Surat Thani, 650 kilometers south of Bangkok, is mainly a commercial center: a conduit for rubber and coconuts grown throughout southern Thailand. Most visitors don't linger here much longer than the coconuts, since it is the main rallying point to catch ferries to the lush islands of Koh Samui and Koh Pa Ngan.

Old city of Chaiya
The nearby city of Chaiya, one of Thailand’s oldest cities is worth a day’s visit. The National Museum there contains many artifacts from the time when Chaiya was a major stop on the trade route between India and Southeast Asia. There are also a few temples of note, including the forest temple Wat Suan Mokkhaphalaram founded by Buddhadasa Bhikkhu, one of the country’s most famous and controversial monks.