Chumphon Airport is located in Pathio, so getting there is very convenient if you choose to fly there like we did. From the Airport, it’s only about 15 minutes to the Ban Pak Khlong Pier. There are a couple of car rental places and taxi counters at the Airport. You can also travel to Chumphon by:
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Car
Take the Phutthamonthon – Nakhon Pathom – Phetchaburi routes or Thon Buri – Pakto via Phetchaburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan.
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Bus
Take the bus at the Southern Bus Terminal (Sai Tai Mai). Many companies operate on the Bangkok – Chumphon route. The trip takes about six hours, and you can book the tickets online. Please call the Transport Company at 1490 for COVID-19 updates.
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By train
Many trains leave Bangkok for Chumphon daily. Call 1690 for schedules.
Day 1
1. Snorkel at Ko Ran Pet – Ko Ran Kai – top snorkelling sites not too far off the shore.
2. Enjoy the views from the mountaintop temple of Wat Kaeo Prasert.
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Day 2
3. Walk the nature trail of Khao Dinso.
4. Visit the Ban Mai Chai Khlong Homestay for fun activities.
It’s another sphere down here, a far cry from the mundane world. Everything seems splendid – a ray of light, colourful sea animals, and even your own bubbles!
And if you’re lucky, you might well see a magnificent whale shark or a manta ray whose presence is far from rare around these two islands. Be aware that you’re not supposed to touch these precious animals. It’s better to have only the memory of the encounter.
Even if you miss those giant sea celebrities, there are many other splendours to make up for it; such as, Tham Lot at Ko Ran Pet or the heart-shaped cave at Ko Ran Kai.
After snorkelling that usually lasts about two hours, it’s time for a tasty lunch! The boat trip takes about 15-20 minute to the blue crab bank of Ko Yo, where lunch has been prepared and served.
Ko Yo is a research centre for marine life operated by King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, Prince of Chumphon Campus (KMITL). Villagers from Ko Tiap now look after the blue crab bank here.
Big blue crabs fresh from the sea help replenish the energy you spent while snorkelling. Yum!
After the hearty meal, you can take a stroll around the island.
The snorkelling trip usually starts in Pathio district and runs from 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. If you travel from Chumphon town, set aside at least an hour for travelling.
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If you are not keen on snorkelling, opt for a trip to visit the crab bank and have lunch at Ko Yo.
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If you use sunscreen, make sure there is no oxybenzone in the ingredients as this substance is toxic to reefs and animals. It’s best to look for biodegradable sunscreen.
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For more details on the trips or suggestions, please call the TAT Chumphon Office.
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Location : Tambon Pak Khlong, Amphoe Pathio, Chumphon 86210
Tel. : 0 7750 2775 (TAT Chumphon-Ranong office)
Wat Kaeo Prasert – a hilltop temple
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Guess what? After snorkelling you still have time left to visit a temple.
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Wat Kaeo Prasert is about 30 minutes from the Ban Pak Khlong Pier. It’s located on a small hill from where you can enjoy panoramic views of Thung Maha Bay, Laem Son Cape, and various islands off the Chumphon mainland.
The temple grounds house a huge stucco Buddha image, Luang Pho Ong Khao and many other massive statues including those of Lord Ganesh, the Prince of Chumphon, and a 9.9-metre-high Kuan Yin.
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Location : Tambon Pak Khlong, Amphoe Pathio, Chumphon 86210
Open Daily : 08.00 – 17.00 น.
Tel. : 0 8955 11950
Day 2
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Khao Dinso by the sea
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This is Pathio district’s highest mountain. You can enjoy sea views from this mountaintop and admire the vast fields of green grass.
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You can take a 1-kilometre nature trail uphill to the viewpoints. The path is equipped with a handrail and rest spots along the way making it an easy walk that can be enjoyed by visitors of all ages.
To the east, you’ll have the sea views and to the west a rail track to Prachuap Khiri Khan, orchards, rubber plantations and mountain ranges. There’re three view spots, but each has a limited carrying capacity for visitors so be cautious.
If you come to Khao Dinso between August-November, you’ll see the spectacular scenes of raptors migrating from the cold in Siberia, Japan, and China, passing Thailand to find food in the tropical islands of Indonesia.
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Khao Dinso is known as one of the world’s best migratory raptor observation sites.
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*No toilet facilities on the mountain.
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Location : Tambon Saphli, Amphoe Pathio, Chumphon 86160
Open daily from 6:00 am – 6:00 p.m.
Tel. : 0 7759 1167, 0 7759 1207
Ban Mai Chai Khlong Homestay
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You are promised fun-filled activities and tasty food at this homestay that is run as a community enterprise. It’s about 20 minutes by road from Khao Dinso.
The Homestay normally offers a package tour of three days and two nights but you can choose to participate in certain activities.
The tour programme includes collecting mussels, making sugar from nipa palms, sightseeing in the mangroves, visiting the crab bank,+ and having lunch on the sand dunes.
We’re impressed by the idea of establishing a blue crab bank by the villagers in Pathio. It’s a truly sustainable way of making a living, as the villagers can earn income while the number of blue crabs is increasing.
The blue crab bank operation is different from place to place, but the thought behind the blue crab bank here is to save crabs with eggs attached outside their shells from being sold. Killing mother crabs terminates their life cycle.
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The mother crabs will be put in the nursery until their eggs reach the state of a larval form called zoea and be released into the sea. The villagers manage to make sufficient profit from their crab bank.
We didn’t have time to join in all the available activities that also include seeing fireflies and snorkelling at Ko Khai. When an opportunity presents itself, we’ll be back!
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Location : Tambon Bang Son, Amphoe Pathio, Chumphon 86160
Tel. : 08 0779 1650, 09 5793 1957
