Surat Thani: The Largest Province In Southern Thailand

Surat Thani is the largest province in southern Thailand. It is commonly called the province of the thousand islands. It is an area not very popular for tourism, but it is very busy to reach some of its islands, such as Koh Samui, Koh Phangan or Koh Tao.

However, Surat Thani can be much more than just a stopover destination to the islands. In this article we are going to see everything that the Thai province has to offer.

Surat Thani, the capital

The capital city receives the same name as the province. It is located just over 600 kilometers from Bangkok  and there are multiple transport options to it. The most comfortable and used is the plane, but it can also be reached by train or by road.

The city acts mainly as a point of connection with the much more popular islands. It is a very populated city, but it does not offer great tourist attractions. It is, however, a very good opportunity to experience the most common Thai routine and experience up close.

One of the biggest attractions of Surat Thani is its food, highly valued by tourism. It is also a fairly inexpensive place, here you can both eat and spend the night for little money.

We recommend not to miss the walk along the river, as well as its night markets. The Pra Cha Rat floating market is a closer contact with the local culture, and in it you can buy food and rural products at really low prices.

The city also has a large number of temples, like almost all in Thailand. One of those that is worth visiting is the Wat Tridhammaram, with two great Buddhas. In addition, from the temple of Phra That Si Surat you can enjoy very good views.

Finally, it is a good idea to stop by the Ko Lamphu public park. It is located on an island that is reached by a bridge. Its location next to a lake makes it ideal for walking or practicing sports and relaxing.

Koh Samui

The island of Koh Samui is the largest of the three most famous. In it you can practice a wide variety of activities and sports, such as scuba diving, kayaking or hiking. Hat Chaweng Beach stands out, the longest on the island and quite quiet. It’s also a good idea to visit Lamai Beach, which offers great nightlife.

Another must-see is the religious site of Wat Plai Laem, with an 18-armed Buddha, and the temple of Wat Phra Yai. The island also offers a multi-waterfall waterfall that is 80 meters in length, safaris and elephant routes.

Koh Phangan

Of the three islands, this is the most popular for party tourism. Because of this, there are those who call it ‘the Thai Ibiza’. This fame is mainly due to the now famous Full Moon Party which, as its name suggests, is celebrated on every full moon. The Half Moon Party is also celebrated, among the previous ones.

For those less interested in this type of party, we recommend visiting the island outside the dates of these events. The prices are much lower at those times and the atmosphere much quieter. It has several beaches very suitable for diving and kitesurfing , as well as quiet outside parties.

Koh Tao

This is one of the quietest and most economical. It is also the best known among diving enthusiasts. Here you can both enjoy its waters and get diving titles for really little money.

It is recommended to visit the port of Mae Hat and the town of Sairee, as well as the beach of Ao Thian Ok, to the south. It is also worth visiting Koh Nang Yuan, three nearby islands between which you can travel on foot through a sandy corridor.

Recommendations to visit Surat Thani

In addition to the capital and the three islands, there are other less popular destinations, but not worse for that. The Mu Koh Ang Thong and Khao Sok National Parks offer seascapes and jungle landscapes that are hard to forget. There is also the Tai Rom yen National Park, as well as the beautiful Tapi River estuary.

And, as always in Thailand, we recommend moving around its cities and areas by renting motorcycles. This is the most practical and economical way to get around.