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The largest province of the South located 685 km from Bangkok is Surat Thani the province with a name that literally means "City of the Good People". A former capital of the Srivijaya Empire, the province covers an area of approximately 12,891 sq km. Surat Thani Province borders the Gulf of Thailand to the north and east, Chumphon Province to the north, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Krabi Provinces to the south, Phang-Nga and Ranong Provinces to the west and Nakhon Si Thammarat Province to the east.

High plateaus and forested mountains are located to the west of the province, while there are low basins in the center and along the eastern coast. This topography has created 14 river basins including Tapee, Pum Duang, Tha Thong, Tha Krajai, Chaiya, Tha Chang which are the most important basins. All rivers in Surat Thani flow east of the province to the Gulf of Thailand.

The numerous islands along the coast makes Surat Thani (often known as Surat in short) a perfect hideaway for vacationers from around the world. The ideal destination for many is the Penang-sized Ko Samui, Thailand’s third largest island, and its neighbour Ko Pha-ngan a celebrated island that hosts the biggest beach full moon party. North of Ko Pha-ngan is Ko Tao, renowned for its excellent coral reefs. To top it all is the dazzling 250-sq km Ang Thong Marine National Park, where a stunning archipelago awaits to greet visitors with their charming palm-fringed beaches, crystal clear water and colorful coral reefs. The best time to enjoy one of these islands to the fullest is from April to November.

Today, Surat Thani is an important commercial and shipping hub for rubber and coconut trading. » North : Chomphon and Ranong
» South : Nakhon Sithammarat and Krabi
» East : Gulf of thailand and Nakhon Sithammarat
» West : Phangnga and Ranong

Distances to Other Provinces
Nakhon Sithammarat	134 km
Chomphon	193 km
Phangnga	196 km
Krabi	211 km
Ranong	219 km

Distances from Amphoe Mueang to Other Districts
Phunphin	12 km
Kanchanadit	18 km
Tha Chang	37 km
Ban Na San	41 km
Ban Na Doem	50 km
Khiri Ratniyom	55 km
Don Sak	61 km
Khian Sa	61 km
Chaiya	68 km
Phra Saeng	68 km
Wiang Sa	68 km
Wiphawadi	70 km
Ban Ta Khun	71 km
Tha Chana	78 km
Phanom	80 km
Ko Samui	84 km
Ko Pha-ngan	100 km
Chai Buri	112 km

Surat Thani can be most conveniently reached by car from Bangkok by taking Highway No.4 to Chumphon Province via Phetchaburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan Provinces and then taking Highway No. 41 and Highway No. 401 directly to Surat Thani City. Air-conditioned buses depart from Bangkok's Southern Bus Terminal to Surat Thani Province everyday. Call the southern Bus Terminal tel: 0 2434 5557-8 or visit Trains leave Bangkok's Hua Lamphong Railway Station 10 times daily from 12.00 pm. - 10.50 pm. The trip takes approximately 12-13 hours. Ask for the train from Bangkok to Phun Phin, the closest station to Surat Thani. For further details, please call 1690, 0 2223 7010, 0 2223 7020 or visit www.railway.co.th.

Surat Thani Railway Station is 12 km from town. A bus service between the station and the town is available Thai Airways International has 2 daily flights connecting Bangkok with Surat Thani. The flight time is approximately 70 minutes. For more information, contact their Bangkok office at tel. 1566, 0 2280 0060, 0 2628 2000 or get your on-line e-ticket at www.thaiairways.com

One-two-Go also operates flights to Surat Thani. For more information please visit www.fly12go.com or contact call center 1126.

Air Asia offer flights Bangkok-Surat Thani. For more information please visit www.airasia.com or call 0 2515 9999 The Pier is located at Kula Cape, approximately 6 km from the District Administrative Office. This big pier provides ferry services for visitors to Ko Samui.

- Seatran (0 7727 5060, 136 Na Meuang Road) operates a bus/boat combination to Ko Samui.
- Raja Ferry (0 7731 4523, 0 7737 1151 or 0 7737 1206) who offers bus/boat combinations to the islands. Apart from the local orange bus ,songthaews are another option to get around the city. Samlors, the orange bus departs from the Phu Phin train station to the city every 10 minutes from 06.00 am. - 08.00 pm. The same ride by taxi.

Air-conditioned vans connecting the airport and town . Tickets can be purchased at travel agencies or THAI office (0 7727 2610). Rambutan Fair
When: July - Auguest
Location: at the front of Srisurat ground and The bank of Tapi River
This annual fair is held in August. The first rambutan tree was planted in Surat Thani in 1926, and this fair celebrates the delicious fruit, which now grows widely in the area. Highlights include exhibitions of local products and ornamental plants, floats adorned with rambutan and other fruits, and demonstrations of trained monkeys who harvest coconuts. When: October
Location: District Office of Surat Thani
This festival is held in October every year. Surat Thani celebrates the official end of the annual 3-month Buddhist Rains retreat (Phansa) with the Chak Phra Festival (literally 'the procession of hauling the Buddha image'). The tradition stems from the belief that the Buddha ascended to Heaven during Phansa to preach to his mother. The festival marks the Buddha's return to Earth, and is an occasion for religious merit-making and general celebrations. Local people organize dazzling land and waterborne processions of revered Buddha images (to symbolize the Buddha's return to Earth) and boat races on the Tapi River where long boats, each manned by up to 50 oarsmen, are ebulliently raced. Religious devotion, spectacle and merriment combine to make Surat Thani's Chak Phra Festival a memorable annual event.

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