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3 days 2 nights

From Surat Thani downtown, take Highway Route 401 until you find an intersection that meets Highway Route 41. Drive past it and you will see PTT petrol station. From here, follow the sign of Ratchaprapa Dam until you reach 58 km. Turn right at the sign to the dam and drive for 12 km.

Recommended: Khao Sok National Park – Tel (0-7739-5139, 0-7729-9318-9, 0-7729-9150-1); Rent a boat to experience Thai Kuilin

At Ratchaprapa Dam, you can enjoy somtam food in welfare restaurants. Expect them to be crowded with local people.

Renting boats: Two-hour Round Trip – Bt1,200/a 12-passenger boat. The service is from 6am to 7pm. You can stay overnight on a raft at Bt200 per night

In the afternoon, leave Khao Sok, take Highway Route No 401, go through an intersection and you will find a PTT petrol station on the right, which is also a rest area for vehicles. When you reach an intersection that can go to Chumphon and Surat Thani, turn right to take Highway Route No 41 to go to Tung Song district of Nakhon Si Thammarat. There are many petrol stations along the way.

At 232 km, there is Tambon Khao Nipon health station on the left. If you drive past Jandee intersection, turn left and follow the sign of Thung Song district. Drive until you find a T-shaped intersection, turn left and follow the sign of Thung Song district. You will find PTT petrol station, with an ATM on the left. Take the bridge and turn right to Thung Song Hospital (0-7541-0100) and you will see the sign of Lord Cave. The cave, through which you can walk, has a huge leaning Buddha statue.

Then you return to your former route and turn left at Thung Song Hospital intersection, turn right at an intersection with a pedestrian bridge. Drive past railway tracks until you approach an intersection where you’ll find a 7/11 convenience store. Turn right, follow the sign of Pattalung province, and take Highway No 403. Then follow the sign of Yong National Park (0-7535-4967, 0-7530-9206) and drive for about three and a half km.

Fees: Thai (adult – Bt20, child – Bt10); Foreigner (adult – Bt400, child – Bt200); motorcycle – Bt10; car – Bt30

– In the park, you can enjoy swimming in the waterfall. Bathrooms and restaurants are also available.

BOX: The Twin Lotus Hotel, Pattanakarn Kukwang road, opposite Lotus Store (0-7532-3777), Bt1,000-9,000

In the morning, you leave the town using Highway No 4016, turn left at Nareng Intersection, where you will see a PTT petrol station. Turn right and follow the sign of Krungching Waterfall. Take a right turn at Noppitam Intersection to take Highway No 4186. You will drive about 29 km to reach the waterfall.

Recommended: Krungching waterfall is in the compound of Khao Luang National Park (0-7530-9047).

Fee: Thai (adult – Bt40, child – Bt20), Foreigners (adult – Bt200, child – Bt100).

The second layer of the waterfall is the most beautiful. You have to walk up 3 km to get there.

Tip: Four-wheeled vehicles are recommended because the way is narrow and bumpy.

In the afternoon, take Highway No 4186 until you reach Noppitam intersection, and then turn left to Highway No 4140. Drive until you approach an intersection, which has a Lotus store, then turn left to the Surat Thani-bound route or Highway No 401. At 100 km, there is Ban Nalae health station. Turn right at a big three-way intersection and take Highway 4014. Follow the sign of the Kanom National Park (South Sea Islands) (075-528-495).

TIP: You have to book in advance with officials in order to get fishing boats to Tha Rai Island to experience pink dolphins in fresh-water swamp in the middle of the sea.

Recommended: Nai Pla Beach, crystal clear sea water, strong wave. Hotels and Bungalows are available along the beach.

BOX: Supa Royal Beach: restaurants and seaside mini bars (0-7552-8417, 0-7552-8552); Bt1,200-3,500

If you want to go to Samui and Phang Nga Islands, take Highway Route 4232, drive to Kanom district and turn left to take Highway Route 4104. Then turn left at Kruwing three-way intersection and you will find an entrance to the ferry pier of Samui and Phang Nga Islands between 26 km and 27 km. Boats from Sea Trans Pier go to Samui Island only.

- Boats leave the pier every hour from 6am to 7pm and return trip service starts from 5am to 6pm. One-way trip takes an hour and a half.

– Racha Ferry provides boat service to Samui Island every hour and every two hours from 6am to 6pm.

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Accommodation:

– Grand Park: Pak Nakhon road, Muang district, Nakhon Si Thammarat; Tel  0-7531-7666-73; Bt 600-900

– Wang Tai: Talard Mai road, Nai Tua Muang, Surat Thani; Tel 0-7728-3020-39; Bt800-2,000

– Four Seasons: Chaweng Beach, Surat Thani; Tel 0-7742-2238; Bt400-1,600

Restaurants:

– Chinese Pasta Noodles: Opposite Pratard Munnithi School, Nakhon Si Thammarat; Tel 0-7534-5327 , open 9am to 1pm

– Rinda Khaotom: Akara Withee, Kanom district, Nakhon Si Thammarat, open 6pm to 2am

– Tapee Seafood, Paknamtapee raod, Surat Thani; Tel 0-7728-2115

Hospitals:

– Maharat Nakhon Si Thammarat Hospital; Tel 0-7534-0250

– Surat Thani Hospital; Tel 0-7727-2231

– Samui Hospital; Tel – 0-7742-1399, 0-7742-0902

Police:

– Provincial Police, Nakhon Si Thammarat; Tel 0-7534-1089

– Provincial Police, Surat Thani; Tel 0-7727-2244, 0-7728-1241

– Tourism Authority Office (Southern Region, Zone 5: Koh Samui district); Tel 0-7742-0505, 0-7742-0720-2

– Tourism Authority Office (Southern Region, Zone 2: Nakhon Si Thammarat; Tel 0-7534-6515-6