA-049; THN-110; Admiralty F2973; NGA 20640.
Hin Khi Sua
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 7 m (23 ft); white flash every 5 s. 7 m (23 ft) round tower with gallery, painted black with a red horizontal band. A photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a rocky reef about 5 km (3 mi) northeast of the Laem Pu Chau lighthouse. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS THA-009; Admiralty F2970; NGA 20644.
Hin Rang Kwian
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); white flash every 3 s. 7 m (23 ft) square cylindrical white concrete tower. A photo is available, but Google has only a fuzzy satellite view of the reef. Located on a rock about 20 km (13 mi) north of Sattahip. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty F2968; NGA 20648.
Ko Chun
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); three flashes every 10 s, white or red depending on direction. 4 m (13 ft) round tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. Eric Vercauteren has a photo, and a distant view is available, but Google has only a fuzzy satellite view of the reef. Located on a skerry in the entrance to Pattaya Bay. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty F2964; NGA 20652.
Ko Phai
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 155 m (509 ft); white flash every 5 s. 12 m (39 ft) round white concrete tower with lantern and gallery; the current light is mounted on a platform above the original lantern. 1-story keeper's house adjacent to the lighthouse. The Navy's photo appears at right, and Google has a dark satellite view. Located on an island about 50 km (30 mi) northwest of Sattahip in the Bight of Bangkok (Ao Krung Thep). ARLHS THA-031; Admiralty F2966; NGA 20656.
 
Ko Phai Lighthouse
Ko Phai Light, Bight of Bangkok
Thai Navy photo
Laem Chabang Entrance
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 31 m (102 ft); continuous light, white, red or green depending on direction. Approx. 30 m (98 ft) square pyramidal skeletal communications tower, painted with red and white horizontal bands. Wikimedia has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. Since 1988, Laem Chabang has been developed as Thailand's major international port, replacing Bangkok. This is the leading light for ships arriving at the port. Located on the Laem Chabang waterfront. Site and tower closed. Admiralty F2963.2; NGA 20661.1.
* Laem Wat
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); white flash every 3 s. 9 m (30 ft) square white concrete tower with gallery, attached to a small equipment shelter. A closeup photo and a view from the sea are available, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the tip of a sharp promontory on the east coast of Ko Sichang, an inhabited island about 12 km (7.5 mi) offshore and 20 km (13 mi) northwest of Laem Chabang. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty F2958; NGA 20668.
Hin Sumpayu (Ko Sichang) (2)
Date unknown (station established 1891). Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); three white flashes every 15 s. 9 m (30 ft) round cylindrical white concrete tower with lantern but no gallery. Google has a satellite view. NGA formerly listed the height of this light as 15 ft; this was probably the height the original lighthouse, described as a "turret" with a focal plane of 10 m (33 ft). Located on a small skerry off the north end of Ko Sichang, about 13 km (8 mi) west of Siracha. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS THA-010; Admiralty F2954; NGA 20672.

Bangkok Area Lighthouses
Bangkok Bar (2)
Date unknown (station established 1874). Active; focal plane 36 m (118 ft); white light, 2 s on, 8 s off. 36 m (118 ft) round cylindrical tower with lantern, mounted on a 3-story concrete building standing on piles. Entire structure painted with red and white horizontal bands. There is a helipad on the roof of the building. Dmitry Rostopshin's photo is at right, and an excellent closeup photo and another photo are also available. The building is the pilot station, where vessels entering Bangkok must stop to pick up a pilot; a pilot boat is seen in the photo approaching the station. Located about 16 km (10 mi) south of the entrance to the Chao Phraya River, which leads to Bangkok. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Operator/site manager: Port Authority of Thailand. ARLHS THA-005; Admiralty F2939; NGA 20700.
Bangkok Beacon K
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 34 m (112 ft); red light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 34 m (112 ft) skeletal tower carrying rectangular daymark panels painted red with a white vertical stripe. No photo available, and the tower is not seen in Google's satellite view. The approach to Bangkok is aided by a series of range lights; the Directory lists only the taller towers. This is the rear light of a range for departing vessels. Located about 12 km (7.5 mi) south of the mouth of the Chao Phraya River. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty F2943.51: NGA 20702.
Bangkok Beacon B
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 25 m (82 ft); white light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 25 m (82 ft) skeletal tower carrying rectangular daymark panels painted black with a white vertical stripe. No photo available, and the tower is not seen in Google's satellite view. This is the rear light of a range for approaching vessels. Located about 6.4 km (4 mi) south of the mouth of the Chao Phraya River. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty F2941.1: NGA 20708.
Bangkok Bar Pilot Station
Bangkok Bar Pilot Station, Bangkok, June 2008
Panoramio Creative Commons photo by Dmitry Rostopshin
Bangkok Beacon I
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 24 m (79 ft); yellow light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 24 m (79 ft) skeletal tower carrying rectangular daymark panels painted black with a white vertical stripe. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. This is the rear light of a range for departing vessels. Located about 1.8 km (1.1 mi) off Bang Pu Mai, on the east side of the entrance to the Chao Phraya River. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty F2944; NGA 20720.
Bangkok Beacon F
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 25 m (82 ft); red light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 24 m (79 ft) skeletal tower carrying rectangular daymark panels painted red with a white vertical stripe. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. This is the rear light of a range for approaching vessels. Located beside national route 3 in an industrial area of Bang Pu Mai, on the east side of the entrance to the Chao Phraya River. Site and tower closed, but the tower can be seen from the street. Admiralty F2943.1: NGA 20716.
Bangkok Beacon G
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 25 m (82 ft); yellow light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 24 m (79 ft) skeletal tower carrying rectangular daymark panels painted red with a white vertical stripe. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. This is the front light of a range for approaching vessels. Located at the north end of the Thai Navy Dockyard on the west side of the lower Chao Phraya River. Site and tower closed (military base). Admiralty F2945; NGA 20732.
Bangkok Beacon H
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 35 m (115 ft); yellow light, 3 s on, 3 s off. Approx. 32 m (105 ft) skeletal tower carrying rectangular daymark panels painted black with a white vertical stripe. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. This is the rear light of a range for approaching vessels, Beacon G being the front light. Located in a marshy area 800 m (1/2 mi) northwest of Beacon G. Site and tower closed. Admiralty F2945.1; NGA 20736.

Samut Songkhram Province Lighthouse
* Mae Nam Mae Khlong
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 31 m (102 ft); three white flashes every 12 s. 30 m (98 ft) skeletal tower, painted white. No photo available, and Google's satellite view does not show the tower. Located on the north side of the mouth of the Mae Khlong river, at the northwestern corner of the Bight of Bangkok. Site appears open, tower closed. ARLHS THA-055; Admiralty F2935; NGA 20764.

Phetchaburi Province Lighthouses
Ao Ban Laem
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); flash every 9 s, white or red depending on direction. 11 m (36 ft) round white concrete tower. No photo available, and the light is not seen in Google's satellite view. Located on a shoal about 2.5 km (1.5 mi) off Ban Laem in northern Pretchaburi Province. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty F2934.5; NGA 20767.
Laem Phak Bia (2)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 22 m (72 ft); white flash every 3 s. 22 m (72 ft) square white concrete skeletal tower. Alex Don Gato has a distant view, and Google has a satellite view. NGA describes this light as an "iron tripod," 72 ft tall. The new tower may be taller. Located inside a sand spit that extends northeastward from Laem Phak Bia; this spit is the most prominent cape on the west side of the Bight of Bangkok. The area is a nature preserve, known as one of Thailand's best birding areas. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty F2934; NGA 20768.

Prachuap Khiri Khan Province Lighthouse
Khao Takiab (Khao Takiap)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 130 m (427 ft); two white flashes every 12 s. 6 m (20 ft) skeletal tower with gallery, painted white. NGA calls the tower a tripod. A distant view is available (click on the photo for enlargement), and Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located atop a huge monolith at Nong Kae, south of the popular Hua Hin beach resorts. Site status unknown. Admiralty F2932.7; NGA 20776.
Ko Sattakut
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 160 m (525 ft); thee white flashes every 15 s. 11 m (36 ft) white concrete tripod, according to NGA. No photo available, but the light can be seen in Google's distant satellite view. Located atop a steep-sided, heavily forested island off the cape of Khao Sam Roi Yot. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty F2932.4; NGA 20780.
Hlaem Mae Ramphung
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 75 m (246 ft); white flash every 6 s. 30 m (98 ft) skeletal tower, painted white. No photo available, and the tower is not seen in Google's satellite view. Located on a prominent cape at Mae Ramphung on the west side of the Gulf of Thailand. Site status unknown. ARLHS THA-011; Admiralty F2930; NGA 20788.

Information available on lost lighthouses:

Notable faux lighthouses:

  • Bangbao, a resort at the southwestern tip of Koh Chang in the Gulf of Thailand, has a decorative, privately-built lighthouse; it may be active.
  • Bangkok Naval Station. Approx. 20 m (66 ft) round white tower with lantern and gallery. Another photo is available. It's likely that this is a signal station, carrying no light. Located at the Thai Royal Navy station on the west side of the lower Chao Phraya River.
  • Pattaya, a resort town north of Sattahip, has a decorative lighthouse; it is open for climbing but is not an aid to navigation.
  • Sattahip has a faux lighthouse in a traffic roundabout near the waterfront.

Adjoining pages: East: Cambodia | South: Southern Thailand

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Posted February 28, 2006. Checked and revised November 6, 2011. Lighthouses: 41. Site copyright 2011 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.