1 Pair of Jeans | USD 52.55 |
Apartment (1 bedroom) in city centre | USD 381.25 |
Internet (6 Mbps, unlimited data) | USD 21.84 |
Apartment (1 bedroom) outside of centre | USD 309.12 |
Local draught beer | USD 2.01 |
Milk (1 liter) | USD 1.38 |
Coke bottle | USD 0.43 |
Water bottle (0.33 liter) | USD 0.33 |
Chicken breasts at the market | USD 2.78 |
1 Pair of Nike shoes | USD 63.37 |
Ko Samui is a wonderful island, a must-see destination in every backpacker’s itinerary. If you want to save on travelling to Ko Samui, you can first drop by Surat Thani and ride by ferry towards the island. Surat Thani is not only the gateway to islands like Ko Samui and Ko Pha Ngan, but is also a breathtaking natural destination in Southern Thailand. In fact, nature lovers would love the trip in Surat Thani’s Khao Sok National Park.
A tight budget never deters any nature lover to places like Surat Thani. In fact, airline companies offer cheap flights to Surat Thani most especially during the off-peak seasons. Airline companies like Thai Airways and Air Asia may have some local destination promos, so you would save more if you’d travel to Surat Thani after a previous destination in Thailand. However, you need to book cheap flights to Surat Thani before other tourists book theirs.
Khao Sok National Park is a tourist gem in Surat Thani. This spot alone suffices a nature lover’s idea of a vacation. This is a government-maintained park where one can explore diverse wildlife, including animals like the elephant, black panthers, boars, etc. Khao Sok is also home to the biggest discovered flower, the Rafflesia. Photos of such diverse flora and fauna, together with the majestic sceneries like the 11-tier Sip Et Chan Waterfalls, Diamond Cave, etc., make a picturesque nature album.
Primary activities in Khao Sok include wild water rafting, waterfall trekking, camping and cave exploration. Experience nature’s wild side with wild water rafting and lead your canoe to the end line before you fall into the deep falls. You must also explore the caves with peculiar rock formations carved by time and erosion. If you want to camp, you must coordinate ahead with their admin office before going to the site.
There is a bunch of hotels in Surat Thani that you can choose from. You can choose from budget hotels to mid-range and even classy hotels, if you have the extra money for it. There may be classy hotels, but the amenities and services in them are top of the line and cozy even for foreign travelers. Remember to pick hotels that look safe and are in a well-guarded area so as not to compromise your safety and that of your belongings.