Cheow Lan Lake and Koh Tao: Mountains and Sea in Surat Thani, Thailand

Trip Itinerary

This itinerary includes two trips:

• Trip 1: Khao Sok National Park, 2 days 1 night, 3,200 baht per person (purchased at the 48th Thai Travel Fair)
• Trip 2: Koh Tao, 3 days 2 nights, 6,290 baht per person (Thai price) (purchased from Lovely Satun Travel's Facebook or Line)

First Trip

• Accommodation: Pa Kiree Warin Resort with 3 meals included.
• Transportation: Roundtrip boat transfer.

Trip Two

Includes:

• Accommodation at The Beach Club by Haadtien with breakfast
• Roundtrip boat transfers
• Airport transfers
• Snorkeling trip around Koh Tao and Koh Nangyuan

Start....

September 17, 2018 Day 1

Take the first flight to Surat Thani from Don Mueang Airport at 7:10 AM, arriving at Surat Thani at 8:25 AM. (DMK 7:10 AM - URT 8:25 AM) Use the services of the red-winged aircraft.

Before your trip, be sure to call the Pantip van company (077-287059) to arrange transportation to the Khao Sok Dam pier. (I forgot to call the company and only remembered at Don Mueang Airport. Luckily, I was able to reach them at 6:40 AM. I thought no one would pick up the phone, and I was worried I wouldn't be able to get there on time.) It's best to call the day before your trip.

• The company will ask you what time your flight arrives in Surat Thani and will request your contact number. They may also provide you with the driver's phone number so you can check in if you haven't seen the van at the agreed-upon time.
• The van service covers three routes: Surat Thani Airport, Surat Thani City, and Khao Sok Dam Pier. Based on my experience, here are the contact numbers: 077-287059, 093-6509724, and 086-6926241. The fare from the airport to the Khao Sok Dam pier is approximately 200 baht per person.

The journey is considered convenient and the price is reasonable. Travel time is approximately 40 minutes to 1 hour, depending on the number of passenger pick-ups.

The dam we had booked called us around 9 am to inquire about our estimated arrival time. After confirming the details, we called the team again when we arrived at the dam pier. Remember to ask for the driver's phone number and tell them that we will be going into town on the way back. The driver will then give you the team's phone number again. When we arrived, it was during Typhoon Mangkhut, but it didn't rain all day. Fortunately, there was some weak sunshine.

We boarded the boat and headed towards Pak Kiree Waree. The boat departed at 11:30 AM and the journey took approximately 1.5 hours. The weather was a mix of light rain and sunshine. As the sun hit the water, it created a stunning spectacle of clear, emerald-green water. After about 20 minutes, our phone signals from all networks were lost, leaving us completely disconnected. This allowed us to fully immerse ourselves in the natural beauty surrounding us. It was a powerful reminder of the incredible beauty that Thailand has to offer. The feeling of tranquility and serenity was palpable, as if nature itself was providing a much-needed therapy after a long week of work. For office workers, experiencing such natural wonders can be a truly liberating experience.

The boat driver will take us to the highlight, Khao Sam Kler, and then to our accommodation for lunch. Around 2 pm, we will be taken to another waterfall and then back to our accommodation to enjoy the water.

Dinner is served around 7 pm. Guests can refill their food throughout their stay, except for fruits. The raft offers an activity where guests can write their feelings on different shapes of future boards, which are then hung in the restaurant. There are many different shapes to choose from. The service is excellent, and the food is clean, delicious, and worth the price. There is no phone signal, but there is electricity and a private bathroom. There are no plugs to charge your phone, so you will need to go to the counter to charge it. It is recommended to bring a power bank.

August 18, 2018: Day Two

The morning air was crisp and cool, and the plan was to watch the sunrise at around 6:30 AM. However, as luck would have it, rain was on the horizon, brought by Typhoon Mangkhut. Despite not being able to witness the sunrise, the surrounding atmosphere was still breathtaking, making the early morning program worthwhile.

After checking out of our accommodation around 8-9 am, we took the same boat back to the pier, arriving at the dam pier around 11 am. We then called the van driver for our return trip to the city. We were heading to the Lumphraya Tapee Pier (Srisurachet), and this time we informed the driver in advance. Some vans may charge an additional 50 baht per person for this request. The regular fare to the city is 200 baht, so the total cost was 250 baht per person.

We arrived at the pier around 13:00, which was one hour before the scheduled departure time as instructed by the tour operator. We had booked the round-trip ferry tickets in advance, and upon arrival, we simply showed the confirmation number from our LINE app at the counter. The tour operator had already made the reservation for us.

With time to spare and feeling hungry, we recommend Lamphu 2 restaurant, just a short walk from the pier. The food is truly delicious, and our meal for two came to 1800 baht.

3:30 PM: Time to board the boat. It's important to note that most of the passengers are foreigners, as Koh Tao is renowned for its scuba diving. The entire island is filled with dive shops, offering both diving lessons and excursions. Koh Phangan is known for its Full Moon Parties, while some people choose to visit Koh Samui.

The journey took approximately 3 hours and 50 minutes, as the boat made stops at Koh Samui and Koh Phangan islands before reaching our destination. Upon arrival at the pier, hotel staff will be present holding signs with the hotel's name. Please note the abundance of hotels and ensure you locate the correct sign. Approach the designated staff member, who will then escort you to the hotel's shuttle service waiting area. The shuttle will be located at the hotel's office.

Upon arriving at The Beach Club by Haadtien, we were greeted by the room type we had selected during our trip booking process.

After checking in to the hotel, I decided to grab a bite to eat there since it was already 7:30 PM and I was hungry after waiting for the other guests to arrive.

September 19, 2018: Day Three

Morning ambiance of the hotel

Let's go!

Nang Yuan Island, the water is incredibly clear, truly crystal clear.

It's time to return to shore.

Upon returning, ask the staff to rent a bicycle for the evening to explore the surroundings. We recommend renting from "Nong Pum" shop, as they do not require a deposit, only a refundable security deposit. This makes the process convenient. In the evening, return the bicycle to the shop and collect your ferry ticket for a relaxing return trip. The rental fee is 200 baht per day.

Riding a motorbike can be a bit scary on the way up, so if you're not comfortable riding, it's recommended to take it slow. The road is quite steep. Once you reach the hotel, take a shower and then go out to find a restaurant. I searched on Pantip and found reviews for a roti shop next to 7-Eleven and also went to Lotus Bar.

September 20, 2018 Day Four

After breakfast, we packed our bags and prepared to leave. The boat was scheduled to depart at 9:30 AM, so we checked out of the hotel at 8:40 AM. We dropped off the car at the shop and walked to get our tickets. The trip organizer had sent the tickets via Line, so we picked them up at the counter. It is recommended to arrive early, as there were a lot of tourists. Otherwise, you might miss the boat. The sky was clear on the day of our return trip.

To Phangan Island, dropping off passengers.

We arrived at Lumphini Pier at approximately 3:30 PM. We then boarded a connecting bus, which was included in the tour price and therefore free of charge.

If given the opportunity to return, I would still choose to visit this place. I am in love with the Thai sea… ^^