Traveling by ferry is definitely the coolest way to travel between Surat Thani and Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao. With sunny skies and stunning seascapes, its also really popular, with literally hundreds of people making the ferry trips daily. These ferry boats are big, sturdy and safe, carrying between 200-300 passengers per trip from pier to pier. Onboard passengers have the choice of sailing up on deck in the sun or in the comfortable seats, reading the daily news or updating their journals and facebook pages. All of our ferries have been inspected for safety and seaworthiness and passed with flying colors. Traveling with FerrySamui.com is definitely the best way to go. Our customer service agents will answer all your questions and ensure its all "plain sailing" on the day of your ferry trip. The ferry staff at Surat Thani's Donsak Pier are familiar with our customer service processes - just hand them your printed e-ticket and and you'll be on your way. Once you have received your E-ticket from us, don't forget to keep in touch with us. We're looking forward to hearing about your fantastic island experiences! Make sure you print a copy of our Travel Tips before you take your ferry trip so you are well prepared and can really enjoy your day.
Suratthani is actually a big Thai province with a town that is like any other in Thailand. In tourism terms, its a hub for some extremely magnificent places surrounding it. Firstly, Suratthani is the key ferry hub for travel between the Thailand mainland and the islands of Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao. Secondly, the province contains the incredible Khao Sok National Park, which is older and more diverse than the Amazon Rainforest and just as spectacular. It is jam packed with great stuff to do there, and Khao Sok also hosts the awesomely beautiful Ratchaprapa Dam and huge reservoir. Suratthani is worth traveling to just for these great experiences alone.
Khao Sok National Park
Khao Sok is an amazing national park and wildlife reserve covering almost 740 square kilometres of completely unspoilt natural rainforest land. It's covered with great limestone mountains and great waterfalls, with hiking and biking trails that beckon tourists and adventurers from all walks of life to explore and discover the ancient Thai evergreen rainforest. There's also elephant trekking, canoeing, and jeep safaris that will get you into the lush forest. All kinds of wildlife are found here that are unique to the region and you're hardly ever disappointed. The amazing "Bua Phut" (wild lotus), one of the world's largest flowers is found only here in Khao Sok, it can grow to 80cm in diameter! For the budding "David Livingstones" of the world, what an adventure you have in store.
Ratchaprapa Dam
Ratchaprapa Dam (also known as the Cheow Lan Resevoir) is an absolutely stunning area of Thailand that really needs to be experienced because it's very difficult to put into words how amazing it is. The enormous dam itself was built in 1982 to provide hydroelectric power to nearby provinces, and it is a magnificent sight with great viewpoints that offer panoramic views of the 185 square kilometre body of water contained within dense forest and mountainous terrain. The lake contained within the dam is really deep, yet over one hundred small little islands jut out of the great expanse of water, which you can see up close on rented long tail boats. What a fantastic place.
Cheow Lan Lake
The natural result of the building of the great Ratchaprapa Dam is the incredible Cheow Lan Lake, which demands a travel summary all by itself. As mentioned, the lake covers 185 square meters. It is absolutely well worth the cost of an unforgettable long tail boat ride to see the natural beauty of the place for yourself. Ask the long tail boat sailor to take you to "Guilin", a set of rock structures in a small alcove on the lake that makes for stunning photos. And it's possible to actually stay on the lake in one of the fascinating bamboo lodges. The serenity of the experience long fills the memory, hours spent floating in the lake, kayaking around its perimeter, fresh fish meals and unhindered starlit-moonlit night skies. Incredible moments!
Suratthani Itself
The province's name means "city of good people"; the title being given by a former king of Thailand, King Vajiravudh (Rama VI). The main road that runs through Suratthani connects to both Phuket in the south and Bangkok in the north. Suratthani is also known as "province of a thousand islands", because of the nearby "Ang Thong Marine National Park", which is an extravagant natural group of beautiful islands that rise up out of the seascape surrounding the mainland. While there's not so much for tourists in Suratthani Town itself, the province is also in a prime spot to be a travel hub to the spectacular surrounding islands of Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, and Koh Tao. You can read about these destinations on our website.
This festival is held in October every year. Surat Thani celebrates the official end of the annual 3-month Buddhist Rains... read more
Water Buffalo fighting has long been a part of Koh Samui tradition, as it is in some other regions of South-East Asia. Funny... read more
Chinese New Year is celebrated in many parts of Thailand where there are Chinese communities. This festival always takes... read more
Warning order from the Harbor Department and an announcement from the province to suspend service for the safety of passengers.All... read more
We are pleased to announce the launch of our new website, along with a new look, we have included some features that we hope... read more
Announcement from Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand about travelling to Thailand: - Passengers will... read more