Buga: 13.03.2023
We visited Surat Thani from 14.02-17.02.23
For most travelers, Surat Thani is just a transfer point. They stay for one night and then take the ferry to Koh Tao, Samui, or Phangan. Or they take the train to Chumphon (like us) or Bangkok. But we stayed in Surat Thani for three nights and stayed at MyPlace@Surat Hotel.
We felt comfortable. The accommodation is centrally located. There is the bus station nearby, night markets, shops, plenty of impressive temples, and of course the river, from where the ferries to the islands depart. On an exploration tour, we discovered one of the most beautiful temples called City Pillar Shrine (San Lak Muang), which we almost had to ourselves. On the other side of the river, but easily accessible via a bridge, is the public Ko Lamphu Park. It is suitable for sports activities such as running, cycling, football, or basketball, or just sitting in nature and getting away from the noise of the city. A really beautiful, clean, and well-maintained park for the locals, with lots of palm trees 🌴 You can also find sports equipment here and a fish pond. A true oasis of peace.
In Surat Thani, you can also visit some beautiful temples. Many are not far from each other, and one is more beautiful than the other. Attractions are also illuminated in the evening. As I said, you don't meet many tourists here because most are just passing through. But we can definitely recommend a day trip through Surat Thani. In the evening, the street food stands tempt with a wide range of food, fruits, freshly squeezed juices, and many fried snacks to take away.
After 3 nights, we packed our backpacks again and took the local bus to the train station. We were on the road for a good hour (1.09€ for 2 people). The bus was full of locals and we were in the middle of it. Interestingly, the windows and doors remained open throughout the entire journey. When we arrived at the train station, we had to wait for another hour until our train to Chumphon started.