Chumphon

Chumphon features on many travellers’ itinerary as they flit in and out of the busy transport hub en route to Ko Tao, or head west for Ranong and Phuket. Around 500km south of Bangkok, Chumphon is where Southern Thailand begins and you’ll begin to see mosques and start to hear different dialects.
While there’s not a lot in town to keep you amused, the surrounding beaches are good places to step off the treadmill of travel for a few days. Hat Tha Wua Laen (12km north of town) is renowned for windsurfing and kiteboarding, and has a developing travellers’ scene with some good bungalows and beachside bars. Pretty Hat Sairi (22km east of town) is a more traditional Thai beach resort, and the best spot to arrange day trips to offshore islands.