Surat Thani. Thailand. Asia.
Suratthani is a Province in the South of Thailand. Known also as Suratthanee.
The Capital of the Province is also named Surat Thani or Suratthanee, view maps . Its a beautiful city, traversed by the Tapee River, with good accommodation in modern
hotels. The City has Airport, Train Station and Bus Terminal. Is connected by express way road to Bangkok and Singapore. There
are two Golf Courses and many attractions for tourists.
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 islands 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 Phangan 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.
Those
interested in Meditation can make retreats, specially designed for foreigners at Wat Suan Mokh, in Chaiya. Keep in mind that Temple accommodation is spartan.
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