Lighthouses of Central Thailand

Most of the Kingdom 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 greater Bangkok area at the head of the Gulf of Thailand; lighthouses of the southeastern Gulf of Thailand are on the Eastern Thailand page and lighthouses of the Malay Peninsula are on Southern Thailand: East Coast and Southern Thailand:West Coast pages.

The Kingdom of 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 (1868-1910) of King Chulalongkorn, who was successful in modernizing the country while avoiding European penetration.

Special thanks to Andreas Köhler for permission to show his photos on the pages for Thailand.

In the Thai language the word for a lighthouse is prap̣hākhār (ประภาคาร), ko is an island, hin is a rock or reef, laem is a cape, ao is a bay, and maenam is a river.

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.

ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS World List of Lights. 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
Leuchttürme in Thailand
Photos taken by Andreas Köhler.
Online List of Lights - Thailand
Photos by various photographers posted by Alexander Trabas. The photos for Thailand are by Köhler, Douglas Cameron or Rainer Arndt.
Lighthouses in Thailand
Photos by various photographers available from Wikimedia.
World of Lighthouses - Thailand
Photos by various photographers available from Lightphotos.net.
Navionics Charts
Navigation chart of the Thai coast.


Bangkok Bar Pilot Station, Bangkok, January 2018
Google Maps photo by Keith alo Manuales

Chonburi Province Lighthouses

Chonburi Province borders the east side of the Bay of Bangkok, the northernmost extension of the Gulf of Thailand. Lighthouses of the Sattahip District at the south end of the province are described on the Eastern Thailand page. The Bang Lamung District includes the uninhabited islands of Mu Ko Phai, a small archipelago in the bay.

Bang Lamung District (Pattaya Area) Lighthouses
Ko Phai (Aphakon)
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 satellite view. Ko Phai is the largest island of Mu Ko Phai, located about 50 km (30 mi) northwest of Sattahip. Most of the island is set aside as a national forest reserve. Located on heights on the west side of the island. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS THA-031; Admiralty F2966; NGA 20656.
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. The light is in the upper left corner of Thorsten Kruse's drone view and Rasami A'sidhi has a distant view but the light is not seen in Bing's satellite view. Located on a skerry in the entrance to Pattaya Bay. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty F2964; NGA 20652.
Ko Nok
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); white flash every 5 s. 11 m (36 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower, painted white. A closeup photo is available, Trabas has Arndt's distant view, another distant view is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a sandbar about 11 km (7 mi) off Thung Suk La. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty F2962; NGA 20660.

Laem Chabang Lighthouses
Since 1988 Laem Chabang has been developed as Thailand's major international port, replacing Bangkok. The port straddles the boundary between Bang Lamung and Si Racha Districts.

Laem Chabang Basin No. 2 Range Front (Beacon E)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 29 m (95 ft); green flash every 5 s. Approx. 25 m (82 ft) square skeletal tower. Trabas has Arndt's photo and Google has a satellite view and a street view of the two range lights (this light is on the left). Located on the waterfront at the base of the south basin of Laem Chabang harbor. Site and tower closed. Admiralty F2963.9; NGA 20662.4.
Laem Chabang Basin No. 2 Range Rear (Beacon F)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 34 m (112 ft); green light, 2 s on, 2 s off. Approx. 28 m (92 ft) square skeletal tower. Trabas has Arndt's photo and Google has a satellite view and a street view of the two range lights (this light is on the right). Located about 380 m (1/4 mi) east northeast of the front light. Site and tower closed. Admiralty F2963.91; NGA 20662.41.
Ko Phai Lighthouse
Ko Phai Light, Bight of Bangkok
Thai Navy photo
Laem Chabang Basin No.2 Southwest Corner (Beacon B3)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); green light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 12 m (39 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower. Trabas has Arndt's photo and Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located on the north corner of a pier at Laem Chabang. Site and tower closed. Admiralty F2963.75; NGA 20662.51.
Laem Chabang Basin No.2 Northwest Corner (Beacon B2)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); red light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 12 m (39 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower. Trabas has Arndt's photo and Google has a satellite view. Located on the south corner of a pier at Laem Chabang. Site and tower closed. Admiralty F2963.73; NGA 20662.5.
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. Phorntep Korprasertthaworn has the photo at right, Trabas has Arndt's photo, and Google has a satellite view. This is the leading light for ships arriving at the port. Located Basins No. 1 and No. 2 on the Laem Chabang waterfront. Site and tower closed. Admiralty F2963.2; NGA 20661.1.
Laem Chabang Basin No.1 Southwest Corner (Beacon B1)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); green light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 12 m (39 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower. Trabas has Arndt's photo and Google has a satellite view. Located on the north corner of a pier (the same pier as the previous light) at Laem Chabang. Site and tower closed. Admiralty F2963.7; NGA 20662.3.
* Laem Chabang
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 79 m (259 ft); white flash every 10 s. Formerly described by NGA as a 29 ft "structure," this light appears to be mounted on the Laem Chabang Harbor Control building. Trabas has Arndt's photo, Thanatip Jantarapakde has a photo of the top of the building, and Google has a satellite view. Located on the heights of Laem (Cape) Chabang on the north side of Laem Chabang harbor. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty F2963; NGA 20661.
 

Entrance Light, Laem Chabang, September 2017
Google Maps photo by Phorntep Korprasertthaworn

Ko Sichang District Lighthouses
Ko Sichang is an inhabited island about 12 km (7.5 mi) offshore and 20 km (13 mi) northwest of Laem Chabang. The Ko Sichang District includes Ko Sichang and several neighboring islands; it was separated from Si Racha District in 1994.

Ko Thai Ta Mun
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 29 m (95 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 6 m (20 ft) white concrete skeletal tower mounted on a square 1-story white concrete equipment shelter. Trabas has Arndt's photo and Google has a satellite view. Located on a small island south of the larger island of Ko Khang Khao, off the south end of Ko Sichang about 10 km (6 mi) northwest of Laem Chabang. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty F2960; NGA 20664.
* Laem Wat (Laem Wang)
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 is available, Köhler has a photo, Trabas has a portion of Köhler's photo and Google has a satellite view. Located at the tip of a sharp promontory on the east coast of Ko Sichang. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty F2958; NGA 20668.
*** Ban Tha Thewawong (Ko Sichang)
2012. Active (privately maintained); focal plane 39 m (128 ft); white flash every 3.3 s; the tower is also floodlit at night. 39 m (128 ft) round concrete tower supporting a large square platform with an observation building. The tower is white; the observation building is glass-enclosed with red trim and a red roof. Pawanrat Saefoo's 2022 photo is at right, Trabas also has Köhler's photo, a closeup and a view from the sea is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a pier at Ban Tha Thewawong, near the north end of Ko Sichang. Site and tower open. Admiralty F2955.5; NGA 20670.
Hin Sampayu (Atsadang) (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. Köhler has a very distant view and Google has a satellite view. NGA formerly listed the height of this light as 15 ft; this was probably the height of 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.

Ban Tha Thewawong Light, Ko Sichang, November 2022
Google Maps photo by Pawanrat Saefoo

Mueang Chonburi District Lighthouse
Laem Talat Nok
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); yellow flash every 3 s. 14 m (46 ft) round cylindrical metal tower, painted white and mounted on a square concrete pier. No photo available but Google has a satellite view. Located just offshore on the south side of the entrance to Bang Pakong. Site status unknown. Admiralty F2953; NGA 20690.

Bangkok Area Lighthouses

Chachoengsao Province Lighthouse
Royal Lakeside Golf Club Marina (Bang Pakong)
Date unknown. Active (privately maintained); focal plane about 20 m (66 ft); light characteristic unknown. Approx. 22 m (72 ft) octagonal cylindrical tower, painted white with narrow red horizontal bands. Thida Denpruektham has a good view from the sea and Google has a satellite view. Located at the yacht club entrance in Bang Pakong. Site status unknown. Site manager: Royal Lakeside Golf Club. Not listed by the Admiralty.

Bangkok Harbor Lighthouses
Dredged channels allow vessels to reach Bangkok through the shallow Bay of Bangkok, the northernmost inlet of the Gulf of Thailand. A series of tall range lights guide vessels in these channels. The approach channel has three reaches (straight sections) identified here as the South, Central and North Reaches. There is also an Upper Reach for vessels in the southern Chao Phraya estuary, Bangkok's harbor. The lights are listed south to north, in the order in which they appear to arriving vessels.
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. Keith alo Manuales's photo is at the top of this page, Lightphotos.net has a closeup of the light tower, and Trabas has Cameron's distant view. The building is the pilot station where vessels entering Bangkok must stop to pick up a pilot. 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 (Outbound North Reach Range Rear)
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. Lightphotos.net has a photo that probably shows this light although it is identified as the front light; Trabas has Cameron's distant view and Bing has a satellite view. 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 J (Outbound North Reach Range Front)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); quick-flashing red light. 16 m (52 ft) skeletal tower carrying rectangular daymark panels painted red with a white vertical stripe. Trabas has Cameron's distant view but the light is not shown in Bing's satellite view. Located 1.95 km (1.21 mi) north northeast of the rear light. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty F2943.5; NGA 20701.
Bangkok Beacon A (Inbound South Reach Range Front)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); quick-flashing white light. 15 m (49 ft) skeletal tower carrying rectangular daymark panels painted red with a white vertical stripe. Trabas has Cameron's very distant view but the light is not shown in Bing's satellite view. Located about 2 km (1.24 mi) northeast of Beacon J. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty F2941; NGA 20704.
Bangkok Beacon B (Inbound South Reach Range Rear)
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. Trabas has Cameron's photo (also seen at right), Köhler has a distant view, but the light is not shown in Bing's satellite view. Located 1.75 km (1.09 mi) east northeast of the front light and 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 Beacon B, Bay of Bangkok
photo copyright Douglas Cameron; used by permission
Bangkok Beacon C (Inbound Central Reach Range Front)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); quick-flashing green light. 15 m (49 ft) skeletal tower carrying rectangular daymark panels painted red with a white vertical stripe. Trabas has Cameron's distant view but the light is not shown in Bing's satellite view. Located about 2 km (1.24 mi) northwest of Beacon B. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty F2942; NGA 20724.
Bangkok Beacon D (Inbound Central Reach Range Rear)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 24 m (79 ft); green light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 24 m (79 ft) skeletal tower carrying rectangular daymark panels painted black with a white vertical stripe. Trabas has Cameron's photo, Köhler has a photo, and Bing has a satellite view. Located 1.725 km (1.07 mi) east northeast of the front light. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty F2942.1; NGA 20728.
Bangkok Beacon I (Outbound Upper Reach Range Rear)
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. Lightphotos.net has Köhler's photo, Trabas has Cameron's photo, and Google has a satellite view. This is the rear light of a range for departing vessels; Beacon E is the front light. 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 E (Inbound North Reach/Outbound Upper Reach Common Range Front)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); quick-flashing light, red for arriving vessels and yellow for departing vessels. 15 m (49 ft) skeletal tower carrying rectangular daymark panels, one set painted red with a white vertical stripe and the other set black with a white vertical stripe. Trabas has Cameron's photo, Köhler has a photo, and Bing has a satellite view. Located about 2 km (1.24 mi) northwest of Beacon B. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty F2943; NGA 20712.
Bangkok Beacon F (Inbound North Reach Range Rear)
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. Google's 2018 street view is at right Lightphotos.net has Köhler's photo, Trabas also has Köhler's photo, and Google has a2019 closeup street view and 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.

Beacon F, Bangkok, September 2018
Google Maps street view
Bangkok Beacon G (Inbound Upper Range Front)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 25 m (82 ft); yellow light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 24 m (79 ft) skeletal tower carrying several rectangular daymark panels painted red with a white vertical stripe. Trabas has Cameron's photo, Köhler has a photo, and Google has a street view and 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 (Inbound Upper Range Rear) (2)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 35 m (115 ft); yellow light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 32 m (105 ft) skeletal tower carrying several rectangular daymark panels painted black with a white vertical stripe. Trabas has Cameron's photo and Google has a street view and a satellite view. NGA lists this light as being on a water tower, and the water tower is seen in the satellite view close to the present lighthouse. Located about 800 m (1/2 mi) northwest of the front light. Site status unknown. Admiralty F2945.1; NGA 20736.

Samut Sakhon Province Lighthouse
Samut Sakhon Province faces south on the Bay of Bangkok on the west side of Bangkok. It straddles the Tha Chin River (Maenam Tha Chin), a western distributary of the Chao Phraya River.

* Maenam Tha Chin Range Front
Date unknown. Active; focal plane about 9 m (30 ft); red light, characteristic unknown. Approx. 9 m (30 ft) round barbell-shaped metal tower painted white. Trabas has Köhler's photo and Google has a street view and a satellite view. Located beside a pier on the east bank of the Tha Chin River entrance. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty F2937.1.
* Maenam Tha Chin Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane about 17 m (56 ft); red light, characteristic unknown. Approx. 17 m (56 ft) round barbell-shaped metal tower painted white. Trabas has Köhler's photo and Google has a satellite view and a 2023 street view across the river. Located on a pier just off the east bank of the Tha Chin River entrance about 1.6 km (1 mi) north of the front light. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty F2937.2.
* Maenam Tha Chin
Date unknown. Active 17 m (56 ft); white flash every 3 s. 15 m (49 ft) triangular pyramidal skeletal tower, painted white. Trabas has Köhler's photo (also seen at right) and Google has a street view and a satellite view. Located on the west side of the entrance to the Tha Chin River about 25 km (15 mi) west of Bangkok. Site status unknown. Admiralty F2937; NGA 20760.

Mae Nam Tha Chin Light, Mae Nam Tha Chin, December 2017
photo copyright Andreas Köhler; used by permission

Western Bay of Bangkok Lighthouses

Samut Songkhram Province Lighthouses
* Maenam Mae Khlong
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 31 m (102 ft); three white flashes every 12 s. 30 m (98 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower, painted white. Trabas has Köhler's photo, Köhler has another photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located on the south 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.
Maenam Mae Khlong Entrance Beacon B
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); white light, 1.5 s on, 1.5 s off. 14 m (46 ft) round white tower on a platform supported by piles. Trabas has Köhlar's distant view but the light is not shown in Bing's satellite view. Located about 3 km (2 mi) south of the entrance to the Mae Khlong. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty F2936.5; NGA 20766.
Maenam Mae Khlong Entrance Beacon A
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); two green flashes every 4 s. 11 m (36 ft) round bottle-shaped white tower on a platform supported by piles.Trabas has Köhlar's distant view but the light is not shown in Bing's satellite view. Located about 1.25 km (3/4 mi) south of Beacon B. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty F2936; NGA 20765.

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 mounted on a platform supported by piles. No photo available and the light is not seen in Bing's satellite view. A very distant street view from shore may show the light. 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. Trabas has the same photo by Köhler (also seen at right), Gun Kirdkao has a very distant view down the beach, 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 (Cape) Phak Bia, 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.

Laem Phak Bia Light, Phetchaburi Province, October 2014
photo copyright Andreas Köhler; used by permission

Information available on lost lighthouses:

Notable faux lighthouses:

Adjoining pages: Southeast: Eastern Thailand | South: Southern Thailand: East Coast

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Posted February 28, 2006. Checked and revised April 13, 2024. Lighthouses: 36. Site copyright 2024 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.