Itineraries for Your Trip to Surat Thani
3 Days in Surat Thani for First Timers
My first stay in Surat Thani was unintentional, resulting from a missed ferry to Koh Tao that kept me on the mainland for an extra night. Little did I know I’d have the best time exploring Surat Thani's lively night market, beautiful temples, and traditional floating market. Almost completely overlooked by the hoards of daily travelers heading to the port, Surat Thani remains charmingly old-fashioned and distinctly untouristy, which is all the more reason to stay an extra night or two—something I have done on numerous repeat visits. Better yet, use it as a launchpad for exploring the surrounding islands and national parks. Here’s how I’d spend three days in Surat Thani.
If you only have time for one thing, make it one of the Gulf islands.
The highest chance of rain is in the short monsoon season of October and November.
Nicknamed the “City of Good People,” Surat Thani is a great place to get a feel for local life in a typical Thai city. Start your walking tour by browsing the stalls at the fresh food market, then head to the striking Surat Thani City Pillar Shrine and Wat Phothawat.
About an hour’s taxi ride north of the city, the magnificent Wat Phra Borommathat Chaiya temple is an important Srivijaya landmark. You can easily visit it and the 20th-century monastery of Wat Suan Mokkh, set in a nearby forest. On return, head to the night market for a street food feast.
Khao Sok National Park lies about an hour’s drive west of Surat Thani, and you can spend a full day exploring its natural wonders. Start with a boat cruise around the jungle-fringed Ratchaprapha Dam, known for its tall limestone cliffs and gleaming turquoise waters.
Take your pick of lakefront restaurants for lunch, then enjoy a hike through the rainforest, where you can spot monkeys and sniff out giant Rafflesia flowers. There are even more impressive wildlife sightings at nearby Khlong Saeng Wildlife Sanctuary: Look out for rare clouded leopards, Asian golden cats, and Storm’s stork.
Surat Thani is the gateway to some of Thailand’s most visited islands, and although it’s possible to visit Koh Samui on a day tour, you’ll probably wish you had longer. With limited time, make a beeline for the famous Big Buddha and cool off with a swim at Na Muang Waterfall.
Hop aboard a traditional longtail boat and zip off to the neighboring islands of Koh Tan and Koh Madsum. At Koh Tan, dive in to swim and snorkel along colorful coral reefs, then swap marine life for wild pigs on Koh Madsum, nicknamed “Pig Island” for its free-roaming pigs.
