Surat Thani (Thai: สุราษฎร์ธานี) is a city in Amphoe Mueang Surat Thani, Surat Thani Province, southern Thailand. It is the capital of the province Surat Thani.
The city has a population of 128,179 (2009), and an area of 68.97 square kilometers. The city's population density is 1,858.47 inhabitants per km². It is near the mouth of the river Tapi on the Gulf of Thailand. The city has no tourist attractions, and is thus only known to tourists as a transfer to the nearby Ko Samui island.It forms the regional commercial center, with a seaport dealing in the main products of the province, rubber and coconuts.
History
The city received its name by King Vajiravudh (Rama VI) in 1915 which means City of Good People. Then this name was given to the city due to the high devotion of the locals to Buddhism. Previously the city was known as Bandon, which means Village on higher ground.
On December 21 1930 Surat Thani became a sanitary district (sukhaphiban),[1] which was upgraded to a town (thesaban mueang) on December 7 1935, with a municipal area of 2.67 km².[2] The area of the municipality was enlarged to 6.95 km² on October 14 1958,[3] and on December 22 1994 it was further enlarged to 68.97 km².[4] On May 4 2007, the town was upgraded to city status (thesaban nakhon).[5]
Since 1969 Surat Thani is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Surat Thani, responsible for about 6000 Catholic Christians in southern Thailand.
Transportation
Rail
Surat Thani is connected with Bangkok by the southern railway. There are a 31 km.-long branch line from Ban Thung Phoe Junction to Kirirat Nikhom Railway Station too. Surat Thani Railway Station is the main station of province located in Phunphin, about 15 km far from the downtown.
[edit] Road
Asian highway AH2 also passes the city at Phunphin.
[edit] Air
* Surat Thani International Airport, is about 30 km from the city by road.
[edit] Water
Some ferries to Ko Samui are provided in the downtown, the main ferry pier is located at Don Sak, 40 km east (about 60 km by road) on the coast of Gulf of Thailand.
See
TaladSanjoa(ตลาดศาลเจ้า) is the food walk street The night market has some great food vendors and many fantastic food. In the evening hours, there are also some food stalls there; however the night market concentrates at a sidestreet next to Wat Sai.
Night Bandon pier(ท่าเรือกลางคืน)is thai fruit walk street and food.
'Surat Thani City Pillar Shrine(ศาสหลีกเมือง) (Srivijaya style) It's beautiful Thai art style place and centre of the city.
Si Surat Stupa(พระธาตุศรีสุราษฎร์) and Khao Tha Phet Nature and Wildlife Study Centre (สถานีพัฒนาและส่งเสริมอนุรักษ์สัตว์ป่าเขาท่าเพชร)
Pra tad sri surat appoint on Khao Tha Phet(เขาท่าเพชร)(thapech hills) is a hill near the town of Surat Thani. The hill has an altitude of about 210m (689ft) above sea level and offers a good view over the town Surat Thani. On top of the hill is the Si Surat stupa (also known by its common name Phra That Khao Tha Phet), which was built in Srivijavan style in 1957. The stupa contains a Buddha relic donated by India. Next to the stupa is a Sweet Shorea tree (Shorea roxburghii) planted by King Bhumibol Adulyadej. 6 kilometres south of the provincial capital along Highway 4009 (Surat Thani - Na San) and 1.5 kilometres along the access road, this centre is located on a hill called Khao Tha Phet and covers an area of 4.65 square kilometres. The designated trail allows visitors to see some rarely-seen trees and to take a close look at the levels of soil, sandstone, and dry evergreen forest. The hilltop, some 200 metres above sea level, offers commanding panoramic views of Surat Thani town and the Tapi River. Phrathat Si Surat, a candle-like stupa on the hill, was built in 1957 and contains Lord Buddha’s relics donated by the Indian government.
Nai Bang Area (ในบาง)
Nai Bang is an alluvial plain around the mouth of the Tapi River which is crisscrossed with networks of canals. The canals are lined with mangrove forest alternating with traditional southern-styled houses, behind which are coconut farms and orchards. The people here still maintain a simple way of life and make their living on indigenous natural resources, despite the bustling economy in the Ban Don (town) market just opposite the river. Access to Nai Bang is by the bridge across the Tapi River or by long-tail boat from Ban Don. The boat can carry 6 – 8 people and charges 250 baht per hour. Visitors may contact the travel agents in Surat Thani which sell a one-day package tour to the Nai Bang area. If you can see the light, youcan do trip on the night.
Tapee River Dinner Have romantic dinner on the boat in Tapi River to see Tapi River view,entrane Tapi River to the sea or see view beside the river in restaurant.
Ko Lamphu(เกาะลำพู) A popular place for picnic as well as for sports is Ko Lamphu, a small car-free island in the river Tapi, connected by bridge to the city at the city pillar shrine. A nice view is the riverfront, built as a promenade.
Patthanaram Temple(วัดพัฒนาราม)Locaed near Talad Sanjao next to the small food night walk street, Taladmai Rd. Lung Po Pat Na Ra To is one of southern Thailand's most revered Buddhist ecclesiastics.in The temple have the old the wood building, usually the finest one, in a Buddhist monastery,where the priests are assembled for rites, other large buildings being and old building in the temple.
There are several Buddhist as well as Chinese temples within the city, however none really notable. To the north is the Roman Catholic St.Raphael Cathedral, actually a small wooden church.
Ko Samui
Ko Samui (เกาะสมุย), often called just Samui (สมุย) is an island in the Gulf of Thailand, some 700km south of Bangkok and about 80km from the eastern coastline of southern Thailand.
Beaches
Ko Samui is all in all a fairly big island. The most popular and commercialised beaches are Chaweng and Lamai, while the northern beaches and their adjacent villages of Mae Nam, Bophut, Bang Rak (Big Buddha) and Choeng Mon are more peaceful choices, and the west coast beaches are still (comparatively) quiet.
Clockwise from Nathon on the west coast, the main beaches are:
* Nathon - Samui's port and administrative center, but with little to attract the tourist
* Mae Nam - a quiet and beautiful beach on the northern coast
* Bophut - known for its Fisherman's Village, laid-back but growing fast
* Bang Rak - at the northeastern tip, home of the Big Buddha
* Choeng Mon - quiet North shore beach
* Chaweng - the largest and most-developed beach, with a curious mix of luxury hotels and backpacker guesthouses and a hopping nightlife
* Lamai - Samui's "second" beach south of Chaweng, more backpackery than Chaweng
* South Coast - the small beaches of Ban Hua Thanon, Na Khai, Laem Set, Bang Kao and Thong Krut
See in Samui
The major reason why people come to Samui is, quite simply, to enjoy the beaches. Even though the two main beaches of Chaweng and Lamai have generally suffered due to mass development over the past decade they are still relatively impressive. Development has been thwarted slightly because of the island’s regulation governing height restriction.
Other than lying on the beach with a cold beer in hand and ogling at the babes and hunks sauntering past, there isn't all that much to see on the island. A certain pair of rocks on Lamai amuses some visitors, Bang Rak has a large but nondescript Buddha statue, and there are some waterfalls (notably Na Muang) of minor interest.
Chaweng Beach is the major beach on Ko Samui and one that has developed tremendously since the early 1990s. Just 20 years ago the beach was home to just a sprinkle of wooden bungalows but now the place is swamped with 4-5 star hotels, Italian pizza joints, Irish pubs and even go-go bars. Samui’s nightlife is becoming legendary but unfortunately not always attracting the best standard of tourist. Chaweng’s once ‘hippy’ only backpackers have given way to a lot of ‘lager louts’. Chaweng is the place to be if you are looking for a rowdy reckless party scene.
Lamai Beach Like Chaweng, Lamai has transformed from a ‘hippy’ hangout into a fun, party place packed out with bars and exciting nightlife. The beach though, is still in better condition than Chaweng and the place doesn’t get quite so crowded. If it’s a quiet relaxing location you are after, then Lamai won’t be the ideal place for you. At the southern end of Lamai, there are some odd-looking rock formations.
Maenam Beach This quite beach, located in the north of the island is decent enough for swimming and sunbathing especially for families with children due to the shallow water.
Bophut Beach situated in the north of the island, is a popular starting point for diving tours. The place isn’t in any way as developed as Chaweng but there are still plenty of restaurants, shops and bars.
Choengmon Beach is in the North-East of Samui just 10 minutes from Chaweng. Unlike the latter it is a perfect place for relaxing.
Big Buddha Beach Located in the north-east of Samui, Big Buddha offers visitors good swimming and lovely views. The area has developed a lot over the past few years and there are now a plentitude of restaurants, shops and bars.
Na Thon - The island's major seafront settlement where shops, restaurants and tour agencies are concentrated.
Namtok Hin Lat – This waterfall is easily accessible by car. Some of the numerous tiny levels have a large basin for swimmers.
Namtok Na Mueang – A local road leads to the Na Mueang 1 Waterfall. A walk of about 30 minutes ends up at the more scenic Na Mueang 2 Waterfall. Purple rocks surround the stream of water, which gushes in from an impressive height of around 79 meters.
Ban Lipa Yai – This village grows high quality fruits, including rambutan, durian, mangosteen and the famed langsat.
Old House – This Chinese-style house, aged almost 200 years, represents Samui’s cultural identity. Grandpa Si and Grandma Maen Hancharoen, the present owner, open the house to visitors.
Other island attractions include coral beds at Laem Set and Thong Takhian; the nearby butterfly garden and aquarium; a snake farm; a monkey theatre at Bo Phut and a massive seated Buddha image on Fan isle.
Wat Khunaram Ko Samui This temple is the island’s most famous temple for its mummified monk on display. The mummy sits upright in a glass casket and devotees offer it flowers and incense. The mummy is in fact the body of a very revered former abbot of the temple who was also a meditation master that was able to predict his own death.
Grandmother and Grandfather Rocks These odd-looking rocks situated on Lamai beach bear a striking resemblance to male and female sexual organs and they have turned into one of the island’s biggest attractions. For those who would like to hear a legend or two surrounding the rocks, they need only ask a local.
Samui Aquarium and Tiger Zoo Ko Samui Located at Ban Harn beach, the Samui Aquarium and Tiger Zoo offer a fun day out for the family. The undersea world of the aquarium has an amazing collection of tropical fish and other vibrant aquatic animals such as turtles and colorful coral. The tiger zoo is home to Bengal tigers and leopards. For those who are daring enough, they can have their photograph taken with the awesome animals. The Samui Aquarium and Tiger Zoo are open daily from 9AM till 6PM.
Big Buddha Temple (Wat Phra Yai) Also known as the Big Buddha Temple (Wat Phra Yai), has a 15 meter tall statue of the Buddha. It was built in 1972 and is in the north of the island.
Laem Sor Pagoda Ko Samui This chedi (pagoda) situated at Laem Sor temple is one of the most important shrines on Ko Samui. The structure with its yellow tiles which gives off a golden aura is quite impressive.
Samui Butterful Garden / Insect Museum This butterfly garden can be found in the south-east of the island. There is a huge collection of different butterflies, some quarter of a meter wide. The visitor can also enter the insect museum nearby to see a variety of rare bugs and a bee house.
Secret Buddha Garden This beautiful garden was made by a 76 year-old Ko Samui fruit farmer in 1976. It is surrounded by lush jungle, rocky hills and is adorned with sculptures depicting both humans, in various poses, as well as various deities. Since the garden is the highest point on the island, there are also some awesome views to be had. Organized tours to the garden last for about 2 hours.
Monkey Shows These shows can be enjoyed at the open-air theater on the main road behind Bophut beach. The entertainment also includes performing elephants
Do
The usual panoply of watersports are available, including plenty of dive shops, but most diving is done either in the nearby Angthong Marine National Park or Ko Tao as the visibility around Samui's sandy beaches tends to be poor. You can book diving day trips at dive shops, most of which are based in Chaweng. The dive boats tend to leave from the pier at Bophut and Bang Ruk.
Diving Without a doubt the south of Thailand is home to some of the finest and most beautiful beaches and islands in the world, surrounded by crystal clear water and stunning coral. And that is the main reason why the number of divers coming to Thailand has escalated over the past decade or so. Even though the best time year of the year to dive in the Ko Samui is between June and August, it is still perfectly possible to dive virtually all year round. As diving in Thailand is considered one of the safest destinations for diving and snorkeling in the world, it is perfect for first-timers wanting to try these pastimes out.
The sea visibility in some places around Ko Samui is almost very good (distances of up to 10-30 meters). One can enjoy splendid sights of underwater mountains, coral gardens, undersea rock formations, hard and soft coral, whale sharks.
'Samran Pinnacles:' Since the currents in this area are often quite strong, this site is recommended therefore, for experienced divers. Due to the currents being like this, the site is a haven for bringing in larger pelagics such as barracuda, jacks. There are three submerged pinnacles near Sail Rock.
'Ko Kra & Koh Losin:' These two small islands located to the south-east of Samui, which because of its remotest, don’t get too many divers. Blacktip sharks, manta rays and hard to find loggerhead turtles can be seen.
Sailing is popular in Samui being led by the success of the Ko Samui Regatta [5] and the continued popularity of the day crusies and sunset cruises aboard the 52 foot sailing catamaran Kia Ora [6]. The major hindrance to sailing in Ko Samui is the lack of a marina to provide safe mooring, the support infrastructure and services. There have been many rumours about marina construction being imminent but nothing has yet been done. So when you get to Samui, expect to find it hard to locate a suitable provider and also expect to either clamber over rickety wooden jetties or be ferried out on the tender dinghy.
On Chaweng beach there are dinghys, lasers and catamarans available for day-rental. Be prepared to pay from 500 baht/hour. The wind close to the shore is tricky though, often circling the mountains and coming in from two directions simultanuosly.
Golf
* Santiburi Samui Country Club12/15, Mu 4, Mae Nam, Tel: 0 7742 1700-8 Fax: 0 7742 1709, boasts the only 18 hole golf course on the island. Located inland from Mae Nam, the neighbouring town to Bophut, the challenging mountain-side and high valley fairways offer stunning views of the bay area and distant Ko Pha Ngan. Golf carts are compulsory, to prevent the exhaustion of players otherwise following the steeply rising and falling fairways. Large greens offer some compensation to players distracted by the fabulous views and lush tropical setting. The clubhouse includes locker rooms, dining, conferencing rooms as well as a driving range, practice green and shop.
* Samui Golf Club and Driving Range Samui Ring Road, Chaweng North 123/1, Mu 1, Tambon Bo Phut Suratthani
* Lamai Driving Range 22/6 Mu 6, Tambon Maret, Koh Samui, Tel: 08 1090 7213, 08 6282 0749 Fax: 0 7741 8995
Mini Golf
* Mini Golf International Ban Plailaem, 79/53 Mu 5, Tambon Bophut, Tel: 08 1787 9148
* Treasure Island Mini Golf 166/79 Mu 2, Tambon Bophut, Tel: 0 77411 3267, 08 1892 1416
Frisbee Golf
* Samui Frisbee Golf Just 1 k.m. from Monkey Theater, Soi Monkey Theater Mu 1, Tambon Bo Phut
Football Golf
* Samui Football Golf North of Chaweng, near Imperial Boat House
Bowling
* Major Bowl Hit, Tesco Lotus, 1/7 Moo 6, Tambon Bo Phut, Koh Samui, Suratthani, 84320 Thailand, Tel: 0 7742 7315
* Living Bowl Center, Chaweng Beach Road, Chaweng Center 202, Moo 2, Tambon Bo Phut Suratthani, KOH SAMUI 84320 Thailand, Tel: 0 7741 3258
Thai Boxing
* Thai Boxing or Muay Thai has risen in popularity in Koh Samui and there are a number of gyms such as Lamai, WMC and Pinyo. Big bouts can be watched at the Muay Thai Boxing Stadium at Chaweng Beach.
Beach Volleyball
* Lots of beach volleyball is played on the beaches in Chaweng and Lamai.
Kayaking
* Is a great way to see the Angthong Marine National Park. Look for a credible tour operator when on the island.
Shooting
* You can visit the Samui shooting range and fire various 9mm and revolver pistols and even the famous AK-47. Turn up and shoot - prices are quite steep around 1000 baht for a magazine of ammo but it does make for a memorable experience and is suitable for small groups.
Bungy Jump
* Situated on the Reggae Street side of Chaweng lake. Samui Bungy offers a free pick up service from your hotel. Soi Reggae, ChawengBeach. Telephone: 07 741- 425-2
Bird Watching
* Samui with its lush forests offers the ideal spot to go for bird watching. The wilderness of the area has made it a nesting ground for several rare species of birds.
Tiger Zoo and Tropical Bird Show
* South of Hua Thanon
Trekking & Elephant Trekking
* Samui is a great place for trekking to explore the diversity of the landscape and the tropically lush forests either on foot or by elephant. This activity has become popular especially with the younger crowds. There is a nice natural pool at the top of the Na Muang waterfall 2. It's about 30 minutes steep hike from the point where the road ends. There are also some elephant ride businesses, that can take you to the bottom of the waterfall.
Snooker & Pool
* There are snooker clubs at the main beaches in Thailand and they are popular with the local Thais. More popular with the western tourists is pool which can easily be found at the island’s bars. At most bars, pool can be played for free.
Windsurfing
* On Samui, some companies conduct various workshops and courses on windsurfing.
Canopy
* Koh Samui Canopy Adventures arrange canopy through the forest. They are located Bophut Beach and can be contacted at 077-414-1501
Fishing
* Lovers of fishing will adore the idea of going fishing off Samui and they won’t be disappointed. The majority of the fishing tours leave from the south-west corner of Ko Tong Krut.
Horse Riding
* Horse on Samui are of a European standard, they are calm, patient and well-trained. For package deals and more information, telephone: 09-972-4241. Route 4169, near Tesco Lotus, Chaweng.
Kiteboarding
* This exciting new and trendy activity has finally reached Samui and the Ko Samui Kite Center based at the Samui Orchid Resort in Laem Set offers a complete range of courses from beginners to advance. The ideal time of the year for this activity is from November to March. The center can be contacted at 077-424-017-501.
Paintball
* Is organized in the hills above Maenam Beach. There is a great selection of guns to choose from, take your pick of an M16 or a Kalashnikov.
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