Practical guide to go and visitSurat Thaniin Thailand

Surat Thani

สุราษฎร์ธานี
Southern Thailand
530 km from Bangkok
Province of Surat Thani
S

Budget

Recomm. stay

0 à 1 jour

Visits

Practical guide to go and visit Surat Thani

Surat Thani is especially known for being the gate to Koh Samui and its neighboring islands Koh Phangan and Koh Tao. Although it is possible to reach the islands from the city of Chumphon, hundred miles upper in North. It is also faster and more convenient from Bangkok, when you want to go to Koh Tao to take the boat to Chumphon. With an airport, the city has few tourist attractions. It has several piers, the best known and the most active is Donsak 75 km from Surat Thani from where ferries leave every hour in high season (November-March). But it is also possible to take a baot from Ta Tong (5 km from Surat Thani) with Songserm or take the very slow overnight ferry from Ban Dao in the center of the city.

Accommodations in Surat Thani

Surat Thani and its dishonest travel agencies is not a city where we really like to stay. In general, travelers don't stop to sleep here and for once we will not try to convince you that it is a shame not to spend the night in Surat Thani. The city is not very interesting or welcoming to foreign tourists. Quality and cheap hotels and guesthouses are not very numerous. But if you have to sleep in Surat Thani waiting for your ferry to the islands or your bus to Phang Nga, Phuket or Krabi, here are some addresses.

Find accommodation in Surat Thani

See all accommodations in Surat Thani

Practical information about Surat Thani

If the city itself is not that interesting, many travelers come back from Thailand with a bad image of Surat Thani because they got scammed by a local travel agency. When you buy a bus + ferry formula from Koh Samui, Koh Phangan or Koh Tao, you first have a big risk to have some valuable things stolen from your luggage in the bus during the ferry trip and then to get scammed by the travel agency during your transit time in Surat Thani. Most of agencies in Surat Thani are dishonest and will try to make you pay more by inventing any false reason (the bus does not go where you want or is not circuilating today or is very late but you can take another one if you pay off course...).
A interesting way to come to Surat Thani from Bangkok is to take the night train. It is quite a advendture but book your sleeper in advance to be sure to get one. You can book online on this website.

How to go to Surat Thani ?

To go to Surat Thani, you can take the plane, the train or the bus. VIP or public buses leave regularly from Southern Bus Terminal of Bangkok (Sai Tai Mai). The journey by train is very long but we recommend you to take a sleeper in a night train. The atmosphere of night trains in Thailand is great ! But be sure to book in advance to get your sleeper. You can buy tickets online on this website. From Koh Tao, Koh Samui and Koh Samui islands, you can reach Surat Thani by ferry or boat (be carefull valuable things are often stolen from the luggage in the bus during the ferry trip).

See all options to go to Surat Thani

Festivals in Surat Thani ?

Here is a list of the main festivals taking place every year in Surat Thani. I mention their dates as soon as they are official on Thai Festivals page.

Surat Thani Chak Phra Festival and Boat Races

This festival generally takes place in the month of October

Plus d'infos sur Surat Thani Chak Phra Festival and Boat Races

Must-visits in Surat Thani

Khao Sok National Park

อุทยานแห่งชาติเขาสก

My opinion :

It is certainly one of the most beautiful national parks in Thailand ! The highlight of Khao Sok is Chiew Lan Lake that many compare to Halong Bay. Some even dare to say that it is more beautiful. Spending the night in a floating hotels on the lake is an experience I recommend. Otherwise, you have interesting treks to discover waterfalls and caves.

Surat Thani emerald pool (Ban Nam Rad)

ป่าต้นน้ำบ้านน้ำราด

My opinion :

This natural pool with crystalline water surrounded by lush nature is located about sixty kilometers from Surat Thani city and seventy kilometer from Khao Sok. It's very pleasant to swim there and the boat trip on the river is really nice!

Khao Na Nai Luang Dharma Park

อุทยานธรรมเขานาในหลวง

My opinion :

This temple located at 70 kilometres from Khao Sok or at the same distance from Surat Thani city offers incredible views from its elements arranged on 4 mountain peaks culminating at 300 meters of altitude for the highest. At sunrise, it's just magical!

Koh Phangan island

เกาะพะงัน

My opinion :

Located in the province, Koh Phangan is clearly an island to go see when you are in Surat Thani area. But, do not plan to visit it for the day, the ferry trip is too long for that, but go there for several days. You can share your stay between Ko Phangan, Koh Samui and Koh Tao. Ferries between the 3 islands are frequent.

Koh Samui island

เกาะสมุย

My opinion :

Located Surat Thani province , Koh Samui is definitly a nice destination for seaside vacation. Of the 3 islands Ko Phangan, Koh Samui and Koh Tao, it is the one offering the most tourist activities and possibilities. But, do not plan to visit it for the day from the mainland because the ferry trip is quite long. But it could a good destination for a several days stay that you can share between it and its 2 neighbours. There is a regular ferry service between the 3 islands.

Koh Tao island

เกาะเต่า

My opinion :

Located Surat Thani province (even if accessible from Chumphon too), Koh Tao island is Thailand's most famous destination for diving. If its snorkeling sites are quite damaged, its diving sites remain among the most beautiful in the country. The fine sandy beaches with turquoise sea also make it a popular destination for non-divers. Do not plan to visit Ko Tao for the day from the mainland but come for several days and maybe share your stay between it and Koh Phangan and Koh Samui. There are ferries between the 3 islands.

Weather & climate in Surat Thani

Surat Thani has a tropical savanna climate. Temperatures are fairly stable throughout the year, although the pre-monsoon months (March-May) are ga little warmer. There is a short dry season from January to April, followed by the rainy season from May to December. The strongest rains occur in October and November.

The best time to come to Surat Thani is from January to April. November is particularly rainy and therefore not a good time to come to Surat Thani.

See weather forecast in Surat Thani

When to go to Surat Thani ?

How to ask in Thai to go to Surat Thani ?

I want to go to Surat Thani / Yak paï ti Surat Thani.
Where is Surat Thani ? / Surat Thani you ti naï ?

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