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Region
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SURAT
THANI |
 The
largest southern province, Surat Thani is steeped in
history as part of the Srivijaya empire with ancient
Chaiya a key city. A must-visit spot is Phra Boromthat
Chaiya, with its authentic Srivijaya architecture.
Its beautiful 1,200-year-old chedi contains relics
of the Buddha, while the nearby national museum contains
statues and artifacts discovered in Chaiya.
Surat
Thani is famous for coconuts, mainly picked by pig-tailed
monkeys which are trained in special schools around
the province. The schools also put on entertaining
shows for visitors.
Although
the town is a major road and rail hub, it is more famous
as the gateway to Samui island, the province's
top tourist destination. Thailand's third largest
island, Samui is fabled for its long, clean beaches
(most especially Chaweng) lined with high quality
resorts, numerous restaurants and entertainment spots.
The island's interior is mountainous and forested, giving
rise to growing numbers of treks and eco-tours.
Divers
head to the quieter Pha-ngan and Tao islands, whose
superb coral reefs and underwater scenery are
great attractions. Further west, the Ang Thong National
Park comprises 40 islands with beautiful beaches,
clear waters, and stunning rock formations. Many
tour companies arrange sea canoe explorations
of the islands.
In
Surat Thani's hinterland, Khao Sok National Park is
a popular eco-tourism destination, thanks to a
great variety of flora and fauna, coupled with outstanding
scenery with lots of trekking and boating trails.
Trang
is famous for its sandy beaches, beautiful views and
underwater scenery at numerous offshore islands.
The main town is very clean, with a domestic airport
that has opened up the region to tourism, and
its own distinctive brand of rich coffee.
Forests,
lakes, waterfalls and rivers are plentiful within the
province. Khlong Lamchan Waterfowl Park is a popular
attraction, as is the Khao Chong Wildlife and Nature
Education Centre, a tropical rainforest with lots of
birdlife.
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There
are plenty of islands within easy reach, with
varying degrees of underwater celebrity. Phetra
Islands National Park is popular for day visits
and diving. Chao Mai National Parkincludes Kradan
island, with its powdery beaches and picturesque
coral reef, and Muk island, with the incredible
Emerald Cave, whose watery entrance leads to
an immense cavernopen to the sky. |
The
underwater world is so popular in Trang that it is the
venue for an annual underwater wedding ceremony,
with couples coming from around the world to get married
in scuba gear on Valentine's Day.
Thailand's
southernmost province, Yala is extremely mountainous,
with lush forests, waterfalls and great cultural
diversity. Mosques and Buddhist temples are
found around every corner. Wat Khuha Phimuk sits
in front of a limestone cave complex housing a
large and highly venerated reclining Buddha from the
Srivijaya period, made around 750 AD.
Ban
Sakai is home to the aboriginal Sakai people, descendants
of the race that once populated the Malay Peninsula.
Today they grow rice and work in rubber plantations
around their traditional village.
The
lush scenery is a great draw for visitors, with numerous
waterfalls such as the spectacular Than To Falls,
which cascades down nine levels. Bang Lang Dam offers
excellent views of the mountains, forests and surrounding
area
Down
on the border, Betong - the Town in the Mist - is a
pleasant place to visit, with hot springs, the
tallest letterbox in the world (over three metres),
numerous hotels, plenty of local handicrafts
and cross-border trade.
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