Surat Thani
Surat Thani is a Gulf coast town where many trips to Ko Samui, Ko Pha-Ngan, Ko Tao and Khao Sok connect, by train, bus, flight or ferry.
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Surat Thani is a town on the Gulf of Thailand coast in southern Thailand, on the Tapi River. Ferries to Ko Samui, Ko Pha-Ngan and Ko Tao leave from piers near the town, and it is also the usual base for Khao Sok National Park, a rainforest park with limestone cliffs and a large lake. Many travelers stop here to change between trains, buses, flights and ferries, so the main planning question is how to link them.
Surat Thani suits travelers heading to the islands or Khao Sok who want to keep the transfer short. If you want several days in a town to walk through, the town itself offers little. Rain is heaviest on the Gulf coast from about October to December, so pack for wet weather then. Allow one night for a simple transfer, or two if you add Khao Sok.
Surat Thani in five
- Buy a joint ticket only with spare timeCombined bus, train and ferry tickets save effort, but connections are tight. Leave a buffer if a flight home or a booked island room depends on them.Ko Samui & the Lower Gulf
- Check which pier your ferry usesMost ferries to Ko Samui, Ko Pha-Ngan and Ko Tao leave from piers east of the city, such as Don Sak, about an hour away by road. Your ticket names the pier, so confirm it before you move.
- Use it as the Khao Sok gatewayThe rainforest and lake park lies roughly 1.5–2 hours west by road. Many travelers split a night here between the islands and the Andaman coast.Khao Sok National Park
- Match airport or station to your tripThe airport has direct flights from Bangkok and bus-and-ferry packages. The train stops at Phun Phin, outside the city, so allow time for the onward leg.
- Skip the city unless you have a gapSurat Thani is a working provincial city with a night market and a river, not a beach town. One night is plenty, and the islands and Khao Sok are the reasons to come.Prachuap Khiri Khan
Need to know
- Airport
- Surat Thani (URT), flights from Bangkok about 1 hr 15 min
- Getting there
- Overnight train or bus from Bangkok about 9–12 hr; flights are quicker
- Getting around
- Songthaews, taxis and ride-hailing; ferries from Don Sak and other piers
- Best base
- One night at most; the islands and Khao Sok are the draw
- Time needed
- A transit stop of 1 night
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain14 rainy daysHigh30°Low23°Drying outJanuaryRain
Good
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 140 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Drying out
- FebruaryPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh31°Low23°Dry, calmFebruaryPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 46 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, calm
- MarchPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh33°Low24°Hot, dryMarchPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 33°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 63 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, dry
- AprilRain19 rainy daysHigh33°Low25°Hot, dryAprilRain
Mixed
- High
- 33°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 182 mm
- Rainy days
- 19
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, dry
- MayRain26 rainy daysHigh32°Low25°Hot, showersMayRain
Poor
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 252 mm
- Rainy days
- 26
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, showers
- JuneRain22 rainy daysHigh31°Low25°ShowersJuneRain
Mixed
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 168 mm
- Rainy days
- 22
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Showers
- JulyRain23 rainy daysHigh31°Low25°ShowersJulyRain
Mixed
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 200 mm
- Rainy days
- 23
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Showers
- AugustRain25 rainy daysHigh31°Low24°ShowersAugustRain
Mixed
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 185 mm
- Rainy days
- 25
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Showers
- SeptemberRain24 rainy daysHigh30°Low24°WetterSeptemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 246 mm
- Rainy days
- 24
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wetter
- OctoberRain29 rainy daysHigh30°Low24°Wet, rough seaOctoberRain
Poor
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 361 mm
- Rainy days
- 29
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, rough sea
- NovemberRain26 rainy daysHigh29°Low24°WettestNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 376 mm
- Rainy days
- 26
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wettest
- DecemberRain21 rainy daysHigh29°Low23°Very wetDecemberRain
Good
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 196 mm
- Rainy days
- 21
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Very wet
Average daily high and low in Surat Thani, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Surat Thani
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
25
- Feels like
- 30°
- Humidity
- 94%
- Wind
- 4 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 100%
Surat Thani
03:38 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today30°24°100%Tuesday: Rain. High 30°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Wed30°24°100%Wednesday: Rain. High 30°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Thu31°24°92%Thursday: Thunderstorms. High 31°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 92%.
- Fri30°24°97%Friday: Rain. High 30°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 97%.
- Sat29°23°89%Saturday: Drizzle. High 29°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 89%.
- Sun29°23°89%Sunday: Thunderstorms. High 29°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 89%.
Updated 01:05 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 33.76 THB
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Khao Sok National Parkabout 1.5–2 hours by roadLake, limestone and jungle trails, best with an overnight.Read the guide
- Ko Samuiabout 1.5–2 hours with ferry transferThe largest Gulf island and the usual first stop.Read the guide
- Ang Thong Marine National Parkabout 2–3 hours by boat from SamuiIsland archipelago visited on organized boat tours.Read the guide
Before you go to Surat Thani
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Rules for Surat Thani, checked
- Many nationalities enter visa-free. Check your eligibility and the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) on the Immigration Bureau site before you fly.Source
- Thai drug laws are strict, and cannabis rules have changed. Check the current law with your foreign ministry before you travel.
- Dial 191 for police, 1669 for an ambulance or 199 for fire anywhere in Thailand. The Tourist Police line is 1155.
- Ask taxi and tuk-tuk drivers to use the meter, or agree a price before you get in.
Plan around Surat Thani
Entry rules, regions and costs
Read the guideKo Samui & the Lower GulfIslands and ferries off the lower Gulf coast
Read the guideKo Pha-NganBeach bays, moon parties and quiet coves
Read the guideKo TaoDiving and snorkeling about 2 hours by ferry
Read the guideKhao Sok National ParkRainforest and lake, west of the city
Read the guideAng Thong Marine ParkIsland day trips from Samui
Read the guideSurat Thani FAQ
Is Surat Thani worth visiting?
Not as a destination. It is a practical gateway to Ko Samui, Ko Pha-Ngan, Ko Tao and Khao Sok, with a night market and river. Most travelers stay one night or less.
How do you get from Surat Thani to Ko Samui?
By bus and ferry combined or by catamaran, usually 2–3 hours door to door, or by flight to Samui's own airport. Ferry piers sit east of the city, so check which one your ticket uses.
Is it better to fly or take the train to Surat Thani?
Fly if time matters, since it takes about an hour. The overnight train saves a hotel night and suits flexible travelers, but it is slow and the station is outside the city.
Can you visit Khao Sok from Surat Thani?
Yes, it is roughly 1.5–2 hours west by road. Many visitors stay at least one night inside or near the park rather than rushing back to catch a ferry.
What is the best time to visit the lower Gulf from Surat Thani?
February to April tends to be driest on the Gulf side, while October to December is wettest. Weather can disrupt ferries, so keep a spare day in your plan.