"Surat Thani" Surat Thani by phil_uk_net

Surat Thani Travel Guide: 24 reviews and 60 photos

Surat Thani

There isn't a great deal in Surat Thani to attract tourists. My boat from Koh Tao arrived there in the evening and after several hours at sea I didn't feel like jumping straight on a bus so stopped for the night. I wandered around the night market that evening and left the following morning.

After the artificial nature of tourist orientated places Surat Thani is a stark reminder of the real Thailand and a further reminder that it is still a developing country. Cockroaches crawl across the pavement and cats investigate dead rats in the street. However, I found the local people to be very friendly due in part, I think, to the fact that not many tourists stay here. Most travellers just use Surat as a staging post travelling to and from Koh Samui.

There are night markets but even though I consider myself fairly adventurous when it comes to food there were only a few things I could bring myself to eat!

My evening was rounded off by witnessing a serious motorbike accident. The Thai rider may have been dead - I waited as he lay unconscious with blood pouring from his head until the ambulance arrived.

Pros and Cons

Pros:OK for a night stop between travelling on boats and buses
Cons:Not much there for tourists
In a nutshell:Worth taking a look if you have time

Last visit to Surat Thani: Dec 2002
Intro Updated Mar 8, 2003
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Reviews (7)

Getting to Surat by ferry from Koh Tao Transportation (2)

From Koh Tao I had to go first to Koh Phangan before getting to Surat Thani. Each leg of the trip costs 250 baht,... more travel advice

Local night market Restaurants (1)

Restaurants in Surat Thani seem quite scarce. Most people seemed to be eating street food at the local night market. more travel advice

Friendly old man at the night market - Surat Thani

Friendly people Favorites (2)

While I was in Surat Thani I think I only saw about 5 other tourists. I was therefore quite unusual and treated with a... more travel advice

Night market Things to Do (1)

Surat Thani has an active night market which is a good place to wander around. There is a lot of local food for sale. more travel advice

Hotels (1)
An okay place centrally located

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Travelogues (1)

Written Mar 8, 2003

5 photos

More pictures from the night market

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Comments (5)

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nepalgoods Sep 6, 2003 at 12:54 AM

I was stuck in Surath for 3 days, it is a nice city to try the food on night markets and to visit some temples nearby. Thanks for your page!
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herzog63 Jun 7, 2003 at 4:09 AM

Those food vendors make the Greatest meals!! Those bus scams are one of the bad spots of Thailand! It is so nice to find a town without hoards of Farangs!! LOL
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andal13 May 25, 2003 at 7:50 PM

What wonderful portraits, Phil! The human warmth can be felt.
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Bonobo2005 Apr 16, 2003 at 1:24 AM

Great off-the-beaten path page. Yeah the Thai outside tourist areas are really lovely; you took some fantastic -real life- pics!
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Sharrie Feb 19, 2003 at 4:14 AM

Oops! U reminded me of the motorbike accident I once witnessed when I was a child. Yuck! I can still remember it till today! :-(