Surat Thani Travel Guide

  Can you stomach That?
by K2NG
 
  • Can you stomach That?
      Can you stomach That?
    by K2NG
  • Chicken Bryani Rice with other food
      Chicken Bryani Rice with other food
    by K2NG
  • Barbercue pork stick
      Barbercue pork stick
    by K2NG
  • Night market seen from outside Swensen Restaurant
      Night market seen from outside Swensen...
    by K2NG
  •   Surat Thani
    by Cathy&Gary
 

Pro

phil_uk_net profile photo

 OK for a night stop between travelling on boats and buses 


Con

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 not much english is spoken 


In a nutshell

YaaDong profile photo

 Just pass her by 

 

Explore Surat Thani

Things to Do  

Seafood Farms

Seafood Farms, Surat Thani

 alvis Says:  While staying with a friend in Surat Thani she brought me to see her mums "shell farm". Everyday the sea is farmed and brought down the river to a small fisher village where the muscles, crabs, lobsters, cockels etc. are seperated before being forwarded to be sold in Tescos. 

Night market

Night market, Surat Thani

 phil_uk_net Says:  Surat Thani has an active night market which is a good place to wander around. There is a lot of local food for sale. 

Hotels  

Tapee Hotel

 1 Review and 28 Opinions  I have no idea what the place is like because after spending several hours researching a trip to Koh... 

Wang Tai Hotel

 1 Review and 31 Opinions  Pleasant enough for an overnight stop if going to or from Koh Samui. This happens if you are using... 

Hotels  

100 Islands Resort & Spa: 100 Islands Resort & Spa

100 Islands Resort & Spa: 100 Islands Resort & Spa, Surat Thani

 Cathy&Gary Says:  Our first impressions of the 100 Islands Resort & Spa were pretty good. We decided on a balcony room for 1000baht per night which included breakfast.The room was a good size and had everything you would expect. The balcony was another story. It was absolutely filthy and... 

Restaurants  

Local night market: Local night market
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phil_uk_net 1131 reviews
Local night market

Restaurants in Surat Thani seem quite scarce. Most people seemed to be eating street food at the local night market.

Written Mar 8, 2003

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Nightlife  

Night Market: Local Delights!
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K2NG 34 reviews
Can you stomach That?
4 more images

Surat Thani is a rather uninteresting town in the day but the night market can be an eye opener, with food stalls selling exotic local delights and insects that can be a challenge to those adventurous and daring foreigners. The night market is not far after the junction between Th Na Meuang and Wittetad road in the northeast direction. It is opposite Swenson Restaurant. There is a variety of food and you can be spoilt for choice. Do not be alarmed to see fried grasshoppers and maggot look-a-like insects being served to paying customers.

Dress Code: Cool and comfortable.

Updated Feb 15, 2013

Address: After Wittetad road in notheast direction

Related to:
 Backpacking
 Budget Travel

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Transportation  

Ferry To And From Surat

Ferry To And From Surat, Surat Thani

 YaaDong Says:  To get to and from Ko Phangan get the ferry at Tha Ban Don.There is a late one to Phangan that leaves at 10 pm.From the pier It takes about an hour to get to the airport 

Plane Ride

Plane Ride, Surat Thani

 YaaDong Says:  One 2 Go was the cheapest flight from Surat to Bangkok.We booked our ticket from a travel agent on Koh Phangan and was a little worried when they said they would drop the tickets off to us the next day.Wait ..phone ...wait...bite nails...but no problem .The flight was smooth... 

The Night Train!

The Night Train!, Surat Thani

 YaaDong Says:  The over-night train leaves Bangkok Hualumpong Station around 6:30 pm.It arives in Surat around 6:00 am.The 2nd class sleeper is not bad and you might even catch a couple of hours sleep.During the trip the train guy will look after you with food and over priced beers or you... 

Travel from Train Station to Surat Thani

Travel from Train Station to Surat Thani, Surat Thani

 RocSoftware Says:  When first arriving at Train Station in PhunPin, you'll be greeted by Tuk Tuk drivers and motor cycle taxis that will charge 300-400 baht to go into Surat Thani. If you go around the corner to the left as you exit the train station theres a local taxi stand that will take... 

To the islands, Samui, Pangan & Tao

To the islands, Samui, Pangan & Tao, Surat Thani

 Armado Says:  Take a boat from the Surat Thani area to get to Ko Samui's main pier. Find a travel agency in ST that provides trips to this island ( most of them do, probably all ), make a good price and let them take you to the harbour. You will get on a boat that looks something like the... 

From Bangkok to Surat Thani

From Bangkok to Surat Thani, Surat Thani

 Armado Says:  Take the train from Bangkok Central Station. Travel 2nd class, it's perfect an convenient enough to sleep, when you take the overnight train ( recommended! )I can't remember the exact price, but I think it was somewhere around 500 baht, including breakfast. So for 500 baht,... 

Bus from Surat Thani and scam warning

Bus from Surat Thani and scam warning, Surat Thani

 phil_uk_net Says:  I booked both my accommodation and onward travel for the next day at the pier when I arrived from Koh Tao.Although Lonely Planet warn of this I was scammed with the bus.I paid for an A/C bus. In the morning when I was waiting for the bus to collect me a guy on a motorbike... 

Getting to Surat by ferry from Koh Tao

Getting to Surat by ferry from Koh Tao, Surat Thani

 phil_uk_net Says:  From Koh Tao I had to go first to Koh Phangan before getting to Surat Thani. Each leg of the trip costs 250 baht, therefore 500 baht altogether. 

Local Customs  

Helper Monkeys
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1.5 out of 5 starsHelpfulness

alvis 164 reviews
moonkey

Passed this guy out in the countryside in Surat Thani had to reverse back to get a photo. The monkey helps him to collect coconuts and with other types of work.

Written Jan 9, 2005

Related to:
 Budget Travel
 Backpacking
 Farm Stay

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Tourist Traps  

Travel Agencies and Persons
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Armado 30 reviews
Surat Thani street scene ( not my picture though )

Since many tourists arrive at Surat Thani to travel on to the islands ( Pangan, Tao, Samui ) there are many travel agencies, providing several bus and ferry tickets to get there.

It's such a simple thing, but NEVER agree with the first one approaching you! spend a few minutes looking around for better deals!

We went from Surat Thani to Kao Sok national park for 1000 baht, highly over priced! The ride was great though, but from Kao Sok back to ST only cost us 200 baht....

Unique Suggestions: Go there, look around and find a price that you think is good. The first is almost never the best ( occasionally it happens ofcourse ) so try and find a cheaper one...BARGAIN!

Fun Alternatives: Don't know about any alternatives...Surat Thani is just the best place to get to Ko Samui and on to the other islands.

Written Apr 6, 2005

Related to:
 Backpacking
 Budget Travel

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Off The Beaten Path  

Suan Mokkh Forest Monastery
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YaaDong 243 reviews

This monastery was founded in 1932 by the late Venerable Buddhadasa Bhikku, meditation master and Buddhist scholar.Day visitors are welcome at the main forest monastery where you can wander the many forest paths among monk's "kutees" (small bungalows). Don't miss the unique Spiritual Theater of didactic Buddhist imagery. The monastery is just south of the town of Chaiya, 50km (31 miles) north of Surat Thani on Highway 41; long-distance buses and minitrucks pass by the entrance throughout the day and can drop you off as requested and songtao (pickups) connect to and from Chaiya (you have to wave them down) for 20B (50¢).

Suan Mokkh holds a 10-day meditation course on an ongoing basis. During the course participants will explore two inter-related subjects: dhamma and meditation. Meditation instruction focuses on mindfulness with breathing (anapanasati), a system of training used and taught most often by the Buddha. Dhamma talks are held daily, and everyone is encouraged to participate. English-speaking facilitators called “Friends” offer guidance on meditation practice and all other aspects of the course

Written Aug 4, 2008

Phone: (66-77) 431-596-7

Related to:
 Study Abroad

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Favorites  

Surat Thani International Airport

Surat Thani International Airport, Surat Thani

 YaaDong Says:  Surat International Airport is about an hour outsid of town so after the ferry ride from Koh Phangan the bus ride seemed very long however it was modern and comfortable.There are a number of ticket counters Thai,One 2 Go & Bangkok Air.Also a number of gift shops,ATMs,a... 

Friendly people

Friendly people, Surat Thani

 phil_uk_net Says:   While I was in Surat Thani I think I only saw about 5 other tourists. I was therefore quite unusual and treated with a lot of kindness by the locals. This old gent was very chatty and actually spoke quite good English. 

Local people

Local people, Surat Thani

 phil_uk_net Says:   There is a marked difference visiting places in Thailand where there are not many foreign tourists. I enjoy going to the less popular tourist haunts because of the reaction that I get from the locals. Instead of being just another farang who is good for a few bob, people... 

Comments

Map of Surat Thani