South Thailand / Chumphon
Chumphon, some 460km (288mi) south of Bangkok (about a 7-hour drive), is the capital of the province by the same name. Chumphon Province covers an area of some 6,009sqkm (2,319sqmi) and is divided into six districts and two sub-districts. The province is rich in natural resources.
Accommodation
Charoen Phong; 130/3-4 Saladaeng Rd, Tel 51-1143
11 rooms, sgl/dbl 80-120 (f)
Chumphon; 176/1-2 Saladaeng Rd, Tel 51-1776
30 rooms, sgl/dbl 80-160 (f, ac)
Nam Tai Hotel; 130/5 Saladaeng Rd
Tel 51-1412, 51-1808
37 rooms, sgl/dbl 100-160 (f, ac)
Nang Nam A; 196/5-6 Saladaeng Rd, Tel 51-1788
18 rooms, sgl/dbl 80-120 (f)
Pharadon Inn; 180/12 Pharadon Rd
Tel 51-1500, 51-1598
106 rooms, sgl/dbl 466-1,420 (ac)
Saen Suk; 183-5 Tambon Tha Taphao
12 rooms, sgl/dbl 60-120 (f)
Saeng Fa; 77-79 Saladaeng Rd, Tel 51-1166
11 rooms, sgl/dbl 80-120 (f)
Si Chumphon; 127/224 Saladaeng Rd
Tel 51-1379, 51-1280
95 rooms, sgl/dbl 120-280 (f, ac)
Si Tai Fa; 73-4 Saladaeng Rd, Tel 51-1063
19 rooms, sgl/dbl 80 to 160 (f)
Siriphet; 378/2 Tambon Pak Nam, Tel 52-1304
(near the Chumphon River estuary)
18 rooms, sgl/dbl 60-100 (f)
Suriwong; 125/27-9 Saladaeng Rd
Tel 51-1397, 51-1203
78 rooms, sgl/dbl 120-240 (f, ac)
Suriya; 125/24-5 Saladaeng Rd, Tel 51-1144
28 rooms, sgl/dbl 80-200 (f, ac)
Tha Taphao; 66/1 Tha Taphao Rd
Tel 51-1479, 51-1953
55 rooms, sgl/dbl 145-280 (f, ac)
Thai Prasert; 202-4 Saladaeng Rd, Tel 51-1250
47 rooms, sgl/dbl 100-200 (f, ac)
Thawat; 67 Mu 12, Tambon Khan Ngoen
70 rooms, sgl/dbl 100-200 (f, ac)
Wang Thong Guest House; 50 Mu 3, Tambon Wang Phai, Tel 51-1896; 10 rooms, sgl/dbl 80-160 (f)
Miscellaneous
Railway Station
Trirat Road (Tel 51-1103)
Bus Terminal
Tha Taphao Road (Tel 51-1094)
Local buses
Post & Telegraph Office
Paraminthara Mankha Road, Tel 51-1013
Chumphon Tourist Service Center
Tel 51-1551
Chumphon Tourist Business Center
Pracha Uthit Road, Tel 51-1606
Police Station
Trirat Road, Tel 51-1300, 191
General Hospital
Phisit Phayaban Road, Tel 51-1180
Banks
Bangkok Bank
111/1-2 Saladaeng Road, Tel 51-1446
Bangkok Bank of Commerce
38-40 Paraminthara Mankha Road
Tel 51-1178
Krung Thai Bank
200-2 Paraminthara Mankha Road
Tel 51-1050
Bank of Ayutthaya
91 Saladaeng Road, Tel 51-1459
Thai Farmers Bank
134 Saladaeng Road, Tel 51-1380
Thai Military Bank
80-1 Pracha Uthit Road, Tel 51-1890
Places of Interest
Rab Ro Cave
The cave houses an old Buddha image and has beautiful stalactites. Approximately 23km (14mi) before entering Chumphon on Highway 4, coming from the north, one makes a right turn which leads to the Tha Sae. Rab Ro Cave is roughly 15km (9mi) further west.
Nam Tok Ka Pho Forest Park
The park has a scenic waterfall with ponds and reservoirs for bathing or just splashing around. Myriad shrubs and trees offer both cool shade and specimens for botanical study. The park is about 30km (19mi) from the town of Chumphon in Tambon Salui and covers some 11sqkm (4sqmi).
Ao Thap
Ao Thap (Thap Bay) is where the Japanese entered Thailand during WW II. The bay has a small fishing village
Thung Yo Waterfall
Although comparatively small in size, the fall some 9km (6mi) from the District Office is nevertheless beautiful. Hat Pharadonphap
Hat Pharadonphap (Pharadonphap Beach), about 4km (3mi) from Pak Nam Chumphon (the estuary of the Chumphon River), stretches some 3km (2mi) parallel to the road. Lined with shady coconut trees, the beach has a number of seafood restaurants and stalls, as well as reasonable accommodation.
Phornsawan Home
110 Mu 4, Pharadonphap Beach
Tel 52-1031, 52-1051
58 rooms, 17 town houses
sgl/dbl 550-1,800
Bkk Resv Tel 427-1360, 427-1622
Hat Sai Ri
The white palm-fringed Hat Sai Ri (Sai Ri Beach), approximately 4km (3mi) from Pharadonphap Beach, hosts the shrine of Prince Chumphon, considered the Father of the Royal Thai Navy. The shrine at the foot of Hua Khao Chamuk Phrong (Chamuk Phrong Hill) is revered by all Thai mariners.
Suan Pha Daeng
102 Mu 1, Tambon Had Sai Ri
Tel 52-1143
7 rooms, sgl/dbl 200-240 (f, ac)
Ko Khai
From Laem Thaen (Cape Thaen) a boat can be hired to Ko Khai, an island some 5km (3mi) offshore.
Other Islands
From the Chumphon River estuary (Pak Nam Chumphon), around 11km (7mi) from the town of Chumphon on Highway 4001, one can rent a boat and go to various islands. Among them are Ko Samet (not to be confused with the famous Ko Samet off Rayong on the east coast), some 30 minutes from Pak Nam Chumphon; Ko Mattra, good for camping, fishing and skin-diving; Ko Mat Phon which has a lighthouse for fishing boats; Ko Sak, a stony island; Ko Ngam Yai, Ko Ngam Noi, and Ko Na Phrao where birds’ nests are collected between January and September; and many smaller islets.
Transportation
Bangkok - Chumphon
Trains for various Southern destinations, all stopping at Chumphon, depart from Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong Station at 12:35 (arr 19:57), 14:00 (arr 21:25), 15:15 (arr 22:42), 16:00 (arr 0:03), 17:30 (arr 1:34), 18:30 (arr 2:49), 19:20 (arr 3:27) and 21:55 (arr 4:28). Fares (excluding charges for rapid, express trains, aircon or sleeper) are 82 Baht for 3rd class, 172 Baht for 2nd class and 356 Baht for 1st class. The rail distance is 485km.
Buses from Bangkok’s Southern Bus Terminal on Pinklao - Nakhon Chaisi Road (in Thonburi); 499km, non-aircon 95 Baht, 3:30, 4:00, 6:05, 6:50; aircon 160 Baht, 9:10, 14:00, 20:20, 21:00, 21:40, 22:00; VIP 225, 21:40, 2nd cl 124, 21:00
Aircon buses, operated by Suwannathi Tour (Tel 412-2680), leave from Bangkok’s Southern Bus Terminal daily at 9:00, 14:00 and 22:00. Buses of Choknan Tour (Tel 412-3311, 412-4949, 281-2277) leave the same terminal at 9:10, 14:00 and 21:40. Fare is 160 Baht (one way). For 300 Baht one can travel by VIP coach.
Chumphon - Bangkok
Trains from various Southern destinations, all stopping at Chumphon, depart for Bangkok at 13:24 (arr 20:00), 20:47 (arr 5:10), 21:28 (arr 5:50), 21:59 (arr 6:10), 22:50 (arr 6:35), 23:42 (arr 7:05), 1:11 (arr 8:35) and 2:10 (arr 10:00).
In Chumphon, the Bus Terminal [9] is on Tha Taphao Road (Tel 51-1094).
The Railway Station [8] of Chumphon is on Trirat Road (Tel 51-1103).
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