Phato Raft Trip, Chumphon Province: Let your heart drift with the current... River [600 baht = raft trip + 7 local dishes]

If you visit Chumphon and don't explore the "sea", where else can you go?

I had the opportunity to visit Chumphon Province again. However, this time I did not go to the beach as I had intended because I wanted to try a different atmosphere and explore other parts of Chumphon Province. Since I didn't know where to go and had already booked my train ticket, I turned to Google for help. I stumbled upon the term "Pa To Floating Raft."

Planning for this trip... seemed a bit impromptu. And I must confess... I only just found out "Phato District" is located in Chumphon Province. Phato District is known for rafting, which sounds like fun... So, let's do it! This trip, we're going rafting in Phato!

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Raft Trip Details in Phato, Chumphon Province

This trip, I have booked a raft trip with Malin Raft Service. The details of the raft trip are as follows: It is a leisurely raft trip along the Phato River, surrounded by nature, for a distance of approximately 5 kilometers. Along the way, you can play in the water and jump off the raft as you please. The raft trip starts at 9:00 AM and ends at approximately 12:00 PM (taking about 2-3 hours). You can raft all year round.

Rafting service fee (including meals) /person: Adults 600 baht, Children 300 baht(Minimum 4 people)

Overnight stays are available in the form of homestay packages, which include accommodation, three meals, and bamboo rafting. (Fan room: 1200 baht for adults, 600 baht for children; Air-conditioned room: 1300 baht for adults, 700 baht for children)

Play water, jump water, cool and comfortable!

Savor the flavors of authentic Thai cuisine with unlimited refills!

After the rafting trip, you can savor "Raft Dwellers' Cuisine," a 7-course meal (including bamboo rice, seasonal fruits, and butterfly pea herbal water). This local-style cuisine is prepared using fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Feel free to ask for seconds if you're still hungry... Every dish is truly delicious!

Traveling to Phato District

Phato District: A Coastal Gem in Southern Chumphon

Phato District is a coastal gem nestled in the southern reaches of Chumphon Province, approximately 106 kilometers from the provincial capital. Bordering Ranong Province, Phato offers a unique blend of natural beauty and cultural charm.

Traveling by private car

From Bangkok, drive towards Chumphon Province. Once you reach Chumphon city, continue driving past the city center to Phato District, a total distance of approximately 106 kilometers from the city center. From Phato District, drive for about 1 kilometer and then prepare to stay on the left side of the road to turn left into an alley for about 3 kilometers. (There is a sign at the entrance of the alley that says "Malin Raft Service".)

Public Transportation

Besides private vehicles, you can reach Phato District by bus or train to Lang Suan District. Then, take a shared taxi at Auai Chai Market on the Lang Suan-Phato route (approximately 50 kilometers). You can ask the shared taxi driver to drop you off at Malin Rafting Service.

DAY #0

10:50 PM. Departure from Bangkok to Chumphon.

I embarked on my journey from Bangkok Railway Station with 3 fellow travelers, making a total of 4 members departing from Bangkok. Another member, a local from Chumphon Province, awaited our arrival. As the host of this trip, they provided convenient transportation within Chumphon Province, thanks to their personal vehicle. (Note: The original text includes a parenthetical remark with a smiley face, which is omitted in the translation to maintain a formal academic style.)

If you want to arrive in Chumphon Province early in the morning, you should take train number 39/41. This train departs from Bangkok Railway Station at 10:50 PM and arrives at Chumphon Railway Station at 5:50 AM and Lang Suan Railway Station at 6:48 AM. This train is a special express train with air-conditioned seating. Snacks, drinks, and blankets are provided.

DAY #1

6:00 AM. Hello, Chumphon!

This train is relatively punctual, arriving at Chumphon Railway Station on schedule. During this time, I am waiting for my host, who will pick me up by car and head to Phato District next.

Upon arrival at Chumphon Railway Station, the host picked up all five members of the travel group. The journey continued to Phato District, approximately a 1.5-hour drive. During the drive, the group could purchase snacks and drinks to stock up on provisions.

9:00 AM. Malin's Raft Service

Drive from Chumphon city center through Phato district for about 1 kilometer. You will see the sign "Malin Rafting Service". Turn left into the alley for about 3 kilometers. You will reach the destination of this trip. We were warmly welcomed by Khun Lek. Before that, I had booked the rafting in advance and had already talked to Khun Lek about general information.

This time, I booked a one-day raft trip due to limited time and had to return to Chumphon city that evening. However, if you are not in a hurry, there are also homestays available for those who want to raft and spend the night. If you are interested in rafting, it is recommended to contact at least 3 days in advance so that Khun Lek can prepare the ingredients for the meals. The atmosphere here is simple and relaxing.

Next, the five of us wasted no time. We changed into clothes that could get wet, prepared our belongings on the raft, and didn't forget to bring the black bags provided by the raft operator to collect any garbage and bring it back to shore.

We met "George," our guide for the raft trip. George would be responsible for navigating the raft and providing information during the journey. Before embarking on the raft, we had a briefing to ensure everyone understood the safety procedures. Importantly, we were required to wear life jackets. If needed, waterproof bags were available to protect wallets, phones, or other valuables. Once we were ready, George drove us to the starting point of the raft trip, located approximately 3-4 kilometers upstream.

9:30 AM. Start the raft, let it drift...

Upon arrival at the starting point for the raft trip, George had already prepared the raft for us. From the road where we just got off, we had to walk down a bit to reach the river. Before embarking on the raft, for safety reasons, here are some rafting guidelines to follow.

Preparation for rafting

1. Prepare clothes for playing in the water.
2. Prepare clothes to change.
3. You can bring food and drinks on the raft.

Guidelines for Bamboo Rafting

1. Do not litter non-biodegradable waste into the water. 2. Do not pick or collect plants along the riverbank. 3. For safety reasons, please consult the raft operator before entering the water.

The starting point for the raft trip, the water is perfect for swimming! You will notice that the rafts used are made of PVC pipes. This is because... In the past, bamboo rafts were used, but their lifespan was short, prone to breakage and decay... This meant that bamboo had to be cut frequently to make rafts. Today, PVC pipes are used instead, as they are more durable and help reduce deforestation...

And here is... George (the one standing in the water), who will be punting us along the Khlong Phato canal. He is both a punter and a guide, sharing stories about this waterway. When we first met George, he was talkative and cracked jokes so fast we could barely keep up. Some were funny, others fell flat, but it added color... making our raft trip today quite enjoyable.

The weather is pleasant today. George will take us on a bamboo raft down the Phato River. Currently, we are the only group on the river, with just our single raft and six young men (including George) preparing to embark on our rafting adventure.

The raft will slowly drift along, allowing you to take in the natural beauty of the surroundings. The rafting distance is approximately 5 kilometers and takes 2-3 hours. George told us that if we are in a hurry, we can speed up the pace. However, if we are not in a hurry, we can take our time and stop to play in the water at various points along the way. We opted for the latter, taking our time and relaxing as we had no pressing schedule.

The Phato stream is not very deep, with some deeper sections. To determine the depth and suitability for swimming, inquire with the staff at the raft. The water flow varies, with slow-moving sections and occasional small rapids that provide some excitement.

Upon reaching a suitable spot for swimming, George would prepare to park the raft to allow everyone to enjoy the water and relax...

Upon reaching a small beach, we stopped the raft to enjoy the scenery for a while. During the rafting trip, food and drinks are allowed on board, but it is important to maintain cleanliness and avoid littering in the river. The raft operator provides black bags for waste disposal, which will be collected and disposed of on land.

Today's raft trip was leisurely, with frequent stops to enjoy the water. We drifted along, taking dips in the cool water, making for a refreshing afternoon.

At certain points, the water is so shallow that the bottom of the raft scrapes against the rocky bottom, forcing everyone to disembark and push the raft over the obstacle. Furthermore, this shallow area presents an intriguing sight, resembling a large pile of rocks with flowing water. Here, one can comfortably soak in the cool water.

If you're tired of riding the raft, you can try paddling it yourself.

The Phato River experienced a major flood earlier this year (2017), leaving traces of the flood along the banks. However, the situation has returned to normal and the river is now open for rafting activities throughout the year.

When the raft got stuck on logs or fallen trees blocking the waterway, "George" had to get into the water to pull the raft free.

The refreshing atmosphere and lush greenery along the path create a sense of tranquility. As you drift along the river, immerse yourself in the serenity of nature.

11:30 AM. Enjoy fresh fruits straight from the orchard.

During the rainy season, which is also the fruit season, the raft will take you to an orchard next to the Phato River. This orchard grows mangosteen, rambutan, and other fruits. You can pick and eat them fresh from the trees. This is an additional activity included in the raft trip.

However, unfortunately, the mangosteen and rambutan are not yet ripe enough to eat. But there are still... mafai, which are... currently bearing a lot of fruit. So we were able to climb up and pick some mafai to eat. We've got more food supplies now... 55+

Star apple, a large bunch with a slightly sour taste, but it's still enjoyable. Personally, I haven't had star apple for a long time.

Mafai was a real treat during the raft trip. The sweet and tangy flavor paired perfectly with the atmosphere.

George... will take you on a leisurely raft ride. If you want to rest, stop, or swim, just let George know. George will make it happen...

We stopped to play in the water again at a spot where the water was quite deep, making it possible to jump in and swim.

Meanwhile, we started to see other rafts passing us by. Perhaps it was because we stopped frequently to rest our raft. The other rafts, which may have started their journey later, have begun to overtake us one by one.

After that, when we had spent a reasonable amount of time, we continued our journey by raft. ...We were nearing the end of our rafting trip!

Immerse yourself in the natural atmosphere on both sides of the road, surrounded by mountains and forests, as befits the motto of Phato District: "Land of Green Mountains, Rafting, Mist-Covered Views, Beautiful Waterfalls, and Famous Fruits."

13.00 p.m. Savor the flavors of authentic floating market cuisine!

Lunch was a little late because we were having so much fun... rafting. Normally, we would have reached the end of the rafting trip by noon, just in time for lunch. But now it was already 1 p.m... We parked the raft and walked ashore to "Malin Rafting Service," where Khun Lek had already prepared lunch for us. It was a "Rafting Meal" with 7 dishes (+ bamboo rice, seasonal fruits, and butterfly pea herbal water). If we weren't full, we could have more...(except for the omelette in pandan leaves - because it takes a long time to cook) ...which looked delicious every menu. After playing in the water, we were really hungry!

The seven dishes known as "Raft Dwellers' Food" are so named because, in the past, the Pa To people worked as miners. They would only go to town (Lang Suan district) occasionally to buy necessities. The most convenient way to travel at that time was by **raft**, which took about two days. Therefore, they had to stop and spend the night on the raft. They would then use the provisions they brought with them, along with ingredients they could find in the forest, to prepare simple meals, which became known as "Raft Dwellers' Food".

1. Pandan-leaf Omelette (Oil-free)

This menu... is an omelet that requires a lot of time and patience to make (it takes 15-20 minutes to cook). The result is an omelet that does not require oil and has a faint aroma of banana leaves. It is considered a healthy menu...

2. Sour Curry with Banana Stem and Pork Belly

I have never eaten banana blossom in this way before. However, the sour curry is a perfect match, and it is very delicious.

3. Stir-fried Egg with Bai Liang Leaves

Stir-fried Morning Glory with Egg served piping hot, the aroma wafting from afar...

4. Mixed Vegetable Curry

This dish appears to be a vegetable soup with a variety of ingredients. Sipping the hot broth can be a refreshing experience.

5. Stir-fried fiddlehead fern with coconut milk

Wild pepper leaves, with their crunchy texture, surprisingly pair well with fresh coconut milk. Delicious!

6. Nam Phrik Long Raa

This is the highlight! The chili paste is incredibly delicious, especially when paired with fresh and boiled vegetables. It's so good that I had to ask for another serving!

7. Fried Mackerel

A unique feature is the "rice", which is cooked in bamboo tubes.

Using banana leaves to wrap the rice, then cook it in a bamboo tube. The method involves using about 1 tablespoon of fragrant jasmine rice, wrapping it in banana leaves, and then placing it in a large bamboo tube. Next, fill the tube with water until it is full and place it in a fire (similar to making sticky rice). Wait for about 30-40 minutes and you will have cooked rice ready to eat.

The cooked rice will have the fragrant aroma of leaves, making it even more appetizing.

The texture is similar to that of sticky rice, making it easy to handle.

To conclude, enjoy a refreshing glass of butterfly pea flower herbal water.

We savored every bite of this meal, which was truly delicious. Some dishes were so popular that they disappeared quickly, but we were able to order more. We ate until we were completely full, making this the perfect ending to our trip!

After a hearty meal, we took a refreshing dip in the water, changed into fresh clothes, and relaxed by the riverside, allowing our food to settle before embarking on our return journey to Chumphon town.

This short trip on the **Phato Raft** offers a relaxing way to experience the natural beauty of the area. Enjoy a scenic float down the river while savoring delicious local cuisine. If you're looking for a peaceful getaway, consider trying the **Phato Raft**. It's open year-round, so whenever you have free time, come and let the river carry your worries away!

CHAILAIBACKPACKER: Adventure Tourism

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