"Would you like to go on a trip with me, Jaemjan?"

Today, we will take you on a trip to Surat Thani to cruise for love at the Ratchaprapha Dam, followed by a relaxing trip in Surat Thani city center.

Let's go!

Travel date: February 19-22, 2017.

There are a total of 2 members.

Phone number of Pa Nang Prai

093-6933621 Mr. Supachai Panangpai, please inquire with the officer on the raft.

Minibus number to the dam

Surat Thani - Takhun - Dam Minivan Schedule by Phanthip Company

Queue for taxis in Surat Thani: 077-287059

Queue for cars from the dam 087-2641493


Train to, plane back.

"I believe that true love must have a source, I believe that every love must have a cause."

The origin of this trip stems from a booking error we made on our flight tickets.

For the return trip, we managed to snag a promotional ticket from Air Asia for just over two hundred baht per person. As for the outbound trip, since we planned to travel on a Saturday or Sunday, we were only able to secure a return flight from Surat Thani to Bangkok on Tuesday, February 22, 2017. This meant booking our tickets a whole year in advance.

The flight ticket was booked on a Sunday, February 19th, through a flight search website. The ticket was purchased for a price of 800 baht per person. The purchase was made quickly and without hesitation, as the price was considered to be a good deal, especially given the proximity to the travel date.

"Honey, I've booked our flight tickets! We're finally going on our trip. Relax, everything is taken care of."

After three days, I checked the tickets I had booked and realized that the date was wrong. It was still Sunday, the 19th, but it was a different month.

"The airline didn't work out, so I told my girlfriend, 'Hey, why don't we try the sleeper train? We've never taken the train down south before.' She was okay with it, so we decided to go for it. To be safe, we didn't book online. Instead, we went to Bang Sue Station and bought tickets there. We got a sleeper train on train number 85. The top bunk was 714 baht, and the bottom bunk was 804 baht. We left Bang Sue Station at 5:55 PM."

The inaugural journey by train to the south commenced...

All train schedules to Surat Thani can be checked on the website.


Seven o'clock in the morning on Sunday.

"How far can we truly go if we never dare to follow our hearts?"

The train arrived at Surat Thani Railway Station at around seven o'clock, exactly as scheduled on the ticket.

After getting off the train, we walked to find a car to the agricultural market to catch a van to the dam. We asked a kind aunt at the train station. The aunt told us to walk to the front of the station to take an orange minibus, Surat Thani-Phun Pin, for 15 baht per person. The bus will end at the agricultural market 1. The journey takes about an hour.

The bus will stop at Kaset Market 1, while the van to the dam is located at Kaset Market 2 (according to the van driver). We didn't know how far apart they were, so we took the van with the driver. He charged us 15 baht each. After we agreed on the price, the driver drove the van around the back of Kaset Market 1, out the side of the market, across the street in front of Kaset Market 1, and then calmly parked at the van stop of Pantip Market. Wow, that's a blatant rip-off. We could have just walked across the street ourselves.

The van fare is 150 baht per person and will take you directly to the pier. The journey takes approximately one and a half hours. For the return trip, you need to book in advance. The driver will pick you up at the pier. (There is also a van service to the airport.)

Upon arrival at the pier, we contacted the pre-booked boat. The boat owner took us to pay the park entrance fee, which was 40 baht per person.

Embarkation complete. Prepare for departure.

(The boat fare to Panang Prai is 2,000 Thai baht per boat. This is the average price, with a price tag attached. Other rafts will be more expensive because they are further away.)

Warning: The following section will be a "show off" moment. It will be a rapid-fire posting of images. Get ready!

Embark on a romantic boat trip at Ratchaprapha Dam.


The atmosphere on the way to Pa Nang Prai


Our accommodation for tonight, Pa Nang Prai, is approximately a 45-minute drive away.

The accommodation fee is 900 baht per person, including three meals.

Lunch will begin at 12:30 p.m.

After lunch, we will relax and wait for the sun to set and the wind to die down before going swimming and boating.



Regarding Accommodation

Panangprai is a park accommodation, so don't expect it to be comfortable.

The accommodation does not have air conditioning or fans. There are only windows in the room. During the day, the weather is hot, but at night it is comfortably cool.

The bathroom is a shared facility, separated by gender.

The power will be turned off at 6:00 PM. There are no electrical outlets in the room. If you need to charge your devices, you will need to go to the common area. There are a limited number of outlets available, so it is recommended that you bring a power strip to share with others.

The only phone signal available is from 12call, which I believe may be powered by solar energy. However, when we visited, the signal was only available until 8pm and then became unavailable until the next morning. To be safe, it's best to contact your family beforehand.


After playing in the water until we were exhausted, we walked over to wait for our meal. We met the boat driver, who took us to watch the sunset. Wow, it was so beautiful that words can't describe it!




The sun rises, birds fly.

A Delicious Start to the Day

Waking up early, I got dressed and took a few photos to capture the atmosphere. By 7:30 AM, it was time for breakfast. The morning meal consisted of rice porridge and stir-fried noodles. (I must say, the stir-fried noodles were incredibly delicious!)

After finishing our meal, we prepared to pack up and depart. On the return trip, the boat took us to see Khao Sam Kler, also known as the "Guilin of Thailand." Many people had told us that our accommodation was located opposite Khao Sam Kler, but no matter how hard we looked, we couldn't see it. It wasn't until the boat got closer that we could clearly see it.

After enjoying the scenery, we returned to the pier. We had to call and book a van to pick us up at the dam.


Relax and enjoy yourself in Surat Thani.

Our accommodation in the city was at Cheaper Room, which we booked through Agoda for 320 baht. It was a bit far from the city center, but the price was okay. The van driver dropped us off at the city pillar shrine, where we transferred to a local pickup truck to get to our accommodation. The fare for the pickup truck was 40 baht per person (I thought to myself, "Uncle, you're not going to cheat me again, are you?"). After a long ride, we were relieved that our 40 baht was well spent.

Although our accommodation was far from the city center, there were motorbike rentals available for 150 baht per day. We decided to rent a motorbike instead of using the local pickup truck service, as we had been scammed on the first day.

It's time to chill in the city!

Our first stop was the city pillar shrine, where we paid our respects to seek blessings for a successful trip.

Followed by Ko Lamphu

Ko Lamphu is a public park located on an island in the middle of the river. It is characterized by its abundance of Lamphu trees, which likely inspired the island's name.

Tourists typically rent boats at night to observe fireflies, which are drawn to the abundance of Lamphu trees in the area. (Information obtained from the website.)

This area is known for its large population of pigeons, attracting many visitors who come to feed them.


Yesterday, we witnessed the breathtaking sunset at the dam. Today, let's experience the urban sunset at the Si Surat Bridge.



As the sun dips below the horizon, casting a warm glow across the sky, a gentle rumble in my stomach signals the perfect time for dinner.

Local residents highly recommend visiting the Talad Salajao market.

Abundant food options! Strolling and enjoying the food, truly a relaxing experience.

Walking into the market, I noticed a stall with a long queue. Curious, I approached and saw a sign that read "Grilled Fish Tod Mun." I was puzzled and turned to my partner, saying, "Look, there are so many people waiting! It must be delicious." We decided to join the queue and wait for a taste. If it were well-known, people would order and then go shopping, returning to pick up their order on their way back. But the wait was long. Sometimes, even with only two or three people ahead of us, it wouldn't be our turn soon. There were always people who came and ordered before us. However, the wait was worth it. It was incredibly delicious! It was essentially Tod Mun wrapped around a stick and grilled instead of fried. The vendor sold them in sets of five for 20 baht. If you ever visit the Shrine Market, don't forget to try it!


Last morning in Surat Thani

"Time's up, you have to go. But what remains in my heart is the longing you'll never know."

On our last day in Surat Thani, we woke up early to find something to eat and prepare for our journey back. There were two ways to get to the airport from our accommodation.

1. Take a "kapor" (shared taxi) to the Pantip Plaza bus station. Your accommodation will call a "kapor" for you. The fare is 100 baht.

2. Taxi to the airport

We opted for a taxi directly to the airport for a flat rate of 350 baht. This was incredibly affordable, especially considering the convenience of pick-up at our accommodation. Eliminating the need to estimate travel time, we reached the airport within 30 minutes.

Every journey must come to an end, and eventually, we must return to our lives.

Bidding farewell to Surat Thani, we shall meet again, Surat Thani.




Traveling can be physically tiring, but it's good for the soul.
Don't forget to take some time to rest your mind.



Thank you for reading.

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