Surat
Thani
is southern Thailand's largest province, covers some 12,800
square kilometres, and has an extensive coastline lapped
by Thai Gulf waters. The provincial capital is 685 kilometres
south of Bangkok. Surat
Thani boasts some of Thailand's loveliest islands namely
the Penang-sized Ko Samui, Thailand's third largest island,
palm-fringed jewel of a sparkling archipelago that includes
the stunning 250-square-kilometre Ang Thong Marine National
Park. Surat Thani once formed part, and may have been
the centre, of the Mahayana Buddhist Srivijaya Empire
which steeped in legend and mystery, dominated the Malay
peninsula and much of Java some 1,500 years ago. Srivijaya
was best described by the itinerant Chinese monk I Ching
after a pilgrimage he made to India during the late 600s.
Archaeological discoveries at Chaiya district indicate
the former empire's splendour.
How
to Get There
Distances
From Amphoe Muang (Surat Thani Town) To Other Districts
:
Ban
Na Doem 50 km
Ban Na San 41 km
Ban Ta Khun 71 km
Chai Buri 112 km
Chaiya 68 km
Don Sak 61 km
Kanchanadit 18 km
Khian Sa 61 km
Khiri Ratthanikhom 55 km
Ko Pha-ngan 100 km
Ko Samui 84 km
Phanom 80 km
Phra Saeng 68 km
Phunphin 12 km
Tha Chana 78 km
Tha Chang 37 km
Wiang Sa 68 km
Vibhavadi 70 km
Car
: Surat Thani can be most conveniently reached by
car from Bangkok by taking Highway No. 4 to Chumphon via
Phetchaburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan, and thence onto Highway
No. 41 and Highway No. 401.
Bus
: Air-conditioned buses, varying in 3 types, depart
from Bangkok's Southern Bus Terminal to Surat Thani everyday
at the following times :
VIP
Bus : 7 p.m. and 7.30 p.m.
Standard
1 Bus (blue colour): 9 a.m., 9.30 a.m., 8 p.m. and 8.30
p.m.
Standard
2 Bus (orange colour): 9.30 a.m. and 8.45 p.m.
Train : Trains leave Bangkok's Hua Lamphong Railway
Station 10 times daily from 12 noon-10.50 p.m. The trip
takes approximately 13 hours. For further details, please
call 1690, 0 2223 7010, 0 2223 7020 or visit www.srt.or.th.
Surat
Thani Railway Station is 12 kilometres from town. A bus
service between the station and the town is available.
Air : Thai
Airways has 2 daily flights connecting Bangkok with Surat
Thani, with flying time being 70 minutes. For more information,
contact their Bangkok office at tel. 1566, 0 2280 0060,
0 2628 2000 or view their website at www.thaiairways.com..
