Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Destinations Bangkok (12 daily; 7hr-9hr 30min);
Phetchaburi (10 daily; 4hr-6hr 30min); Surat Thani (11
daily; 2-4hr).
stations are teeming with touts, with transport waiting to
escort you to their employer's boat service to the islands -
they're generally reliable, but make sure you don't get
talked onto the wrong boat.
Lomprayah Th Taladmai, just east of Taksin Hospital
T 077 288732-3, W lomprayah.com. Catamarans to Samui
and Pha Ngan, with their own connecting buses to Don
Sak and connections on to Ko Tao.
Samui Tour Th Sriwichai T 077 372806. Handles buses
to Ko Samui and Ko Pha Ngan via the Raja vehicle ferries
from Don Sak.
Seatran In the petrol station on Th Taladmai opposite
Wat Thammabucha T 077 275063, W seatranferry.com.
Vehicle ferries to Samui (with their own connecting
buses), from Don Sak.
Night boats The night boats to Samui, Pha Ngan and Tao,
which are barely glorified cargo boats, line up during the
day at Ban Don Pier in the centre of Surat; turn up and buy
a ticket as early as you can to snag a bed.
INFORMATION
The TAT o ce is down a short soi at 111 Th Tawee Sinka,
which runs northwest off Th Sala Daeng (daily 8.30am-
4.30pm; T 077 501831, E tatchumphon@tat.or.th).
10
ACCOMMODATION
Fame 188/20-21 Th Sala Daeng T 077 571077,
W chumphon-kohtao.com. Above a good travellers'
restaurant, specializing in Italian food, and a reliable tour
agency, both of the same name, this place has good-sized
and very clean rooms (some with mattresses on the floor),
with fans and hot wate r in either shared or en-suite
bathrooms. Double B150
Suda Guest House Th Sala Daeng Soi 3 (aka Soi Bangkok
Bank), 30m off Th Tha Tapao T 077 504366. Welcoming
guesthouse and travel agent, offering clean, well-
maintained rooms, some with shared hot- water
bathrooms, and plenty of information. Double B250
BY BUS
Buses use three different locations, two of which are on
Th Taladmai in the centre of town: Talat Kaset I on the
north side of the road (Phunphin train station, non-a/c
Nakhon Si Thammarat services and other local buses) and
opposite at Talat Kaset II (a/c minibuses and most long-
distance buses, including those for Krabi, Phuket and
Ranong, and Nakhon Si Thammarat a/c services). The new
BKS (Baw Khaw Saw) terminal, 2km southwest of the
centre on the road towards Phunphin, handles mostly
Bangkok services. Many buses heading west out of Surat
also make a stop at Phunphin train station.
Destinations Bangkok (12 daily; 10-12hr); Chumphon
(roughly hourly; 3hr 30min); Khao Sok (10 daily; 2hr
30min); Krabi (roughly hourly; 3-4hr); Nakhon Si
Thammarat (21 daily; 2hr 30min); Phuket (8 daily; 5-6hr);
Ranong (10 daily; 4hr 30min).
SURAT THANI
Uninspiring SURAT THANI is of use only
as a jumping-off point for trips to Ko
Samui, Ko Pha Ngan and, at a pinch,
more distant Ko Tao. On hanon Ban
Don, which hugs the River Tapi on the
northwest side of the town centre, you'll
find Ban Don pier and an atmospheric
night market. To the south, east-west
hanon Namuang bustles with retail
trade, while multi-laned hanon
Taladmai, the next block south, is the
town's main thoroughfare; the bus
terminals, Talat Kaset I and Talat Kaset
II, are here, a few hundred metres east of
the main post o ce.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
BY PLANE
Air Asia, Nok Air and Thai Smile serve Surat Airport, 27km
northwest of town. A minibus (B100) connects with the
town centre, or you can buy a bus-boat combination ticket
to Ko Samui (B350) or Ko Pha Ngan (B550).
Destinations
BY TRAIN
The train station is at Phunphin, 13km to the west. Here you
can buy a boat ticket to Ko Samui and Ko Pha Ngan, including
a connecting bus to the relevant pier. Otherwise, buses run
into town every 40min or so during the day.
Destinations
Bangkok (10 daily; 9-12hr); Butterworth,
Malaysia (1 daily; 10hr 30min); Nakhon Si Thammarat
(2 daily; 4hr); Trang (2 daily; 4hr 30min).
GETTING AROUND
Small share-songthaews buzz around town, charging
around B15-20/person for most journeys.
Bangkok (9 daily; 1hr 15min); Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia (3 weekly; 1hr 35min).
BY BOAT
Details of boats to Ko Samui, Ko Pha Ngan and Ko Tao, most
of which leave from Don Sak pier, 68km east of Surat, are
given in the account of each island. Phunphin and the bus
INFORMATION
Tourist information TAT (daily 8.30am-4.30pm; T 077
288818, E tatsurat@tat.or.th) is at the western end of
 
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