Thailand Guides - Chumphon

Situated 463 kilometres south of Bangkok, Chumphon is considered the gateway to southern Thailand. The city is accessibly by road and railways. Often overlooked by tourists, it has indeed a variety of natural attributes ranging from high mountain ranges, mangrove forests, offshore islands and fertile coral reefs.

Overview

With a coastline spanning over 200 kilometres, Chumphon has many serene beaches and offshore islands that are good diving spots. The lack of luxury resorts is an indication that Chumphon's natural attractions are still in pristine condition. Besides sea, sand and sun, it has an evergreen forest that offers an opportunity for trekking or rafting. For backpackers and divers, the city has an easy access to Koh Tao - the most popular diving spot in the Gulf of Thailand.

Attractions

Lying in Pa Tiew District is Thung Wua Laen Beach, Chumphon's most popular beach. This long and wide sandy beach is ideal for swimming or just relaxation. The beach is pristine and generally peaceful. There are several seafood restaurants scattering along the Beach. Resorts, guesthouses, grocery shops, motorcycle rent and dive shops are also available. From here, travellers can charter a boat to Koh Ngam Yai, Koh Ngam Noi and surrounding islets for a diving trip. These small rocky limestone islands are teeming with a variety of hard coral reefs and colourful fish. It offers a good spot for whale shark sighting.

Koh Chorakhe can be seen in the distance from Thung Wua Laen beach. Koh Chorakhe, which means Crocodile Island in Thai, is rocky with steep cliffs and is uninhabited. It is about 11 km from the shore. There are coral reefs, sea flowers and colorful fish around the island, suitable for scuba diving and snorkeling.

Sairee Beach is approximately 20 kilometres from Chumphon town. The sandy beach is 3 kilometres long and flanked with coconut trees. In addition to swimming, you can hire a long tail boat for a day trip to nearby islands such as Koh Raed, Koh Ma Prao and Koh Mat Ta. Small local resorts offer accommodations at budget price.