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Chumphon
Attractions
 Popular
charming mainland beaches include Hat
(beach) Pharadonphap, Hat Pha Daeng
(Red Cliff Beach), Hat Arunothai. Hat
Arunothai is suitable for camping with hiking
trails and rock-climbing nearby. Other peaceful
bays with beautiful beaches include Ao Thung
Makham (Tamarind Field Bay), and Ao Tung
Wua Lan. Another one is Hat Sai Ri
(Arc Sandy Beach), famous site of the shrine dedicated
to H.R.H. Prince Chumphon, the founding
Father of the Royal Thai Navy, in the form of
an ancient British motor torpedo gunship.
Slightly 30 minutes boatride
from the mainland are the picturesque islands
of the Mu Koh Chumphon National Marine Park consisting
of Koh Samet, Koh Mattra, and Koh Thong Lang.
Koh Rat is ideal for camping, fishing, and
scuba diving. Rocky beaches and coral beds infused
with sea fans surround Koh Chorake (Crocodile
Island), making it perfect for scuba diving.
Cliff-dwelling sea swallows inhabit and build
their nests on the islands of Maphrao (Coconut),
Rang Nok Island or Lanka Chiu Islands.
Their nests are prized delicacies of local gourmets
and the Chinese population in Thailand. Collecting
it can be a very dangerous task, reserved only
for the truly skilled workers. Because of the
danger of unauthorized poaching, visitors must
seek permission to visit the islands from the
company possessing the nest-collecting concession.
Wat Thep Charoen, or
better known as Wat Tham Rub Raw (Temple of
Rub Raw Cave), contains a total of 8 main
caves situated on a hillside. Mystical myths passed
down through each generation that 2 of the caves,
Tham A-thay (Beginning of the Caves)
and another cave further in, contains hidden treasures.
The caves houses an ancient, sacred Buddhist image,
the city’s guardian, believed to date back
to 548 B.E., and beautiful stalactites.
Khao Chedi Ayuthaya style chedi (pagoda)
which is on the top of the hill. Respect Pra
Burapa Banphot which is next to the chedi.
Admire beautiful view around Pa Thiew District
and the district center, Khao Plu, Khao Maew as
well as the wonderful coast of Pa Thiew.
Ranong
Attractions
 The
hot springs rise beside the Klong Hat Sompen River
at Wat Tapotaram and are channeled into
3 concrete, round tubs called Father, Mother,
and Child at the nearby Raksawarin. Here,
the hot springs are surrounded by forest and leisure
pavilions and bathing rooms are available. With
a constant water temperature of 65 degrees Celsius
(150 degrees Fahrenheit), it is too hot for bathing.
People believe the water, due to its unusually
high sulfur content, is beneficial to the health.
A short walk down the river,
people can enjoy the hot springs at a more relaxing
temperature and luxurious accommodations at the
Jansom Thara Spa Resort. The hotel cooled
the hot water to a more bearable temperature of
42 degrees Celsius (110 degrees Fahrenheit).
The Had (beach) Chan
Damri located near the Kra Buri River offers
a panoramic view of Victoria Point, a Burmese
town with reasonably priced local products and
souvenirs, and the perfect place to watch picturesque
sunsets.
Interested in visiting a pearl
farm and a sea gypsy village? Then go to Phayam
Island, slightly more than 2 hours boatride
from the provincial city. Nearby are Sin Hai
Island and Chang Island which are
suitable for game-fishing, scuba diving, and snorkeling.
If you want to do some trekking
and wildlife viewing, head on to Laem Son
National Park which is covered with hilly
coastlines of pristine beaches, mangrove swamps,
and rainforests. The park also contains roughly
20 offshore islands with remote beaches and coral
reefs, including Koh Kam Yai, Koh Kang Kao,
and Koh Kam Noi.
Mainland beaches include Prapas
and Laem Son. The Bang Baen Beach
is famous for its lengthy beach with fine sands
and prolific seashells.
Ranong boasts of several scenic
waterfalls, spectacular viewpoints of the Andaman
Sea and a diversity of wildlife at the 480-sq.
km. Khlong Nakha Wildlife Sanctuary.
Naturalists will love finding more than 40 bird
species and animals such as wild boars and black,
giant squirrels.
Songkhla
Attractions
 Songkhla’s
main beach, Samila Beach, has fine white
sand and a wide beach area protected by a line
of tall pine trees. Close by are the famous Koh
Noo (Mouse Island) and Koh Maew (Cat Island).
On the headland is the famous bronze Mermaid
Statue similar to the one in Denmark, a Kodak
spot that no visitor can pass up.
South of the city is the Muslim
village of Khao Seng where colorful korlae
fishing boats can be seen. The korlae boats are
a distinctive style of the southern fishing communities.
The city boasts two significant
and impressive museums. The exquisite Songkhla
National Museum is the former residence of
Songkhla’s deputy governor built in 1878
in the southern Thai-Chinese style. Exhibit highlights
include earthenware jars recovered from the sea
around Songkhla. The Patsree Museum in
Wat Matchimawat, or Wat Klang to locals, contains
a 35-cm stone image of Ganesh, the Hindu elephant
god, that dates back to the late 6th century,
making it the earliest artifact found in the peninsula.
It also contains other wares from foreign countries
that affirms Songkhla’s importance as a
former maritime trade center.
Songkhla’s Thale Sap
(lake) is the nation’s largest fresh-water
lake with a scenic panorama. The bay’s mouth
contains many islands, the most popular being
Koh Yor for its hilltop perched restaurants,
cotton-weaving industry, and fish farms. Spanning
three kilometers across the Songkhla Lake, the
Tinnasulanon Bridge was named after our
highly respected council privy, a native of this
area. The nation’s longest bridge connects
Songkhla city with the narrow coastal strip to
the north and intersects through Koh Yor in the
middle of the lake.
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Southern
