Khao Tha Phet Wildlife and Nature
Education Centre This is some 6 kms. from
Surat Thani literally means "City of
the Good People"
and is the former
seat of the
Srivijaya Empire. It
is the largest
province of the
South, covering an
area of 12,891
square kilometres
and bordered by
the Gulf of Thailand to the north and
the east. Surat Thani is located 644
kms. from Bangkok. The topography
includes a high plateau and forested
mountains to the west, and low
basins in the center and along the
eastern coast. There are a
tremendous number of island along
the coast.
Surat Thani is administratively divided
into 18 districts and 1 sub-district:
Amphoe Muang Surat Thani, Amphoe
Ban Na Doem, Amphoe Ben Na San,
Amphoe Ben Ta Khun, Amphoe Chai
Buri, Amphoe Chaiya, Amphoe Don
Sak, Amphoe Kanchanadit, Amphoe
Khian Sa, Amphoe Khiri
Ratthanikham, Amphoe Ko Phangan,
Amphoe Ko Samui, Amphoe Phanom,
Amphoe Phrasaen, Amphoe Phunphin,
Amphoe Tha Chana, Amphoe Tha
Chang, Amphoe Wiang Sa and King
Amphoe Wiphawadi.
Pak Nam Tapi The Tapi River Mouth is
some 5 kms. from Ban Don municipality. The
area is particular rich in quality seafood
restaurants.
town along the Surat Thani- Na San route
(Route No. 4009). It covers an area of 1,162
acres. and houses a number of caged wild
animals near the Centre. On Khao Tha Phet,
Tha Phet, at 210 metres above sea level,
stands a stupa named Phra That Si Surat
which houses Buddha relics donated by the
Indian Government some 40 years ago. The
hilltop offers a panoramic view of Surat
Thani Town and the Tapi River.
Phra Borommathat Chaiya This ancient
pagoda housing Lord Buddha relics is
located in Amphoe Chaiya, 54 kms. north of
the provincial capital, and dates back to the
Srivijaya period over 1,200 years ago. In the
compound, there is the Chaiya National
Museum consisting of two buildings. One
exhibits stone and bronze sculptures
discovered in the ancient city of Chaiya and
the other exhibits artifacts of prehistoric
down to historic periods from Dvaravati, Sri
Vijaya, Lopburi, Sukhothai to Ayutthaya. Art
objects and several other crafts are also
displayed here. The museum is open daily
between 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. except for Mondays
and Tuesdays.

Wat Suan Mokkhaphalaram Better known
as Suan Mok, the temple is on Highway No.
41 some 50 kms. north of the provincial
capital. Suan Mok's founder, Bhikkhu
Buddhadhasa, is highly respected in
Thailand, and internationally, and his 'back-
to-basics' approach attracts Buddhist monks
and lay meditators from many countries. A
favourite sight for casual visitors is the
'Spiritual Theatre' which Buddhadhasa
describes as a pictorial interpretation of
Dharma. The building features an eclectic
mixture of Thai, Egyptian, Chinese, Indian,
Japanese, Tibetan and European-style
murals and sculptures.
Ratchaprapha or Chieo Lan Dam This is
located 70 kms. west from Surat Thani on
Highway No. 401 and another 12 kms. along
an access road. An extensive lake beyond
the Ratchaprapha Dam offers very beautiful
scenery. Accommodation near the dam is
available..
Khao Sok National Park This is largely
jungle with undulating mountain ranges and
rugged high cliffs. The park office is 1.3 kms.
off the Surat-Takua Pa Road at Km. 109.
Attractions in the park include Namtok Mae
Yai which can be reached by car; Namtok
Sip Et Chan (eleven-tiered waterfall), 4 kms.
from the park office and other beautiful
waterfalls and caves, mostly accessible by
foot. Rare flora and fauna are found along
nature trails. Dormitories, bungalows and
raft-houses are available.
Ko Samui This beautiful 247-square-
kilometre island, one of the most famous
attractions of Thailand, is some 84
kilometres east of Surat Thami's provincial
capital. It can be reached by boat from Surat
Thani town or by ferry either from Don Sak
(some 7 kms from Surat Thani town) or
Khanom (in Nakhon Si Thammart). A 51-
Kilometre ring road encircles the island,
which has numerous lovely beaches and
bays, and is almost literally an island of
coconuts and forested hills. Samui's best
beaches line the northern and eastern
coasts. The most popular are Hat Chaweng
and Hat Lamai where, generally, attractive
accommodation can be found. Besides
marvelous beaches, other interesting
attractions include the Samui Butterfly Park;
the monkey Centre; the Hin Lat and Na
Muang waterfalls; the phallic rock formations
at the southern end of Lamai Bay, and a
massive seated Buddha image on Ko Fan.
The island's major sea front settlement is at
Na Thon where shops, restaurants and tour
agents are located.
Mu Ko Ang Thong National Park
This marine park comprises some 40 islands
northwest of Ko Samui and covers an area
of 250 square kilometres of which 50 square
kilometres is land mass. Most islands
comprise limestone masses reaching
heights of up to 400 metres and fringed by
beaches and tropical rainforest. The park
office is located on Ko Wua Ta Lap. Popular
attractions include a high viewpoint,
secluded beaches, Tham Bua Bok - a
beautiful cave with spectacular stalactite and
stalagmite formations, and an emerald
saltwater lake known as Tale Nai on Ko Mae
Ko, which entails a strenuous climb.