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Suratthani Central.

This is the most important transport hub in the S Islands. From here you can travel to many beach resorts - Koh Samui, Koh Phanghan, Koh Tao to the East & - Krabi, Koh Phi Phi, Phuket & Koh Lanta, to the West. Travelers usually just pass through Surat Thani. But the night market has a local atmosphere, you can sit at the stalls and enjoy the delicious food and watch the harbor-side activities for entertainment.

Access:

By trains from BKK, Hat Yai/Malaysia. Many minibuses/buses from Hat Yai, Krabi or Phuket.

Orientation for Suratthani:

Main road running NE to SW. Donsok harbor is E connected by buses. The long distant bus station, the train station and the airport are SW from the town connected by songthaws/buses The center is around the post office on the main road. Many budget hotels, restaurants are in the area N from the PO. Town Bus station, just NE from the post office, serves to the towns near Suratthani. the night boats are leaving from the river just N from the post office.

Arriving:

Airport:
SW from the town, connected by bus to the town with the flight schedule. The buses pass through the train station, the long distant bus station and the center of town.

Train station:
SW from the town. Many night trains arrive here in early morning. A bus will take you to harbor via the Suratthani town for Koh Samui and Phanghan. Until the bus leaves, you just wait at cafes in front of the train station. After the bus leaves, songthaws are connecting to bus stations and the center of town.

Long distance bus station :
SW of the town, between the train station and the center of town. You can go either by songthaw.
Bus station in town: Just NE from the center of town. buses originating from S of Thailand, such as Krabi or Phuket, usually arrive here.Walk out to the main road and turn left. You will find a few travel agents which take you to islands.If you want to take a night boat to an island, continue walking to SW and turn right at the post office, and walk to the river.

Bus from the Donsok harbor:
Most of buses connecting ferries from Koh Samui/Phanghan take you to a office 1-2km NE from the center of town. You may take a songthaw to the center. If you prefer to walk, as you come out from the office, turn left and walk straight.

Getting Around

Motorcycle taxis are easily the fastest and most dangerous mode of public transport in Surat Thani. Unless you know the correct fare, it is a good idea to agree on a fare beforehand. Always wear a helmet, but there is a good chance your driver will not have a spare.

Taking a songthaew (10B within the Muang district) is a safer means of transportation. They are small, blue and everywhere.

Bus:

There are three bus stations in Surat. Expect to pay 50B - 100B more when buying a ticket from a travel agent. Pay the local price if possible and buy the ticket on the bus or mini bus.

Talaat Kaset 1:
This is the bus station for local travel around Surat Thani province. It is located across the street from Talaat Kaset 2.
Take the local orange bus (marked train station in English) to the new bus station and the train station (12 THB).

Talaat Kaset 2:
This is the bus station and mini bus station for longer trips. It is located across the street from Talaat Kaset 1. Sample fares include:

Surat Thani to Krabi:
AC bus (3 hr): 140 THB - leaves hourly from 06:00 until 17:00
Mini bus (2.5 hr): 150 THB - leaves hourly from 08:00 until 16:00

Surat Thani to Phuket:
AC bus (6 hr): 120 THB - 06:00, 08:00, 09:00, 11:00, 12:00, 15:00
Mini bus(4 hr): 180 THB - leaves hourly from 08:00 until 18:00

Surat Thani to Hat Yai:
AC bus (6+ hr): 200 THB - 06:00, 09:00, 11:00, 13:00, 17:00
Mini bus: (4 hr): 150 THB - leaves hourly from 06:30 until 17:30

New Station:
Located en route to the train station, this is the place to catch an air-con bus to Bangkok. Take the local bus from Talaat Kaset 1 to the train station and tell the driver to stop at the new bus station.

Surat Thani to Bangkok: (11-14 hr)
VIP 24 seats: 640 THB - all day and overnight
A/C 38 seats: 488 THB - all day and overnight

From : http://www.travelfish.org


i	Tourist Office TAT: 5 Talaat Mai Rd.(main road) 15 min walk SW from the post office, 20-30 min. walk from Talaat Kaset Market. T288817-9, tatsurat@tat.or.th. 8:30-16:30 transport: by tuk-tuk 10B, local bus 5B, from town. Has good free map.
$	Banks/Exchange: Many banks around Namuang Rd + Chonkasem Rd..all open M-F 8:30-15:30 ATM is available.
P1	Tourist Police at TAT S end of Talat Mai Rd. T 273217 24 hr
I	Immigration: City Hall Donnok Rd. S of town.
H2	Taksin Hospital.: Talat Mai Rd. N from bus station, SW from TAT T077-273239
Hp	Pharmacy Many in town
M0	Post Office: Next to communication tower on Talaat Mai Rd.near Chon Kasem Rd. M-F 8:3016:30, Sa9:00-12:00, Su7-12:00 Poste Restante, Telephone office is upstairs.
M	Post Ofice: Na Muang Rd. + Chonkasem Rd. M-F 8:30-16:30, Sa9:00-12:00, Su7-12:00 CADNET
M1	Telephone Office: Telecom Center Donnok Rd. S of town 8:00-24:00 International Calls, HCD service.

Local Transport

Songthaew Runs along set routes - 8B for most destinations in town. Local bus-9B

Travel Agents

Transport

A	Airport: SW from town, Bus from Siam Thani Hotel, opp from Suratthani Hospital on the way to the train station/bus terminal. dep 10:00, 17:00
TG	Thai Airways: Karunrat Rd?.T077-441136-7
T	Train Station Phun Phin, 13 km SW from town. Bus to town 9B. 6:00-18:00 Train tickets can be booked at travel agents.
B1	Bus Station New bus terminal SW from Town. Take same bus as to train station- 9B
B2	Town bus station I & II, NE from the post office, S side. Also some buses leave from N side of the road.
B3	Many private bus companies still operating around, both old bus stations near Talaat Kaset Market. Some tourist buses leave from various points in town. See transport page
F1-3	Pier: Bandon Rd. in the center of Suratthani. Nights boats leave from here to Koh Samui/Phangan/Tao at 23:00. Night market is held here.
F4	Donsak: 1.5 hrs E from town by bus. Buses leave from Suratthani train station in early morning. After this, there are many buses. Buy a ticket at one of the travel agents in town.

Shopping

s	Pacific Plazxa: A big shopping center in town.
m2	Fruit & Veg market: Namuang Rd.
m3	Night market: Along river front. Excellent food stalls. Also sells fruit.
m4	Sanjao Market: opposite the Sahathai Department store.
La	Laundry: Around Town bus station II, S side, off from Talat Mai Rd. No one speaks English.

Festivals

August: Rambutan fair Float parade, coconut picking demonstrations by trained monkeys.

October: Chak Phra Celebration of Buddha's return to earth. Boat races are held.

From : http://www.itisnet.com

Boat:

Surat Thani has four main piers, Bandon (in Surat Thani town), Donsak, Tatong and Khanom. While Khanom Pier is operating, both Donsak and Tatong are far more convenient. Avoid using Khanom if possible. The night boat leaves from Bandon Pier as stated below.

Bandon pier
Bandon Pier is located on Ban Don Rd next to the Ta Pi river in downtown Surat Thani.

The overnight boat to koh Tao leaves nightly at 23:00 and arrives from Ko Tao at 07:00 (500B each way).

Donsak Pier
Located 1.5 hours to the east of Surat Thani, Donsak is used by several ferries departing to Ko Samui and Ko Pha-Ngan. It's around an hour and a half bus ride from Surat Thani to Donsak Pier. Take the bus to Donsak Pier from the Raja Ferry office or the Seatran Ferry office in Surat Thani. The bus ride is included in the price of the boat ticket.

Raja Ferry -- Tel (077) 47 1151-3, Fax (077) 47 1154.
Raja Ferry provides bus and boat service from Surat Thani to Koh Samui and Koh Pha Ngan.

Tatong Pier
Tatong pier is the departure point for the express boat, and is 8km outside of Surat. Take a local orange bus from Talaat Kaset 1 to Tatong Pier in Paknam Tatong.

Songserm Travel Tel: (077) 28 5125, use Tatong pier.

The express boat from Surat Thani to Samui (200B), Pha-Ngan (250B), and Tao (500B) l eaves daily at 08:00 from Tatong Pier.