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.

Surat Thani is administratively divided

into 18 districts and 1 sub-district:
Amphoe Muang Surat Thani, Amphoe
Ban Na Doem, Amphoe Ben Na San,
Phra Borommathat Chaiya This ancient
Amphoe Ben Ta Khun, Amphoe Chai
pagoda housing Lord Buddha relics is located
Buri, Amphoe Chaiya, Amphoe Don Sak,
in Amphoe Chaiya, 54 kms. north of the
Amphoe Kanchanadit, Amphoe Khian
provincial capital, and dates back to the
Sa, Amphoe Khiri Ratthanikham,
Srivijaya period over 1,200 years ago. In the
Amphoe Ko Phangan, Amphoe Ko
compound, there is the Chaiya National
Samui, Amphoe Phanom, Amphoe
Museum consisting of two buildings. One
Phrasaen, Amphoe Phunphin, Amphoe
exhibits stone and bronze sculptures
Tha Chana, Amphoe Tha Chang,
discovered in the ancient city of Chaiya and
Amphoe Wiang Sa and King Amphoe
the other exhibits artifacts of prehistoric
Wiphawadi.
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, Buddhadhasa Bhikkhu, 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.
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.
Ko Samui This beautiful 247-square-kilometre
island, one of the most famous attractions of
Thailand, is some 84 kilometres east of Surat
Thani's provincial capital. It can be reached by
boat from Surat Thani town or by ferry either
from Don Sak (some 70 kms from Surat Thani
town) or Khanom (in Nakhon Si Thammarat).
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.
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.

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.
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.
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.
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.