The province and port city of Chumphon, considered the "Gateway
to the south" are located on the Gulf some 500 kilometer south of
Bangkok.
To the east and south are basin areas having fruit orchards, plantations
and rice fields, as well as forested areas and some small mining
operations. It borders on Prachaup Khirikhan to the north, Burma
and Ranong to the west, Surat Thani to
the south and the 222 km coastline of the Gulf of Thailand to the
east.
Nature
The forest is in the North, no one ever told you? Yes! There is
forest in the North, but in the South it is better. Primary Tropical
Rain Forest in Thailand you can find only in the South, mostly
in Chumphon, Ranong (that will be one of
the next 'new destinations') and Surat Thani. Just a few kilometers
from the beach and you are in the jungle.
Real jungle. The one you have to cut your way trough with a machete.
You can go by yourself or take a tour. One day trip by yourself
or a 2-3 days trekking. No hill tribes, mind you! Just Nature.
What can you expect in Chumpon?
An assortment of beaches, islands, caves, waterfalls, temples and
various other attractions really worth a one day trip (sometimes
even a 2 days trip). Much to do, much to see in Chumpon province.
And of course, Chumpon is the province where you can find Phato,
the city where Runs 'N Roses
is located. If you want to know more
about Chumpon, on this page you can find information on:
Chumpon city
There are many reasons to go to Chumphon. Actually a lot of people
are going there or better 'passing there' for a few hours, because
the town is the main departure point to go to Koh Tao, one of the
holy destinations of many tourists.
Coastline and nature
Along its coastline, there are many beautiful beaches
and bays as well as some offshore islands
where visitors may enjoy diving and fishing.
Chumphon also abounds in fruit plantations and thick forests where
a number of waterfalls and caves are hidden
Being the first southern province to be reached from every other
part of the country, Chumphon is regarded as a gateway through which
southbound visitors will have to pass before continuing on their
routes to the western or eastern coasts.
Beaches
Would you believe that in Chumphon there are some of the most beautiful
beaches in Thailand? The beaches in Chumpon have crystal clear water,
white sands, palms, everything. The only problem is that they are
very quiet..... Apart from Thung Wua Len beach North of the town,
where you can find a few resorts and restaurants, for the rest is
zero services.
If you follow the coastal road near the airport in Pathiu there
are so many small bays and deserted beaches that you would have
enough room for most of the tourists present in Thailand at any
given time. So, no resorts, bungalows or restaurants (let alone
bars and discos!). On many beaches not even a house to be seen.
Islands:
We all like islands, is it? Everyone is going in Phuket, Samui,
Koh Tao, Phi Phi. Well, just off the cost of the province there
is a whole archipelago. Almost 50 islands (some of them are nothing
more than rocks, really, but anyway...) Most of the Islands of the
Chumphon Archipelago are now part of a national park.
The forestry department is taking good care of them and you can
go and even stay there is small (very basic) bungalows in the island
Koh Mattra.
In another island, Koh Samet, they opened a small resort with nicer
bungalows. Not so many corals near Koh Samet, but the place is very,
very nice. Other Islands, like the Bird Nest Island, Koh Chorake
etc. are also very nice. Here is a list of some nice islands you
can visit:
Geographic
Chumphon is not only famed for its great seafood, but also known
as a province of fruit plantations and there are many various marvelous
attractions like beaches, islands, forests and caves. Chumphon covers
a total area of 6,009 square kilometers. Geographically, its landscape
is alternate plains and mountains.
Coconut, rambutan, durian, mangosteen, banana, and pineapple are
some varieties of fruits densely grown on eastern plains.
Chumphon is administratively divided into 6 Amphoes and 2 King
Amphoes which are Amphoe Muang, Amphoe Lamae, Amphoe Lang Suan,
Amphoe Pathiu, Amphoe Sawi, Amphoe Tha Sae, King
Amphoe Phato and King Amphoe Thung Tako
Festivals in Chumpon
Chumphon's Marine Festival
The festival takes place in the middle of March or April every year
to promote tourism in Chumphon. Activities include an angling competition,
photo contest, tourism exhibition and mini-marathon.
Lang Suan Fruit Festival
This is held around August. Its main objective is to promote the
agricultural produce of Amphoe Lang Suan especially a variety of
fruits including durian, mangosteen and rambutan. Major activities
are processions of floats decorated with local fruits and flowers,
fruits contests and an agricultural exhibition
National parks and tourist attractions in Chumpon
Temples
Being in Thailand, means seeing temples. Also in the province of
Chumpon you will find some. Here is a list of temples worth visiting:
Caves
Around Chumphon there are more than 30 caves, large or small. The
most famous of them, Rap Ro cave, is hardly worth more than a short
trip. The largest (and best) cave is Pissadarn Cave, 30 km north
of the town near Kapo Waterfall. There are there huge rooms and
very large formations of stalactites and stalagmites in very good
condition. Into the main room there are thousands of bats, high
on the ceiling.
Another cave worth visiting, if you are a bit adventurous, is in
Pathiu, just out of town and it is called Tham Nam Lot. It is a
800 meters long tunnel under a mountain full of water. It is possible
to cross the cave from a side to the other as the water is never
more than a meter and a half in the deeper point. If you want to
know more abut the caves in the area, just click on the name of
one of the caves mentioned below.
Tham Khao Khun Krathing
Tham Khao Ngao
Tham Khao Kriap
Jungle and Mountains
If you want to go around by yourself by motorbike you can try to
go to Khao Talu. Take the main road to Surat Thani for about 45
km and turn right at a village called Khao Pip (you will see a sign
to Khao Talu). Khao Talu means mountain with a hole and you will
be able to see it from far away.
The area is very nice, with fruit and coffee plantations, tall limestone
outcrops and jungle. Here too there is a Tham Nam Lot, a cave filled
with water, but it would not be wise to enter it without a good
guide. The forest is very thick with tall trees and there are still
a number of wild animals.
If you want to go up a mountain, try Phu
Khao Ya .
Waterfalls
Kapo waterfall is nice, especially in the rainy season or immediately
after, but hardly a big waterfall. With some courage and a motorbike
you can try to reach one of the large waterfalls South of Chumphon,
going down the main highway in direction Surat you will have to
turn right after 52 km ca. when you see a police box. From there
is about 20 km more to the Tap Chan Waterfall with its five steps.
Going on on the same road for about 3 km there is another waterfall
in the jungle about 40 meters high, but with less water and less
spectacular.
If you go there it is a nice day trip, even if you don't find all
the waterfalls.
Many tour offices and almost all the guesthouses offer tours of
some kind. They are normally day tours around the town and to those
attractions easily reached near the town itself. Here is a list
of waterfalls in Chumpon province:
Temples
Wat Hat Som Paen
7 kilometer along Route No. 4005, this temple is located by the
Hat Som Paen Canal, which is full of fish.
Waterfalls
Nam Tok Punyaban
This roadside waterfall is some 15 kilometer before Ranong township
on the Kra Buri - Ranong route. The water cascades from high cliff
and makes a refreshing rest stop for motorists touring in the South.
Nam Tok Ngao
This pristine waterfall in the Khlong Pharo National Park is located
12 kilometer south of the town. The whole stream cascades from a
high mountain top and can be seen from a distance. The jungle area
around the falls is home to Pu Chao Fa, a rare species of freshwater
crab.
Nam Tok Kapo Forest Park
The park is located in the area of Amphoe Tha Sae, 30 kilometer
north of Chumphon town along Highway No. 4. It has a pleasant atmosphere
of cool forest suitable for relaxation with a small waterfall.
Nam Tok Haew Lome
This huge waterfall in the area of Amphoe Phato is situated 16 kilometer
from the district along the Phato-Ratchakrut route (Route No. 4006),
then turn left and continue for another 6 kilometer The waterfall
consists of two levels. The stream flows into a rocky pool before
winding through Amphoe Phato to the Lang
Suan River. Rafting along the stream to Kaeng Bok Fai (rapids) is
possible only from November to February.
Beaches
Hat Sai RI
This famous and scenic beach of Chumphon, located 15 kilometer southeast
of the township, can be reached via Route Nos. 4119 and 4098. To
the north of the beach, there is the memorial site of H.R.H. Prince
Chumphon, Father of the Royal Thai Navy, extremely revered by all
seamen. The compound houses a shrine, a huge torpedo boat named
the Royal Chumphon and a herbal garden.
En route to Hat Sai RI, there is a small road parallel to some
palm-fringed beaches such as Hat Pharadonphap and Hat
PHA Daeng where some seafood restaurants are situated.
Hat Arunothai
This 6 km long, palm-fringed beach in Amphoe Thung Tako is situated
60 kilometer from Chumphon along Highway No.4. On the beach; there
is the Shrine of H.R.H. Prince Chumphon; the Father of the Royal
Thai Navy and a resort where visitors can hire a boat to explore
some islands such as Koh Khram and Koh Raobanthat.
Hat Chan Damri
Situated near Km. 8 on Route No. 4004 (Ranong - Pak Nam route) this
small beach stretches to the mouth of the Kra Buri River where visitors
may take a boat to travel up the river to Amphoe Kra Buri. Accommodation
on the beach is available.
Islands
Koh Maphrao
This is a small island full of swallows' nests located 1 km. from
Hat Sai RI and can be clearly seen from the shore. AO Thung Makham
This scenic bay looks like a line of 2 semicircles and is full of
coconut plantations. It is located 6 kilometer beyond Hat Sai RI
Koh Tao
is a remote island famous for beautiful scenery and coral reefs,
and can be reached from Chumphon within 6 hours by normal boat or
2 and a half hours by speedboat. In addition, there are some offshore
islands, which can be visited by fishing boat.
These include: Koh Samet
This has the same name as the famous island in Rayong. It is a small
island which can be reached within 30 minutes from the Chumphon
Estuary.
Koh Mattra
This is a large island with a sandy beach. Spectacular rocks are
seen in the west and south of the island. There is a coral reef
on the west coast, and rare crabs called Pu Kai, which can climb
up trees and cry like a chick, can be seen here. Small bungalows
are available.
Koh Thalu
A picturesque stone island measuring 100 meters long has two large
holes through which one can swim from one side to the other. Nearby
areas are full of coral and varieties of marine flowers.
Other coral islands include Koh Rat, located to the south
of Chumphon, and Koh Thonglang.
AO Thung Wua Laen
Known as the most beautiful beach of Chumphon, Hat Thung Wau
Laen is a long and sandy beach with a slight slope ideal for swimming.
It is situated 16 kilometer north of the town. A comfortable hotel
and bungalows, as well as diving facilities are available.
Visitors may take a boat from the beach to explore some offshore
islands including: Koh Chorakhe
This small island with a stony beach and a coral reef is located
11 kilometer from AO Thung Wua Lan.
Koh Ngam Noi and Koh Ngam Yai
The surrounding areas of two adjacent stone islands are suitable
for diving. These are also the islands of swallows' nests, situated
17 kilometer From the shore.
Caves
Tham Khao Khun Krathing
This cave is located 12 kilometer south of Chumphon along the road
to Amphoe Lang Suan (Highway No. 41). Prehistoric paintings of geometrical
sings are found on the cliff near the mouth of the cave, 25 meters
above the ground.
Tham Khao Ngao
This cave is located by a stream in the same area as Somdet Phra
Srinakarin Park, 7 kilometer west of Amphoe Lang Suan. The inside
of the cave looks like a large hall and houses the inscription of
King Rama V's initials.
Tham Khao Kriap
one of the most beautiful caves; located 85 kilometer south of Chumphon
along Highway No 4 and 6 kilometer along an access road The cave
is full of stalactites and stalagmites A temple is situated at the
Khao Kriap Hill from which 370 steps lead to the mouth of the cave.
Mountains
Phu Khao Ya
A vast hilly grassland, which offers refreshing scenery during
the rainy season, is located 12 kilometer south of Ranong town.
This naturally bald area is distinct to the surroundings which are
covered by thick forest.
Transport to Chumphon
By bus from Bangkok:
Non Air-conditioned buses leave Southern Bus Terminal daily at 03.30,
04.00, 06.05 and 06.50 o'clock. .
Air-conditioned buses leave from Southern Bus terminal daily at
14.00, 21.40, and 22.00 o'clock.
Duration is 6 hours.
By train from Bangkok Railway Station (Hualumphong):
There are both Express and Rapid Trains to Chumphon about 10 times
daily. The time taken is about 7-8 hours.
When to go there
The best time is from January to May, March and April can be very
hot.
June, July, August and September are the 'rainy season', but it
is very rare to find full days of rain like on the West coast. It
is more likely to be a couple of hours rain every day.
October, November and December are normally sunny but windy. That's
the winds season. It is not pleasant to take a boat for a long trip,
but nice to be on the beach.
How to get there
Chumphon is in the middle of everything and it is very easy to
get there and away from there. Chumphon can be also used as a base
from where to move to the other southern destinations.
All the busses from Bangkok to any destination on the South will
stop in Chumphon, if not in the town, in the second bus station
on the main highway (10 km from town). From there a rot mai service
can take you to town with 30 Baht (more expensive during the night
if you are alone). The other way round is also true: every bus from
the South will stop in Chumphon on its way to Bangkok. From the
Southern Bus Station in Bangkok (Sai Tai) a company called Choke
Anand Tours, provides a very comfortable air conditioned bus service
which takes about 6 hours.
By rail you can go on the early morning train from the Thonburi
Station in Bangkok which takes about 10 hours (3rd class only),
or one of the faster night trains with second class and sleepers,
a bit more expensive but more comfortable. The only problem is that
you arrive in the middle of the night. The most comfortable train
is called the Sprinter and leaves Bangkok around 22.30 to be in
Chumphon around 5.
How to go around
In town you can walk around easily. If you want to go to the beaches
there is a cheap 'rot mai' service from behind the market (to Thung
Wa Len Beach) and in front of the Municipality (to Sairee Beach).
To go around in your own you can rent a motorbike. A good service
is offered by the Yamaha dealer near the Morakot hotel or you can
rent one from your guest house or from a shop near the main bus
station in town.
If you are in a group you can rent a minibus from Ekawin Tours or
Kiat Travel.
|
