Thailand Guidebook > Provinces > Southern Thailand

Surat Thani literally means "City of the Good People" and is the former seat of the Srivijaya Empire. It is the largest province of the South, covering an area of 12,891 square kilometres and bordered by the Gulf of Thailand to the north and the east. Surat Thani is located 644 kms. from Bangkok. The topography includes a high plateau and forested mountains to the west, and low basins in the center and along the eastern coast. There are a tremendous number of island along the coast.

Book your hotel in Surat Thani before you leave home and save money!

If you have already visited this Southern province, please share your highlights with other visitors to Thailand Guidebook.

Surat Thani is administratively divided into 18 districts and 1 sub-district: Amphoe Muang Surat Thani, Amphoe Ban Na Doem, Amphoe Ben Na San, Amphoe Ben Ta Khun, Amphoe Chai Buri, Amphoe Chaiya, Amphoe Don Sak, Amphoe Kanchanadit, Amphoe Khian Sa, Amphoe Khiri Ratthanikham, Amphoe Ko Phangan, Amphoe Ko Samui, Amphoe Phanom, Amphoe Phrasaen, Amphoe Phunphin, Amphoe Tha Chana, Amphoe Tha Chang, Amphoe Wiang Sa and King Amphoe Wiphawadi.

Pak Nam Tapi The Tapi River Mouth is some 5 kms. from Ban Don municipality. The area is particular rich in quality seafood restaurants.

Khao Tha Phet Wildlife and Nature Education Centre This is some 6 kms. from town along the Surat Thani- Na San route (Route No. 4009). It covers an area of 1,162 acres. and houses a number of caged wild animals near the Centre. On Khao Tha Phet, Tha Phet, at 210 metres above sea level, stands a stupa named Phra That Si Surat which houses Buddha relics donated by the Indian Government some 40 years ago. The hilltop offers a panoramic view of Surat Thani Town and the Tapi River.

Phra Borommathat Chaiya This ancient pagoda housing Lord Buddha relics is located in Amphoe Chaiya, 54 kms. north of the provincial capital, and dates back to the Srivijaya period over 1,200 years ago. In the compound, there is the Chaiya National Museum consisting of two buildings. One exhibits stone and bronze sculptures discovered in the ancient city of Chaiya and the other exhibits artifacts of prehistoric down to historic periods from Dvaravati, Sri Vijaya, Lopburi, Sukhothai to Ayutthaya. Art objects and several other crafts are also displayed here. The museum is open daily between 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. except for Mondays and Tuesdays.

Wat Suan Mokkhaphalaram Better known as Suan Mok, the temple is on Highway No. 41 some 50 kms. north of the provincial capital. Suan Mok's founder, Bhikkhu Buddhadhasa, is highly respected in Thailand, and internationally, and his 'back-to-basics' approach attracts Buddhist monks and lay meditators from many countries. A favourite sight for casual visitors is the 'Spiritual Theatre' which Buddhadhasa describes as a pictorial interpretation of Dharma. The building features an eclectic mixture of Thai, Egyptian, Chinese, Indian, Japanese, Tibetan and European-style murals and sculptures.

Ban Phumriang This small handicraft village, some 6 kms. east of Chaiya, is renowned for its gold and silver brocade silk cloth and jute head wear.

Ratchaprapha or Chieo Lan Dam This is located 70 kms. west from Surat Thani on Highway No. 401 and another 12 kms. along an access road. An extensive lake beyond the Ratchaprapha Dam offers very beautiful scenery. Accommodation near the dam is available.

Khao Sok National Park This is largely jungle with undulating mountain ranges and rugged high cliffs. The park office is 1.3 kms. off the Surat-Takua Pa Road at Km. 109. Attractions in the park include Namtok Mae Yai which can be reached by car; Namtok Sip Et Chan (eleven-tiered waterfall), 4 kms. from the park office and other beautiful waterfalls and caves, mostly accessible by foot. Rare flora and fauna are found along nature trails. Dormitories, bungalows and raft-houses are available.

Monkey Schools There are two monkey schools in Surat Thani: one is located in Amphoe Kanchanadit, some 13 kms. from Surat Thani along Highway No. 401 and the other is at Ban Khlong Sai, Amphoe Tha Chang, some 35 kms. along Highway No. 41. Visitors are advised to contact travel agents for full details.

Oyster Farms Oysters bred in Surat Thani are substantially larger than those found elsewhere. Many farms are found around the estuarine areas of the Kradae Canal and the Thong River in Amphoe Kanchanadit. These farms can be reached by boat from the Tha Thong Quayside within 30 minutes.

Ko Samui This beautiful 247-square-kilometre island, one of the most famous attractions of Thailand, is some 84 kilometres east of Surat Thami's provincial capital. It can be reached by boat from Surat Thani town or by ferry either from Don Sak (some 7 kms from Surat Thani town) or Khanom (in Nakhon Si Thammart). A 51-Kilometre ring road encircles the island, which has numerous lovely beaches and bays, and is almost literally an island of coconuts and forested hills. Samui's best beaches line the northern and eastern coasts. The most popular are Hat Chaweng and Hat Lamai where, generally, attractive accommodation can be found. Besides marvelous beaches, other interesting attractions include the Samui Butterfly Park; the monkey Centre; the Hin Lat and Na Muang waterfalls; the phallic rock formations at the southern end of Lamai Bay, and a massive seated Buddha image on Ko Fan. The island's major sea front settlement is at Na Thon where shops, restaurants and tour agents are located.

* Book hotels on Koh Samui before you leave home and save money!

Mu Ko Ang Thong National Park This marine park comprises some 40 islands northwest of Ko Samui and covers an area of 250 square kilometres of which 50 square kilometres is land mass. Most islands comprise limestone masses reaching heights of up to 400 metres and fringed by beaches and tropical rainforest. The park office is located on Ko Wua Ta Lap. Popular attractions include a high viewpoint, secluded beaches, Tham Bua Bok - a beautiful cave with spectacular stalactite and stalagmite formations, and an emerald saltwater lake known as Tale Nai on Ko Mae Ko, which entails a strenuous climb. Another popular venue is Ko Sam Sao where an extensive span of coral reef and huge rock arch offers scenic views. A one-day tour package to Mu Ko Ang Thong is organised by some travel agents on Ko Samui.

Ko Phangan Another large island covering an area of 191 square kilometres, is 60 minutes directly north of Ko Samui. The island offers few comforts and can be explored by motorcycles. Hat Thong Sala, the major community of the island, is where the ferry landing and shops are located. In addition to white sandy beaches, there are also two beautiful waterfalls: Namtok Phang and Namtok Than Sadet, 4 kms. and 30 kms. from Hat Thong Sala, respectively. There is a mountain top temple called Wat Khao Tham where meditators may go for practice.

* Book hotels on Koh Phangan before you leave home and save money!

Ko Tae Nai This small island can be reached within 5 minutes from Ko Phangan. High jungle-covered hills, a long stretch of golden sandy beach and thriving coral reefs are some of its major attractions. Accommodation in the form of bungalows is available.

Ko Tao This is a small island to the north of Ko Phangan, which can be reached either from Surat Thani or Chumphon. There are several beautiful beaches and diving areas around the island. Simple bungalows are available. Like Ko Tarutao, Ko Tao was once a place where political prisoners were detained. Nearby Ko Nang Yuan is a coral island with a high viewpoint and long white sandy beaches.

* Book hotels on Koh Tao before you leave home and save money!

Tai Rom Yen National Park The park covers forest areas in Amphoe Ban Na San and Amphoe Wiang Sa. A mountain in the park known as Khao Chong Chang once used to be the base of the Communist Party of Thailand. There are two beautiful waterfalls: Namtok Dat Fa, 33 kms. from Surat Thani and 13 kms. along an access road, and Namtok Muang Thuat, 20 kms. from Amphoe Ban Na San.Visitors wishing to stay overnight are requested to bring their own camping accessories.

Rambutan Fair This annual fair is held in August to celebrate this delicious first.The fist rambutan tree was planted in Surat Thani in 1926, and now trees are grown throughout the area. Highlights of the fair include exhibitions of agricultural produces and ornamental plants, floats adorned with rambutan and other fruits, and demonstrations of trained monkeys splitting coconuts.

Chak Phra & Thot Pha Pa Festival Chak Phra means "to pull a sacred Buddha". The activity occurs on the same day as the Thot Pha Pa Ceremony, a form of merit-making when Buddhists offer saffron robes to monks and donate money to temples at the end of the Buddhist Rains Retreat (around October). Buddha images on elaborately decorated carriages are pulled by the local people with land and waterborne processions.

COPYRIGHT: Information on this page is used with permission from the Tourist Authority of Thailand. Additional information from brochures produced locally and notes made by Panrit Daoruang and Richard Barrow. All photographs on this web site are the property of Panrit Daoruang.