Chumphon Province in Thailand

Chumphon is not one of the famous tourist provinces of Thailand. The mass flow of tourists bypasses this area, heading to the traditional vacation spots - Phuket, Pattaya, the islands in the Gulf of Thailand.

Nevertheless, Chumphon has a lot to offer: sea, sand, sun and the opportunity to spend a little less than usual.

General information about Chumcheon Province

The area of interest geographically belongs to the central part of the country and is located in the narrowest part of Malacca, or the Malacca Peninsula, at the point where central Thailand transitions to southern Thailand.

The province is an important transportation artery of the country:

• The southern railroad passes through here;
• The province is crossed by a highway (No. 4, 41) linking the central regions with the south;
• The piers of Chumphon provide a water service to the islands that are part of Surat Thani.
• In addition, there is an airport 30 kilometers from the provincial capital, Chumphon.

Despite the fact that the tourism industry in this area is underdeveloped, you can not ignore its benefits to holidaymakers:

• central location, making it easier to visit both Bangkok and the southern areas;
• the absence of a large number of tourists;
• The possibility of a quiet holiday, without the hustle and bustle.

Chumphon is not usually visited by package tours, and the majority of tourists are travellers on their own.

Beaches

The coastline is long, but more or less civilized beaches with at least minimal tourist infrastructure only 2:

1. Thung Wua Laen;
2. Sai Ree (or Sai Ri).

The first is more developed in terms of tourism, located north of the city (13 km); the second is to the south (20 km).

The main characteristics of beaches:

• a wide strip of fine sand;
• The sea is deep enough to swim;
• Once a day there is a low tide, but the water does not go very far, so it is not a problem;
• The sea is open (not a bay), so there may be waves, not huge, but not for children;
• Sun loungers and umbrellas only at the hotels.

What you can do on the beaches of Chumphon other than sunbathe and swim:

• kiting (in windy weather);
• snorkeling (off the coast or nearby islands);
• kayaking;
• walks along the endless shore.

There are massage parlors on the beaches, which are a great addition to a serene holiday.

Hotels

Chumphon is characterized by the low population density of the province, as well as the distance of the main city from the coast. Hotels, on the contrary, are located on the above-mentioned beaches. Shuttle buses run between the city and the hotel area during the day. The trip takes 15-20 minutes and costs 30 baht one way.

There are not many vacationers in Chumphon, so there is always available accommodation and, importantly, the cost per day, including breakfast, is from $10 for an air-conditioned room with facilities for two.

Most of the hotels are located on Thung Wua Laen and a few can be found on Sai Ree.

Cafes, restaurants, bars

There are plenty of places to eat on both beaches. The food is for all tastes. Good reviews from visitors are given to such places as:

• Pirates Terrace;
• The Curry Shack;
• Take a Seat;
• Mali Blue's.

They cook tasty and fast enough. The menu includes both European and Thai dishes. Seafood predominates, but you can also order a steak burger.

Attractions

Even though Chumphon is not a touristy province, there are many things to see and do here.

National Parks

You can go on a tour of Mu Ko Chumphon National Park, located on the coast. There are separate tours to the islands in the national park for snorkelers.

Another forested area, Khao Phang Forest Park, is located next to Route 4, a few kilometers from the city. Here you can walk on your own, although there are no special attractions in the park.

Museum

The city has a museum, which we usually refer to the category of local history museums. There are various cultural and historical artifacts, illustrating the development of the region, the life of the people.

The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday from 9:00 to 16:00. Admission is 100 baht. Located on the outskirts of town on Aphakorn Rd.

Hot Springs

Located 100 km from the city, on the border with Surat Thani. They are recommended for people with skin diseases, joint diseases, and anyone who appreciates natural spa treatments. The temperature of the springs is about 50 degrees Celsius.

There is no public transportation to the springs. Therefore, the best way to get here is by car.

Use of the pool is 10 baht. Hours of operation: 8:30-18:30.

Religious sites

As in other provinces, Chumphon has a large number of temples.

Among them are the most famous:

• Wat Chao Fa Sala Loi (in the north of the city);
• Wat Pradoem Temple (southwest of the city);
• Wat Thep Charoen (north of the city);
• Wat Phra Thart Sawi (almost at the border with Surat Thani).

All temples are open during daylight hours. Admission is free.

Read more about temples in the kingdom: Monasteries, Sanctuaries, and Temples of Thailand

When is the best time to go?

The climate of Chumphon, although it retains monsoon periodicity, is less contrasting. The rainy season lasts from May to November, but the amount and intensity of rainfall exceeds that of the dry season by only 3-4 times.

Against the background of the southern resorts of Thailand, where this difference can be up to 10 times or more, Chumphon seems appropriate to visit all year round.

How to get there?

As noted above, there is both a road and a railroad through Chumphon.

• Train

Trains go from Bangkok to Butterworth, Malaysia, and back. In addition to these cities, you can also get to Chumphon by train from Kanchanaburi, Hua Hin, Surat Thani, Trang and Hat Yai. Travel time between Bangkok and Chumphon is 6-8 hours depending on the speed class of the train. The trip from Surat Thani to Chumphon takes 2-3 hours.

• Motor Vehicles

Many tourists prefer to travel by bus. So, from Bangkok's southern bus station Sai Tai Mai (Borommaratchonnani Road) buses to the south depart hourly and even more often. The travel time is 6 hours.

Bus service is the only option for those who need to get to Chumphon from, for example, Ranong, Krabi, Phangnga or Phuket.

There are usually mini-buses to these destinations. The trip to Ranong takes two hours and costs 100 baht.

If you are traveling by car, it is easy to get to Chumphon. The main Malacca Peninsula highway leading to Surat Thani, No. 4, runs through the province as well as No. 41 leading to Ranong, Phang-nga, and Krabi.

• Plane

You should not forget about such a quick and convenient transport as a plane. There are two daily flights from Bangkok to Chumphon (Nok Air, from Don Muang), one in the morning and one in the evening. The flight time is 1 hour or a little longer.