Introduction to Surat Thani, Thailand

Uninspiring SURAT THANI, often shortened to Surat, 60km south of Wat Suan Mokkh, is of use only for its long-distance transport connections and as the main jumping-off point for trips to Ko Samui and Ko Pha Ngan. Most buses to Surat Thani arrive at Thanon Taladmai in the centre of town, either at Talat Kaset I on the north side of the road (local buses) or opposite at Talat Kaset II (long-distance, including Phuket and Hat Yai). Buses from Bangkok and a few other provinces arrive at a terminal 2km southwest of the centre. The train station is at Phunphin, 13km to the west, from where buses run every ten minutes between 6am and 7pm and share taxis leave when full (B15 per person or B90 to charter the whole car). You can buy boat tickets to Ko Samui and Ko Pha Ngan from the train station, including a connecting bus to the relevant pier. A minibus (B80) connects Surat Thani airport with the town centre, or you can buy a combination ticket (B280) to Ko Samui; minibuses to the airport leave from the Thai Airways office, south of the centre at 3/27–28 Thanon Karoonrat, off Thanon Chonkasem (tel 077 272610), and the Wangtai Hotel. Small share songthaews buzz around town, charging around B10 per person.

In central Surat, train and air-con minibus tickets can be booked through Phantip Travel, in front of Talat Kaset I at 293/6–8 Thanon Taladmai (tel 077 272230). Boat tickets are available from Songserm Travel (express boats to Samui and Pha Ngan), opposite the night-boat pier on Thanon Ban Don (tel 077 285124–6), and from Samui Tour (with connecting buses for the vehicle ferries) at 326/12 Thanon Taladmai (tel 077 282352). TAT (daily 8am–4pm; tel 077 288817–9) is at the western end of town at 5 Thanon Taladmai. If you get stuck in Surat and need a hotel, try the inexpensive, en-suite rooms at Ban Don Hotel, above a decent restaurant at 268/1 Thanon Namuang (tel 077 272167; under $5), or splash out on the Wangtai Hotel, 1 Thanon Taladmai at the western end of town (tel 077 283020–39; $15–20), which is good value with large, smart rooms around a swimming pool. The night market sets up between Si Chaiya and Ban Don roads and at Ban Don pier.

Information by Rough Guides

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